Miking the Bassoon

Subject: Bassoon Microphone?
>
> Cool website, Brothers! And it sounds like a really cool group.
> I did see a quartet of French bassoons one time. I think they were on
> tour from Belgium. About 10 years ago, maybe 15.
>
> But here's my question: Do you folks ever use a PA system? And if so,
> what do you do about microphones?
> I'm playing in an electrified band (lots of guitars, full drum set, > etc.) At present, I'm amplifying my bassoon with a voice mike on a
> stand, aimed near the top of the boot joint.
> Someone told me once, years ago, about a mike that could be dropped
> down inside the bassoon. So far, I haven't been able to locate any
> information on anything of that type. I would be interested in knowing
> what you use, and any tips on where I might shop for such equipment.
>
> Dyanne Fry Cortez
> Folk & Country Bassoonist
> Austin, Texas

Dear Dyanne, Thanks for checking us out. Do you not have our CDs yet? I play electric bassoon which you may or may not know. I have a bocal with a Vox pickup. Others like Paul Hanson and Michael Rabinowitz (jazz bassoonists) us a Frap. These are no longer made but are out there used. Neither type sounds like a bassoon. The contact type mikes do not work well as they pick up too much key noise, Barcus Berry types. If you want to play into a P.A. mike, I always used a Shure SM 57 (a very commonly used mike) place at the low C tone hole--the one that closes when you touch low B. This is a great sound. Only problem is when you hit low B or Bb, it doesn't pick up. Yes, it is possible to drop a mike down the bell. A guy here in Portland found one that worked really well. After searching and trying to duplicate it, I gave up. It was an old hearing aid mike. The problem with a mike down in the bore is that it has to be small, not feedback, and "balloon" in sound when you get down to the low notes. I couldn't make any that I tried work. I also found that a very small lavalier type mike clamped or taped over the bell is OK, but sound off the bell is a bit harsh. The SM 57 sounds better, but your are always stuck at the mike which should be right on the C tonehole. So having a small mike clamped to the horn let's you move around. I think some of the newer sax clamp on mikes would work for you, but I have not been experimenting with these. I think you can try different placements to get the tone you want, probably off the bell or low C tonehole and tweak the tone on the amp to get a good sound. I hope this helps. Take a listen to my Jimi Hendrix's Purple Haze on our Captured CD. Available on amazon.com. This is the pure electric sound with wah-wah an distortion effects. Folk and country bassoon sounds great. I did some new age stuff a while back with a guy named David Michael who has several CDs out there. Recorded the trax in San Francisco. Thanks again for your question.

Regards, Mark Eubanks