tom mic placement

[Nilbog]

Here's what I got:
-Shure SM57
-Sennheiser e835
-public speaking mic
-AMPEX 2001 (some kind of vintage thing)

I put the SM57 on snare, the public speaking mic on overhead (yes, it actually sounds good!),the sennheiser on the kick, and the AMPEX on the toms.

Everything sound alright except the toms. I mean, they sound good, but I can't get an even volume from all of them. I can get two of them even, but then the other one sounds distant. Does anyone have any ideas on where to place the AMPEX mic?

I was experimenting hanging it facing down between two of the toms (sounds good!) or pointing it upwards between two toms (sounds okay). Maybe I should hold the mic in my mouth and point it at whichever tom I'm playing?

Or, perhaps I am going about the whole thing the wrong way? Ideas? Suggestions?

-Nilbog

[John Sayers]

I'd try putting the public spk mike over the floor tom and the ampex over the rack toms and balance them to the snare, if you find the floor tom too low , lower the mike. It's sortta like two tom mikes also acting as overheads.

It gives a good open sound with a wideish stereo and the cymbals are backed off cos they are off axis which is usually preferable. Make sure the snare is in the center when you balance them and it will give back the life you loose with a close snare mike and the hihat will end up in the right place positionally and balance wise.

cheers
john