Mic upright bass?

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ddbass

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I'm looking for ideas for miking the acoustic upright bass. In my last project we used an AKG D112 thru an ART Tube MP. It got a nice full tone for the bluegrass thump with a lot of highs eq'd out. For other styles I like a flatter eq and hear the whole tone.

I'd like to find a mic to consistently use for recording my upright acoustic, and maybe on stage too. Styles: acoustic bluegrass, W. Swing, small combo jazz.

What have you tried? What worked? What didn't? What do you recommend?

Thanks.
DickD
 
Off the top ..

You could try wrapping a SM57 in a cloth and jam it into the "f" hole ;) get a pickup, or attach a small electret to the bridge.

Cheers
John :)
 
If you don't have bleed problems, a nice condenser a foot away from the bridge will produce a nice track.
Add a bridge pickup for a little more bite.
 
On stage I do use a bridge pickup (Underwood) that, with the right preamp, gives a solid signal with nice sustain. I usually blend that signal with a mic (ATPRO35 clipped to the bass). I'm thinking of switching to the Realist pickup, after hearing one recently.

For recording it's the wood sound I want to be able to add consistently. I have a very nice sounding acoustic upright and the above setup is not capturing the real deal. Drstawl, the condenser mike a foot or more away is the track I'm on too.

Recommendations on mics you all have had luck with in this situation.
 
Try an EV 408 jammed just below the bridge...works very well for live situations...
Recording: RCA 44BX first choice, KM84 12" from the bridge is nice, EV RE55 is surprisingly good, RE20 I've had good luck with...Any of these through a BA-6A will be nice and tight and woody in the mix...
 
hmmmmmm....RCA 44BX ribbon, pretty hard to find and if I had one I wouldn't use it on stage... but in the studio.. hey tonewood those are beautiful instruments you make I reckon you'd know exactly how to record them.

I'd try a U47 or similar condensor 6" - 12" out front as drstawl suggested, maybe a bit higher if you do the bluegrass slap, luv it :D

I recently heard a Perth group who did country songs from the 40's with mando, banjo, acc and bass and 4 part vocals. They recorded it live on stage all standing around one mike as they used to in those days and each player leaned in and out to effect the balance etc and it was fantastic. I heard it on mono FM but if the original was a good stereo neumann or something...wow. :)

Cheers
John
 
As suggested use a condenser 1-3 feet away but ....point it at the spot you pluck ! and you'll get punch and attack. Towards the "f" hole you'll get more
lows and low mids.

As for mics The flater the freq's the better I have tried several typs but find that it depends to much on the room and so I match it and compensate with EQ.
 
Wow, RCA44BX, U47!! I knew that I would get some classy solutions from you guys! I, er...ah, am humbled to say, however, that I will, um..., probably never own, or even play in front of one of these classics. You guys have some depth in your mic bag that I can only dream about.

John, when you say "U47 or something similar," I get goose bumps. I remember pictures of the Beatles singing into that big can. What might be "similar" (sounding) in a modern condenser that would be affordable to a home studio?

Some good ideas here. Keep 'em coming?
Thanks, DickD
 
I Gotten Nice Results With...

A Neumann TLM103 about 1' away from the bridge. Oddly enough, I've used an AKG C1000 with good results too.
 
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