Guitar Mike

[remo_marbleblue]

I'm looking for a good guitar mike for a smaller Peavey amp that the guitarist I jam with uses. I think it's a 12 inch speaker. Right now we're using a SM-57.

He usually cranks the gain on my board, and there is alot of sound spiking when he goes up high. I'd like to compress it but he has a fit every time I bring up the word "compression".

It's hosing up our sound but he doesn't realize it so I'm trying to "help" him. Any ideas for calming his sound without ruining it? He is not using any peddles except for distortion. It's rock/metal.

Thanks!

 

[Gidge]

rock/metal guitar sounds are already pretty compressed.....especially with distortion......but i guess if he gets wild with volumes you could suggest at least a limiter.........

sm57 is fine.........pretty standard even with the pros......

 

[DJL]

Another mic that works great for miking guitar and bass amps is the Sennheiser MD421.

 

[dafduc]

A 421 will give you a little fuller tone, 57's a little more transparent.

Maybe a tube pre? Tell him you're warming his sound up, but of course you're really limiting it, too, if you set it right. Or the Antares Tube plug in is supposed to be cool...

Daf

 

[Gidge]

better mics and pres wont help sound "spiking".....i thought that was the problem?......

 

[DJL]

I thought he was asking about both the peaking/spike problem and about mic's... the subject title is "Guitar Mike" and your all ready covering the spike problem part, so I was commenting on the mic part. Is that ok?

 

[Gidge]

thats quite ok.....yep i came across like an ass .......par for the course

i just wanted him to know a different mic wont help with the spiking part.......

sorry i stepped on your dick

 

[DJL]

We don't want to confuse them into thinking a diifferent mic would solve their level problems... so I understand you point. Team work can be a good thing.

 

[dafduc]

But a pre WILL help with w/ spiking, though you gotta saturate to do that...

Daf

 

[jdier]

The 57 is fine for me on a 12 peavey bandit. I move it to the edge of the speaker, and aim it towards the center. My guitarist is also somewhat loud.

How about moving it back even further? a foot?

If you have extras, you could put one on the grill, one back a foot and another behind it.

Read the thread stuck at the top of the mic section about polar pattern... it is long, but does a great job of answering some questions about micing electric guitar cab with 57's.

Jim

 

[DJL]

Some preamps have built-in compression that maybe could be used to mantain the level without his guitar player knowing if used sparingly.

 

[Roel]

The best mic I ever used on guitar (this was live, but it was HUGE), was a sennheiser fire-something. I don't remember the name, but it's square...

 

[remo_marbleblue]

Ya I was asking two questions I guess. Sounds like we can stick with the SM-57.

I could hook his channel up to a compressor but just use the limiter function, that should fly with him.

Thanks gentlemen.

 

[eeldip]

The best mic I ever used on guitar (this was live, but it was HUGE), was a sennheiser fire-something. I don't remember the name, but it's square...

the blackfire 441 is probably what you are talking about, which is an md441 minus some switches.

 

[DJL]

Ya I was asking two questions I guess. Sounds like we can stick with the SM-57.

I could hook his channel up to a compressor but just use the limiter function, that should fly with him.

Thanks gentlemen.

Cool, I hope it all works out for you.

 

[Cave Dweller]

quote:
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Originally posted by Roel
The best mic I ever used on guitar (this was live, but it was HUGE), was a sennheiser fire-something. I don't remember the name, but it's square...
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its probably a blackfire 509, its the square one. sennheiser made a 409 before that, it had a gold grille on one side. 409 is the better one, in my opinion. the 509 still sounds killer

 

[Roel]

the 509 it is.... Blackfire indeed. By now, I just checked their website, they are at 609. I loved the mic there. Never had a guitar sounding better. The system was pretty good overall, but still, I never had that clear attack and full sound in the guitars... Wonderfull.