Acoustic Guitar and MXL603s

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jerberson12

mucis procedure
I heard that 603s is good in recording acoustic guitar. I got a Martin D-15 and im using Rode NT3 and I dont like it. Can anybody post a song using the MXL603s for acoustic guitar? Plan to buy one.
 
well I just got a mxl 991 and someone told me it's the 603 repackaged. I was impressed by the wideness of the cardiod, it seemed easier to aim. Also, it sounds detailed and seems really full and well defined on the highs and high mids.

I had it a foot away, pointed at bridge at an angle. But for my junky acoustic, I have a lot of ringing on the high 2 strings b/c I've been playing way to hard. So for me, I didn't use it to record anything yet. But for a nice Martin, especially if you are finger picking it, I think it would be pretty nice. I'll have to try that next w/ my better acoustic, just don't have a project for that at the moment....

I decided to use my Oktava mk012 at the nut pointed to hole and used a darker pre and that way I could slam away at the a/gt and not wreck it w/ the overtones. I also have a junky reel deck mic that has even more limited range and I like that too for my heavy-handed playing.

Then there's stereo recording w/ matched pairs.... not good for me now either for same reasons as well as my not having a dual pre....
 
I use a pair of the 603's on Martin 000, and I love them, sorry no clips though. Best $200 I ever spent on mic's...
-k
 
I have an mp3 of Jon Gailmor doing a live tune at Phoenixfest. It's outside and it was windy, a couple of no-nos with condensers. Anyway, click HERE and go to "Discography / Phoenix Fest" and do the tune. I used an MXL 603s on the guitar and an SP B1 on the vocals. There is wind noise.

I don't have a boatload of mics, but I bought a pair of these hoping to get decent dreadnaught guitar tones and am really happy with them. It's worth springing for shockmounts, IMO. There's a pair at 8th street in a box that sometimes is available for $200. Ebay has a couple of $200 /pair /box vendors; it's worth looking around.


(Edited to fix a broken link).
 
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thanks, mad.

tree, your link doesn't work, and i'd like to hear it.
 
i have a martin D15 and i LOVE the way a pair of MXL 603's record it. you should be very, very pleased. definitely some of the best money i've spent.


wade
 
jerberson12 said:
I heard that 603s is good in recording acoustic guitar. I got a Martin D-15 and im using Rode NT3 and I dont like it. Can anybody post a song using the MXL603s for acoustic guitar? Plan to buy one.
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No, but I prefer the Marshall MXL603S over the Rode NT3 for acoustic guitar... the NT3 is darker sounding than the MXL603S... so if you want a brighter sounding mic for your acoustic guitar checkout the MXL603S.
 
I just found the acoustic guitar sound for me, and it's the 991/603s. I've been trying a lot of other stuff for 6 weeks, and this is awesome, but not for the bashing, but for normal playing and fingerstyle. This mic just sounds great all over the band. It sounds just like my guitar coming out of the speaks. I have it at the nut, close to neck, points to hole. Now I can finally move on and get something done.
 
DJL said:
No, but I prefer the Marshall MXL603S over the Rode NT3 for acoustic guitar... the NT3 is darker sounding than the MXL603S... so if you want a brighter sounding mic for your acoustic guitar checkout the MXL603S.
Click to expand...

I think the NT3 sucks eggs. Of course I've heard of lots of people who do like em. I like the NT5's nice mics. Slightly darker, but still real nice. I'm not a fan of the 603's due to the excessive brightness, but it may help tame the low end of a boomy guitar.
 
John Mayes said:
I think the NT3 sucks eggs. Of course I've heard of lots of people who do like em. I like the NT5's nice mics. Slightly darker, but still real nice. I'm not a fan of the 603's due to the excessive brightness, but it may help tame the low end of a boomy guitar.
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The "brightness" occurs at around 7kHz, easily eq'ed (about -4dB of cut should do it), or simply aim the 603 a little off axis, since the peak tends to be pretty narrow.
 
Harvey Gerst said:
The "brightness" occurs at around 7kHz, easily eq'ed (about -4dB of cut should do it), or simply aim the 603 a little off axis, since the peak tends to be pretty narrow.
Click to expand...

Great tip Harvey. I took back the couple pairs I bought. They seemed thin and bright to me, but if I had that little tidbit a year ago I may have kept them.
 
I think their brightness is what makes them useful.

Usually, when I'm sound checking an instrument, I'll listen and think in terms of : "This needs to be a little brighter" or "that needs to be darker," and I'll select the mic accordingly.
 
John Mayes said:
I think the NT3 sucks eggs. Of course I've heard of lots of people who do like em. I like the NT5's nice mics. Slightly darker, but still real nice. I'm not a fan of the 603's due to the excessive brightness, but it may help tame the low end of a boomy guitar.
Click to expand...
You don't need to address me to tell Jerberson12 what you think... or are you telling me?
 
DJL said:
You don't need to address me to tell Jerberson12 what you think... or are you telling me?
Click to expand...

Oh no I just saw you mentioned the NT3 and it came to mind. Not directed at anyone in particular.
 
John Mayes said:
I think the NT3 sucks eggs. Of course I've heard of lots of people who do like em. I like the NT5's nice mics. Slightly darker, but still real nice. I'm not a fan of the 603's due to the excessive brightness, but it may help tame the low end of a boomy guitar.
Click to expand...

What about the NT3 don't you like? I'm curious because I have a pair that I bought a few years ago, before I had much experience at all. I haven't been all that satisfied with my results, but I thought it might be because of placement issues mostly. Do people find it possible to coax a reasonable sound from NT3's with acoustic or nylon guitar, by tweaking the placement and/or EQ, or should I sell them and buy some 603's or MK012's?

Don
 
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