Double Bass So I got an H-clamp - now what? Mic recommendations, please.

[Champagne]

Is the mic and EAP redundant with both sources being somewhat similar?

No, Not at all. They both sound different enough to compliment each other. The mic adds the wood and air that the EAP misses. The EAP is good on it's own and could be used solely, but I wanted a more realistic and natural sound that the EAP couldn't offer on its own no matter where I placed it. Contact mics/piezos can get you only so far. It also gives a lot of flexibility in live situations such as if you were playing a rough room due to the ability to blend.

Know though that I am very very particular as far as sound goes due to studio experience. I don't settle until I am satisfied. This combo has pleased my engineering ears. That can be hard to do.

 

[Ric Vice]

No, Not at all. They both sound different enough to compliment each other. The mic adds the wood and air that the EAP misses. The EAP is good on it's own and could be used solely, but I wanted a more realistic and natural sound that the EAP couldn't offer on its own no matter where I placed it. Contact mics/piezos can get you only so far. It also gives a lot of flexibility in live situations such as if you were playing a rough room due to the ability to blend.

Know though that I am very very particular as far as sound goes due to studio experience. I don't settle until I am satisfied. This combo has pleased my engineering ears. That can be hard to do.

+1 Although, I use the Ehrlund EAP and Pre Amp get very close to the sound of a microphone, are easier install, and have better volume before feedback, combined with a great microphone you can get a wonderful blend with more subtlety, and detail. I've personally experienced combining, the DPA 4099B and The Ehrlund into the Headway EDB-2, so I imagine how beautiful the Audio Technica 450 and Ehrlund would sound together.

 

[Monte]

Originally, I got the H-Clamp thinking I would go with the Heil "Stubby" version of the PR40. Unfortunately, that microphone was only a prototype and never released to the market. Oddly enough the PR30 and PR 20 have a smaller version. One of the finest microphones out there is the
Schoeps CMC6 with an MK41 Capsule. It will fit the H-Clamp perfectly, and sound wonderful. It's not cheap.




You can achieve that with the DPA 4099Dvote or the ATM 350 both microphones were designed to be used for live performance. Unfortunately, you don't need the H-Clamp since they both have their own (less evasive and easily removable) mounts. There
would be an additional cost for a Phantom Power supply to run those microphones, but that's also something you'll need for a most of the large condensers, with the exception of the Heil.



The H-Clamp will hold most microphones, but you have to be careful with Large Condenser mic's because of their additional weight.

Ric

P.S. You could also opt for a trial of the Ehrlund EAP and Pre Amp as it's a very microphone like pickup that has better feedback resistance. Gollihur Music offers a trial period for this device so you can test it on your bass.

I know I'm late to this party, but I absolutely love my Heil PR40 with my H Clamp.

Although I have become a fan of using my Stat B again after getting the inline converter to let me go without a preamp into the board, I'm still a mic only guy. The Heil blows away everything I've tried in its price range, and is good enough I haven't yet been tempted by the Shoeps. The end firing makes it ideal for mounting, and I never have issues with feedback or bleed.

As Ric mentions, with a heavy mic, you have to be careful of head droop. My solution has yet to fail me, and is pretty simple. I tighten the screw on the H Clamp (the newer version is much better than the old one BTW). THen, I take the supplied velcro tie and wrap it on the arm of the mic below the screw. I loop it around the mount on the bass and the cord and tighten it back on itself. Since I started doing that I've yet to have that experience of looking down and seeing the mic resting on the top of the bass

 

[Monte]

Also should mention I get the best of both worlds in difficult rooms with no PA with this:

Heil PR40 and Stat B in each of the 2 channels of my Mackie small mixer into either my QSC K10 or in a pinch the XLR in on my Markbass combo can get really loud with the big band while still sounding natural with a lot of air.

 

[Monte]

Here is a pic of using the velcro tie to combat the mic drop

 

[Monte]

Here is my placement if I'm using a bow at all. If not, I may move it north of the bridge. Doesn't seem to make a ton of difference.