Double Bass Brian Bromberg - Nardis

[Brad_Pearson]

That's amazing ! I'm so enthusiastic about the rhythmic vocabulary he uses on the solo Too bad I don't setup my action that low (something I won't change for now), so I don't think I could replay the fast passages on my instrument. Yet, I'm thinking about transcribing parts of it.

Brians vocabulary is truly unique, and a lot deeper than I think people give him credit for. Although the tapping and chordal stuff isn't particularly my bag, the contrast it provides and the fact that he's the only one doing something like that (in a straight ahead context) speaks volumes regarding his creativity and artistic vision.

This is a big year for bass-centric albums with the LaFaro Project and the Christian Mcbride/Edgar Meyer duo album!

 

[Brad_Pearson]

@Brian Bromberg Would you be willing to give us a rundown of your amplification setup for a gig like this? I know you've said your bass isn't the loudest acoustically, so I imagine your amp size and volume would be larger than most. You also go for a tone that doesn't lack lows, mids, or highs. You've spoken in detail about your bass and pickup so I wouldn't ask you to repeat that, but some insight on the amplification on a DB-only gig would be very interesting.

I'm assuming the mix on the videos is very mic heavy (if not only mic), and that the mic (im guessing) was not part of the stage mix (maybe just in the FOH)?

Edit: Looking again I'm not actually sure I see a mic, yet the highs sound very realistic. That BSX pickup really is something else.

 

[Brian Bromberg]

@Brian Bromberg Would you be willing to give us a rundown of your amplification setup for a gig like this? I know you've said your bass isn't the loudest acoustically, so I imagine your amp size and volume would be larger than most. You also go for a tone that doesn't lack lows, mids, or highs. You've spoken in detail about your bass and pickup so I wouldn't ask you to repeat that, but some insight on the amplification on a DB-only gig would be very interesting.

I'm assuming the mix on the videos is very mic heavy (if not only mic), and that the mic (im guessing) was not part of the stage mix (maybe just in the FOH)?

Edit: Looking again I'm not actually sure I see a mic, yet the highs sound very realistic. That BSX pickup really is something else.

Thanks for the question, Brad. On that trio gig in Tucson, I used a Mark Bass amp. It was a brand new model when I got it and I am on the road now so sadly I don't remember the model of the amp, but it is very high powered, I think 1,000 watts. It also has a tube pre-amp as well as a solid-state pre-amp. It is a very warm-sounding amp that works great for both upright and electric bass. On that gig, I was playing through an Epifani 4x10 cabinet. Most of the time I use a 4x10 with my upright because it reproduces the low frequencies that my instrument creates, as well as it is clear and has all the high-end you would need for that clarity. I used two pick-ups on that gig. Dino from BSX made me new bridges for my upright basses with his piezo system installed. It is the same system that he uses on his electric upright basses and it sounds fantastic for bottom, sustain, clarity, and focus. I blended that pick-up with the Realist pick-up from David Gage. That pick-up has more thump, body sound, and air. When in phase and blended you get a pretty powerful sound that kind of has the best of both worlds. I like to blend a mic with the pick-ups but I moved recently and for some reason, I cannot find my mic! On the recording of the trio playing the LaFaro tribute set live, there are no mics, just the blend of the two pickups recorded directly. I hope that answers your question. Thanks again.....Brian

 

[Keith Rawlings]

The LaFaro album is awesome, BTW. It dropped on streaming yesterday and I’ve listened to it twice already.

 

[Brad_Pearson]

Thanks for the question, Brad. On that trio gig in Tucson, I used a Mark Bass amp. It was a brand new model when I got it and I am on the road now so sadly I don't remember the model of the amp, but it is very high powered, I think 1,000 watts. It also has a tube pre-amp as well as a solid-state pre-amp. It is a very warm-sounding amp that works great for both upright and electric bass. On that gig, I was playing through an Epifani 4x10 cabinet. Most of the time I use a 4x10 with my upright because it reproduces the low frequencies that my instrument creates, as well as it is clear and has all the high-end you would need for that clarity. I used two pick-ups on that gig. Dino from BSX made me new bridges for my upright basses with his piezo system installed. It is the same system that he uses on his electric upright basses and it sounds fantastic for bottom, sustain, clarity, and focus. I blended that pick-up with the Realist pick-up from David Gage. That pick-up has more thump, body sound, and air. When in phase and blended you get a pretty powerful sound that kind of has the best of both worlds. I like to blend a mic with the pick-ups but I moved recently and for some reason, I cannot find my mic! On the recording of the trio playing the LaFaro tribute set live, there are no mics, just the blend of the two pickups recorded directly. I hope that answers your question. Thanks again.....Brian

Thanks for the detailed reply! The sound on those videos is amazing for a direct signal from pickups

 

[marcox]

The sound on those videos is amazing for a direct signal from pickups

The sound on those videos is amazing. for a direct signal from pickups

(Fixed it for you. )

 

[Brad_Pearson]

The sound on those videos is amazing. for a direct signal from pickups

(Fixed it for you. )

Absolutely! I guess more than anything I was stunned to hear that no mic was involved, as you can see in my earlier post.

 

[Michael Case]

I am always amused by all the comments when someone like Brian Bromberg comes up, I mean seriously? The man can play, extremely well, and deserves respect. As far as his tone, if I could get an amplified tone like his I'd be happy to lug my amp to every gig. I respect how he has made the amp work, it's a part of his sound, much like Ron Carter IMHO.

I'd like to say bravo! I really enjoyed this video, I love how relaxed Mr. Bromberg's playing is, and how legato his lines sound. Almost like the bass is vibrating on its own and he is just stopping the notes. When does the new album release?

 

[Michael Drost]

I am always amused by all the comments when someone like Brian Bromberg comes up, I mean seriously? The man can play, extremely well, and deserves respect. As far as his tone, if I could get an amplified tone like his I'd be happy to lug my amp to every gig. I respect how he has made the amp work, it's a part of his sound, much like Ron Carter IMHO.

I'd like to say bravo! I really enjoyed this video, I love how relaxed Mr. Bromberg's playing is, and how legato his lines sound. Almost like the bass is vibrating on its own and he is just stopping the notes. When does the new album release?

It is out now! Checked out yesterday. A great album.

 

[Brian Bromberg]

Glad you guys like the album, it was really fun to record a live jazz trio record. We recorded 14 songs in two days, like the old days, a very rewarding experience for sure.....

 

[bassically_eli]

I listened to most of the album today, and what I heard was really great.

As far as the bass tone, there's really no mic at all? No room mic or anything? I guess I'm going to have to play with blending two pickups, but I wonder if a continuously variable phase control is necessary to get that good of a blend--not too mention a great soundman too, I'm sure. I only have preamps with 180deg phase switches.

 

[Brad_Pearson]

I listened to most of the album today, and what I heard was really great.

As far as the bass tone, there's really no mic at all? No room mic or anything? I guess I'm going to have to play with blending two pickups, but I wonder if a continuously variable phase control is necessary to get that good of a blend--not too mention a great soundman too, I'm sure. I only have preamps with 180deg phase switches.

The album is mic'd I believe. We were referring to the live videos posted earlier.

Brian also produces and engineers his own albums as far as I know.

 

[Brian Bromberg]

Correct, the sound on the live performance videos are the two pick-ups with no mic. On the actual recording I did not use any pick-ups or direct signal. I used two mics, a tube DPA mic which is a very pristine clear sounding mic that I have used for many years now, and I also blended a D112 with the DPA. The D112 is used mainly for kick drums and floor toms, as they handle lots of DB's and help with the "thump" and fatness/bottom. You have to phase align them, but when you do it is a really nice combination.

 

[Chris Fitzgerald]

Just listened to the first half today. Sounds really great and the arrangements are nice, too!

@Brian Bromberg can you share any information about the BSX pickup and how it is installed into the bridge? I looked at the BSX website and couldn’t really tell much about the pickups. Thanks!

 

[Brian Bromberg]

Hey Chris, nice to hear you type! The only downside of the BSX and some other piezo pick-up systems is that the pick-ups have to be installed in the bridge. What Dino does is you have to send him your bridge, and he makes a new bridge that copies your bridge in radius and string spacing/placement, and then you put his bridge top on your original bridge feet so it fits your top as you have it now.

This whole thing came about because I asked him to try it on an actual double bass. I use his electric upright basses and they sound fantastic. My road upright was the test run for the system on a real upright. I figured if that pick-up worked on my travel upright then it would work on my Italian bass. I did not want to mess with my Italian bass set up and bridge unless I knew it was going to work. It works great, as you also have a volume control as well as a three band eq. Pretty cool. Dino is the best. I will ask him if he wants to do installations etc, or if he will train someone to do them. Film at 11 as they used to say........B2

 

[Chris Fitzgerald]

Hey Chris, nice to hear you type! The only downside of the BSX and some other piezo pick-up systems is that the pick-ups have to be installed in the bridge. What Dino does is you have to send him your bridge, and he makes a new bridge that copies your bridge in radius and string spacing/placement, and then you put his bridge top on your original bridge feet so it fits your top as you have it now.

That makes sense, thanks. I still don’t have a real sense of what the pickup installation on the bridge looks like, or how invasive it is. If you or anyone has a picture of what that bridge installation looks like, I’d love to see it! Also, on the BSX basses, the preamp and controls are built in. Does this pickup have an external preamp when used with a double bass?

This whole thing came about because I asked him to try it on an actual double bass. I use his electric upright basses and they sound fantastic. My road upright was the test run for the system on a real upright. I figured if that pick-up worked on my travel upright then it would work on my Italian bass. I did not want to mess with my Italian bass set up and bridge unless I knew it was going to work. It works great, as you also have a volume control as well as a three band eq. Pretty cool. Dino is the best. I will ask him if he wants to do installations etc, or if he will train someone to do them. Film at 11 as they used to say........B2

Thanks for reaching out! I don’t have a historic Italian instrument, but I am very protective of my main bass and no one else plays it. I like the sound and setup so much that I have superstitiously never even taken the bridge down since I put my current pickup on. It just makes sense to me to work on my own playing instead of chasing gear.

That said, the sound on those videos is compelling, and I would maybe consider doing as you did and trying a new setup out on my backup teaching/travel bass first to see how I liked it. Thanks again.

 

[Brian Bromberg]

Here is a pic of the bridge and pre-amp. I can take some other pics when i get back home as i don't have my upright bass with me.

 

[Chris Fitzgerald]

Brian - thanks for the pic! I can't tell much about the pickup or the preamp controls from that angle, but it looks like it might actually be four pickups built into the bridge, something like the old Barbera? Or I could be totally off with that. If the system allows for some sort of string balance control, that would be really great.

Thinking about it, I have a travel bass that plays great but I never play it because it doesn't amplify as well as I'd like. I would have no problem sending that bridge in to give this system a shot. If that bass became more viable as a result, that would be a terrific outcome.

 

[Brian Bromberg]

There might be trim pots for each string, I don't remember actually. Mine is balanced, but since they are individual pick-ups under each string I think there is separate volume trim pots. I can ask Dino if you are seriously interested?

 

[mooseonbass]

Just got a copy in the mail and gave it a listen. Excellent album! Can't wait to hear again tomorrow.