mic-ing big baby taylor...

  • Thread starter Thread starter Robertt8
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Robertt8

Robertt8

Well-known member
Howdy,

I've been micing my big baby taylor with the Shure SM58 with some success...what I was wondering was am I gonna get a better tone or sound with a more "guitar" oriented mic? If so, is it really that different in sound to go out and buy one...which one?

Any other recording info, secrets or sweet spots with the Big Baby Taylor is very appreciated.

Thanks!
 
The most noticeable difference will be the extended high frequencies you will be picking up. That translates not only into an airier crisper guitar sound, but also adds little details like string noise, pick noise, finger noises, breathing, etc. That can be good or bad - but most people like it, as it gives you more of the "you're in the same room" feeling.
 
I have the original baby Taylor, but have played his bigger brother before. Sweet guitar for not much $! Not sure how much money you're looking to spend, but I get great results with my Neumann KM184. Cost you a bit over $500. A little more affordable would be the Behringer ECM8000s (if you could find them) A pair would run you $75. They're a little trickier because they're Omnis and pick up sound from all around. Assuming you're not recording in the middle of Times Square at rush hour, either of these choices would be an improvement over the SM58. Be aware that these mics need Phantom power and they're very picky about placement. Good luck!
 
I have a Grand Auditorium sized Taylor. So far I like a KM-184 and also Earthworks SR-71 on it.
 
Thanks for the help... I just checked out the Behringer ECM8000. Is that even supposed to be used as a mic? It looks like some kind of test mic.

Any other adivce out there?
 
The MXL V67 and 93 are great guitar and vocal mics for pretty cheap. You will notice a huge difference over a dynamic mic. Much greater clarity and dynamics.

My preferred mic positions are 12th fret very close to the neck and about a foot above the bridge. Sounds great for stereo.
 
TexRoadkill said:
My preferred mic positions are 12th fret very close to the neck and about a foot above the bridge. Sounds great for stereo.
Click to expand...

Interesting... Do you always mic acoustics that way - or does it depend on certain factors such as the style of song? Why do you prefer it?

Thanks Tex.
 
Dynamic Vs. Conenser Mic

So you people would recommend using Condenser Mics instead of Dynamic Mics? Any particular reason?
 
Condensor mics are, for the most part, much more accurate than a dynamic (heel Sennheiser, heel:D ) so it captures much more of the nuances of acoustic instruments and voice. Small diaphram mics generally do a better job than large diaphram condensors, but that ain't etched in stone by a long shot. As in all things, it depends on the guitar being recorded and the context of that guitar in a given song. Sometimes a SM-57 is just what the Doctor ordered.
 
Which where?

Tex,

Which mic do you use where, and when you say "very close to the neck" how close is that?

I have a V67, 2 ECM's, a 57 & 58, and I'm not very happy with the sound I've been able to get so far (on a Big Baby and an old Epiphone Texan, though I like the recorded sound of the Texan better). I'm recording in a terrible-sounding room, which I'm sure is why I'm not getting good results with the omni's. Also I'm going through a Behringer board (quite laughing!) and while I would like to be able to blame the gear and the room, I'm sure it's just my technique all the way around that's lacking. Any hints with the aforementioned gear would be greatly appreciated. Do you think I should try to track down a 93 or a 603s, or would it make a bigger difference getting a DMP-3 or VTB-1?

Robertt8,

Sorry to jump in on your thread, but I figured the answer would apply to you too. BTW, before you get the ECM8000's, I would recommend just sitting very quietly in your recording space, and listen for every stray noise you can hear, because condensors in general, but omni's especially, will pick up the neighbor's dog 4 blocks away and every creak of the floor at concert level volume.
 
I'm getting some pretty good acoustic guitar sound with a behringer b2 ( large diaphragm ) on the neck and a marshall mxl603 ( small diaphragm ) at the bridge end pointed at the bridge - both about 8-12 inches from the guitar. A move a bit to the right ( toward the 603 ) gets me some more bottom and more string click. A bit to the left and back a bit - more high end, less boom, less string click. You just have to move the mics or the guitar around till you get the sound you want. An inch can make a huge difference in the sound. Pan the two to opposite sides. I have added some of the piezo pickup in with good results also. You want to be able to produce different sounds. Some songs may need just the highs to fit into the mix. Some, especially if the guitar is the main instrument, need the bottom and maybe the click. ( think old Cat Stevens stuff ). A good sound when you play the guitar by itself may not sound so good when you mix in the other instruments. The best ingredient is a really good sounding guitar with new strings on it.
 
I like the ECM at the neck position especially with finger picking. It is pretty boomy so plan on using a healthy amount of bass cut. I've found that the wider the pickup pattern the closer you want the mic to the source.

I then put one of the LD's at the bridge spot. My favorite sound so far has been using the 67 and 93 that way but I can't remember which one was used where. I think I used the 93 at the bridge so I could use the low cut on the mic. I have a friend with a Big Baby and I love the sound of it but I haven't tried recording it yet.

Here are some samples if you want to check it out. I was doing some demos for a guy on my cheapie Roland VM3100Pro mixer to Logic but they seemed to come out pretty decent. I was going for a very intimate and live sound.

"When I'm Home" probably came out the best. The guitars were double tracked with one take using a pick and the other without. The stereo field was reversed for one of the takes to give it a better balance with the other take. Guitar was a Larivee DO3E.
http://www.nowhereradio.com/texroadkill/singles
 
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