Looking to buy SDC('s) for Acoustic Guitar

[moresound]

first thread on these message boards and start a war....

i'll throw another mic name out there with the peluso cemc6.... i have seen some decent deals floating around, and apparently they sound very nice and smooth. does anybody have any experience with these mics?

It's not a war it's mic fight club...but the first rule of mic fight club is, there is no mic fight club.

Ya, you can usually pick up one of the Peluso cemc6 for about $300. the cool thing about them is you can purchase different capsules than the cardioid that comes with it. and the three year warranty is not that bad!! I think Johns' cemc6 mic is a good mic but you really have to take into consideration the room your going to be recording in and that would go for any mic that you eventually choose to purchase. Your experience may greatly differ than say mine with the same mic but in different rooms and different applications, that's why many people have a vast array of different mics to choose from if a particular mic just doesn't work for the recording your working on.

 

[omtayslick]

As budget seems to be a consideration here, I am going to make a case for a different suggestion.

The MXL 603. Used, a pair can be had very cheaply, and a pair of new ones only go for about $200 or less. (US).

I picked one up at a Mucisian's Friend stupid deal of the day for $39. I had mine modded, and between the mods and the addition of omni capsules it has become a very interesting mic. Very earthy acoustic guitar tones.

The reason I am suggesting these is that they're pretty good stock, although a bit bright. For an extra $50 you can obtain a pair of omni capsules, and using them tames and diffuses the brightness significantly.

They are also candidates for mods performed by the mic modder whose initials are MJ. So when you come in to more cash these mics can grow with you.

Here's a link to my review:

http://www.oktavamodshop.com/product_reviews_info.php?products_id=117&reviews_id=323

Good luck.

 

[Grama]

^ thanks for the info. I do recognize that there is a very good reason why people have lots of mics. However, I cant afford them all at once so I need to get what I can afford now, and make sure that I buy something that isn't throw away in three years. Also, I have found a Canadian retailer of the Peluso, and while a little out of my price range, its not a mic I'll ever throw away. I dont mind stretching a little for that.

If not the peluso, I'll have to consider the MXL mics for sure.

 

[Madguitrst]

My favorite mic for acoustic guitar is not a SD at all, it's a BLUE Baby Bottle.

FWIW, I have 2 Oktava MC012, 1 Shure KSM 137 (a sleeper, IMO), and had a pair of AT4041. I like the BB better than any of them.

Just a thought in a different direction.

 

[MichaelJoly]

...the first rule of mic fight club is, there is no mic fight club...

And the second rule of Mic Fight Club is it must only be referred to as "the club that is nameless" (because there is no mic fight club).

 

[dkelley]

If the CAD e70 doesn't have a solid metal grille on the front, then it's basically very similar to the MXL 603, and should be a usable mic, if a bit on the bright side (much like the PG81 and SM81).

a "BIT"????!!

the mxl 603 and it's other rebadged versions has a peak of something like 10db around 6 to 8kHz or there abouts.

that's not just a bit on the bright side, that's a mess.

I'm not a fan of the 603 obviously

but with very very VERY extensive modding it can be a very good mic.

See, this is why I don't like the contemporary Neumann sdc mic either, but I love the vintage one. the vintage one isn't nearly as bright as the modern one.

 

[darrin_h2000]

Some of that has shied me away from using SDC mics at all...I like the detail that a 3/4" LDC will give me in its place...they seem to sound better to me.

I hear some terrific things about the AT4021...it might be good to research that one.

 

[moresound]

And the second rule of Mic Fight Club is it must only be referred to as "the club that is nameless" (because there is no mic fight club).

"The club that is nameless" ravages on! and someday when the dust settles the modded microphone will be victorious over other inferior microphones.

 

[mshilarious]

the modded microphone will be victorious over other inferior microphones.

I don't think you meant to phrase that quite that way

 

[moresound]

I don't think you meant to phrase that quite that way

Yes MSH, true, it was quite late and I was more than half a sleep after a long night in the studio and that post took a silly little turn

 

[Grama]

My favorite mic for acoustic guitar is not a SD at all, it's a BLUE Baby Bottle.

FWIW, I have 2 Oktava MC012, 1 Shure KSM 137 (a sleeper, IMO), and had a pair of AT4041. I like the BB better than any of them.

Just a thought in a different direction.

I appreciate your opinion! I do already own a decent LDC, not that I should let that sway me haha.

Also, I can order a single peluso cemc6 for $319+tax CAD with free shipping here in canada. the baby blue is $449 + tax before shipping, so far as I have found. the $319 i can prolly swing. considering i record in a band setting, its not like i need to stereo mic my guitar. therefore i can pool my money into one good mic within my price range. so far, the cemc6 is getting my vote.

i still will consider other thoughts tho!

 

[darrin_h2000]

My favorite mic for acoustic guitar is not a SD at all, it's a BLUE Baby Bottle.

FWIW, I have 2 Oktava MC012, 1 Shure KSM 137 (a sleeper, IMO), and had a pair of AT4041. I like the BB better than any of them.

Just a thought in a different direction.

Most of my favorite recordings of the acoustic guitars have been done with LDC mics...Ive seen Dragonflys used on some really good stuff too.

Id prefer the AT4040....C414...or the KSM32 over most all the SDC choices on acoustic guitar...my set of SDC mics dont see much action outside the locker unless Im recording many things at once.

 

[Grama]

Most of my favorite recordings of the acoustic guitars have been done with LDC mics...Ive seen Dragonflys used on some really good stuff too.

Id prefer AT4040 the AT4040....C414...or the KSM32 over most all the SDC choices on acoustic guitar...my set of SDC mics dont see much action outside the locker unless Im recording many things at once.

have you heard the cemc6? it sounds pretty darn good. not to say that you dont have a valid point.

and again not to belittle your point, the at4040 is the only mic in that list that even comes close to being in my price range.... and in reality, its just too expensive for me. i do very much appreciate your oppinion tho.

perhaps when i finally start having money i'll get a chance to play with all of those mics......

 

[mshilarious]

have you heard the cemc6? it sounds pretty darn good. not to say that you dont have a valid point.

Oh I question whether that was a valid point. What is important is understanding why SDCs and LDCs respond differently, and how that would impact the choice of microphone for a given application. Anyone who always chooses one or the other for a particular source is merely expressing a preference on how that source should sound when recorded.

 

[darrin_h2000]

have you heard the cemc6? it sounds pretty darn good. not to say that you dont have a valid point.

and again not to belittle your point, the at4040 is the only mic in that list that even comes close to being in my price range.... and in reality, its just too expensive for me. i do very much appreciate your oppinion tho.

perhaps when i finally start having money i'll get a chance to play with all of those mics......

I havent had the pleasure of hearing the cemc6 yet...some SDC mics are very good like the AT4021 so Im not going to say all of them are bad.

You would be surprised on how little AT4040 the AT4040 will fetch used...$150 is about avarage from what Ive seen...Ive even bought a 4033 for $100 last month...you just have to accept used as an option.

 

[Grama]

I havent had the pleasure of hearing the cemc6 yet...some SDC mics are very good like the AT4021 so Im not going to say all of them are bad.

You would be surprised on how little the AT4040 will fetch used...$150 is about avarage from what Ive seen...Ive even bought a 4033 for $100 last month...you just have to accept used as an option.

buying used mics in canada appears to be problematic for two reasons. moving anything across the border to canada adds a swack load to the cost, and almost nobody sells these things at a decent price used in canada. i have looked all over our local and semi-local classifieds, and have had no luck finding anything worthwhile. any time i have found a good mic used, its either in the states and shipping/border costs make it not worthwhile or its severely overpriced in canada.

but trust me, if i stumbled across a decent affordable deal here, i would be ALL over it. i agree with you in that used equipment is great for us folks without much of a budget.

 

[Grama]

Oh I question whether that was a valid point. What is important is understanding why SDCs and LDCs respond differently, and how that would impact the choice of microphone for a given application. Anyone who always chooses one or the other for a particular source is merely expressing a preference on how that source should sound when recorded.

i understand that. while i "get" the reasons for using a sdc vs a ldc for a guitar, i have heard acoustic guitar recordings where both were used and liked both. i just happen to have heard the cemc6 and LOVED it. and yes i also understand that room and preamp have a huge effect on the recorded sound.

 

[dkelley]

yea, a used 4040 in greater vancouver canada is sometimes around $300 to $400.

outrageous.

I never pay that much.

I do buy used mics but only ones at appropriate prices.

 

[dkelley]

the at2020 is a good acoustic guitar mic, medium diaphram, and cheap (like $100 new give or take).

the 4021 does look cool, I only heard one but haven't played with it so can't erally say yet.

I like the 535eb as well - great sdc or mdc I suppose, quite flat, musical, and useful.

but some dislike that tone. it's more expensive too, like $300 or so I think??

been a while since I bought mine.

 

[Grama]

I finally had a chance to get into my local guitar/audio equipment store and ask the guys about what was to be had here in my hometown. The best they could do was an apex 471 for $299 canadian. they also had an sE 3500 used for $189 CAD (medium/large diaghram condenser). however, upon google searching sE, it sounds like the guy i was talking to might have making the mic sound better than it was in trying to sell it to me. I have one other store to phone, but it looks like I am going to go ahead and order the CEMC6 now that midterms are finally over. You've got a few hours to sway me otherwise, if you can think of anything else I should consider.