$1,000 in my pocket, what do I do?

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Ephi82

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OK,

I have a $1,000 windfall that I can play with here

Here is what I have already:

tascam 2488, 24 Bit, 24 track
JBL LSR 4328 Monitors with Sub
FMR RNC and RNP
Sm 57's and 58's (use the 57 with good results on guitar amp)
Rode K2 for vocals with NOS Telefunken and Amperex
Treated room
Lexicon MX 200 (yes dirty but cool if you eq)
Sans Amp bass driver DI
1967 Fender Blackface Pro Reverb (with Weber speaker motor attenuator)
62 Vintage reissue strat (made in Fullerton, 1982)
30 year old Guild D 25
Martin HD-28
Epiphone Sheraton (Samick made)
Fender P bass
MIdi Keyboard driving sound generator in Tascam
Roland V drums

I am a child of 60's, and enjoy the hobby of getting the best recordings I can, and pushing my abilities across all the instruments I play.

I want to improve vocal quality (pre amp?)and/or ability to capture Guild and Martin without Eq, ( SDC like a Shure SM 81?) and/or buy a guitar for dedicated open tuning for slide (Tele?)

What are your thoughts?

Thanks
 
Buy your girlfriend or wife (but not both) something nice with the money for no reason whatsoever.

G.
 
From another child of the 60's, here goes- Of course, you can do what any real hippie would have done, and spend it all on weed. You won't get anything good recorded, but you'll think you did. And you'll have enough to get the listeners wasted, too, so they'll agree. OK-maybe not.

Seriously, you are a tough one, because you already have a pretty good project studio, and you are deep enough into it to know already the bizzillions of things $1000 *can't* do. Of course, I can't make the call. All I can do is identify the most obvious weak spots. My choices are also influenced by my biases- namely, I prefer to record real sound in real space, so I'm probably not going to recommend a good midi sequencer.

There are some basics you didn't mention, so I'll presume you are all set with headphones and headphone distribution. If you aren't, that would be a priority. Other than that, the weakest link would appear to be the microphone cabinet. You don't have a stereo pair, or any small diaphragm mics, and your only dynamics are serviceable cheapies.

I would probably buy a SD stereo pair, and one good dynamic. For the SDC's, a pair of SM81's would set you back about $700, and a Shure SM7b about $350. Unfortunately, that runs just over the budget. I'd probably buy a pair of Studio Projects C4's and an Electrovoice EV RE20 or a Shure SM7b. Those are all mics with a myriad of uses in the studio. Another alternative would be a good FET condenser and a good dynamic, say AKG C214 and RE20 or SM7b. The 214 would give you a very different option on vocals, and be better than anything you currently have on acoustic. That's my best suggestion. Good luck-Richie
 
SouthSIDE Glen said:
Buy your girlfriend or wife (but not both) something nice with the money for no reason whatsoever.

G.
Click to expand...

Good advice Glen, (believe it or not, I did just that a week ago so I still have the $1000 burning a hole in the pocket.)
 
Richard Monroe said:
From another child of the 60's, here goes- Of course, you can do what any real hippie would have done, and spend it all on weed. You won't get anything good recorded, but you'll think you did. And you'll have enough to get the listeners wasted, too, so they'll agree. OK-maybe not.

Seriously, you are a tough one, because you already have a pretty good project studio, and you are deep enough into it to know already the bizzillions of things $1000 *can't* do. Of course, I can't make the call. All I can do is identify the most obvious weak spots. My choices are also influenced by my biases- namely, I prefer to record real sound in real space, so I'm probably not going to recommend a good midi sequencer.

There are some basics you didn't mention, so I'll presume you are all set with headphones and headphone distribution. If you aren't, that would be a priority. Other than that, the weakest link would appear to be the microphone cabinet. You don't have a stereo pair, or any small diaphragm mics, and your only dynamics are serviceable cheapies.

I would probably buy a SD stereo pair, and one good dynamic. For the SDC's, a pair of SM81's would set you back about $700, and a Shure SM7b about $350. Unfortunately, that runs just over the budget. I'd probably buy a pair of Studio Projects C4's and an Electrovoice EV RE20 or a Shure SM7b. Those are all mics with a myriad of uses in the studio. Another alternative would be a good FET condenser and a good dynamic, say AKG C214 and RE20 or SM7b. The 214 would give you a very different option on vocals, and be better than anything you currently have on acoustic. That's my best suggestion. Good luck-Richie
Click to expand...

Good stuff, thanks. Do you have experience with the SM81's on acoustics? are they a good choice for the money? I would like to be able to track my acoustics without the hassle of customizing the eq as I do today
 
In a way, having a good and usable set up but coming across $1000 and feeling that it should go on gear may be a sign of impending gear addiction {stuff you don't need}as opposed to having thought for a while 'Oh, I could do with.....' then some money comes your way and....

Don't listen to me ! I'm just a little league psychologist. :laughings:
 
a likely story!

it's you're conscience pal. :laughings:



seriously though, i like my sm81s on my mates taylor. doesn't take a lot of work to get a nice sound.
 
grimtraveller said:
In a way, having a good and usable set up but coming across $1000 and feeling that it should go on gear may be a sign of impending gear addiction {stuff you don't need}as opposed to having thought for a while 'Oh, I could do with.....' then some money comes your way and....

Don't listen to me ! I'm just a little league psychologist. :laughings:
Click to expand...

LOL

Make no mistake, I am addicted, but I believe I am damned frugal!

However, I have, and still work, damn hard, and this is my passion and hobby, so I feel that I earn the ability to add toys to my sandbox. I do know what elements I'd like to see improved. I was curious as to what others would see as the "gaps" in my studio that could be enhanced by $1k

Cheers
 
Ephi82 said:
LOL

Make no mistake, I am addicted, but I believe I am damned frugal!

However, I have, and still work, damn hard, and this is my passion and hobby, so I feel that I earn the ability to add toys to my sandbox. I do know what elements I'd like to see improved. I was curious as to what others would see as the "gaps" in my studio that could be enhanced by $1k

Cheers
Click to expand...

Yes, I've used the SM81's, and they are good mics, not great mics. Frankly, for the money, the C4's are about as good and come with omni capsules, shock mounts, and the flight case as well. They are as good as anything I've used until you get into the next major price jump- Josephson, Neumann, Earthworks, DPA, Schoeps (to die for).
 
And once again look at the possibilities of purchasing used gear and you will get twice the millage out of your cash!! ;)








:cool:
 
Richard Monroe said:
Yes, I've used the SM81's, and they are good mics, not great mics. Frankly, for the money, the C4's are about as good and come with omni capsules, shock mounts, and the flight case as well. They are as good as anything I've used until you get into the next major price jump- Josephson, Neumann, Earthworks, DPA, Schoeps (to die for).
Click to expand...

Enjoyed your response to my thread on a $1000 burning a hole in my pocket, especially the part buying a bag and getting everyone stoned as a optimal use of the $'s!

I am a former Bostonian, and lived in Framingham (Agnes Drive) in the mid 60's. This is when I became a die hard rock n roll fanatic. although this is off topic to the OP, its mine, so I can do what I want:

In Framingham in those years, as a 7-10 year old rock/Beatles fanatic, I was hanging with "older girls" in the neighborhood (13-16 years old) who were literally creaming for the Beatles and Stones etc.

At this "tender" age, I came to know, and benefit from, the impact of rock n roll on the female teenage libido (have you never played doctor before?)!
 
Ephi82 said:
At this "tender" age, I came to know, and benefit from, the impact of rock n roll on the female teenage libido
Click to expand...
Yeah but you have to be careful now, my friend. Now that you're in your 50s or so, those teenage libidos are illegal, and honestly, kinda creepy ;) :D.

G.
 
CFox said:
Its called "The Wisdom of Crowds"
Click to expand...
Which crowds are we talking about, the crowds that thought it was OK to buy houses they couldn't afford in the 1990s because they couldn't put 2 and 2 together by themselves, the crowds that believe Rush Limbaugh is actually serious about what he's spewing and not just an Andy Kaufman-esque radio act that's laughing all the way to the bank simply for playing to people's ignorance, the crowds that believe the finalists in American Idol are actually something special and not fairly commonplace talent beacuse they have never actually experienced the musical community outside of Snooze Radio, the crowds that used to believe that the Earth was the flat center of the universe because that's what's easiest to believe, or the crowds who believe that truth is a matter of majority public opinion because they'd rather "fit in" than follow reality?

G.
 
SouthSIDE Glen said:
Which crowds are we talking about, the crowds that thought it was OK to buy houses they couldn't afford in the 1990s, the crowds that believe Rush Limbaugh is actually serious about what he's spewing and not just an Andy Kaufman-esque radio act that's laughing all the way to the bank, the crowds that believe the finalists in American Idol are actually something special and not fairly commonplace pseudo-talent, the crowds that used to believe that the Earth was the flat center of the universe, or the crowds who believe that truth is a matter of majority public opinion?

G.
Click to expand...

Exactly SSG. Which crowds indeed. So, the bigger the cross section the better. Then, of course, its crucial to assess the value of that opinion.

After you have done all that.

You don't have to act on any of that "wisdom" ;)

Who knows where else the OP has posted this query. I am sure he is avoiding manufacturers forums though.
 
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Ephi82 said:
Good stuff, thanks. Do you have experience with the SM81's on acoustics? are they a good choice for the money? I would like to be able to track my acoustics without the hassle of customizing the eq as I do today
Click to expand...

I have a pair of sm81s and cemc6s and record a lot of acoustic guitars. I use both about equally as they have quite different sounds, both good however. Assuming your Guild and Martin guitars are darker sounding guitars relative to say a Taylor, I would recommend cemc6s over the sm81s. The sm81s are nice, but can get boomy unless you work hard on placement. The cemc6s have a tighter punchier bottom and a little brighter upper mids that might work better on the darker guitars. I have never found the cemc6s to be boomy on the Martins. They can be too bright on a bright guitar however.

In a treated room, I would tend to go with the cemc6s. In an untreated room, I would go with the sm81s, as the cemc6s can be pretty steely sounding on ac guitar in an untreated room.

Compare sm81, cemc6 and a lot of great SDCs on flatpicked guitar in this shootout:
http://www.flatpick.com/microphonetest/

cemc6 pair sounds pretty spectacular on Prayer for Noah by Larry Jacobsen:
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/default.cfm?bandID=253412

Best...
 
CFox said:
Its called "The Wisdom of Crowds" Mr Opinionated Fence Sitter.

Got you sussed bro. ;)
Click to expand...
I'm more into sitting on a thought than sitting on the fence.......of course, sitting on the fence does wonders for balance.
Me ? Opinionated ? You betcha !!
 
grimtraveller said:
I'm more into sitting on a thought than sitting on the fence.......of course, sitting on the fence does wonders for balance.
Me ? Opinionated ? You betcha !!
Click to expand...

You look like a big guy, start throwing your weight around pls. :cool:
 
gehauser said:
I have a pair of sm81s and cemc6s and record a lot of acoustic guitars. I use both about equally as they have quite different sounds, both good however. Assuming your Guild and Martin guitars are darker sounding guitars relative to say a Taylor, I would recommend cemc6s over the sm81s. The sm81s are nice, but can get boomy unless you work hard on placement. The cemc6s have a tighter punchier bottom and a little brighter upper mids that might work better on the darker guitars. I have never found the cemc6s to be boomy on the Martins. They can be too bright on a bright guitar however.

In a treated room, I would tend to go with the cemc6s. In an untreated room, I would go with the sm81s, as the cemc6s can be pretty steely sounding on ac guitar in an untreated room.

Compare sm81, cemc6 and a lot of great SDCs on flatpicked guitar in this shootout:
http://www.flatpick.com/microphonetest/

cemc6 pair sounds pretty spectacular on Prayer for Noah by Larry Jacobsen:
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/default.cfm?bandID=253412

Best...
Click to expand...

Thanks

My Guild has really mellowed into a very cool sounding instrument, kind of a smokey, low mid range without the boom, but it could benefit from a mic that sparkles up the high end.

The Martin is simply wonderful. It has a balanced resonance and sustain, and it is loud, not boomy,providing you place the mic right.

It seems you would prefer the Peluso's in this app?

I have heard that the SM81's give you an instantly recognizable, classic acoustic guitar sound heard on many recordings Is this true?
 
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