Robert Baird's 12-String Bass Rigs

Robert writes, "It was Tom Petersson that opened my ears to the thunderous sound and the articulation of treble overtones of a 12-string bass. My first 12 was an early 1990's Hamer short scale in a red finish. A nice bass but I found that I preferred a long scale for playing. I eventually sold it and replaced it with a white Hamer Chaparral import 12-string which I still own. Earlier this year I purchased my Waterstone long scale 12-string bass."

"My live rig and studio rigs are a combination of vintage British tube amps and cabinets, and vintage Acoustic Control bass amps. I also use a new Ashdown MAG300 2x10 combo and 4x10 Ashdown deep bass cabinet."

"I have quite a bit of experience in engineering and producing in the recording studio. I often turn to my Hamer 12 or Waterstone 12 to add more 'power' to an artist’s recordings, or to add an unusual sound for added drama. I get a laugh when I hand over a 12-string bass to someone who’s never played one before. They should be classified as addictive substances!"

"Studio Gear that I use:

"First of all, I always take the line signal from the 12-string bass and put it through a direct box so I have a low-z line right into the mixing Board (Tascam TM-D1000 16-channel digital board) and the other hi-z line goes right to my custom 3-channel switching pedal, and then out to various amp set-ups:"

"Studio amp set up #1: Hiwatt 20-watt valve head (a Sterling Imports model) into a Hiwatt cabinet reconfigured with 2x10" Vox Bulldog speakers and an Electrovoice 15" speaker. I also have a Hiwatt Lead 50R head with a master volume control that I sometimes use in place of the Sterling 20-watt head."

"Studio amp set up #2: Marshall Bluesbreaker reissue combo amp (with the 2x12" speakers unplugged) driving two Orange cabinets. It has 4x10s and the other has 1-15" speaker. I regrilled the Orange cabs from black to the basket weave to match my other Orange amps."

"Studio amp set up #3: Sound City 50R guitar valve head driving a Sound City 1x15" bass reflex cabinet."

"Studio amp set up #4: Ashdown MAG300 2 x 10 combo with an added Ashdown 4x10 deep speaker cabinet."

"Depending on the track, the style and emotional tone of the song, I mix and match the live amp setups to get the live sound that fits. I am a big believer in using your ears, moving things around, using close and distant mic setups, multi-mic setups, until a live sound that is open and articulate is found. Then, I leave everything alone for the recording of that track! I tend to try to break convention as much as possible and I don't compress anything that I don't have to."

"I also split up the EQ into four distinct frequency bands and adjust them to the sound of the bass. I tend to work with EQ in the original sound shaping and recording versus adding or deleting in post mixes."

"After I go through all of this with the live sound, I take the 12-string bass straight into the mixing console without any effects, compression, etc. Just a pure sound that allows me to shape later on using digital plug-ins in my recording software. I like to have the flexibility to add-in a clean bass signal with the live microphones."

"The sound of the 12-string bass has so much complexity and can make such a huge impact on a recording, I try everything possible to capture its unique sonic landscapes."

"The amp with the Union Jack grill cloth is a custom vinyl Hiwatt head holding another Hiwatt Sterling 20-watt valve amp and a 4x12 custom vinyl Hiwatt cabinet housing two Vox 10s and a JBL 15" speaker. To take after Rick Nielsen's wacky sense of humor, I had custom nameplates made up for the head and the speaker cabinet that say LICORICE and APPLE - my two dogs!"

"My Live Gear Setup:"

"I typically bring a 'small wall' when I play live. It consists of: Ashdown MAG300 2x10 combo amp driving my two Orange cabinets (4x10 and 1x15). I set the Ashdown on top of my vintage Acoustic model 124 with 4x10" speakers to have better access to both amps' controls. I also take the low-z line out of the Ashdown right to the house mixing board."

"I had a custom foot pedal made which allows me to split the line signal from my 12-string basses to a specified amp setup. I don’t use an effects rack, but I use a Sparkle Drive pedal for more presence when required. My pedal measures 6" long by 4" wide so it is compact. It is powered by a 9V battery and is housed in a heavy steel 2-piece housing that I bought through Mouser electronics."
 

Robert Baird from Oconomowoc, Wisconsin