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I am currently playing electric bass equivalent in a rock band, using a Digitech vocal processor with compression to push the sound more. I am using a generic Shure 58, have a Peavey 400 watt bass head, and a mediocre cabinet. I want to upgrade, continuing to use the Digitech, and am looking for experienced suggestions. Thanks a lot.

Get a clipon/gooseneck mic. Play your horn while you manipulate the mic, until you find a sweet spot. You then have freedom of movement, which you'll want. Its no fun maintaining a rigid posture just to stay on the 58's pattern. Shift an inch, and the whole amplified sound changes.

Load some better speakers into your cabinet. Or replace it.

I hope you have an impedance match between the processor and the head.

And yes, ask Dr. TubaJoe.

I noticed that Matt Perrine had his mic taped into the bell of his Sousaphone just inside the straight part leading to the first 90• bend. (hard to describe in text and I dont have a picture handy.) On a tuba I would say this would be equivalent to about 10 to 15 inches down the bell. The resulting sound was good, maybe not too much "brights" but it did pick up all of the bottom sounds. I think it was a 57 but I did not ask. It went right to the PA board, no stage speaker - but this may have been because it was a quick festival set-up.

I love my AT35 pro. I've used it for years with the Floozies, rockabilly, and many of the pop/rock gigs I do now. It clips on the bell, and has a great response. I play through the house mains and the mic is XLR and requires phantom power, so effects are challenging. There maybe a better setup for you than the one I am suggesting. (there is also a wireless variant to the mic I use)

I have had good results using a modified Realistic PZM (Pressure Zone Mic). These are available used on ebay for well under $50. The modification I make is to remove the large mounting plate and replace it with a small (@1/2" x 1 1/2") piece of plastic to which I attach a strip of velcro. I also put velcro inside the bell to attach the mic. The result is good for rock/pop, as the sound is naturally somewhat compressed, and very resistant to feedback, stays put, no handling noise, etc.
I keep the mic with me in my mouthpiece bag, as it is very lightweight and compact. This can come in really handy sometimes...
Best, Bubba

E-mail Kirk Joseph. He's the sousaphone player for The Dirty Dozen Brassband and he amps his sousa. I don't think he travels with his own bass amp since our band played a gig with him and he needed our bass amp. I remember him saying that it wasn't powerfull enough and it was a 300-400w Ampeg so it wasn't a tiny amp but it didn't suit his needs. He had an array of pedals and effects stuff and he would know more about that than I would but it sounds similar to what you were talking about.