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Double Bass What clip on/contact mic are you using?

ColdEye

ColdEye

Supporting Member
Oct 22, 2015
1,445
2,326
San Diego, CA
#1
What equipment are you using in terms of mics? I currently own a shure sm57. I have been looking at some of the contact/clip on mics (shure pg or beta 98, Akg c411, or k&k golden bullet). Will these be very different from what I currently have now? I will use this mostly for recording at home.
 
#3
ColdEye said:
What equipment are you using in terms of mics? I currently own a shure sm57. I have been looking at some of the contact/clip on mics (shure pg or beta 98, Akg c411, or k&k golden bullet). Will these be very different from what I currently have now? I will use this mostly for recording at home.
Click to expand...

I own the Ehrlund EAP and MSP contact microphones. While they both can be used for recording, I wouldn't put them high on my list of bass recording mics. I also am lucky enough to own a Remic DB microphone, it's very good, but also quite expensive. I also have the DPA 4099B but a decent large diaphram condenser like the Shure KSM32 sounds so much better than most of the contact mics and mini condensers.

Ric
 
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#6
Just installed an Ischell. I officially like it a lot. Have also used the Ehrlund and Vektor in the past. As for regular microphones, I am currently using a Remic Red, but have used a DpA, troll, audix, and an audio technica in the past. Did I mention I prefer mics?
 
#8
Nathan Levine said:
Just installed an Ischell. I officially like it a lot. Have also used the Ehrlund and Vektor in the past. As for regular microphones, I am currently using a Remic Red, but have used a DpA, troll, audix, and an audio technica in the past. Did I mention I prefer mics?
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Nathan, glad to hear the Ischell works for you. At some point, I'm going to give it a second go round. You certianly posess an amazing set of live DB microphones. Sounds like the Ischell and the Remic Red would cover all the basses.

Hopefully, they'll be able to fine tune the Remic Green eventually, when they do, that would be my go to mic.

Ric
 
#9
The Ischell needs careful attention with sealing the putty around the edge, after that it is pretty killing. (note on placement of Ischell: on my Bass position one is really better defined as right exactly over the soundpost...where there is a node)
THe Remic IMHO and I have both versions should be sold with an H clamp. THe Remic RED with an H clamp is a great great mic. THe Green Live version is no where close, and not anywhere as fine or well thought out or practical in terms of sound as the Ischell. THe balance of it, the way the contact portion responds to the table is totally unpredictable and difficult to adjust. The Red version on an H clamp can be put any number of places on the bass. Mine likes to be under the fingerboard (but toward the end where it could not be wedged by itself) or at the same place as Ischell position one: under the G foot (another spot that requires the H clamp)
One thing both Remics have that is totally killing: silent handling. Cotton covered cords and foam protection make it silent NO Handling noise whatsoever...The Ischell once on there is the bomb too.
 
#10
Favorite recording mic ever is an AT4033 in a shock mount 2-4" away and on-level with the bridge. Last engineer mixed it with a sm57 pointed across the top from the top of the treble c bout to the bottom of the bass side, but I didn't like the blended sound as much as the 4033 alone.

Neither clip-on nor contact, and won't work at a gig even a little bit, so maybe not germane, but still...
 
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#11
For recording, a clip on isn't really the way to go - at least not as a primary mic. For live use, I have been quite happy with an AMT S25B on the three basses I've used it on. I've also used a Beta 98, but it had a rattle inside the capsule if I played too hard. I believe I also used an ATM350 and it was a very usable choice.
 
#12
Not exactly a clip-on mic, but a Schoeps hypercardioid on an H-clamp just works perfectly on my bass. Very feedback resistant, delivers a fat tone that is true to the sound of my instrument. Usually, I mix in just a little bit of my Schertler stat B (single element), which gives the tone a bit more "bite," if that makes any sense. My Grace Felix, finally, is an essential part of my setup, and I send either the mix of the mic and the pickup or the mic alone to the FoH, and/or the mix to my active cab (a Schertler Jam 150 extension, soon to be replaced by the even better Schertler Side, on a pole). This combination isn't cheap, though, but you get what you pay for, and then some!

Peace,
Vincent
 
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#13
Thank you all, this is a lot of info for me to research on. I was under the impression thay a clip on or contact mic would be easiest specially when I don't have the space to set up mics on a stand. I will get to try a shure Beta 98 and see how it goes. I don't have access to the other high end mics listed so no trial for those.
 

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