Bartlett Double Bass Microphone £150 - *SOLD* £1150 Bournemouth

[knicknack]

Bartlett Double Bass Microphone

 

Specially designed and EQ'd to sit in the soundhole without producing a dominant low end, I've had this for a few months and used with the Felix above. Definatley the most giggable mic option i've tried so far over the DPA, Nadine etc. That said, our stage volume is ridiculously loud and I'm giving up on the notion I can make any mic work! This came to around £250 after postage and customs, I'm seeking £150 Posted. 

 

Bass Mic – Bartlett Audio

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Grace Designs Felix2 Preamplifier

 

This is the top-dog of double bass/acoustic guitar preamps! 2 channels and a bunch of routing options. In excellent condition, used a couple of times before circumstances changed, with original box/power cable etc. This is the current (2nd Gen) Version. £1150 UK postage included. SOLD

FELiX2 - Grace Design

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited December 11, 2023 by knicknack

[Frank Blank]

PMd

[Owen]

This preamp is the absolute bomb.

[Frank Blank]

45 minutes ago, Owen said:

This preamp is the absolute bomb.

 

It sure is, and as I was texting @knicknack about acquiring it from him the boiler at Chez Blank decided to finally pack up, and I mean right in the middle of our conversation. Suffice to say, funds depleted, preamp lost.

 

Clucking bell.

[Owen]

Gutting for all involved. 

[Beedster]

Lovely unit 👍

[Beedster]

I woke up thinking about this today 😆

[Burns-bass]

15 hours ago, Frank Blank said:

 

It sure is, and as I was texting @knicknack about acquiring it from him the boiler at Chez Blank decided to finally pack up, and I mean right in the middle of our conversation. Suffice to say, funds depleted, preamp lost.

 

Clucking bell.

So sorry to hear about that Frank. Happened to us.

[bassadder]

When you say it’s better than the  Nadine, DPA 4099, Troll mic etc. what do you actually mean. Louder, better sound, more feedback resistant a better frequency response?.

 

Always looking for the holy grail but I’m confused with the Bartlett, it doesn’t get mentioned in any of the mic shoot outs. I have a Nadine but was also considering a Neumann KM 185, as I can’t justify a Scheops CMC6 MK41. I study with Larry Grenadier and he uses the Scheops as does Jorge Reoder, Billy Molher and a bunch of other pros. The Grace is the Rolls Royce though.

[knicknack]

Hey @bassadder, certainly not 'better' as all the mics you mention sound fantastic... just the nature of where it's designed to be placed means more signal over bleed from other instruments, and it's EQ'd to work in the spot. I find any other mic in the same place needs a large dose of low cut to work, usually to the point where there's not much use. In my own situation the DPA/Nadine are just not capturing enough bass vs ambience to give me any benefit, and whilst the Bartlett is far better in that regard I can't seem to stop certain band members firing very loud wedges directly at my bass which makes the whole thing unviable anyway! Hope this makes any sense...

 

The CMC6 is a dream mic, but honestly I can't see that working live for me either. 

 

I'll try to get a photo of it in place later!

[bassadder]

I hear you, all band members should play to the volume of the bass but unfortunately seldom do and I concur with the wedge monitor issue. I play in folk/Americana band and the volume from monitors is louder than the PA. Incase I just use my Yamaheiko pickup which is the best I’ve tried for my bass.

 

My aim is to play as acoustically as much as possible and use a mic when I need more volume. The Felix is perfect for that with a decent mic. According to some forums I’ve been reading the Neumann KM 185 v2 sounds close to the Scheops CMC6/MK42 but is half the price. The older Neumann KM 84 sounds really good too but the second price is outrageous. 
 

Have you tried the Remic?

Edited January 20, 2023 by bassadder

[knicknack]

I'm considering trying the Yamahiko at some stage, although i've been happy with the Full Circle so far in a mix. Here's a shot of the Bartlett in place. I like the ease of use, no faffing with stands/clamps etc.

 

 

If you are looking for something budget friendly to fill the Schoeps role, I can highly recommend the Line Audio CM4. I use it for recording all the time, and have used it live in very low volume environments!

[Beedster]

1 hour ago, bassadder said:

I hear you, all band members should play to the volume of the bass but unfortunately seldom do and I concur when the wedge monitor issue. I play in folk/Americana band and the volume from monitors is louder than the PA. Incase I just use my Yamaheiko pickup which is the best I’ve tried for my bass.

 

My aim is to play as acoustically as much as possible and use a mic when I need more volume. The Felix is perfect for that with a decent mic. According to some forums I’ve been reading the Neumann KM 185 v2 sounds close to the Scheops CMC6/MK42 but is half the price. The older Neumann KM 84 sounds really good too but the second price is outrageous. 
 

Have you tried the Remic?

 

@bassadder @knicknack I'm very keen to understand the details of the bolded text in the above post, as the sentence ahead of it pretty much describes my goals also 👍

[Beedster]

Also any thoughts on how this would be an improvement on the EBS Stanley Clarke would be appreciated https://ebssweden.com/content2/effects/ebs-stanley-clarke-signature-acoustic-preamp/

 

[knicknack]

I'll let someone with more experience and less Felix's for sale answer that in more detail! But I did try the EBS in my search and I can't say I liked the core sound at all, which is the way I felt about the Fishman Platinum too. Preferred a straight DI box!

[Beedster]

1 hour ago, knicknack said:

I'll let someone with more experience and less Felix's for sale answer that in more detail! But I did try the EBS in my search and I can't say I liked the core sound at all, which is the way I felt about the Fishman Platinum too. Preferred a straight DI box!

 

I'm sure I could accommodate any further thoughts while accepting that you'd also like to sell it 👍

[Graynote]

How does the Felix compare to using a twin channel clarus that would appear to have a lot of the same features built into the preamp stage of the amp?

[knicknack]

@Beedster Maybe we should take it to PM! Give me a shout if you have any questions 🙂

 

@GraynoteI've not tried the Clarus but I'd imagine a Felix plus a power amp would be putting you in very similar territory. I just tend to look for something I really like when set flat, and tweak a little from there! 

[bassadder]

Full disclosure I run Acoustic Image Europe Ltd so I have extensive experience with the 2 channel Clarus. So PM if you have any questions.

 

The EBS has never been on my radar, I love Stanley’s playing but his sound live is to electric for me, Spirocores, pickup, low action, preamp, amp. Plus EBS aren’t really acoustic double bass specialists. I’m positive it will be beautifully designed and built but not for me.

 

The Felix is the Rolls Royce of preamps in terms of price/build/design/components etc. for acoustic instruments, it has more features than our Acoustic Clarus SL-2 or Flex Preamp, it’s a true audio files bit of kit it can be tweaked to the enth degree, which can be a double edged sword. For me personally simple is best and as much as love the idea of the Felix it’s too complicated for me.

 

The one great feature the Felix has over our Acoustic amps is that it has 2 DI’s one for each channel. Which is a great feature for sending out to FOH, the Acoustic Image only has one so you have to include the piezo single with mic. 

I have used the Acoustic Flex in to a powered cab or FOH a few times. It does work really well and screwed on to a mic stand it’s so handy to adjust especially if your using IEM’s. 
 

If you wanna warm up the piezo which I have done if there is a sound man I run it in a decent DI box. I have new Caveman Audio BP1 and it fattens up the single, however any decent DI box would be fine if you wanna go down that route.

 

Studying with both Ben Wolfe and Larry Grenadier the bottom line is to play with really good time first, then tone, pitch, the right notes and evenness of volume across all the strings. They both want the most natural sound possible, Ben uses Chorda’s, Larry uses different strings on different basses but he still sounds like him on whatever he’s using to teach me. He’s not one for recommending gear but he does really like the Gerold Genssler Helix strings. 
 

Ben plays acoustic all the time adds a mic when he needs to hear if it gets loud, Larry uses a Scheops mic on a H-Clamp in to a Really Nice Preamp and in to a power speaker like a MacKie or JBL nothing to hifi. They both promote fundamentals in playing and both get me to play classical pieces or etudes which helps with technique, intonation, consistency and how to navigate the instrument. There’s a bunch other stuff PM if you wanna know. This all contributes to your tone.

A lot of pros like using an EV RE 20 it’s a proper big bodied dynamic mic which sounds really good for bass. 

Edited January 20, 2023 by bassadder

[Owen]

I have an RE 20. It is great but needs a front end which will deliver a hefty dollop of gain. I realise I am veering off topic, but a bump is a bump!

[bassadder]

Yeah I had one but I couldn’t get enough use out of it as it was just plug and play no PA

[bassadder]

On 18/01/2023 at 12:09, knicknack said:

I'm considering trying the Yamahiko at some stage, although i've been happy with the Full Circle so far in a mix. Here's a shot of the Bartlett in place. I like the ease of use, no faffing with stands/clamps etc.

 

 

If you are looking for something budget friendly to fill the Schoeps role, I can highly recommend the Line Audio CM4. I use it for recording all the time, and have used it live in very low volume environments!

I watched a couple of reviews the CM4 gets incredibly favourable reviews considering the huge price difference. Infact some people commented it actually sounded more natural. So I’m getting one and I can use the CM4 or reconned 60’s Calrec CM654 which is almost as good as a Neumann KM84 again more natural.

[Lodekka]

I see this post is from a good while ago, but is the Bartlett still for sale? 

[knicknack]

Hey @Lodekka, yes it is 👍

[Lodekka]

Thanks. PM sent