Best mic for recording guitar with £100gbp ($174usd) budget ?

[mikeote]

Ok, I know enough about mics to know it is totally about individual taste, like choosing which guitar you want. Though I have no way of getting the mics to test which sound I like best...

I know shure sm57 is the industry standard but I want to know if for under £100 gbp ($174usd) I can get a mic that's alot better for recording a loud electric guitar by itself. I play heavy progressive Metal with death metal influences and am looking for a mic that enterprets both a very heavy sounding guitar and a very clean sounding guitar well.

I'm willing to go to £140 ($244) if that allows me to get a mic thats alot better than £100.

Any advice would be much appreciated !

Mike.

 

[scrubs]

You might be able to find a used Sennheiser MD421 for under $250 US. The Sennheiser E609 silver is also well regarded, although in the same general league as the SM57.

 

[noisedude]

Yeah, what Scrubs said. You need an MD421 and if you find a cheap UK source, let me know about it!!! E609 silver is another good one. I find the MD421 has a more 'industrial' sound than a 57 ... great for modern metal sounds. The 57 has a little more rounded warmth in the low mids for a nice clean sound ... but if it's jangle and twang you want, I'd probably still go for the 421 first (although combinations of mics are excellent).

 

[Jeazii]

Try an Audix I-5 ($99). It is a snare mic but its also very good for micing load guitars. 140SPL

 

[Innovations]

In my opinion the e609 silver is a better mic than the SM 57 for your purpose. The 421 is most likely better, but out of your budget.

The impression that the SM57 is the 'industry standard' is a reflection of how common it is, not how good it is. It is common because it is cheap, durable, and reliable. Not that those aren't good qualities.

 

[Chris Shaeffer]

Anyone else ever tried an MXL 603 on distorted guitar? I have and I really liked it, but I'm not really a connoisseur of fine distortions. The condensor mic just seemed to breath a little bit more and I could pull it back from the grill a bit further without losing clarity.

-C

 

[soundchaser59]

Best results I've had are using an E609, EV ND967, ND468, SM57, or an AKGD770. I plan to get an MD421 later on.....