JJRP

I use db quite a lot in the various sorts of work I do so it's definitely worth having something that records nicely. But I can't really justify spending much more than SLB sort of money. The czech-ease option is tempting but a bit on the more expensive side. Looks like a couple have come up here recently.

Well I could use another mic so I'll give these some consideration. Mostly these days I'm doing acoustic bass parts on my cello wherever tuning will allow. That gets me closer to the woody timbres I'm looking for but limits note choice somewhat. mic'd cello bass.mp3

There's generally a telltale piezo sort of edge to the tone going straight to tape which I don't like. Similarly, my nylon string has a pickup built in but I'd never use it for recording work. I'm guessing I'd probably prefer the high mids I'd get from dropping a mic on an SLB chamber to the bare direct output, although I probably need the direct output blended in to fill out the bass end of the sound. It's a very sketchy plan, though. Just not quite as sketchy as mic'ing up a completely solid EUB like the Stagg.

Another example of the Stagg mic'd with the Rode M3 attached here. It's just about doing the job - deffo much rather have this than midi - but if I run into a tone police checkpoint I think I'm busted. mic'd stagg bass 2.mp3

That's a Rode M3. There's only a little bit of resonance to work with on a Stagg eub though so it's a bit of a mission getting anything on tape without unwanted noise coming through. I had to wedge the endpin with foam to try and stop bits of buzz and rattle, and there's a bit of a metallic flavour where I'd like woody tones instead. The Stagg has done an ok job for me in some situations where I'd have been stuck with midi otherwise but it's not really great to play - huge contrast to the SLB200 I tried, which felt and sounded quite nice - and mostly when I actually need an acoustic tone I'm tending to use my cello instead. I'd like to get some arty ECM type recording done and for this mission I think I need a bit more wood.

Yeah, that might be closest to what I'm looking for. Looks like there must be a decent acoustic signal from one of those. Maybe I'm overcomplicating things and I should just buy a regular db for half the price, though.

This is one of my experiments with a mic on the Stagg with stock strings at a resonant spot on the back. Purely mic signal as I was having issues with the pup. Not great, but I've literally just stuck a mic on a flat plank. I was hoping a chamber plus some pup signal to fill out the bottom end might get me into usable territory - I mean, the SLB200 sounded nice in my hands, had a bit of woodiness. I probably just have to get a real bass. mic'd stagg bass.mp3

Hi folks. I'm looking to upgrade my Stagg EUB to something I can do recording work at home with - mainly pizz but a bit of bow as well - but I'm a bit tight for space and have downstairs neighbours so a proper DB might be a bit on the big and loud side. I remember messing about on an SLB200 acoustically a while back and thinking it might be loud enough and have a nice enough timbre to get something out of mic'ing the chamber, maybe blending in some pickup signal to fill out the lower end. I never actually tried it but I do wonder if it might work out. I probably don't want to go to tape with only piezo signal, at least not for stuff where the bass part is exposed. I want to avoid strong electro-acoustic sorts of flavours. I know the SLB200 / 300, the BSX Allegro, Eminence and the Classic MK EUB all have chambers but I've got no idea about differences in acoustic volume or timbre. I'd presume the BSX / Eminence / MK would be louder / easier to mic than the SLB because they've got larger chambers and f holes. I guess my other option would be a small DB or a Czech-Ease, although the latter probably isn't saving me all that much space vs a regular 3/4 DB. Trying to mic a relatively quiet chamber might just be a crap idea straight out of the blocks though so maybe something nearer actual DB size is the only way forward. If anyone has any advice on the above as I try to work out what bass to buy, I'd appreciate it.