Mic choice for disotorted guitars

[ecktronic]

Anyone got any suggestions for mics that work real good for recording distorted guitars?
Im looking to achieve a nice thick controlled low end, Nice clear high and high mids, but also Im looking for a mic that is good with getting very smooth high mids.

Cheers,
Eck

[mrhotapples]

Let me tell you, a transformerless SM57 is the BAWMB DIGGITTY and still cheap as sin. Regular SM57 bleck.

Try Audix I5s. They're kinda scooped, oftentimes good for rhythm in a dense mix. Maybe E609s? They're apparently designed for guitar amps. Never used one, but maybe some else has.

You could try a nice condenser as long as it has an attenuator switch/you put in a pad and you don't blow it up.

[bubbagump]

The only mics I can add to the 57 and 609 are the Audix i5, Sennheiser MD421, and Shure SM7. Then you can go crazy with condensors. Damn near anything (dynamics, condensors, ribbons) works on guitar cabs depending on what sound you want.

[mrhotapples]

Oooh, I forgot about ribbons; CAD's Trion ribbons are really, really fucking good. I think Heil makes a supercardioid ribbon for like 300 dollars...I don't remember...But ribbons are oftentimes the best choice for English amps.

[HangDawg]

Beyer M201 is really nice. Easy to get a good sound with.

[rory]

Anything? I've used 57s, 58s, 91s, 609s, 421s, 121s, I5s, Cheap $50 condensers, CX112s, omnis, just about anything and have gotten a good sound.

I bet if I put a regular 57 and a transformerless 57 against the same amp in the same mix, your buddy hotapples couldn't tell the difference. Use what you have. If you want something new, get a 57 or an i5. If you can't get a good sound after that, something is wrong with you.

[ecktronic]

Thanks for all the replies guys.
I amn't interested in using SM57s I'm looking specifically for a mic that works well to get smooth high mids for distorted guitars, and I know that SM57s aren't very nice in the high mids from experience.

Cheers.
Eck

[chessrock]

I've had really good luck with old electrovoice condensers. RE-15/16 ... RE10/11 ... 666 ... they're all really good on distorted electric guitar. But so is just a plain old sm57. It's really all about the amp, for the most part.

.

[Kyung Pang]

you can't go wrong with close micing an SM57, it's probably the most popular choice. you may also want to have a ribbon mic to capture the bottom end. just be sure you don't have the ribbon mic too close to the dome. Royer 121 (ribbon) is a popular choice for guitar cabs. Be sure to use the mute button to check the phase relationship between the two mics. You will also have more flexibility during mixing by having two guitar tracks. Hope that helps.

[weezerman2002]

AT2020 smokes on an distorted cab.

[buryher17]

Originally Posted by weezerman2002

AT2020 smokes on an distorted cab.

does it? i ahve 2 but i never tried it.

i have an e609, sm57, 2 at 2020's, an at 2021 and a couple dymnamic basic mics.

whats the bets combination? and distances/ angles they should be at? im having problems finding the bets sound.... i want it to sound EXACTLY the way it was mentioned in the begining

[twostone]

SM7 or Heil PR 30 or 40 actually the PR 30 sounds a little more better IMO also it was the mic used to record Linkin Park if you like that kinda sound.

[RRuskin]

Originally Posted by chessrock

I've had really good luck with old electrovoice condensers. RE-15/16 ... RE10/11 ... 666 ...

I agree about the EV RE15 but it and the others are dynamics.

[ermghoti]

Originally Posted by ecktronic

Thanks for all the replies guys.
I amn't interested in using SM57s I'm looking specifically for a mic that works well to get smooth high mids for distorted guitars, and I know that SM57s aren't very nice in the high mids from experience.

Cheers.
Eck

I don't mean this to be contentious, if one can't get a distorted guitar recorded with a 57, it's not the mic's fault. This guy makes his living recording distorted (metal) guitar. His posts are the web standard for the distorted guitar recording how-to. He uses 57's exclusively, or nearly so. I do think it's easier to use a couple different mics, or sometimes a combination, but if I am going to a location recording, unless I hear otherwise, I'd bring 57's for guitar cabs.

[twostone]

Also ribbons really add alot of warmth to a guitar track R121 has been use in so many commercial recording as well as the SM57 with both mics combined and a decent pre and right mic placement if you can't get a killer sound you need to give up recording.

[Somnium7]

If it helps here is what it sounds like using an AKG D890 with a TubePre.
http://www.somnium7.com/samples/SOMN...ed_take-01.wav (2.9M)

That was raw take with no EQ or other processing. The guitar was a very old Gibson. Distortion from a Boss heavy metal pedal. The amp is some no-name piece of crap we found in a thrift shop for $20. I'm not liking the sound of the amp at all. The mic does a good enough job IMO.

[Blue Groove]

Don't forget that the sm57 alone won't do it. Those "pro" recordings have killer pres, eqs and awesome compressors. I wouldn't use a 57 for anything without a good chain. Try a MD421 and a Fathead. Or if you can, try a U47fet. Regaredless of what you choose, be as picky as you can afford to as far as the other stuff too.

[pezking]

57 up against the grill and a U87 a couple of feet away.

I like it anyway.

4038s are cool on cabs too. The other mic that I've used on a cab which sounded awesome was a C800 - great for cleans certainly.

At home I just use the 57.

[Sonixx]

yes, really consider checking the ATM650

[twostone]

Originally Posted by Somnium7

If it helps here is what it sounds like using an AKG D890 with a TubePre.
http://www.somnium7.com/samples/SOMN...ed_take-01.wav (2.9M)

That was raw take with no EQ or other processing. The guitar was a very old Gibson. Distortion from a Boss heavy metal pedal. The amp is some no-name piece of crap we found in a thrift shop for $20. I'm not liking the sound of the amp at all. The mic does a good enough job IMO.

Not bad considering you got crappy gear except of course the Gibson IMO I hate Boss tone sucking metalzone pedal but hey at least you did what you could with what you had.

[ermghoti]

Originally Posted by Blue Groove

Don't forget that the sm57 alone won't do it. Those "pro" recordings have killer pres, eqs and awesome compressors.

A very fair point. It is my understanding that a 57 benefits enormously from a decent pre.

[mrhotapples]

Transformerless SM57. You CAN tell the difference. I can. It's niiiice, not gross. Don't do it if you're going to use it for snare though. Unless you don't like how SM57s sound on snares. It's cheeeeap!

[wildflower soul]

e609 works for my havy big muff sounding stuff. I like the e609 condensor combo aswell the condensor could be anything from an AT 4033, Pro37 or whatever. I like using my 57 on clean guitars more though.

But to each his own.

[gcapel]

I would like to throw in a few things here.

For a stoner rock sound via neck pickup I have had good results with a Senn 421. It handles the nastyness pretty well.

I also think a neve clone type mic pre is important. Like a Vintech 1272 or Brent A for any type of distorted guitar recordings.

[cavedog101]

Heavy guitars need mics that dont blur the low mids. You seem to be thinking that the upper mids will give you clarity, but this only works if the low mids remain under control. A fine pre will get ya there. API if ya need a name or a design type.

Mics can be anything that behaves as described. ATM25 is a great heavy guitar mic. 421 Senn.=excellent as is a 441. For a condenser, try a Kel HM-1. Its an honest representation of the amp/cabinet sound. I still use the SM57 though it is an older one. Some say this makes a difference. Maybe its just this particular mic, though I have two that are very similar.

I also like mics that are a bit sensitivity deprived if you're going to be cranked up a lot. Something with a pad or that can put up with 140db's.

Last but not least.....Room mic in conjunction with the amp. If its a multispeaker cab, damp it a bit with a packing blanket over a couple of the drivers.....It'll cut down on stray frequencies and damp the time delay of the unmic'd speaks hitting the mic diaphram. I like my U87 as the room mic but always put up the StudioProjects B3 for a slightly different yet viable color. AT4033's also work for this quite well.