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Double Bass Recommendations for Inexpensive Mic Preamp with Phantom Power?

Rabidsquids

Rabidsquids

Jan 31, 2017
30
29
Nashville, TN
#1
Hello all,
I recently upgraded to a bass that's not a BSO and I'm in love with the sound, and I feel that a pickup isn't doing the sound justice (the age old dilemma) so I am going to experiment with mics. Since I've had feedback and mix issues with traditional microphones in the past I am interested in an Ischell x48c contact mic, but it requires a preamp with phantom power, which I do not own. I'm on a tight budget since I practically had to sell a kidney to afford the bass, so I'd prefer not to spend $300+ on a nice Fishman preamp. Do you guys have any recommendations for an inexpensive preamp that gets the job done and sounds pretty good?

Thanks!
 
#3
rickwolff said:
If you can find a used Zoom A3 they usually go for about $100, and they're 2 channel so you can mix with a piezo if you want.
Click to expand...
Thanks! Unfortunately it doesn't seem like they're going used for under $150 nowadays which is still a lot for me. I suppose I could do it if anything under this is crap but I don't think I necessarily need all the effects processing that this pedal has. Do you know of any others that are just phantom XLR and maybe eq? I suppose the two channels might be helpful if the whole mic thing doesn't work out.
 
#8
The Yamaha MG06 mixer , $130 new has good (quiet) phantom power ime . The cheap amazon phantom-power-only boxes may be tempting but are terribly noisy.
If you are really on a budget and have electronics know-how, Analog Devices has a phantom power from 5V schematics and a white paper with an ultra-low noise implementation . You have to layout your own pcb though .
 
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#10
Rabidsquids said:
Hello all,
I recently upgraded to a bass that's not a BSO and I'm in love with the sound, and I feel that a pickup isn't doing the sound justice (the age old dilemma) so I am going to experiment with mics. Since I've had feedback and mix issues with traditional microphones in the past I am interested in an Ischell x48c contact mic, but it requires a preamp with phantom power, which I do not own. I'm on a tight budget since I practically had to sell a kidney to afford the bass, so I'd prefer not to spend $300+ on a nice Fishman preamp. Do you guys have any recommendations for an inexpensive preamp that gets the job done and sounds pretty good?

Thanks!
Click to expand...


Do you already have the Ischell or do you plan to buy one? They make various output options, including 1/4" jack with 9V power.

I believe the model you want is J48CCB: J48CCB - ISCHELL

This model does not show up on the Double Bass Pickup page :facepalm:.

The price for the J48CCB is 299Euro.
J48CCB9_ischell-500x500.jpg


The XLR versions is the X48C. Price = 259Euro.
x48c_ischell-1-500x500.jpg
 
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#11
Wasnex said:
Do you already have the Ischell or do you plan to buy one? They make various output options, including 1/4" jack with 9V power.

I believe the model you want is J48CCB: J48CCB - ISCHELL

This model does not show up on the Double Bass Pickup page :facepalm:.

The price for the J48CCB is 299Euro.
View attachment 4109209

The XLR versions is the X48C. Price = 259Euro.
View attachment 4109210
Click to expand...
Interesting, I haven't bought one but I was about to pull the trigger, I just went with the X48C because it was cheapest. If I were to get the J48CCB wouldn't you need a preamp anyways so there aren't any impedance issues on a bass amp?
 
#12
Rabidsquids said:
Interesting, I haven't bought one but I was about to pull the trigger, I just went with the X48C because it was cheapest. If I were to get the J48CCB wouldn't you need a preamp anyways so there aren't any impedance issues on a bass amp?
Click to expand...


If you have a bass amp, you should be able to plug straight into it if you buy the J48CCB.

My understanding is the Ischell is not a piezo, it's condenser contact mic. AFAIK all condensers require a built in preamp to bring the signal of the mic element up to a usable level. The built in preamp provides any necessary impedance buffering.

This is a close up of the circuitry inside of the 1/4 connector of the J48CCB
J48_HPF-500x500.jpg





Here is the inside of the XLR connector of the X48C
insideX48C-open-500x500.jpg


So it's not just a connector on the end of a wire. There is active electronics inside.
 
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#13
Wasnex said:
If you have a bass amp, you should be able to plug straight into it if you buy the J48CCB.

My understanding is the Ischell is not a piezo, it's condenser contact mic. AFAIK all condensers require a built in preamp to bring the signal of the mic element up to a usable level. The built in preamp provides any necessary impedance buffering.

This is a close up of the circuitry inside of the 1/4 connector of the J48CCB
View attachment 4109316




Here is the inside of the XLR connector of the X48C
View attachment 4109317

So it's not just a connector on the end of a wire. There is active electronics inside.
Click to expand...
Ok that makes sense, thanks!
 
#14
I hate to be a jerk, but I highly recommend not getting a mic. Get a decent pickup - I've been happy with the Full Circle and the Lifeline - and learn to deal with the sound. When you get some money together, get a Tonedexter. Now you'll have very close to a mic sound, and it will work in the real-life gigging world. I futzed with mics for quite a while, and IMO it's just not worth it.
 
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#15
lurk said:
I hate to be a jerk, but I highly recommend not getting a mic. Get a decent pickup - I've been happy with the Full Circle and the Lifeline - and learn to deal with the sound. When you get some money together, get a Tonedexter. Now you'll have very close to a mic sound, and it will work in the real-life gigging world. I futzed with mics for quite a while, and IMO it's just not worth it.
Click to expand...

The Ischell is a contact pickup.
 
#16
lurk said:
I hate to be a jerk, but I highly recommend not getting a mic. Get a decent pickup - I've been happy with the Full Circle and the Lifeline - and learn to deal with the sound. When you get some money together, get a Tonedexter. Now you'll have very close to a mic sound, and it will work in the real-life gigging world. I futzed with mics for quite a while, and IMO it's just not worth it.
Click to expand...
Like wasnex said it's a contact mic, not a traditional microphone. I've had mic problems in the past too, which is why I'm giving this a try instead of throwing the towel for a sound I don't like. Contact mics are way less prone to feedback and have a sound somewhere between a piezo and traditional mic, so they are also less prone to getting lost in the mix. Of course there are some live situations where piezos are really the only option, but every player I've talked to about the Ischell or AKG C411 say they can use them for the vast majority of their gigs. Considering the vast majority of my upright gigs are in small combo settings I feel like contact mics are a good fix for the problems I have with piezos.
 
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#17
Good luck man. I've never tried the Ischell, but I've heard some Gypsy Jazz guitarists where it seems to work. Much smaller body to pick up extra vibrations than my doghouse. I have tried that AKG and it sounds great in the living room but I couldn't get it to work on the gig. The best mic solution for me is the Myers, which is pretty cheap, doesn't need phantom power, and works with soft or absent drummers - mostly anyway.
 
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