Miking the Bassoon

meubanks — Sat, 09 Jun 2007 02:01:26 -0400

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

Electric Bassoon Power

meubanks — Sat, 09 Jun 2007 01:59:15 -0400

> Subject: Electric Amplified Bassoon Setup
>
> Dear Mr. Eubanks,
> I'm sure you've gotten this question many times
> since the release of the second Bassoon Brothers CD,
> but exactly what kind of setup did you use to produce
> the electric amplified bassoon effects? I'm really
> interested in exploring what more can be done with the
> unique and ultimately verstile instrument (not to
> mention the laughs it brings when hearing excepts
> blaring through an amp). Most importantly, I'm
> interested in trying some to arrange other rock tunes
> for the bassoon quartet utilizing the instrument.
> Thank you.
> -Michael Harris
> Student, Truman State University
> Kirksville, Missouri
>

Dear Michael, So you probably noticed the slowed down Rite of Spring. But did you hear Bolero backwards? The Tansman Sonatina lick was forwards and backwards too. I think it's great that you want to pursue the electric bassoon sound. I have been using the same pickup since the 1960's. One of my college professors played recitals on clarinet that was amplified. He wrote pieces using multiphonics, synthesizer, tape delays, ring modulators, etc. His name is Bill Smith, and he recorded some with Brubeck. What he and I use is a Vox pickup and looks like an ancient hearing aid. In those days these pickups were used on sax, trumpet and whatever. The same pickup. It requires a hole in the bocal. Mine is on the back just above the cork. A ring is soldered on and the pickup fits into this ring with a rubber washer. This pickup is no longer made, but I'm sure there are still some around. I always play through a wah-wah pedal. The one on the CD is a Morley that has a distortion unit built in. For the recording an additional effect was used to shift between the "vocal" part and the "guitar" part. This was accomplished with computer software, but all guitar effect pedals will work with my set up. I hope that you are aware of Michael Rabinowitz and Paul Hanson's work. Paul's pickup is not like mine. A modern version, but lacks the funkiness of mine. I don't know what these new types are, but I'll check it out for you. I've met them both but don't how to contact them. What you don't want is the contact mike type pickup made by Barcus Berry and others. This type picks up way to much key noise and are very prone to feedback. My professional career started out as a rock musician in the Seattle area. So I played on some of the same stages as Hendrix. I played sax, sang and played keyboard. In the years past I have sat in with many bands with my Fender amp and wah-wah bassoon. The electric bassoon really can fit into the standard rock band. Paul Hanson has made some amazing in roads with his work in this area in the last few years. But he is the most amazing jazz bassoonist I have ever heard. But he never sounds like a bassoon, oh well. Rabinowitz is no slouch either and his wah-wah bassoon cracks me up. There was a group of bassoonists in Florida who played with the New World Symphony maybe ten years ago? I saw a video of them ALL playing with pickups doing some heavy rock stuff. We have not tried that. I encourage you to go for it. It's quite an unusual and ballsy sound. Finally, if you are not aware of Ray Pizzi you should check him out. He makes some great sounds. Have you ever listened carefully to the Cantina Band in the original Star Wars and what about Predator 2? Ray does some weird sounds in Hollywood movies using delays and reverb. Ray is writing pieces for jazz bassoon and bassoon quartets, etc. Henry Mancini wrote a concerto for Jazz Bassoon and Orchestra for Ray. I love this guy. He wrote Ode to a Toad. I hope this gives you some ideas to work with. Let me know if you need more info.

Best regards,
Mark Eubanks

Amplifying the Bassoon

Miking the Bassoon

Electric Bassoon Power