i need a new mic specifically for recording loud guitar amps... these three (sm57, sp b1, mxl 990) are all in pretty much the same price range over here in aus, but other suggestions are welcome...
i need a new mic specifically for recording loud guitar amps... these three (sm57, sp b1, mxl 990) are all in pretty much the same price range over here in aus, but other suggestions are welcome...
i've used both the B1 and sm57 on guitar cabs (and loud ones at that--fender twin reverb, fender ultimate chorus and tweed blues junior, all driven hard) and they both do a fine job at accurately capturing the sound of the amp in the room at that time.
like DJL said, it's impossible to describe them and have your results equal mine b/c your room, amps, guitars, mic positioning techniques, etc., are going to be different than mine.
but suffice it to say that either the B1 or the sm57 are likely to turn out usable results for you. they'll be different sounding than each other, but they'll both be "accurate" and "true" to the sound, all other things notwithstanding. depending on your other needs, either mic will be a workhorse and will excel at a variety of different things. they're cheap enough, pick one of each up and see for yourself.
I own a B1 and a 990. I absolutely disliked the 990. Granted, I've never mic'ed a guitar amp with either let alone a loud one, but I've recorded vocal and acoustic guitar with it both, and the 990 came out sounding like it was being recorded through a tin can...basically, it sounded like ass to me. I don't see how the tone could sound good on anything let alone a loud guitar. The B1 on the other hand sounded great (to me anyway) and didn't color the track nearly as much as the 990. I don't know if I got a crappy 990 or something, but I'm still amazed anytime someone recommends it. Maybe it magically sounds good at mic'ing guitar amps, but I doubt it.
My advice from experience with 2 of the 3 mics would be to get the B1. I haven't used the 57 (I have a sm58 though), but I'm guessing it's much better than the 990, and for all I know, could be even better than the B1.