B1 or B3

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jonathangeiger

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I'm going to be recording some electric guitar, and vocals mainly. Should I just go ahead an buy the B1 or save and buy the B3. I hear the B3 sounds just like the B1 in card mode so it sounds like the b3 would be more versatile.
 
They are similar, but I wouldn't exactly call them the same. I'd save up for the B3, I've had a lot of luck doing vocals and guitar with it set to Omni.
 
Do some magazine research for starters, Jon. I believe it was EQ mag ran a B1-B3 comparison last summer and liked the B1 better, overall. What I remember most is that the reviewer wrote that the B3 did *not* sound like the B1, overall, as he'd expected. It was more flexible but with a different sound to all of its patterns.

Best,

J.
 
Well, I've been looking around and I'm thinking there are better mics than the SP ones. If I may, what do you think would be a very good starter condenser mic for under 200 or so? Like I said, I'll mainly be doing electric guitar and vocals.
 
Jon, keep in mind that any reviewer typically doesn't spend much time with a given microphone, and are limited in the variety of musical sources they try on them.

In other words, for YOU the B3 (or B1) could be better than the other one. That's why experts typically advise us to personally
use each one, rather than relying on reviews that much.

Finding a dealer with a liberal return policy is a smart idea,
if the local dealer route is inconvenient.

Another microphone to consider adding with a condenser is the
Electro-Voice EV 635a. It's an excellent vocal microphone,
and is reputed by pro's to be A-1 on electric guitar amps.
Runs $80 or less used in good (or better) condition typically.

Chris
 
thanks for the comments chris, and sorry for my lack of experience
 
That's perfectly fine. I consider myself merely a moderately advanced beginner anyway, with some awareness of
how advanced recordists think.

Chris
 
For me, the multiple patterns would be worth the extra $80.
 
For me too. I have a B3, not a B1 and I've used it more as figure 8 (in a M-S setup) and omni than as cardioid.
 
can someone please specify who makes the b1 and b3? thanks!
 
I own two SP B1's and one SP B3, and of those three mic's, they're all quite similar sonically. True, they aren't exactly alike as others have mentioned, but alike enough that I use one B1 and my B3 in M-S stereo mic'ing setups. Frankly, if you can swing the few extra bucks, I'd recommend the B3 over the B1 as your first LDC, simply because of the added patterns, not because the B1 isn't as good as the B3. The added patterns may come in handy for doing multiple vocalists/harmony vocals, as well as other things. FWIW.
 
am i correct in saying that the SP B1 goes for about $99? i don't know much of anything about these mics, but usually when i see a condenser for less than 100 i wouldn't even consider adding it to me arsenal.

so i guess what im coming down to, is what makes this mic so good? what are its best uses?
 
thexflamesxburn said:
am i correct in saying that the SP B1 goes for about $99? i don't know much of anything about these mics, but usually when i see a condenser for less than 100 i wouldn't even consider adding it to me arsenal.

so i guess what im coming down to, is what makes this mic so good? what are its best uses?
Click to expand...

Yeah, they average around $100 each, although PMI has some B stock B1's going for $70, including shipping.

Do a search on the Studio Projects B1 and you'll find LOTS of posts about this mic. It's very neutral, clean, smooth and quiet sounding to my ears, and very well made for the bucks. It's truely one of the standout LDC mics in the $100 or less catagory. Some people compare it's usefulness (not sound) to Shure's SM-57, also a low cost (dynamic) but very popular mic in the same price range.
 
kid klash said:
Yeah, they average around $100 each, although PMI has some B stock B1's going for $70, including shipping.

Do a search on the Studio Projects B1 and you'll find LOTS of posts about this mic. It's very neutral, clean, smooth and quiet sounding to my ears, and very well made for the bucks. It's truely one of the standout LDC mics in the $100 or less catagory. Some people compare it's usefulness (not sound) to Shure's SM-57, also a low cost (dynamic) but very popular mic in the same price range.
Click to expand...
a lot of people seem to use it for far micing a guitar cab. what's the advantage of useing this is a far mic? my experience with condensers on a cab is that the amp completely overpowers the mic.
 
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