Upright Bass - elastic/bridge mic

[zakco]

A while back I saw a picture (I think it was here...) where someone had used elastic bands as a shockmount to hold a SDC underneath the bridge of an upright bass. I've searched with no success to find that again.

Does anyone know which thread that was in? Or possibly, could you describe in detail that technique?

Thanks,

-Zak

[videoteque]

It's this one??

[zakco]

Yes, thank you!

I tried several different search combinations but couldn't find it...you're a genius my friend! thumbsup

-Z-

[LX3]

I was watching a bit of a Tony Williams quintet gig on TV last night (it was probably from the late eighties... the gig, not the TV), and the bass player had a mic rolled up in a large piece of soft grey foam, stuffed between the legs of the bridge.

Looked ugly (not that it got a closeup). But sounded excellent. There might have been some pickup mixed in of course, no way to be sure.

I couldn't see what mic they used unfortunately. All you saw was foam.

The band were well spaced out around the stage, lots of room between them all. I'm sure that helped.

[Remoteness]

Originally Posted by zakco

Yes, thank you!

I tried several different search combinations but couldn't find it...you're a genius my friend! thumbsup

-Z-

Yes, but the one search combo you didn't try was going to the bottom of the forums main page and clicking on the Popular Tag Search for the words "Bassage or Upright."

[videoteque]

It was even easier, the thread was posted in the similar threads in bottom of the page!!!!


Steve's tags rule too!!!thumbsup

[Remoteness]

Yes, the "Similar Threads" and "Popular Tags" links can be very useful.

I don't understand why more folks don't use them.

[7rojo7]

Omni works best. KM56 is mythical. try to find one in good shape these days. anyone make capsules out of nickel anymore?
Foam's ugly but it works, some complain that it mutes the instrument too much so rubberbands the way. I'v settled on a cmc5 in its shockmount and the rubberband theory. Pickups work great for monitors but this is the way for recording live, in the studio I like one outside the body pointing down from the end of the fretboard.

[zakco]

I didn't think to check the tags at the bottom, thanks for reminding me of that feature...

Also, I think something was up with the search function yesterday. I was getting literally ZERO results for keywords like "upright bass" - seriously. I just retried a couple this morning and got dozens of results. Weird.

Anyways thanks again for the suggestions...

-Zak

[Remoteness]

There are a lot of great threads about upright (slap) bass.

It's pretty awesome if I do say so myself.

[ajfarber]

Originally Posted by 7rojo7

Omni works best. KM56 is mythical. try to find one in good shape these days. anyone make capsules out of nickel anymore?
Foam's ugly but it works, some complain that it mutes the instrument too much so rubberbands the way. I'v settled on a cmc5 in its shockmount and the rubberband theory. Pickups work great for monitors but this is the way for recording live, in the studio I like one outside the body pointing down from the end of the fretboard.

Omni will pick up too much leakage, especially from drums. I have had good luck with a KM56 on cardioid, on a mic stand. But you can't go wrong with the pencil mic/rubber band shock mount combo.

I still prefer to mic the bass on a mic stand. I like a little bit of "finger noise" which is hard to get with the mic-in-the-bridge scenario. I have had good results with a variety of mics including:
AKG d12e
EV-re20
Beyer m-88
Royer 121

RCA 44bx
Coles 4038
AEA r84

Neuman km54, km56, km86, km186, u47

and other "cheap-ass" mics.