6 Best Mics for Bass Amp in 2023

Electric bass guitars (and also kick drums), if recorded properly, offer the low-end foundation for country, rock, pop, and various other music styles.

If producers do not get the bass sound right, it becomes difficult to hold the track together, and then the music sounds thin and weird. So, you have to get the best bass sound possible. And, to get the best bass track, you need the best mic.

Buying a new microphone can be quite an exciting journey, but at the same time, it can be demotivating and straining too, particularly when you have such varied choices to select from. Each mic comes with many different features, and there are so many possibilities.

Buying the best mic for bass amp can be confusing, more so if you are a beginner. Each product may look so attractive that you find it difficult to select one.

So, to make things easier for you, we are sharing with you six bass amp mics that you may consider selecting from.

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Shure Beta 52A Supercardiod Dynamic Kick Drum Microphone

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If you are looking for a mic, particularly for metal music, then your search ends with Shure Beta 52A. This is a dynamic microphone, and it easily picks up amazing low-end sound from every kick drum or live bass.

Its attack response offers flawless resonance from any high SPLs or intense low frequencies.

Thanks to its great supercardioid pickup pattern, it offers a clear, crisp sound straight on the drum’s delivery. This mic proves to be a perfect pick in the great choices that you have owing to its low feedback and high gain.

Furthermore, it rejects undesirable sound both from other drum instruments and handling noises.

When you want to enjoy that strong bass sound that live metal music offers, you require a mic like Shure Beta 52A that will pick up your bass drum’s rich low end with no distortion at all.

If you are in search of a long-lasting, simple mic that will enable you to enjoy professional-grade sound in your next metal show, then you can consider Shure Beta 52A.

Pros
  • Offers strong bass sound
  • Long-lasting
  • Easily picks up low-end sound
Cons
  • Some users claim that the mic stops working at times

Check Price and Reviews on Amazon


Video: “Shure Beta 52A Kick Drum Mic Review – Practical Edition”



AKG D112 MkII Professional Bass Drum Microphone

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Also, at times known as ‘Egg mic’, AKG D112 is a dynamic mic and is popularly known for picking up bass frequencies amazingly well.

AKG itself is a very famous name in the microphone industry, and you can never go wrong no matter which product of this brand you opt for.

The D112 MKII, as well as the original one, is known to offer an amazing job as far as recording acoustic, electric bass, or drums are concerned.

This microphone comes with a large diaphragm, and this is the reason behind its great aptitude that helps pick up lower sounds perfectly well.

The polar cardioid pattern helps make sure the mic focuses just on a single sound source – the one that the kick drum or bass guitar offers. Any other surrounding noise will be rejected by the mic, and AKG mics are anyway known to do this task beautifully always.

The mic offers great kick, and if you are interested in punchy, intense sound, then AKG ensures you that and more with its D112 MKII.

Pros
  • Focuses only on one source of sound
  • Comes with a large diaphragm
  • Ensures dynamic sound
Cons
  • The in-built mic clip can make it a little difficult to handle

Check Price and Reviews on Amazon


Video: “AKG D112 MKII Kick Drum Mic Sound Samples”



Sennheiser e902 Cardioid Dynamic Mic for Kick Drum

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This kick drum microphone is an ideal choice for anyone interested in a combination of endurance and quality sound. The mic will pick up kick drum sounds just within milliseconds, and thus you need not worry about any delay.

Every drummer wants a reliable microphone that can represent them and their performance faithfully. And, you will be glad to know that Sennheiser does exactly so with its quick response times.

The stand mount is already a part of the design, and this is something that you will commonly find with Sennheiser mics. Also, you will get to enjoy a big 10-year warranty guarantee.

Sennheiser e902 can even help you record other instruments like bass, tube, and so on, and in fact, it is considered the best mic for bass amp by many. If you opt for this mic, you will also get a bag in which your microphone will stay safe when you travel with it and even when you are not using it.

Furthermore, it weighs only 440g, thus making it super ideal for traveling with.

Pros
  • Offers all-around solid sound with a cut-through click and deep lows
  • A great option for live shows
  • Offers quick response times
Cons
  • The XLR comes out of the back, and this may make cable management a little messy

Check Price and Reviews on Amazon


Video: “Sennheiser e 902 – Drum Dynamic Microphone – Studio, Live Recording”



Shure SM57-LC Cardioid Dynamic Microphone

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Shure SM57-LC is the best mic for bass amp for those who do not like to purchase detached equipment pieces and then arrange microphone, adapter, stand, windscreen, and cable separately. Here you have two options to select from.

You can not only opt for the mic without the cable but also the XLR-To-Adapter version.

This mic has a good frequency response of 40 to 15,0000Hz. So, it will prove to be an amazing option if you want to record drums and any percussion instruments.

With Shure mics, you can always be sure of professional quality recordings that will help you reproduce your preferred sound and style without any issues.

What is amazing about SM57-Lc also is that it does not require any external power, is rugged, and can easily withstand high SPLs or Sound Pressure Levels.

It has already been used in endless live gigs and recording sessions throughout the world, and thus naturally makes a great choice.

Pros
  • Is durable and has heavy-duty craftsmanship
  • Ensures wide frequency response
  • ·Always offers professional quality results
Cons
  • Some people report it sounds flat after a few months of usage

Check Price and Reviews on Amazon



Sennheiser e602 II Evolution Series Dynamic Bass-Drum Microphone

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Sennheiser is one of the most famous microphone brands in the world. In every professional situation, be it a recording studio or live performance, you are most likely to find one of its products.

What is best about e602 II is its Frequency Independent Directivity. To put it simply, it will sound great no matter in which direction you choose to point it.

This microphone allows you to enjoy a consistent frequency response in every position. And, this makes e602 II a bare-knuckle, easy-to-use mic that sounds beautiful recorded and even live. The microphone is also durable and comes with a 10-year warranty.

Furthermore, 602 can even ensure SPLs of over 155dB, and this surely will prove to be immensely helpful. The mic successfully rejects undesired noises from off its axis, and it offers you high gain before feedback that is needed for live work.

Pros
  • Sounds great in every direction
  • Rejects undesired sound
  • Comes with a good warranty
Cons
  • Not very versatile

Check Price and Reviews on Amazon


Video: “Audix D6 vs Sennheiser e602 II Comparison”



Audix D6 Dynamic Instrument Microphone

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The Audix D6 is an excellent dynamic mic that has been created for miking instruments that have extended low frequencies like bass, large percussions, toms, and kick drums. It offers a strong low end along with plenty of clarity

This mic has a response that is known to pick up frequencies as low as only 30 Hz. The mic is reliable with a great VFM capsule and is a great choice for one and all.

Pros
  • Comes with great VMF capsule
  • Picks up low frequencies easily
  • Is reliable
Cons
  • May not be ideal to use as a standalone bass drum/guitar mic

Check Price and Reviews on Amazon


Video: “Audix D6 vs Sennheiser e602 II Comparison”



How is Recording Bass Different?

Recording bass is pretty much a unique proposition. Maximum sounds that we record and hear are not positioned in the lower end of audio frequencies.

Similar to recording bass drums, even recording bass guitars are lower and deeper sound than keyboards, pianos, guitars, and other instruments. And thus, searching for a mic for bass sounds means looking for one that has a good response to such lower frequencies.

A mic that makes your guitar solos sound great may make the bass sound awful.

To record vocals or for other guitar recordings, any sound that is less than 100 Hz is likely to be redundant. For bass guitars, they offer it a nice punchy and deep sound.

This is the reason why separate mics for bass have been created, and we already have shared the best six ones that you may consider choosing from.

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Conclusion

Selecting the best mic for bass amp is not a very easy job. You have a plethora of choices, and each ensures to be the best. It takes quite a bit of research to find the one that actually will suit your needs.

Your job is sure going to be a lot easier now as the research task has been handled, and the best six mics have been shortlisted for you. Each of them is equally good. You just need to go through the features and decide which is the one that matches your needs best.

If you are on a strict budget, you may even compare the prices and opt for the one that is closest to your decided price range.

Juan Stansbury
Juan Stansbury

I'm Juan Stansbury, author and owner of Homerecordio – your ultimate destination for everything about homerecording. With hands-on experience, courses, workshops, and industry research, I offer tips on selecting the best equipment, and mixing and mastering your recordings to achieve professional-quality results at home. Join me on this journey to explore the world of homerecording and music production.

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