Double Bass RSII vs Golden Trinity

[standupright]

Hi All-

I've been reading alot about both of these pickups/mics trying to decide which to go with. I haven't seen a whole lot here on the Golden Trinity, and it seems that the majority of you folks that use the RSII seem very satisfied with it. Anyone have an opinion on the trinity, worth sharing?

The majority of what i am playing is Blues / Jazz.

Appreciate the input!

Thanks!

 

[bolo]

I guess you realize the GT is a mic, while the RS is a pickup ... yes?

I have used both. A lot will depend on your tastes, your bass, and your gigging situations.

When you say "blues", I think loud. So I think pickup, not mic.

When you say "Golden Trinity", did you mean the Golden Bullet mic only, or perhaps the K&K unit where it comes combined with the Bass Max and a stereo preamp to blend them? I have used that too.

 

[standupright]

I guess you realize the GT is a mic, while the RS is a pickup ... yes?

I have used both. A lot will depend on your tastes, your bass, and your gigging situations.

When you say "blues", I think loud. So I think pickup, not mic.

When you say "Golden Trinity", did you mean the Golden Bullet mic only, or perhaps the K&K unit where it comes combined with the Bass Max and a stereo preamp to blend them? I have used that too.

Thanks for your response. We actually (believe it or not) mind our dynamics with the music, mostly older chicago style blues, so sound level is not as much of a concern as being able to harness the real tone of my upright. Yes, I am aware that the trinity is a mic and the rsII is a pickup. I'm just not used to dealing with amplifying my upright. If I just concerned about volume, I'd play my slab.

Thanks!

 

[Marc Piane]

What is your amp situation?

I'll actually go so far as to say that most bass amp save a few are not very well suited for mics. You'll have far fewer headaches in most cases if you find a good sounding pickup.

 

[standupright]

What is your amp situation?

I'll actually go so far as to say that most bass amp save a few are not very well suited for mics. You'll have far fewer headaches in most cases if you find a good sounding pickup.

What is the advantage to having a pickup as opposed to a mic?

as far as the amp goes, i've got a crate 15" 200w combo, but this can change. I def don't mind a new reason to get another piece of equipment!

We are playing somewhat small venues where the amp i use for slab is way more than enough.

 

[Marc Piane]

What is the advantage to having a pickup as opposed to a mic?
.

Feedback for one. You are going to be able to get considerably more volume before feedback with a pickup. You also will not have to worry as much about your amp placement and the stage setup.

Also that amp is not the best for upright. No Crate I've ever used was very good for DB and 15" speakers are not my favorite either. For your situation I use the SWR WM 12. There are others out there but that amp works weel for upright and slab.

 

[standupright]

more feed back please!

 

[PB+J]

If you're going to be playing blues, chicago style blues, it's going to get really loud and you'll want a pickup. I tried the rev solo and it really did not work for me. But it seems to work really well for a lot of guys. If I were buying a pickup for what you're doing, it'd be the full circle or maybe the realist.

I also had a trinity mic, and found it was really hard to use--hard to position it right to get a good sound, and hard to get enough volume without feedback. It needs phantom power, which is a pain. It did not work well for me.

If you want a mic the classic solution, the one Willie Dixon used, is a dynamic stage mic like a Shure sm57, or maybe a shure beta57, which is a little different. There's a great thread here about using a mic--how to mount it, etc. You can get either mic for under $130, and when it works it'll give you a more realistic sound than any pickup. But it will be prone to feedback

 

[standupright]

If you're going to be playing blues, chicago style blues, it's going to get really loud and you'll want a pickup. I tried the rev solo and it really did not work for me. But it seems to work really well for a lot of guys. If I were buying a pickup for what you're doing, it'd be the full circle or maybe the realist.

I also had a trinity mic, and found it was really hard to use--hard to position it right to get a good sound, and hard to get enough volume without feedback. It needs phantom power, which is a pain. It did not work well for me.

If you want a mic the classic solution, the one Willie Dixon used, is a dynamic stage mic like a Shure sm57, or maybe a shure beta57, which is a little different. There's a great thread here about using a mic--how to mount it, etc. You can get either mic for under $130, and when it works it'll give you a more realistic sound than any pickup. But it will be prone to feedback

thx pb+j....

Maybe i should clarify

I've been playing live for a while.

Classical (unmic'd for ~20 yrs)

other music (slab bass) ~15yrs

I am well aware of how loud blues (sometimes jazz but not so much) can get, regardless of style...

I have really wanted to incorporate the sound of my upright into the blues group that i am currently working with. up until now i have just relied on my slab.

I WANT THE SOUND OF MY UPRIGHT IN THE BLUES!!!

I feel that it would add a layer that is hard to beat with a slab.

Thanks again for all of the reponses so far!

 

[PB+J]

I sympathize--the double bass sounds great in the Chicago blues.

I've seen video somewhere of Willie Dixon with a mic shoved in between the table and the tailpiece. Check out Chris Fitzgerald's thread on using a shure Beta 57. That's probably the way to go. I've been experimenting with it myself.

I have a Schertler DYN-B, which is a contact mic--it attaches to the top of the bass with putty. It's not quite as good as using a real mic--there's not as much "air" in the sound. But it sounds better to me than a piezo pickup. It's expensive and lots of people dislike it, although it's worked well for me

Ideally the best would be to have a pickup, and a mic, and a blender preamp to mix the two. I've done that kid of thing and it gets to be a pain--lots of cables to haul, and then I'm always fussing around with the mix. And your nice acoustic bass starts to look like edward scissorhands, with all sorts of mechanical attachments. But it gives you flexibility--the mic till the volume gets to high, then the pickup.

The rev solo is pretty cheap, and it goes on and off pretty easily. You could get a rev solo, and a mic, and see what works best

 

[Uncletoad]

Chicago Blues.

Fishman Full circle
AI Focus 2RIII head
EA M line Wizzy 12" at 4ohms.

$189.95 plus $1399 plus $559 respectively or 2147.95.

Knock em dead.

Plug in the slab to the same rig if you please.

Big round notes, warm with authority. Clear, clean with all the wood and string but plenty of tight bottom.

Mic won't do it. To light, can't get the vibe. Good for Jazz, good for bow, lousy for blues.

Knowing the bow won't help you in that trench. Your on the right track with the DB though. Playing the slab is thin and lame once you get used to the meat you can lay down with the DB. Your bandmates will love you. They'll dig down in it when you start laying it down with that big sound percolating underneath.

Chicago style is dirt, grit, and spit. Stomping and cussing and getting drunk. Set the strings up high, pull em hard and watch em fill the dance floor.

I won't do a blues gig with anything else. My phone rings off the hook for them.

PS. Add another $30 for the Jack Daniels. It'll keep you from minding the blisters and you'll forget you're killing your Orchestra chops.

 

[standupright]

Chicago Blues.

Fishman Full circle
AI Focus 2RIII head
EA M line Wizzy 12" at 4ohms.

$189.95 plus $1399 plus $559 respectively or 2147.95.

Knock em dead.

Plug in the slab to the same rig if you please.

Big round notes, warm with authority. Clear, clean with all the wood and string but plenty of tight bottom.

Mic won't do it. To light, can't get the vibe. Good for Jazz, good for bow, lousy for blues.

Knowing the bow won't help you in that trench. Your on the right track with the DB though. Playing the slab is thin and lame once you get used to the meat you can lay down with the DB. Your bandmates will love you. They'll dig down in it when you start laying it down with that big sound percolating underneath.

Chicago style is dirt, grit, and spit. Stomping and cussing and getting drunk. Set the strings up high, pull em hard and watch em fill the dance floor.

I won't do a blues gig with anything else. My phone rings off the hook for them.

PS. Add another $30 for the Jack Daniels. It'll keep you from minding the blisters and you'll forget you're killing your Orchestra chops.

Wow.....i think just had a personal moment from your reply.

 

[bolo]

Fishman Full circle
AI Focus 2RIII head
EA M line Wizzy 12" at 4ohms.

... Set the strings up high ...

Same set up here, ‘cept a Rev Solo II instead of the FC. I save the mics for the jazz gigs, just like Phil said.

I played in a jump blues band for a while that actually got written up in Billboard. Never looked at a Billboard magazine before then or since then. But I bought and saved three copies of that issue.

 

[standupright]

Same set up here, ‘cept a Rev Solo II instead of the FC. I save the mics for the jazz gigs, just like Phil said.

I played in a jump blues band for a while that actually got written up in Billboard. Never looked at a Billboard magazine before then or since then. But I bought and saved three copies of that issue.

Thanks for your input!

So far it seems like i should

Use either a Fishman FC or RSII for blues
Use the trinity for the jazz gigs
replace my rig.

How crucial is it to set the strings up higher? I'd rather not screw around with the action if i don't have too, especially since playing classical on high set strings is pain.

Anything else? You guys have been great so far.

 

[Uncletoad]

What strings are you using and how high are they?

 

[bolo]

IMO you might could get along fine w/ just a FC or a RS II on most jazz gigs. I do it fairly often and get what I consider to be a pretty "natural" and pleasing pizz tone.

However ... if you've been playin' legit for 20 years, the sound of a p/u may take some (gulp) getting used to. Its practical advantages though as noted above are hard to beat.

As a general guideline, I kinda go like this, as the density of the mix and the overall volume increases:

1) Just the bass
2) Just the bass & a mic
3) Pickup blended w/ a mic
4) Just a pickup
5) Like you said ... slab

So far it seems like i should

Use either a Fishman FC or RSII for blues
Use the trinity for the jazz gigs
replace my rig.

I think your outline is right on. On the mic thing, check this out if you like.

On replacing the rig … oh my … lots of threads here. Enjoy.

 

[standupright]

Thanks to everyone that has provided input. I just got done listening to lots of comparisons of alot of different pick ups / mics.

That being said, I have a Fishman FC on the way now. I'll prob also end up with the trinity as well, and try out some blending.

Thanks again!