Stand Up Bass

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JR Productions
Member Since: Mar 03, 2005

Any one got some tips on getting a nice upright bass sound for a jazz group? Im not too familiar with how its really done. The bassist has the microphone that he uses for live shows...should I use that alone or mic somewhere else with my SDCs? Any other compression, eq, reverb, or other effect settings would be very helpfull. Thanks a bunch.

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Member
Since: Apr 26, 2002


Apr 14, 2005 04:15 pm

Walt should be able to help you... as I recall he plays upright in a jazz group...

Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


Apr 14, 2005 04:52 pm

yeah, he has actually discussed it somewhere ont his forum before too...

Chief Cook and Bottle Washer
Member
Since: May 10, 2002


Apr 14, 2005 11:23 pm

Sorry I'm a little late. Buisy day.

Give his mic a shot. If it sounds good it is. Some put a mic down under the bridge pointing up at it. I like two mics, one about mid string at about a 45deg or so angle to the fingerboard point down the fingerboard and a second one off axis on one of the 'f' holes. Gives me the ability to blend resonance with finger work and string vibration. Another real nice little tool is a fishman platnum DI box. Real nice DI for any bass. You might try that and the mic he has to get a real good blend. As far as FX, I really like the sound of the upright and use very little or none. An upright is pretty balanced as far as dynamic output so a compresser on the input should not be necessary. I every once in a while will use a little compression in the mix. As far as verb, I rarely use any except the overall mastering verb and then I usually dampen the bottom end on the verb. As soon as I get my job situation squared away a little I will go pro here again and post a couple of recordings to help demonstrate different mic'ing / DI use.

Ultra Magnus
Member
Since: Nov 13, 2004


Apr 15, 2005 07:08 am

I've had some nice sounds combining a contact mic with a D112, the AKG grabs the bass freq and the contact gets the rest. I wish i could remember which contact mic we settled on, but sorry, i just can't.

Hold 'Em Czar
Member
Since: Dec 30, 2004


Apr 15, 2005 11:29 am

awsome replies guys!! thank you for educating me!!

as for FX, i hafta say it depends on context...i've heard some FAT Dubblebass work with thick distortion on a few slamin' drum n' bass tracks.

walt, is there any music of your's available??? i'd love to hear some. i've been a jazzer for roughly 2 years now and love it!

wyd

JR Productions
Member
Since: Mar 03, 2005


Apr 15, 2005 04:14 pm

Ya thanks for all the replies. A DI box has been next on the list for a few months now but I always end up getting something else...so I'll grab one of those.

Chief Cook and Bottle Washer
Member
Since: May 10, 2002


Apr 18, 2005 09:18 am

WYD,

It's kinda funny really, I was thinking about this the other day. I've got six bands 'in house' so to speak right now. All working on pretty good sized projects that per work schedules, funds, and song development will take some time. They are all moving forward very nicely except my band. Kinda like 'your nobody in your own home town' syndrome. Of course, my band having 17 members to get motivated is a big hinderance up front. But regardless, my band takes the recording thing pretty lightly, and it is taking an extreamly long time to get well performed material. The only real material I have per my upright work is ballad R&R stuff that I have done as a 'studio musician'. I really don't have any material that is jazz that I am willing to post.

Funny the way things evolve.

Hold 'Em Czar
Member
Since: Dec 30, 2004


Apr 18, 2005 11:42 am

ever do some trio stuff????

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