Stand-up Bass Tips?

[Aaron Cheney]

Well, it finally happened. I have the opportunity to record a stand up bass next week.
I've never done this before, and I'm looking for some tips as far as mic placement and type.
It is a jazzy song, and I know he has a pickup on the thing, so I figure I'll be doing a direct signal from that, and a mic'ed signal as well, and then seeing what I end up with.
Ideas?

Aaron
http://www.aaroncheney.com

 

[Track Rat]

Lately I've been using a Grove Tubes AM-52 in omni aimed at the upper part of the player's left hand sound hole about 12" to 16" away. I'd get the pick up as well into another channel and play with the two to taste.

 

[Tom Hicks]

You lucky dog!
Try the mike about 2 feet in front of the bridge.

Tom

 

[James HE]

Upright bass is fun! heh. it's either "uggh" or "Dman that sounds soooo good!"

For some bowed parts I used my NT-1 into a mackie. The bass was in a small but live room. Had the mic pointed at one of the f holes about 2 1/2 feet away. I got a good sound. The NT-1 probably isn't the best mic to use for upright, but for the bowed parts it worked well. I used the same setup for the plucked parts, but that didn't thrill me as much...

I had a rough mix of the tune posted somewhere if you'd want to hear it Aaron. I just gotta remember where I put it...

-jhe

 

[Tapehead]

Been there before. Critical to get some distance--ie a couple of feet--away from the instrument. Otherwise you're not picking up on the big sound waves coming off the top as well as the air moving out of the f holes.

 

[Tonewoods]

Contrary to the urge to use a large diaphram, try a small diaphram condenser pointed at the base of the fingerboard, 8-10" away. KM84s, 451s, or even an AT Pro 37R will do just fine.

My fav though, is a large ribbon (BK11, 44BX, 77DX) 10" to the right of the above-mentioned spot looking at the bass. This is my favorite setup for bass overdubs, but because most ribbons are figure-8 (the 77 is an exception), leakage from other instruments can be a problem, so go with the above method...

LOL