another "best mic" question

  • Thread starter Thread starter baerstev
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baerstev

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Hi....
I hope someone can help me out here... In the past I have miced my guitar amps with an sm 57... It sounds ok, but a little muddy even when I roll off a lot of the bass-I could definately use a little more high end (both on clean and distorted). Has any one else had this problem with the 57, or am i just not putting enough time into finding the "sweet spot"? I can't believe it would make THAT much of a difference but.... Anyway, if there is a mic out there which I should maybe be using in conjunction with the 57, I would like to know about it. I would like to stay somewhere around the $250 or less range. I have a Les Paul Classic which goes into a Marshall JTM 30. Thanks so much for your advice.
 
Try pointing the mic more towards the very center of the cone.


Yes, it really does make that much of a difference.
 
the quality of the preamp you are using can very well be a factor also.......
 
Yea, Gidgemo's right. Better get yourself an Avalon for that guitar amp. Yup.
 
I've never liked the 57 for amped guitars, my favorites are the Sennheiser MD421/441, the Beyer M88 or M69 and the SP B1.

Borrow or rent a 421 and see if that's an improvement.
 
the md 421 would be a good mic to use with the 57. that is what i use on my distorted gtrz.
i have seen them for about $225 new on ebay.
 
See if you can find an AT 4033. My weapon of choice in front of an amp.
 
Try a Sennheiser MD421 instead of the Shure SM57 on your gtr amp. ;)
 
So basically, some guy comes on this board and says he's having trouble getting more high end on his electric guitar tracks . . . and like 10 of you all give like 10 different mic recommendations. :D And one guy says it could be his preamp.

Wow, what a resource this board has become. Why don't we just call ourselves harmonycentral2?

I don't mean to bust you guys' asses, but your suggestions, when taken as a whole, are pretty damn useless. Have you all learned nothing since you first started posting on this board?
 
i agree about the mic placement. if you havent tried screwing with the mic placement very much running out and getting a brand new mic is foolish.

i mean good sounds can be had from a well used sm57 on a guitar cab. right!?
 
Get the amp up off the floor, onto a chair or something.

Then try Chess's suggestions.

Do you wear decent isolating headphones while you're adjusting the positioning of your mic? That can be a huge timesaver.
 
I still think he should try a Sennheiser MD421 instead of the Shure SM57 on his amp. :D
 
Well I think he should try half&half instead of 2% milk in his coffee, but that's neither here nor there, now, is it? :D
 
chessrock said:
So basically, some guy comes on this board and says he's having trouble getting more high end on his electric guitar tracks . . . and like 10 of you all give like 10 different mic recommendations. :D And one guy says it could be his preamp.

Wow, what a resource this board has become. Why don't we just call ourselves harmonycentral2?

I don't mean to bust you guys' asses, but your suggestions, when taken as a whole, are pretty damn useless. Have you all learned nothing since you first started posting on this board?
Click to expand...

agreed. this board is way too oriented to purchasing gear to solve all problems. (and leans to new gear currently in production)

anyway, insofar as your "mud" problem, try moving the mic back a bit from the speaker, you may be hearing proximity effect bass.

also of course, make sure you are getting the tone you like out of your guitar rig in the first place. and judge the sound not by standing up and playing, but by getting your head right up to the speaker.
 
Thanks everyone for your posts. I have messed around with the mic placement a little, but probably not as much as I should have-I will definately do more of that. I do have an AT4033 but the last time I used it it sounded like it was a little harsh, and, I don't know, just didn't sit well in the mix. But I could experiment with it some more. I guess I should probably just spend a little more time experimenting using a combination of what I have instead of going out there and getting more gear. But if I am still having problems, I think I may try out the 421-that seems to be a widely suggested mic (with a frequency curve that is more responsive to higher frequencies?). I don't think its the tone coming from the amp-sounds sufficiently "trebley" to me. Thanks again.
 
chessrock said:
So basically, some guy comes on this board and says he's having trouble getting more high end on his electric guitar tracks . . . and like 10 of you all give like 10 different mic recommendations. :D And one guy says it could be his preamp.

Wow, what a resource this board has become. Why don't we just call ourselves harmonycentral2?

I don't mean to bust you guys' asses, but your suggestions, when taken as a whole, are pretty damn useless. Have you all learned nothing since you first started posting on this board?
Click to expand...

Yeah, we've learned how to run off anyone that knows his shit. Now, as Fletcher mentioned, we're just trying to figure out how to fuck a bowling ball.
 
crazydoc said:
Yeah, we've learned how to run off anyone that knows his shit. Now, as Fletcher mentioned, we're just trying to figure out how to fuck a bowling ball.
Click to expand...
Do it like you do it to your rabbit. :D

Hey chessrock... I like half&half in my coffee too. :D
 
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