Looking to buy SDC('s) for Acoustic Guitar

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Grama

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Hello, first post. I have been searching the forums like mad for the advice I am seeking to no avail, hence the thread.

I am looking to buy a SDC to record my acoustic guitar (a very nice sounding Seagull) and I have read countless reviews and discussions on boards all over the internet.... and of course I have gotten no closer to making a decision. Now I that mic for a guitar is an inexact science at best, but here goes.

The mics I have read considerable amounts on are the following:

ATPro37
CAD e70
PG81
SM81
C1000s

I see my price range being in the $150 - $260 ish range (thats Canadian btw). I know not a great budget, but I am a poor university student so what can I say. :p I have read some great things about the CAD mic and some not so great things about CAD mics in general.... that they tend to fail. Is the CAD e70 a risky buy, prone to failing? I have also read that the Pro37 sounds great for acoustic guitar.

I already have a decent LDC (Apex415, which sounds way better than i thought it would). Keep in mind that I live in Canada and getting certain mics is challenging. Is the e70/Pro37 the best of my price range? Or is there something better out there for around the same price-ish? Again I understand that this is all subjective, but any advice would be much appreciated!
 
I assume you are looking to buy new-
I picked up a used Oktava MC-012 in that price range that I've been really happy with. I also like a Crown CM700 that was in that price range (used).

The AT sounds like a safe bet, or the SM81.
 
Grama said:
The mics I have read considerable amounts on are the following:

ATPro37
CAD e70
PG81
SM81
C1000s
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Probably none of the above. I'd go with Oktava MK-012 mics.

The PG81 and SM81 both are good if you have a guitar that's too boomy, but I wouldn't pick that if you like the sound.

Most of the comments I've read about the C1000 have included the words "harsh" and "brittle". Never tried them myself.

If the CAD e70 doesn't have a solid metal grille on the front, then it's basically very similar to the MXL 603, and should be a usable mic, if a bit on the bright side (much like the PG81 and SM81). If it has the solid metal grille (I don't think it does), then avoid it at all costs. :)

I don't know anything about the ATPro37.
 
i forgot to list the oktava's. i have never read anything "bad" about them, other than the need to buy a matched pair.

how much better are the modded oktava's as compared to the unmodded oktava's? i looked on the oktava mod website and they seem to get pretty pricy pretty quickly!
 
Unmodded they are a great mic, but modded they are a much greater mic.
I would get these mics and later down the road when you can afford it get the modded.:cool::cool::cool: just an opinion mind you.
 
what do they go for on average as a matched pair? i was doing some looking and they seem to be $500+ for a unmodded matched pair! :eek:
 
You can find them used on ebay all the time for about half price. that is what I would do, then your on your way to saving noney for the mod!!! :cool:
 
fair enough. another question that popped into my mind, is if i decide to later mod stock mk012's, do i need to be concerned about them being matched? because if i dont, it means i can likely afford a new mk012 right now. also, if i buy a matched pair in the next little bit that is unmodded, and i later mod them, will modding them cause them to be unmatched?

tbh i am looking at what they are going for on ebay, and its not looking all that more affordable right now (certainly not half price). i'll have to see what i can find.
 
Grama said:
fair enough. another question that popped into my mind, is if i decide to later mod stock mk012's, do i need to be concerned about them being matched? because if i dont, it means i can likely afford a new mk012 right now. also, if i buy a matched pair in the next little bit that is unmodded, and i later mod them, will modding them cause them to be unmatched?

tbh i am looking at what they are going for on ebay, and its not looking all that more affordable right now (certainly not half price). i'll have to see what i can find.
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Find Michael Joly in the Members list and PM Him those questions don't ask him openly in the forums it's not allowed :eek: :spank: :eek: :spank: :eek: something about free advertising or something like that. He'll give you the skinny on everything about the modding questions. If he doesn't answer PM me and I'll give you his e-mail address. :cool:
 
As a manufacturer myself, it truly bewilders me that people wouldn't just want to shoot an email via his website, which is:

http://www.oktavamod.com

Where if you click on the link that reads "contact/about", you will see his email
is michael@oktavamod.com

I mean, why do people want their specific questions answered in public? I don't get that. I don't particularly want to have to troll dozens of audio boards seeking out customer questions myself, nor do I want to read that from any other manufacturer. What if Shure decided to answer every question on the differences between the SM57/SM58 everywhere on the internet? (hint: it's in the knowledge base on their website)

Carry on with your discussion, blissfully free of manufacturer interference.
 
moresound said:
Find Michael Joly in the Members list and PM Him those questions don't ask him openly in the forums it's not allowed :eek: :spank: :eek: :spank: :eek: something about free advertising or something like that. He'll give you the skinny on everything about the modding questions. If he doesn't answer PM me and I'll give you his e-mail address. :cool:
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mshilarious said:
As a manufacturer myself, it truly bewilders me that people wouldn't just want to shoot an email via his website, which is:

http://www.oktavamod.com

Where if you click on the link that reads "contact/about", you will see his email
is michael@oktavamod.com

I mean, why do people want their specific questions answered in public? I don't get that. I don't particularly want to have to troll dozens of audio boards seeking out customer questions myself, nor do I want to read that from any other manufacturer. What if Shure decided to answer every question on the differences between the SM57/SM58 everywhere on the internet? (hint: it's in the knowledge base on their website)

Carry on with your discussion, blissfully free of manufacturer interference.
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i'll fire off an email, thanks for the heads up. sorry if i insulted you mshillarious or if i broke any rules. but like i said before, i am not thinking the oktavas are within my price range at the moment, so i might have to delay buying for a while or find another option.
 
Ya my *sorry* also, I thought I was sending him in the right direction with out breaking any rules and you can see how it slowly gravitated to what just happened.
 
moresound said:
Ya my *sorry* also, I thought I was sending him in the right direction with out breaking any rules and you can see how it slowly gravitated to what just happened.
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No one has been insulted and no rules have been broken. Just tryin' to smooth the path.
 
mshilarious said:
As a manufacturer myself, it truly bewilders me that people wouldn't just want to shoot an email via his website, which is:

http://www.oktavamod.com

Where if you click on the link that reads "contact/about", you will see his email
is michael@oktavamod.com

I mean, why do people want their specific questions answered in public? I don't get that. I don't particularly want to have to troll dozens of audio boards seeking out customer questions myself, nor do I want to read that from any other manufacturer. What if Shure decided to answer every question on the differences between the SM57/SM58 everywhere on the internet? (hint: it's in the knowledge base on their website)

Carry on with your discussion, blissfully free of manufacturer interference.
Click to expand...

People ask their questions in public because they are looking for more than just a single individual's opinion. You're aversion to "trolling dozens of audio boards" is your decision, but not one that everyone chooses to make.

re: "manufacturer interference" - Its been my impression that forum users are really hungry for the opportunity to talk directly with manufacturers. For example, whenever Roy Harper of MXL takes the time to stop in at the forums he is warmly welcomed. Same was true when the designer of the highly-regarded Electro-Harmonix 12AY7 preamp contributed tons of insight and advice to a thread at Tape Op.

In my opinion, the more progressive forum operators understand that manufacturers provide high-interest content for their readership.
 
MichaelJoly said:
In my opinion, the more progressive forum operators understand that manufacturers provide high-interest content for their readership.
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Well if you read the now-deleted thread carefully, you would have noted that I didn't prohibit any such posts, I just said I didn't like them. I still don't and I don't find such posts progressive. Instead, you chose to take umbrage when I merely asked that potential contract negotiations be private, which they should be.

I will moderate silly posts intended to bump threads and increase exposure to a brand. That is not progressive at all. There have been no such posts on this thread; let's keep it that way.

It is absolutely essential that an environment exists where ordinary users feel free to criticize manufacturers, and in light of that I don't find fora like Gearslutz progressive at all. On the contrary, I find that forum tends to foster groupthink, especially on the main three boards (the Remote board is pretty good in contrast, and it is heavily moderated).

Worst of all is when manufacturers openly criticize each other products. That has occurred not infrequently at all on Gearslutz. That is not Homerecording. This is a place for hobbyists to professionals, but always for hobbyists; if at the expense of manufacturers, so be it. Gear is the least important part of the equation anyway (that is why I demoted all of the gear-oriented boards below the technique-oriented boards).

.
.
.

With respect to this thread, whether unmodded Oktavas are typically well matched, and to what extent capsule and/or electronic modifications will help or hinder matching is a topic of general interest on which I would encourage your insight.
 
No that's not a good example.

In my post to which you refer, I ask a valid question about the qualifications of the THX licensing organization to certify microphones.
I am not criticizing their products. And, I provided an entertaining back-story about my own experience designing THX-approved products for major motion picture use as a way of establishing some personal credibility on the topic.

MsH - It appears you have a bone to pick with me because we both have microphone companies - but I am not circumscribed in the same way. Your position as moderator here presents a conflict of interest. This conflict of interest leads you to impose a "code of silence" on yourself, which is appropriate, and attempt to force it on others - which is not. But I do not have your conflict of interest issue and am not ethically bound in the same way as you.
 
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MichaelJoly said:
No that's not a good example.

In my post to which you refer, I ask a valid question about the qualifications of the THX licensing organization to certify microphones.
I am not criticizing their products. And, I provided an entertaining back-story about my own experience designing THX-approved products for major motion picture use as a way of establishing some personal credibility on the topic.
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The story wasn't that entertaining :p Could have just said, "Hey I designed a THX subwoofer, but this USB mic THX stuff is crap!" :D Which I think you are right ;)

But your next post you start picking on their headbasket design. So it's not all THX, is it? That was a straight shot at the functionality of Blue's product.

And why pick on THX mics? There is lots of other silly THX certified stuff.

Let's think for a minute about your "ideal" board, where all manufacturers participate "helpfully". You want Skipper and Martin to show up on that thread and start taking potshots at you? I don't want to read that sort of stuff. I mean, yeah, it's entertaining, but we have the Cave for flame wars.

And you have gotten into it there with others; Marik, the boys at JJ Audio . . . it's all very unseemly.

Mike Jasper said it best in his giant mic review (I don't think he manufactures mics, so he is unbiased):

Jasper said:
. . . Third, manufacturers should never tout their own products at online forums--even if you're right, it's wrong.
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I had to learn that one the hard way :drunk:


MsH - It appears you have a bone to pick with me because we both have microphone companies - but I am not circumscribed in the same way. Your position as moderator here presents a conflict of interest. This conflict of interest leads you to impose a "code of silence" on yourself, which is appropriate, and attempt to force it on others - which is not. But I do not have your conflict of interest issue and am not ethically bound in the same way as you.
Click to expand...

Oh but let's think on that a minute. I haven't moderated this thread. All I am doing is arguing with you. That's exactly what you say would and should happen on a "progressive" board, right? Manufacturer participation?

Obviously, this serves no purpose for members who are generally interested in the use and care of microphones. It just bumps our signatures a whole bunch of times :p
 
first thread on these message boards and start a war....

i'll throw another mic name out there with the peluso cemc6.... i have seen some decent deals floating around, and apparently they sound very nice and smooth. does anybody have any experience with these mics?
 
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