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Hi im on the look out for a Bass Cabinet microphone (SVT Head thru a Ampeg 8x10 with a 73 Fender Jazz) primarily for live use. Are there any suggestions on what would do the job? Also something that can handle high SPL and a distortion pedal!


thanks jj

Howdy,
I wouldn't go with a condenser on stage, they are too fragile. At least for the stages that I am on.
What have you tried before? How much do you like to spend?
I've used AKG's D112, Sennheiser's MD 421 and EV's RE20 on stage with good results. In the studio I like the Beyerdynamic M 380TG a lot. It emphasis a bit more of the upper mids than the M 380 (N) does. It can be problematic on smaller stages because of it's bi-directional pick-up pattern that can also pick up a lot of the other instruments on stage. So watch out where you point the rear lobe. Beyer also makes a uni-directional version of it, I think it's called TGX-50, or something like that.
I hope that helps.
Best, max.

Ahh, yes... I've seen people use Beyer M88s on stage. It sounded good to me.

Electrovoice RE20 is good in both the studio and live. In studio, I like using the Sony c48p. It has a lot of colour and it quite versitile. But I've been using the RE20 a lot lately on the kick and bass guitar.
The D112 (previously mentioned) has a good resistence for overload (i think it might be impossible to overload it) but you only get lows out of it. and since your bass isn't giving out just lows, I wouldnt use it unless you used it with another mic to pick upthe rest of the sound your bass/amp is giving off.

Beyer M88 is pretty good. I've used the D112 egg-looking thing many times and it worked just fine, high-end rolloff or no. Also, it's pretty sturdy. That certainly isn't the main consideration, but it is a welcome plus.

Keep in mind, there's a whole section on microphones here, too, all of which have serving suggestions.

I like the Shure SM-7 on 10" LF drivers. I like 73 Jazz Basses too.

We just used a Beyer M380TG on a recording to pick up a P-bass through a V-4 into an Ampeg 810, and it sounded pretty damn good. I run it pretty loud and crunchy as well, and it had no problem picking up the thump AND the zing (technical terms).

I haven't run it through a PA, so I can't attest to its sound there, but we did end up baffling a bit to protect the backside of the fig-8 from picking up too much of the other instruments.

Just my $0.02

I never got a decent bass sound from a D112 alone on live scenarios. I tend to combine it with a more midrangy/thicker mic, usually an Audix OM3 with more... let's say "accurate" results. But most of the times I usually go with just the Audix. I only use the AKG when I really need to go that low. Well, OM3 is not the perfect bass amp mic, but yields a fully usable sound with most of the bands I work with. I like the D4 best, and it's going to be my next purchase. I also love Electro- Voice PL20. I never had the opportunity of placing an M 88 in front of a bass cab, but I'm sure that if I got such a chance I'm going to get a perfect bass sound in that venue.

EV RE20, Beyer M88, and senn MD421have all been mentioned already. i've also gotten good results with the senn. 441.
i've never really been happy with a D112 on bass amp, live or studio.

-tim