Double Bass Who's using mics for live performance?

[Ed Fuqua]

Just cause I like to post it

 

[Phil Rowan]

Been pretty happy using an ATM350 blended via Headway Pre with a Planet Wings (which will soon be replaced with a Realist, since the PW's been shorting out). Depending on the situation I'll run just the ATM350 or just the PW though.

 

[juuzek]

Just cause I like to post it

I like this. Is the mic just snugged in there with a cylinder of foam? Does it need phantom power? [I'm guessing not]

 

[Ed Fuqua]

Yup, I carry a rectangle of foam about 4" x 10" and no phantom power needed for the mic, nice dynamic sucker...
http://www.coutant.org/md409u3/index.html

 

[chicagodoubler]

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Not advocating purchasing anything from GC, but I use one of these clipped to the bass side bridge adjuster, with the capsule aimed directly at the top over the bass bar.

I learned this from an amazing live sound engineer who argued that since the bass bar is the loudest vibrating source on the top, it's the best place to get a pure signal. It's often a little thick at 100k, but the sound out front is pretty authentic. A skeptical engineer came up on stage recently and shook my hand, professing his initial doubt but that "it sounded like a big loud bass."

BTW, using a mic with an amp on stage is often a recipe for feedback. Most of the guys using mics are doing so exclusively for FOH, while monitoring through a pickup- amp on stage. The only ones where mic only works for me are small intimate listening rooms where the mic-amp combo is giving a little nudge.

Also, the AT mic requires phantom, which is a button away on my acoustic image amp.

 

[robbotbass]

D112 is a little too boomy I think I prefer the Senhnheisser 421 but well out of the 100 buck range.

 

[Mandobassman]

There's lots of great suggestions here. In post #2 a AKG D112 was recommended. I used that mic for a couple of years and it IS a great mic for live use. However, it is a P.I.T.A to set up and not easy to mount. And, it is certainly not in the "under $100 range". I asked this same question a little while back and the resulting setup I wound up with is not only cheap, it sounds wonderful. Much better than any pickup I have ever heard. Here is a link to that thread to get the details. Basically, it's a Radio Shack tie clip mic that costs $32. Sounds crazy, I know, but it's the best amplified sound I have ever had, and the easiest setup ever, once I installed it on the bass. Just plug it into my GK Backline 112 and I get wonderful full sound with virtually no feedback. At $32, it's worth a try.

 

[Kamuilija]

I use the [Invalid or Expired Link Removed], and I've liked it a lot. Every house soundguy knows how it works, and if I happen to forget it home, you can find one at every venue.

Obviously, it's not perfect, but it works for me. However, while playing a gig our National Broadcast Company recorded, they let me use a DPA 4099, and that was like heaven.

-Maksim

 

[Marc Piane]

he're mine

 

[Refonbass]

My current setup, which by the way is hands down my favorite is as follows;
Blue Woodpecker active ribbon mic, with custom fabbed foam/rubber baffle to block ambient (other players) sound.
Running this through a golden age pre73 mkII dlx preamp to the p.a.
Granted this is a lot of stuff to bring/setup at the gig, but after being so unsatisfied with my tone with various pickups over the years, it's worth it IMO.
Also, I don't play on a lot of high volume gigs so that may be why the setup works quite well for me.