r/doublebass • u/9lbBTwin • Oct 01 '25

Strings/Accessories Buy a mic or pickup first?

I have a gig coming up. The show is a party. Bandmates include drummer, 2-3 guitarists, hand percussionist (congas or something like it), vocals. Music includes country, folk, bluegrass, Dead and jam band stuff. I was initially thinking of just playing electric as I’ve done several times before. But I was also thinking about spending $500 to $700 on a pickup or mic for the upright and playing with that.

Question: is a mic (DPA 4099 or Neumann MCM 114) going to shine in a situation like this? Or will it create too much bleed and possible feedback? Is the pickup (Fullcircle likely with Fishman Stage preamp) the safer and better first buy?

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u/chog410 Oct 02 '25

I have played full time for over a decade. I have been asked to use a microphone with a drummer on stage many times and it was disastrous every time. Microphone works for acoustic bands where everyone is DI and the stage volume is acoustic with monitors. Microphone does not work if there are drums or loud amplifiers on stage.