Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Has anyone tried the "Speaker as a Microphone" technique for bass guitar recording?
I have heard the technique was used on lots of Beatles songs to achieve the booming deep bass sound.
(In conjunction with a good compressor of course.)
If anyone has advice on how to get good results with this method that would be too cool.

What size speaker is best to use as a mic?
Should the "Speaker as a Microphone" be mounted in a cabinet?
Can you use headphones for this method?
How far from the bass sound source should one place a "Speaker as a Microphone"?
How loud should one crank the bass amp?
Is a good mic-pre really the most important piece of gear in the equation?
Is a short scale bass with less harmonics and more fundamental a better choice than a long scale bass?

Thanks!

I remember doing something similar in high school or maybe junior high with a cassette tape recorder and pair of cheap earphones. It worked, though muddy and dim.

First I'd learned that is with old intercoms - they used the speaker as a mic. I hooked the intercom up to the tv speaker once when my parents had company and got to listen in.

I would think you'd want a larger cone speaker to couple to the bass waves better - less distortion than a small driver. I also think a cabinet would lose coupling and make it much less efficient. If you have a 6" or bigger driver and a computer interface that accepts instrument level, patch a guitar cable to the speaker and try it - what have you got to lose?

Calling Geoff Emerick................Mr Emerick.................hello ? Geoff Emerick mentions this technique in his "Here,There and Everywhere" book but not how to do it.

Get your desired microphone here.

thanks.....
that yamaha mic. looks like a good place to start.
6" or 8" driver wired to a patch cable and used as a mic. will be my starting point.

Saw a band the other night with the drummer using a speaker in front of his bass drum as the mic. Sounded good.
Also have a pic of Neil Peart recording drums for the last album with one in front of his bass drum, just can't find it right this second.

Does anyone actally have any experiences with that Yamaha Sub Kick? I have been interested in trying one out with our drummer, but I haven't gotten my hands on one and don't want to sink that much money into one without hearing more about it. Thanks, guys you all are always a treasure trove of information.

Finally found that picture of Neil Peart recording with one..