need to mike up a double bass live

[wotnwhy]

I'm doing a gig in a few weeks on double bass. but it has no pickup and i will need to be amplified.

will just duct taping an AKG condensor mike to the body "do"? i'm not aiming for a jaw dropping sound BTW

[bassace]

If you're not looking for a jaw-dropping sound I suppose any mic in the vicinity of the bass will do. The quick and easy solution seems to be a SM57 in a sponge and stuffed down the tail-piece pointing up towards the bridge. My advice to anyone starting out to amp a bass would be to use a pickup and then............use another pickup and then............when you're really comfortable with your sound try experimenting with a mic, such as the SM57. I've played around with mics but it's just too much hassle. I'm talking gigs rather than recording.

[endorka]

[quote name='bassace' post='466955' date='Apr 19 2009, 08:10 PM']If you're not looking for a jaw-dropping sound I suppose any mic in the vicinity of the bass will do. The quick and easy solution seems to be a SM57 in a sponge and stuffed down the tail-piece pointing up towards the bridge.[/quote]

That's a good tip indeed. I've had my best results using a mic with the H-Clamp;

[url="http://www.exploraudio.com/productdetail.php?pid=11&vid=18"]http://www.exploraudio.com/productdetail.p...d=11&vid=18[/url]

Works really well, and sound engineers love it, but as you say it is not always ideal live, being more prone to feedback than a pickup. I've had the best results when using it in conjunction with a good front of house PA, especially playing in musicals and similar where there is a significant amount of arco playing.

Jennifer

[The Funk]

No experience micing up double basses but will say that a condensor is usually a very bad choice live. Feedback!

[BassBod]

The mike wrapped in foam and wedged down the tailpiece is the "classic" way to do it..and can sound good, as long as you're not in a loud environment and have a good engineer. You probably won't hear it at all....but the audience might.

[TPJ]

When is your gig? I have a Fishman BP100 and preamp gathering dust if you want to borrow it for the gig. Not the best sounding thing but won't feedback as quickly as a mic and you can run it into an amp.

PM me if interested.

[wotnwhy]

going to play around with the mike-down-tailpiece thing tonight with a PG48 and an akg and see how things go. will either be back to thank you for your advice, or ask for more!

[wotnwhy]

tried the AKG down the tailpiece today (couldn't find my PG48..), it certainly works. though feedback does kick in exceptionally early. hopefully the PG and/or better padding, eqing, setup etc. will give me a good enough sound.

and if TPJ's exceedingly generous offer works, it should work out to sound pretty good!

[bassace]

BP100 is the easiest of all the pickups to fit. If used with a preamp you may get a good sound - better than a lot of people give this much maligned pickup credit for.