C4 vs. MXL603 (for acoustic guitar)

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  • Start date Start date

which of the two do you prefer for a clean and authentic acoustic guitar sound?

  • C4 (pair)

    Votes: 25 43.1%

  • MXL603 (pair)

    Votes: 33 56.9%
  • Total voters
    58
im not trying to hijack this thread, it already seems all over the place... but... how would a pair of oktava mc012s compare to the two mics in question on acoustic guitar...???
 
borntoplease said:
im not trying to hijack this thread, it already seems all over the place... but... how would a pair of oktava mc012s compare to the two mics in question on acoustic guitar...???
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The MXL603S is a tad brighter sounding than the MC-012... and from what I've read, so is the C4.
 
I hate to tear open a possibly healed wound at this point, but has either Alan or Ray posted any links so I can do some comparisons? Were the two of you able to identify some of the differences in results?

Reason I ask is I'm pretty close on purchasing either the C4's, John Peluso's, or T.H.E. (thanks Richard!). In my best estimation, my choices go from inexpensive (read NOT cheap) to a little more expensive, to expensive (at least for me). My guess is the quality will be reflected in price.

Sorry if this is going to pull some old ghosts out of the closet.

Thanks,
Mark
 
And the poll pops up again... lol. I remember this old thread... this is the thread where Alan Hyatt tries to feed us his sick JM27/603S crap... sad, very sad indeed. I like the poll... but every time I see this thread the dishonesty makes me sad.
 
DJL said:
And the poll pops up again... lol. I remember this old thread... this is the thread where Alan Hyatt tries to feed us his sick JM27/603S crap... sad, very sad indeed. I like the poll... but every time I see this thread the dishonesty makes me sad.
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No, this is the thread where you continue your rants that make you look like a silly little boy. I would be more descriptive, but you asked me to watch my language.... :eek:
 
I feel obliged to post in this thread - I'll probably take sides but not really offer anything new to the debate. We'll all be left wondering why I bothered and then someone will call me a brown-noser and it'll all get ugly.

Just explaining my rationale. :)
 
noisedude said:
I feel obliged to post in this thread - I'll probably take sides but not really offer anything new to the debate. We'll all be left wondering why I bothered and then someone will call me a brown-noser and it'll all get ugly.

Just explaining my rationale. :)
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Brown-noser! :p
 
OK boys, back to the mics. You've both had your one dig. The C-4's are very good mics for the price, and come well equipped (shocks, case, omni capsules). The customer service is stunning, even relentless. After I mentioned in some post that I didn't use the shock mounts because they sucked (there was a a problem with the plastic selected for the early production units), Justin Hyatt actually tracked down my address and shipped me a replacement pair without being asked. I have no bitch there, just Thank You. Peluso, as far as I can see, is a startup, building mics that may be very good at their price point, but I consider them more of an unknown entity. While initial reports on the mics are generally favorable, very few people have actually heard them or dealt with the business itself, so very few people will have first hand experience.
T.H.E. is a whole different ball game. Figure the cost of body and capsule, that's a $675 mic, with extra capsules at about $325-$375 a pop. That makes them a logical competitor of Neumann KM184 and Josephson C42. All of the above are rather good mics by most accounts. I've never heard T.H.E., but Harvey raves about them and Fletcher sells them. That, combined with the price (the low side of the high end- much cheaper than Schoeps/DPA), would lead me to believe that the mic rocks. By all accounts, Mercenary Audio will give you good service, if needed. I think where you are at right now, you would benefit by selecting a proven middle of the road choice, such as a pair of SM81's. You can get the pair of them for the price of one T.H.E.. The Shure comes from a well established reputable company, and won't go bankrupt or out of production any time soon, and they are good enough to use at the Grammys. You will find damn few people on this board or anywhere else that will tell you the SM81 sucks. Of course, I haven't heard that much about T.H.E. sucking either, LOL. I put the AKG C451 in the same category as SM81. All of what I said about the SM81 applies to them as well, and they're about the same price.- That's the reasoning behind most of my mic choices. They have to either be versatile and proven, dirt cheap, or just so cool it speaks for itself (B.L.U.E. Kiwi).-Richie
 
Aceboympk said:
I hate to tear open a possibly healed wound at this point, but has either Alan or Ray posted any links so I can do some comparisons? Were the two of you able to identify some of the differences in results?

Reason I ask is I'm pretty close on purchasing either the C4's, John Peluso's, or T.H.E. (thanks Richard!). In my best estimation, my choices go from inexpensive (read NOT cheap) to a little more expensive, to expensive (at least for me). My guess is the quality will be reflected in price.

Sorry if this is going to pull some old ghosts out of the closet.

Thanks,
Mark
Click to expand...

The advantages of the C4s to your situation (I've been following your posts and search):

1) You get cardioid and omni caps. You originally taked about recording serveral guitars, duet or trio vocals, single instruments, etc. All acoustic guitar and vocals, with a fiddle or other acoustic instruments on occasion. Having both cardioid and omni pairs will allow you to experiment with the soundfield, mic placements, etc.

2) The C4s are an excellent value. At $320 a pair, you're not in too deep. Resale, even at $250, means you're only out $70 plus shipping should you decide to sell.

3) The PMI company stands behind their products. Although they haven't been around as long as Shure, AT, etc., there's every indication they're in it for the long haul.

On the other hand, the Peluso mics also have interchangeable capsules. They sound like intriguing mics. Most likely (I haven't heard them), they're a cut above.

The T.H.E. products are certainly in the mid level area. More spendy, buta gain interghangeable capsules (including some rather nice large diaphragm capsules). If you're in this price range, you should be comparing the mics Richard mentioned (KM184, Josephson C42) among others. Indeed, at this level you might wait around to score a used pair of Microtech Gefell M300s or Neumann KM140s.

On the other hand, I understand your frustration, I went through it to, although I wasn't so concerned about vocals, just fingerstyle acoustic guitar. I ended up starting in the mid-level with a pair of KM184s and one TLM103. Nice mics. They've been sold (for more than I paid for them) and replaced with others.

Keep up the good work.
 
The most recent song I have posted in the clinic (this past friday or so) I used the C4's for OH's and on the acoustic guitars in the middle of the song. I think they are fab for the bank.
Here is faster... www.nowhereradio.com/demoking/singles its the OnE Fine Line song. The acoustic guitars have gotten decent praise. I used the card caps on everything though. I dont think I've really ever used the omni now that I think about it.
Peace
Paul
 
Given a choice between the two pairs: On OH's - C4 hands down. On acoustic gtr - 603 hands down

For a little more - @ around $500/pr - the Peluso CEMC6 mics are on a totally different level from any mic in that price range and under, and are easily in the same performance range as Josephson C42, Neumann 184. And more versatile if you get into the optional pattern caps. Anyone who's got a few hundred bucks for a pair of SDC's would do well to pony up a bit more and get into the CEMC6's. Neutral and natural with excellent detail. Just as at home on drum OH's as they are on acoustic gtr and recording ensembles with a stereo pair. IMO, CEMC6's are the best deal on the market right now in SDC's.
 
This is one where I have to disagree with Dot. I've used the 603's on acoustic, and the C-4's, and I choose the C-4's with no hesitation. Now I'll admit, what I really use is AKG C414B-ULS and Neumann KM184. Before I got the Neumanns, the C-4's were my small diaphragm mic of choice for most stuff, especially acoustic instruments. I consider them a mic superior to the 603 in all regards. IMHO, there is nothing the 603 does that the C-4 won't do better.
Dot has also described the C-4's as colored, and nothing, in my opinion, could be further from the truth. Mine are pretty damned neutral.-Richie
 
Richard Monroe said:
This is one where I have to disagree with Dot. I've used the 603's on acoustic, and the C-4's, and I choose the C-4's with no hesitation. Now I'll admit, what I really use is AKG C414B-ULS and Neumann KM184. Before I got the Neumanns, the C-4's were my small diaphragm mic of choice for most stuff, especially acoustic instruments. I consider them a mic superior to the 603 in all regards. IMHO, there is nothing the 603 does that the C-4 won't do better.
Dot has also described the C-4's as colored, and nothing, in my opinion, could be further from the truth. Mine are pretty damned neutral.-Richie
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I agree. I like them a whole lot, especially on acoustic. DId anyone listen to the acoustic on the song above. That was a 2 minute placement. Turned out pretty nice I think.
 
So after all the technical sword-fighting is over, it sounds like the C-4 pair are a better choice than the MXL 603 pair.

Here in Canada the MXL 603's are $400 CDN for a matched pair with carrying case, shockmounts. I don't know what the C-4's go for here in Canada.

That was a Music Stop Quote BTW.

So it's : C-4's........1............................... 603's ......... 0

I'll not drag any other mics into this.
 
no no nooooo while you're in the fight between c4s and 603s...theres the mk/c 012s. now these and the 603s have had some battles. final result is the 603s are brighter but the mk/c 012s have different capsules that people like. not sure the same capsule can be used on the 603 that is on the mk/c 012s but if you're talking about 603s...might as well put in their arch rival
 
Get both, and why your at it, buy some Peluso mics. Hey, they're paint brushes. Sometimes you'll want a wide brush, sometime a narrow brush, sometimes a medium brush. One brush can't do it all.
 
Survey says?

So what have you all come up with?

Is it the C4's or the 603's?

This is gonna be one of my next purchases, so it would help to have a consenus or a vast majority vote...lol

I think I was hearing alot of C4's. Correct me if I'm wrong.
 
Keeping Both

Given a choice between the two pairs: On OH's - C4 hands down. On acoustic gtr - 603 hands down
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I think your right. I'm looking for mics to do both of the above mentioned. So I guess I'll get both of them.
 
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