Best mics for micing guitar amps?

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Massimo

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Ok all you master recorders, I need some advice. What's a good mic for recording an electric guitar amp? I have a SM57 mic which I've been using but I notice it doesn't capture the amps true sound. I want something that going to capture the sound as close as possible. Would a condenser mic be better?

Also, while I'm on the subject, what is a good position to position the mic from the amp? I've been putting it a couple of inches from the speaker. I guess that's the standard way of doing it.

Here's the gear I'm recording

Gibson Studio and Fender Strat, through a Fender Deluxe Amp.

Thanks in advance!

Massimo
 
the sm 57 is one of the best mics for that task. It's almost a standard. Check out your equipment and see if there might be something else that might be messing with your siganal. Also, do a search on your question....it's been asked a million times.
regards, Jason
 
Mic placement

I use the 57 to mic my cab. The best position I found, which was also recommended by others is nearly touching the grill. Get the mic as close to the speaker grill as possible, maybe 1cm away. Point the mic toward the edge of the center cone on a slight angle. I get crystal clear sound from my amp / mic combo.. Hope that helps.
 
Variety of sound

Seinnhieser e609 silver? Is that a dynamic mic? Lets face it there are a lot of good mics out there the SM57 is just one. I guess different mics will give you different results. I'm getting a new Korg D1200 soon I'll see if that makes a difference in sound recording. Otherwise the search goes on for the right mic.
 
Royer R-121 for close-micing, which I have used, and really wish I hadn't 'cos I can't afford it.

Earthworks QTC-1 for room micing, which I haven't used, but really want to.


Ok. Fantasy over, and another vote for the E609 silver, yes it is a dynamic, and it does suit Fender amps well, I use one on my twin alot.
 
The SM57 is the classic, but as you say, it doesn't actually capture the sound of the amp very accurately. I have had my best results with a combination of mics. The setup I like the most is an RE-20 and a DPA 4011. This is, of course, a very expensive option, but you could find similar mics for much less, and though the results would not be as good, they would be closer to what you want. You might try and SM7 and the small diaphragm condenser of your choice. Whatever you have, don't you know. The style of mic is far more important than the particular mic. The 4011 is a very flat small diaphragm cardioids condenser, so one which is as accurate as possible would be the choice.


Light

"Cowards can never be moral."
M.K. Gandhi
 
I'm actually not familiar with a lot of mics. In fact I know nothing other than what a dynamic mic is, like the SM58 and SM57. I've yet to purchase a condencer mic but it looks like I'm going to have to try one. I don't know these mics you all are mentioning because I've never heard of them. But what I do know is that the SM57 isn't the best mic, what do you expect for 90 bucks? I need something that's going to capture the truest sound. But by the looks of things there's many different tastes when it comes to mics. So other than the SM57 what specific mic would you recommend please include the manufacturer, model type (dynamic or condenser) and price range. Since I'm not rich or planning to record professionaly I would have to narrow my choice to a around a couple of hundred bucks. Please forgive my redundancy but I know practically nothing about mics.
 
whattaguy said:
I like my Sennheiser e609 silver. Sounds "fuller" than my 57.
Click to expand...

Ditto here.

I used SM57s for years, but discovered the e609. I was so impressed that I bought two of them. These are a "super cardioid" with a very high SPL rating, (I think around 150).
 
Massimo said:
Ok all you master recorders, I need some advice. What's a good mic for recording an electric guitar amp? I have a SM57 mic which I've been using but I notice it doesn't capture the amps true sound. I want something that going to capture the sound as close as possible. Would a condenser mic be better?

Also, while I'm on the subject, what is a good position to position the mic from the amp? I've been putting it a couple of inches from the speaker. I guess that's the standard way of doing it.

Here's the gear I'm recording

Gibson Studio and Fender Strat, through a Fender Deluxe Amp.

Thanks in advance!

Massimo
Click to expand...

OK. Here is a shocker..................Oktava ML-52 ribbon mic.

These give a great, full, balanced sound on guitar amps and are praised by many (including myself). They are ~$200. Great amp mic that also works on smotthing "harsh" vocals and acoustic guitars.

But, you need a GOOD pre-amp with lots of clean gain to use it.
 
i use 4 mics to mic a 4x12.

sm-57 $60
md-421 $225
414-buls $500
e-609 silver $99

remember that a good mic through a bad pre would be better if you had a good pre. your 57 may sound bad but if you put it into a great river mp2nv that mic will come to life.
 
First of all, I want to know whether you're trying to record clean or distorted guitar, because that makes a difference.

If you are going for accuracy, a condenser mics is what you want to be using, because that's what they're meant for. Not to say that different ones don't have different colorations (frequency responses) because they can sound quite different, but they will be more accurate than dynamic mikes in picking up the recorded sound.

Also if you're wondering why an sm57 doesn't sound natural to you, look it its frequency response graph, I think that will tell you something (though don't look at it too hard). It might also tell you something about the sort of frequency response you are looking for.

Some good cheap ideas for mikes:

AKG C1000S $200
AKG C2000B $200
Rode NT1 $200
Studio Projects C1 $250(I think)

They're all nice sounding to me. The C2000B is probably the most natural sounding while the C1000, the NT1 and the C1 all have more characteristic mid or high frequency peaks, which can be nice for certain clean guitar sounds.

Also, I'd try moving the mic about 8" away from the grillecloth pointing directly at the center of one of the speakes. When the mike is too close to the speaker you get a more unnatural sound, though it has its appeal for certain situations.

(If you want to see the graphs, I have most of them, so just let me know)
 
Thanks noground

I'm recording both clean and distortion. A little jazz, blues and a little rock nothing to heavy. But what you're saying makes sense because condenser mics have broader frequency ranges so they'll pick up more of the complete sound that a dynamic mic which has a lower frequency range. The question now comes down to which condenser mic. You say you like the AKG C2000B because it's the most natural sounding. Well that sounds good to me. I guess it would be a huge improvement from the SM57 which lacks the higher frequencies.

Yes please, I wouldn't mind seeing the frequency graphs if you have them. That might help me in deciding which mic to get.

Yeah, I like the idea of putting the mic a little farther away from the amp. It seems that way you get a more open sound rather than just putting it right up against the grill.

Well, I think I'm on the right track now on finding how to get a good guitar recording. I can't tell you how many times I've recorded a great solo or rythm just to play it back and frown at the sound of it. Dynamic mics just don't cut it in my opinion.
 
I'd also like to thank everyone else for their imput. It's always appreciated even if I didn't reply to your post.

Mas
 
If you want a flat line for a freq response curv - get a measurement mic. I dont consider the mics listed by noground as flat - especially not the C1. IMHO dynamics do a great job accurately recording guitar amps. Bad placement will make any mic seem like junk. I would not recommend any of those listed mics for guitar amp micing. Look at the Sennhesier e609 for about $100. YMMV
 
Scinx said:
If you want a flat line for a freq response curv - get a measurement mic. I dont consider the mics listed by noground as flat - especially not the C1. IMHO dynamics do a great job accurately recording guitar amps. Bad placement will make any mic seem like junk. I would not recommend any of those listed mics for guitar amp micing. Look at the Sennhesier e609 for about $100. YMMV
Click to expand...

Flat line? measurement mic? sorry I'm not familiar with these terms. So a measurement mic is a dynamic mic? And the Sennhesier is that a dynamic? So where do you place your mic?
 
Alright - if I am you - I wouldnt even bother with measurement mics. My point was that if one really wanted a neutral response - they wouldnt go for a C1 or C1000 - but something like a measurement mic (made to be flat and give back exactly as it hears). [I did misintepret noground's post as it is specifically stated that these arent neutral]

The e609 is a dynamic mic. I place my mic where it sounds good. Usually I find a spot right up close to the amp grill. I sometimes use condensers backed off - but I think I'd get a dynamic if I were you. There are tons of posts on here for mic placement of an amp. An SM57 would also do just fine.
 
Round and round we go... I already have an SM57 and it just doesn't cut it for acurate recording. I think noground is correct.
 
Ok - thats great. Now that youve been helped - go pick up one of the mics listed if one of those will solve your woes. Alls I was saying is 1)I personally wouldnt use those 2) Alot of the sound is about placement 3) Dynamics are just fine for micing guitar amps.
If you desire a C1 or C1000 or 2000 on your guitar amp - go for it. Hopefully it is exactly what you are looking for.
 
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