Golden Trinity Microphone/Pickup COMBINATION Systems

Golden Trinity Systems

These powerful, compact setups combine K&K's excellent Golden Bullet Condenser Mic with one of several different pickup options. Including a small, feature-rich preamplifier to blend the mic with a pickup of your choice, these setups provide the realism and "air" of a microphone capturing the true sound emanating from your bass - along with the fullness and dependability of a pickup.

K&K's various bass transducers can deliver an exceptionally warm and natural sound -- but there are times when a microphone can add extra warmth and life to your signal, or perhaps be the total true voice of your bass. Choosing and using a microphone can be a real challenge and an expensive proposition, especially when you want to blend it with your current rig. K&K Sound has taken all the hassle out of the process by creating a series of professional systems that can work for you immediately -- right out of the box.

This specialty Double Bass Microphone is available in several different configurations. You can get the mic alone (with its own phantom power/output box - see "related items" below), you can opt for the upgrade system (has a second input to be used with your existing pickup), or -- on this page -- you can get a combination system with the mic and one of K&K's excellent pickups, either the Bass Max or the Double Big Twin.

The Choices in Detail

The Golden Trinity/Bass Max System: The mic and the popular Bass Max pickup are wired together in a convenient package, which uses a special TRS/Stereo cable (included) to ensure a clean, inconspicuous installation. The Bass Max is a pretty balanced pickup, so it provides good, relatively neutral "backup" to the mic.

The Golden Trinity/Double Big Twin System: Similar to the Bass Max system above, this one substitutes the Double Big Twin pickup, whose character is a bit more defined. This added presence and punch works particularly well for jazz bassists. Note that the Double Big Twin is especially suited for pizzicato styles, and it can sound a bit "scratchy" under the bow.

The Golden Trinity UPGRADE System: If you already own a pickup, and you wish to combine it with an added microphone easily, this system is your answer! Like the two above, it features the Golden Trinity microphone and the two-channel blending preamp - but instead of a pickup, it simply includes a wire to plug directly into your existing pickup (or another pickup that you intend to purchase.) Keeping the simple elegance of the single TRS cable, it still makes for a very low-key, easy installation. You don't have to chase down a bunch of components - everything you need is in the box.

The Golden Bullet Microphone is a condenser mic chosen specifically for its characteristics and performance with the Double Bass. This is not an "off-the-shelf" microphone, but one designed and custom built by K&K in their shop in Oregon. I was delighted to work with Dieter of K&K to finalize the selection of this specific unit, which combines great sound with excellent feedback resistance. It's unidirectional to help avoid rumble and bleed from other instruments. Amazingly light and small, it is mounted on your bridge using adhesive 3M Dual Lock and positioned using its built-in six-inch gooseneck. And don't worry about the bridge mounting -- I stuck the mic attachment to a mail scale, and the assembly registered about .25 ounces in weight!

Please note: If you have never used a microphone with your bass before, please realize that there are limitations to microphone use - that's why transducers were developed! There is far greater feedback potential, and it will require greater care to position your bass, mic, and speakers, and adjust EQ to avoid feedback or unwanted resonances. This is why each system, excepting the Golden Bullet Mic by itself, includes the ability to combine the mic with a transducer -- so the player has the option to rely on a more feedback-resistant transducer in tight or loud stage situations where a mic alone is not practical.

About the TRINITY SYSTEM PREAMP:

This compact powerhouse includes a removable belt clip for convenient mounting on your belt or the edge of a music stand. Some players strap it to the back of their bass tailpiece.

Specifications:

• Tiny!! just 4 3/8 x 3 3/8 x 1.5 inches
• internal nine (9) volt battery powers both the preamplifier and provides phantom power to the Golden Bullet Microphone. Its life depends on use and the gain required, but battery life is excellent
• two external volume controls to balance the mic and pickup signals on the fly
• internal trim pots (small circuit board-mounted controls) that can be adusted using the tiny precision screw driver included and stored inside of the preamp.
  • bass, midrange, and treble controls (incredible +/- 20 dB!) for the each channel
  • two overall gain controls that let you balance the two channel's outputs as well as adjust the pre-amplification factor from 1 to 10!!
• Input: 1/4" stereo jack designed to handle the separate signals from the mic and pickup
• Output: the 1/4" mono jack on the left provides the mixed signal of the mic and pickup. If the Optional Mic center jack is used as well, the mic signal is removed from the mix and routed separately to the center jack only. This enables the player to send the mic signal to the PA, or apply effects to one channel and not the other... or perform any other type of audio magic the creative mind can conceive.
• extremely low noise operation.
• 10K ohm output impedances
• once you have found the proper EQ for each channel it is best to refrain from further adjustments -- use the EQ at your amplifier or board to accommodate room acoustics variations.

SPECIFICATIONS for the Microphone:

• Frequency Range: 20 - 17,000 Hz
• Sensitivity: 7 mV/PA/1 kHz
• Maximum SPL: 139 dB
• Polar Pattern: Hyper-unidirectional
• Output: XLR active balanced or 1/4" line level (your choice)
• Mic Power Supply: 9 Volt through Supplied Golden Bullet preamp