Suggestions: Super-light weight gooseneck

[Sevitzky]

Pop quiz, hot shots...

What do you use to function as a long "miniature gooseneck" to mount a mini DPA mic?

I'm building a proprietary mic mount for a double bass, the base of which, extends from near the bottom of the instrument. Then I want to mount a gooseneck-type-thing going from that base up to near the bridge f-hole area. I'll mount the mic on top of that, somehow, and tie the cable to the shaft. Purpose is for live sound, of course.

Basically, I'm looking for an approx. 30" gooseneck, but super light.


The best idea I can come up with is a coat hangar. But that doesn't really fly in a classical setting.

A gooseneck would, of course, function as needed, but the weight (as an on-instrument mount) makes it impractical.


Ideas, thoughts?


Possibilities:

I could do some 3/8" steel rods with adjustable articulation points, but that gets complicated in a hurry.

Coat hangar option.

I've thought of using a long stiff copper rod, as well, since it will be very ductile.

This is what I need, but MUCH lighter:
Shure | 27-Inch Gooseneck | G27B | B&H Photo Video

I guess I could just clip the mic to the bridge and point it is some sort of direction (CAN YOU THINK OF ANY WORSE PLACEMENT?!) and get a beer. Just not into micing an instrument that has 27ft-long wavelengths by putting the diaphram 2 inches away, kno what I'm sayin'? But, I know, live is nothing but compromises to reality...

[hbphotoav]

If it's the 4060/4061, it's omni and I'd try gaff tape or sticky Velcro in several locations to suit what you want to hear. The omni has no proximity effect, and you can remove the grill to get a truly flat FR (and lessen finger noise and "rosin"). The element has close to zero weight (the cable will determine how far from the attachment point you can go) and an inch or two provides a nice "shock" relief. If it's the 4099 cardioid with the little blimp on it, the mass increases to the point you might need to do carbon fiber rod or the copper wire thing.

Last time I did it was live reinforcement on a cello, 1/2"x3" strip of black gaff holding the element about 2.5" off the high string side of the bridge, right where the strings cross, and between the body and the strings. Comments after the gig were "unhyped", "woody" and "balanced". No worries with gain before feedback after a couple of resonant freqs (from the PA in the room) were notched.

[drpro]

check out Loc-Line. the product line allows you to built what you need. comes in 1/4, 1/2, 3/4 and 2.5 inch diameters. I use the 3/4 inch to mount larger mics, wireless antennas, and pov cameras. very affordable, much like TinkerToys or Lego blocks. comes in a variety of colors

regards
David

[Sevitzky]

Oh man! Loc Line looks great! Thanks for sharing drpro!

I was wasting hours on the McMaster Carr website, looking for some kind of tubing that might work...


Not only does it speak to the 10-year-old in me, but from the pics, it looks light and strong... Looks like they could be useful soldering assistants, too.


HB, I'm lookin at the 4099. I mean, I might just go with the "on-instrument" mount, due to ease. But if you *could* mount some thing just a little further away, it seems like one would have so much more control over axis-coloring options. And it might ease the boomy-bassy crap tones that swirl around in the bottom end. There were so many out-of-control nodes that I'd have to murder the sound w/ EQ to "naturalize" it. Hence my frankenstein mount project...

Originally, I bought a mini shure mic, 'cuz I figure anything DPA has to offer is going to be lost to due compromises in positioning and mounting (why use a schoeps if you're going to wrap it in foam and stuff it behind the tailpiece, right?) But it just sounds so crappy, so I'm going w/ the DPA to see if I can open up the top end. I figure even a marginal increase is better. Can't rescue frequencies if they aren't there in the first place!

Thanks, dudes.

[Remoteness]

David, I added a link to the Loc-Line website in your post.
Now, folks can directly click on the linkage.

This product line is awesome...
I already have a few ideas to brainstorm about.

Thank you for the recommendation.

[drpro]

Not a problem, Steve. I think that they have a unique product, that has other uses. Glad to help.

David

[hbphotoav]

Originally Posted by drpro

Not a problem, Steve. I think that they have a unique product, that has other uses. Glad to help.

David

Kind of "Tinker Toys for Audio Nerds", eh? Have you tried to paint them? Flat black maybe?

[Murton]

Stage Ninja® - The World's First Retractable Audio and Power Cables for the Music & Entertainment Industries

Check those out. An actual product on a similar line. I use them for guitar cabs, snare, toms and even kick micing. They are seriously excellent! You just attached to the side of a cab, the handle of a combo amp, the high hat stand for sanre and hight hats, the T section for rack toms and ride or crash stands for floor toms. Even the rim of a kick drum for kick to do in or out kick.

I only have two atm and am planning on buying more, possibly3 more, and two of the Y connectors for toms.

These seriously beat any drum mic clip availible and extend to other jobs easily, they just look like anal beads so maybe not the right thing for classical but hey, if it gets the job done, they can be ninja'd out of view pretty easily.

[drpro]

The Stage Ninja folks are using the LocLine products. They appear to have added the necessary connectors to make them ready to use out of the box.

Regards
David

Good day Harry. Did you enjoy sledding over at Ellington