Fattest-sounding mic for Guitar Amp

[papamaverick]

Appreciate the responses a lot.

Many times a great guitar sound in the mix does sound like crap on its own...especially least rhythm sounds. Understanding this is part of the natural learning curve that comes with time and experience. Having a nicer mic won't help or hurt this necessarily, though some mics will sound like trash on their own but sound great in a mix. I've witnessed this before, but good point to bring up.

A used AT4050 is still $350ish, wish I had that but I don't. If I had the extra cash, I think I'd spring for a Beyer 130 figure-8.

e609 is a mic that I have been looking at. I'm going to try and make a decision when I have a chance to listen to several.

SP B1/B3 is a mic that I've heard several times being mentioned as "accurate", though not necessarily "thick". At the same time, the "thick" reference was mostly to vocals, where thickness is percieved differently than on guitar. Its also one of the mics I'm looking at.

Tubedude, if I were ignorant than I'd be looking for a mic that I can just plug in and boom! SRV or Hendrix et. al. That doesn't happen, I know it won't happen. I am looking for the "thickest-sounding" mic, not one that would allow you to forego all other equipment and engineering considerations. There are many more compenents involved in getting a thick sound, many that i can't control right now just cause I don't have the money. Mic selection won't change everything, but it will change some things. You also mentioned slamming the input of a mic pre to round off some of the high end. When I'm in the studio using the focusrite preamp thats there, I'll have to try that. Here's a question you wouldn't want to answer ;-) would you prefer a $100 mic with a $100 pre to slam, or $200 mic using mackie pres on our live sound board?

Manning1, thanks for the thoughts. I've spent 10-15 hours working with a SM57 trying to get the goods via room, placement, etc so thats why I'm looking to try something else; I'm looking for something a little more accurate. I don't own any mics right now, just studio access to some of them. If I owned a '57 then I might very well be more inclined just to suffer and work with it. Since I have a choice though, research and others opinions can help a long way towards (relative) satisfaction with mic choice. Obviously budget is the #1 limitation. Thnks for your thoughts though.

 

[Big Kenny]

441
re 20
421 (with a good eq)
BK

 

[Henri Devill]

I like the AEA R84..Or a Octava ML19...But for less cash maybe a Less expensive ribbon like the one they sell at Guitar Center..Octava ML??? its about 200.00 I belive..Good luck





Don

 

[manning1]

this might work

sometimes papa ive found in a tricky situation a radio shack or crown pzm works. also have tried raising the amp off the floor ?

 

[tubedude]

If its not a Focusrite Red or Blue you dont want to be slamming the inputs like that or it'll just suck. What you are hitting is the transformers in expensive mic pres to give it that thick color. Low budget preamps like the Focusrite platinum and ART stuff wont have anywhere close to the same effect, and will probably just suck with this technique.

Keep in mind, if you want a live mic too, you wont want a figure 8 or anything with a wide cardioid or moni pattern. It'll pick up everything else too. You want a tight cardioid with good rejection, like an MD441. The e609 Silver seems to have good rejection, but I cant swear on it. Its better than an SM57 by any means though. I'll go check out the rejection on it right now and get back to ya later. Its a flat out great buy for dirty guitars though, and will do great live or in studio.

 

[papamaverick]

Tubedude thanks for the info. Not sure which model focusrite the studio has.

The e609 has come up several times in several places, sounds like a good choice. Hopefully will be able to A/B some tomorrow.

Dave

 

[dr.colossus]

personally i really like the mxl990... i find it a lot more detailed than a 57 and coloured a little better for guitar than the sp b1..

 

[Phosphene]

what do you guys perceive the difference in a MD421 old style version, MD421 II new, and MD441? Are they subtle differences in their ability to capture sounds? I have a new 421....am i missing out on some different textures on not having tried the others?

 

[auburncatfish]

I have several MXLs and I don't like their condensor sound for amp mic'ing. Too crisp, too much.

I'm a little suprised that nobody mentioned the Sm 58. More bass than the 57, although traditionally a gig vocal mic. I use it to mic fat slide blues out of a big fender solid state. I'm more than satisfied with that than 57's or condensors. Preference maybe.

A

 

[PinkStrat]

Hi,

Let's see if my own experience can help you here okay? I have a pair of ancient SM-57s, a newer MD421-II & an old MD441U. The 57s get the least use (on one guitar usually) while the 421-II gets the more frequent call on most of the instruments I use. I don't particularly like the old 421 on guitar cabs...Too
dark for my tastes (OR I had a mic that wasn't too good maybe the capsule was shot from smoke or something like that?).

I really dig the 421-II BUT the frequency curve on MY particular microphone is exactly like the old version 421 ( they all will vary somewhat). The 421-II I own has a lot of soul and bite without being too bright & has nice midrange and low end too.

Then just recently I got an old 441...This mic has completely rocked my world and turned it upside down! The 441 presents the sound source as being MUCH clearer and cleaner than an SM-57 would--& this is THE main difference as I hear it. The 441 has more detail than most of the mics in my collection regardless of type. This said I think the next flavor will be the e609 Silver.

Fattest mic for guitar? I say the 441 and 421s are right up there.
I have also gotten good results from the AKG C4000B condenser Depends on your technique and equipment and TOUCH on the guitar strings also....Hope this helps.

 

[PinkStrat]

Hi Phospene,

Just a quick update for you. I just received a Sennheiser e609 Silver microphone for Christmas. Now this little "flat head" is the flip side of the MD441 and I think it blows away my old SM-57s. So for fattest mic I say it's the e609 Silver (solo or in combination with another favorite mic perhaps). For all of $99 no way you can best this bad boy...

 

[indydisc]

The SM58 with the wind-screen taken off lets you play with the "fatness" by taking advantage of the proximity effect and carefully placing the mic. Go off-axis pointed towards the center of the cone at a close distance to the cone.

Yes, the 57 & 58 *are* different mic's.

 

[Han]

what do you guys perceive the difference in a MD421 old style version, MD421 II new, and MD441? Are they subtle differences in their ability to capture sounds? I have a new 421....am i missing out on some different textures on not having tried the others?

The older and newer MD421's have a number of differences.
The most important is the old grey ones have a copper coil and the newer black ones have an aluminium coil.

So the MK2 sounds a little brighter and hotter.

The MD441 is a different mic, more condenser like sounding with a nicer high end and more bottom. The 441 is much more cardiod as well with great rejection and a very nice of axis response.
One of the best dynamics ever.

 

[Rocket Boy]

pink - what kind of pre are you running it through?

 

[PinkStrat]

Hi Rocket Boy,

Right now, the E609 Silver has only gone through my new Yamaha MG 12/4 mixer... (great sounding mixer by the way & it KILLS the Mackie hands down-- quite pristine audio for the mic pres in it). That said, I have several mic preamps that I normally use all the time. My favorite is an old ALtec Lansing 1612B mixer/limiting amplifier that's been highly modified by a dear friend of mine. This thing dates back to 1975 and is an early Altec solidstate design. Nevertheless, it sounds GREAT...It has two mic input channels that sum into mono only.

I have used some Vintechs & Grace preamps also but I think I want to get a Great River mic pre as soon as I can afford to! They sound incredible hooked up with the E609 Silver according to my friend who got me this mic for Xmas. Concerning the Sennheiser MD441U it sounds absolutely fucking INCREDIBLE (preamp or not)!

I think Sennheiser is making some pretty damn good sounding microphones now in the present day. My MD421-II is really cool as well. It just rocks on many instruments in my fold.

 

[Phosphene]

good deal, thanks a bunch for the info. i need more dynamic mics to round out my collection so far (only have 57x2 421U5x1 d112x1 and some dogshitty VTech with the capsule exposed) So the 604 Silver is different from another color (black?)....and did you say $99? not bad. Gonna have to get that 441 soon too.

jeremiah

 

[PinkStrat]

Hi Phosphene,

It's the e609 Silver that you want. The e604 is another Sennheiser drum kit mic in the Evolution Series. Come to think of it, I'll bet the e604 (and/or the e602) kicks ass for a bass cabinet mic too?