E-609 .vs EV635a (amp/cab micing)

[cellardweller]

Looking for a different/better flavor to spice up the 57 I have. I play mostly metal stuff, and am going to buy ONE of these after the 1st of the year.

I've read where some find either/or irreplacable, and still others find either/or absolutely useless...

If you vote "other", Please name and explain your choice.

Thanks.

[Adam P]

In my minimal experience, I like the e609 a lot on distorted guitar. I also liked the AT 4033 when I had one to use, but you're also looking at at least 4x the cost. In all fairness though, I haven't tried my 635 enough to give it a fair assessment (but I do like it on metal vocals).

As an aside, can you point me in the direction of some people who find their 635s or e609s to be useless? I'd like to make them some offers...

[Wireneck]

For the most part all I record is metal. I find the Ev-635a superior to the 57 (on my mesa and marshall amps/cabs) because it doesn't have that annoying boost in the midrange. Now if you don't play with any midrange in your tone (which is a bad idea to begin with) then the 57 might not hurt your sound.
The cool thing about the Ev is the fact that its an Omni-dynamic microphone. It has this cool way of killing the proximity effect and I find it much easier to blend tones using that mic. Placement is always crucial but this mic is alot more forgiving in this respect than the 57.
I can't tell you which is going to be better on your sound but I had almost given up on micing my guitar cabs before a friend turned me onto the EV. Don't get me wrong, I can get a usable sound with a 57 but thats about it.
I've never used the E609 but people seem to really be digging them. If you don't have alot of mics and you record drums as well the E609 might be a wise choice. People seem to like them on toms. Its always good to score a mic than can serve more than one purpose well.
With the Ev's selling under $60.00 everyday on ebay, i would say just buy one and see what you think. If it sucks you can always resell it. Its not like it cost 2 grand or anything.
I've got some new sound clips I did with the EV that ill post a link to later. Not that its going to do you any good in terms of your setup but at least you can hear it in action in one set of variables.

[cellardweller]

No, I'm also in the market, so if I run into someone with a couple of them, I'll definitely let you know!

*edit* Thanks for chiming it wireneck, I already knew of your preference as you were the main reason I started looking into this mic!
I'll start lurking about on ebay...

[cellardweller]

C'mon somebody... I'm poor and can't afford experimentation...

[Richard Monroe]

Well Cellardweller, I just snagged a 609. I've never used the EV mic, so I have no input. I'm not really happy with the 57 on cabs. I find the e609 much less picky about placement and I like the sound. What's weird is that every other standard dynamic cab mic is somebody's vocal mic being pressed into service, but the 609 sucks on vox. I haven't had the opportunity to stick it on percussion, but it does seem to want to be used for close mic'ing. I think it is a good addition to any mic cabinet, and at a fair price. I *can* tell you the mic clip they supply with it is one tight fit!-Richie

[cellardweller]

I'm already leaning towards the e609, because of it's versatility. Having a mic usable for drums would be nice...

anyone else?

[mixmkr]

the EV 635 is also basically the EV PL5, which seems to sell for about $25 when you see them. I like the PL5 on gtr cabs alot...but I like a 57 more...and I am kinda in the hard rock vein with my guitar most of the time. I even use a 58, and don't mind that. But, you may be more particular than me, and I find the differences are pretty subtle actually....to the point that in a mix, I couldn't tell you what mic was used. Getting to blend in a mix, the omni without the proximity might be a better choice, which is why I usually grab the PL5, thinking along those lines.

[Richard Monroe]

That's one of the reasons a wide cardioid makes sense. It gives you less proximity than a cardioid, and has broad off-axis response, so it can be can be really close, and still pick up a pretty big picture. It's the only mic I've seen that was designed soley for close mic'ing a cab. There'a got to be a similar bigger ticket version made by Beyerdynamic or Shure, etc. The size of the isolation housing I'm using makes the small size of a e609 more convenient for placement than a 421, sm-57, or any handheld mic. So who builds the high end version, boys? I presume there's already several Chinese prototypes. It's a fundamentally effective design, but still a $100 mic, give or take. I'd love to see a higher end execution, good for live work as well.-Richie

[Wireneck]

But, you may be more particular than me, and I find the differences are pretty subtle actually....to the point that in a mix, I couldn't tell you what mic was used.

Pre or post eq? I've never heard the Pl5 but the difference in sound between the two 635a's that I own compared to my 5 different shure 57's is way beyond subtle. At least this seems to be the case on both of my marshall/mesa boogie amps. Sound is all opinon anyways so I suppose theres nothing really to be gained here. Trust me, I want to like the 57 on guitar lol. I pull it out every single time thinking, oh maybe it will work on this and unfortunately it rarely ever does.
CellarDweller-the 609 sounds like the ticket for you man. I've been eyeing them for a while now myself.

[cellardweller]

*BUMPED*

To see if I can catch anymore opinions on the 635a
Is the PL5 still in production, and if so, how close to the 635a is it?

[analogelectric]

I know nothing about the PL5 but I've owned the EV-635A since my old TV production days in the mid 80's. The 635A sounds much like a mic in the back of an open cab but placed in front of a cab. I use the 635A for texture tracks and/or overdubs. As far as a main guitar mic it just doesn't cut it. As a filler frequency mic it works great (but it also depends on what the source is).

It's been a good two years since I've used an SM57 on any session including guitar, personally I think they sound dumpy (I've found much better mics to work with).

The BEST advice I've EVER learned:
put two mics on a guitar cab, one mic is for high frequency and the other is for low mids. During mix play with panning both out while EQ'ing and observing phase within the whole mix.

I get killer tones from combining of the Sennheiser e609 (Black Grill), and the ATM23HE combo. But sometimes it's the e609 with a SHURE SM7 with the 250Hz bump.

-- Adam Lazlo

[kid klash]

The 635a is omnidirectional, and is fairly accurate-sounding, without much of a midrange bump or proximity effect. So, if you want a mic that doesn't change the source sound much and "hears" what's around it rather than right in front of it, then the 635a might be the mic you're looking for. They work well in big band and semi-orchestral situations where you want to capture the main source, but also want a bit of what's next to the source. The off-axis sound is pretty smooth too. Laurance Welk used them on his band because of this. You'll occasionally see them used on acoustic guitars too.

The e609 and e609S are very directional, so you generally don't have to worry about bleed from whatever is next to the source. They have a bit of a midrange bump, but not as severe as a SM-57. They're also easier to position on most amps and instruments because of their shape. They also provide more proximity effect than a 635a, but less than a SM-57. For me, I get much more use out of my e609S's and SM-57's than my 635a's, because I record more rock/pop/blues music than classical/orchestral/big band music. FWIW.

[WERNER 1]

Well I still haven't had a chance to try out my e609's (Black face originals), and it looks like it'll be after Easter now untill I get things set up.

One thing to keep in mind....the e609 original has a bit of a flatter response than the Silver version(It also has a different capsul as well). But both are a bit less finicky on placement than the SM57's are.

I've not had any experience with the 635's, so I can't comment on that.

Rick

[giraffe]

borrowed an e609 silver from a friend. i love sennheiser for dynamics.
this one however has the propensity to be a little harsh
just a little.
very mixable sound though

[paddyponchero]

I have a PL5 and it sounds just like the 635 - anyone buying an old one should remove the internal foam which rots and either powders or turns to mush - that may well be the reason that wireneck has such a big diffence in his. I really like the PL5 on small cabs.

[darnold]

I think the e609 is more popular for live use on guitars than studio use. Its not bad in the studio and its definately different than a SM57 but i dont think thats where it gets most of its hype.

I really dont see whats wrong with the SM57 on distortion guitar. MD421 works pretty well if your looking for something with a little more brighter top end. Its a little more focused on the top then the mids compared to the 57. I think the mid frequency stuff on a 57 is why it works quite well.

If you really want something that will kick ass go for a Royer Ribbon.

But ive also tried even a 604 with pretty decent results. Its a little tighter on the low mids but the high mids sound a little too tight i guess you could say. Just not much air with them.

But back to the e609. I havnt had much experience with them myself except for live and talking with studio people who have used them live alot and in the studio. They just say its not as cool in the studio as they expected.

Danny

[David Katauskas]

So far, I'm diggin' my e609s. I have to eq it a bit, but I can get a decent sound from it. Being that we both use Tech21 products, you should be able to ahieve a similar sound as in my last tune. It has 1 track left, 1 track right and 1 track center. You should be able to hear it right around 3:28.
http://homerecording.com/bbs/showthread.php?t=165678

However, I'm seriously considering getting an MD421...but it's not in my budget at the moment.

[jayridge]

I use a 635a and 609 black. The 635a seems to sit in the mix better for me, but I dig a "live" sound with some bleed. It also makes a hip snare, aux percussion and vocal mic (for the right voice, usually tenors). The 609 gives a more in your face sound which sounds far closer to the 57 than the 635a but with more presence and less critical placement. I haven't personally had any luck with the 609 on other instruments.

I consider the 635a to be more versatile and a better first purchase. If you get the 609, avoid the silver.

Jay

[hairylarry]

Originally Posted by cellardweller

*BUMPED*

To see if I can catch anymore opinions on the 635a
Is the PL5 still in production, and if so, how close to the 635a is it?

Hi,

The EV 635 is the all time champion of microphones. I bought one in the early seventies and they are still in production today. They are attenuated response omnis. I believe 80-13K or close. See the spec sheet at coutant.org. A new EV635 runs about $120. Used $50-$100.

The PL5 is the exact same mic in a different color. The RE50 is the same microphone in a different case with some pop filtering.

Anyone who says the EV 635 is useless is arguing with history. Possibly one of the most used mics on the planet.

The Realistic 1070b is a Shure built copy of the RE50 with extended frequency response. This goes even cheaper than the EV mics and is sometimes better for recording because of the extended frequency response.

I also want to second the two mics on guitar cab philosophy. In my recent recordings I used an SM56 and an EV RE11. The SM56 had more growl (low end). The RE11 more cut (high end). Sometimes I would choose one or the other. Sometimes mix them together. And for a fat sound pan one right and one left.

Sorry I can't help on the Sennheisers. Don't have one.

Thanks,

Hairy Larry

[TyphoidHippo]

I voted other - I have two e906 mics - and you couldn't pry them from my cold, dead hands. They are absolutely perfect for modern, heavy, distorted guitars. I had an e609, and didn't really see too much of an improvement over a 57 (but it was a little better).

So....there you go - I say shell out the extra 70 bucks and get the 906, it's totally worth it, in my opinion.

You can here a song I did with an e906 here:

http://myspace.com/casperpro

It's the first song on the page - the guitars were tracked with an E906, two 991s, and an F15 (audix). It was quite a while ago, but I'm pretty sure I cut the two 991s from the mix, and it was just the 906 and the F15 that made up that tone...

edit: I just noticed this thread is about 3 years old - lol.....

[Sonixx]

Yeah it's old and I voted other.

I have used a 609S on and off for sometime... most off. I prefer an i5 to a 609S. an i5 and 57 pair well

also look at the ATM650

Here's my mic list for micing cabs

ATM650 (1)
57 (2)
57 w/o transformer (2)
i5 (2)
609S (2)
MD421 (1)
R84 (2)
Trion 7000 (2)