AKG C 1000's and C 3000

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MadMax

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I've 2 1000's and a C 3000 laying around. They've gotta be good for something. I've searched and found nothing but bad press on these.
Can they be modified to be useable?
What exactly is the problem with these mics? Is it the diaphragm itself, or the housing, the electronics?
Does anybody have a niche use for them? Drums, guitar amps etc?

I hate getting rid of my music stuff, especially mics ( I guess I'm a packrat).
 
They're not as bad as a lot of folks make them out to be. I like C-1000s on snare and toms. The C-3000 is great on a floor tom. I also like the C-1000s on the occaisional amp. I HATE them as an overhead however. The C-3000 can be OK on the right singer. The problem with both mics is the way they can resolve the high end. They're a bit too hyped and can be harsh. I wouldn't run out and buy these mics again. I bought them when they first came out a LONG time ago. But since I have them, I use them where they DO work.
 
Not here, don't like 'em on nothin', had 'em, sold 'em, Richie is the resident expert on AKG, he'll be around to tell you how they may be put to use (other than my wisecrack approach like ...hammer, doorstop, paperweight, chronsynclastic infidibulum word clock)
 
Big Kenny said:
Not here, don't like 'em on nothin', had 'em, sold 'em, Richie is the resident expert on AKG, he'll be around to tell you how they may be put to use (other than my wisecrack approach like ...hammer, doorstop, paperweight, chronsynclastic infidibulum word clock)
Click to expand...
It must be all that loud rock & roll I used to play has damaged my ears. Hell, I even like 57's still. :eek: :D
If you have some morbid curiosity, you can hear C-1000s on snare and toms and C-3000 on floor tom on "Sunny California".
http://www.nowhereradio.com/artists/?aid=1331/singles.shtml
 
Track Rat said:
It must be all that loud rock & roll I used to play has damaged my ears. Hell, I even like 57's still. :eek: :D
If you have some morbid curiosity, you can hear C-1000s on snare and toms and C-3000 on floor tom on "Sunny California".
http://www.nowhereradio.com/artists/?aid=1331/singles.shtml
Click to expand...
Nah, it's just me. I have heard others get some nice tracks. I have always had other mics that I liked better so I sold 'em off.
 
Does anybody know why they sound bad? Is it the diaphragm? The electronics? Can they be modified to sound better?
 
Use your own judgement, regardless of what everyone says. I have a pair of 1000's and a 3000, just like you. I use thte C1000's as overheads and the C3000B for vocals. I think alot of people jump on bandwagons sometimes and repeat what someone told them on the internet without trying them for themselves.
 
I'm using senn 421's and 441's
Oktava mk012's (3 caps)
Brauner Phantom
Studio Project T3
ATM 25's
RE 20
SM7
AT 4033's
AT 4040
Neumann 184's
NTK
Groove Tube MD1b
Marshall 77
CAD M179
Beyer 88, 69, 201
and a bunch of Shure 57, 58, and betas
 
What I have to compare the two C-1000s and one C-3000 against

Two Earthworks SR-71s
Two Neumann KM-184s
Two Octava MK-012's (with the omni, cardiod and hypercardiod capsules for both)
Two AT4033s
One AT4047
One Octava MK-319
One Groove Tubes AM-52
One Apex 430 (now this one just may be a paper weight)
One MD-441
Two AKG D-112s
Two SM-58s
Six SM-57s
One Unidyne III 545
There are more but my head hurts now.
 
And that's why YMMV! We all like different stuff, we don't all drive Chevys, we don't all eat sushi, we don't all like (or dislike) the same equipment. Cool!
 
I haven't used the c3000, but I used to have a pair of c1000's and thought they really were ok for fingerpicked acoustic guitar and on the occasional guitar amp. Yep, they're bright, no doubt about it, but I think they are generally a better mic than many make them out to be. And from my limited experience, the rock on field recordings of birds.
 
I have said this before but i still think they got their bad reputation when everyone was using cheap 16 bit digital recorders with Mackie mixers.
The 3 of those together is enough to make a deaf man buy ear plugs.
 
The C3000 is a quirky condenser with an attitude. Chunky with a 57'ish top. Put it on things where the top isn't critical.
More fun factor than a RE-20 on bass cab for instance.
Yeah, floor toms.
Wayne
 
Never tried the C3000. But, because of this thread I tried to use a pair of C1000s as overheads and i just hate the way they sound. They may do okay if I EQ some of the highs out.
 
It's like this...

Just think of them as another color crayon in your pack of Crayolas. Be creative. Don't put yourself in the mindset "I have to use <such-and-such> on my <NAME YOUR APPLICATION> because the book tells me to." Use them on whatever you feel like using them on. If they get the sound you're looking for, great! If not, move on to a different mic. If you want to dump them, I'll take them!

Think out of the box!
 
I don't have a lot of high end mic's, but I've actually owned a C1000, sold it, then bought another one because I missed it. Somehow, I really like it on vocals. I don't know why, it's not sonically awsome, I just like the feel.

I like the Octava MC012 better on most instruments - especially acoustic guitar.

The strange thing is that I have never found the C1000 overly bright. That mic doesn't seem bright at all, really. I had a Rode NT1 for a bit - that, on the other hand...
 
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