Mic pre for acoustic Guitar

[Zepster]

I'm shopping for a mic pre right now. I have read some of the other threads on what the best mic pres are for a tight budget. I've seen many good things said about the M-audio DMP3. I'm basically down between that one and a Presonus Blue Tube DP. From what I've heard the DMP3 is very clean, which seems like it should work good for an acoustic guitar, which is my main priority. The Blue Tube is appealing though because it has a tube but also has a solid state path. I haven't found many reviews on the Blue Tube though. It is essential that it is stereo, and I'm using AKG C-1000s. Any recommendations or suggestions?

 

[mrbowes]

I suggest the Rane ms-1b. It's VERY clean and accurate. It's single channel and does not have instrument inputs, but for the money, the mic-pre section cannot be beat.

 

[XLR]

I have a Bluetube pre and like it. Never tried the DMP3 but that's the most popular budget pre around here it seems. I have other pre's I use generally and bought my Bluetube to have an inexpensive-portable-versatile couple of pre channels. What I like about the Bluetube is:
1) good clean sound quality if you leave the tube drive knob turned off. Used this way, sounds essentially the same as a Mackie pre, to my ear.
2) interesting sonorities possible with the tube drive knob turned up - kind of a gritty saturated sound on ac gtr but interesting.
3) has balanced and unbalanced output, which is very handy
4) I like the way it sounds with my Dean Markley artist transducer
5) Turning the tube drive up a bit sounds good with elec gtr

Tim

 

[Zepster]

Thank you, that's very helpful.

 

[tdukex]

I've heard good things about the Rane. I have the DMP3 and feel it excells at acou guit. For solo fingerstyle I often prefer it over my $1,200 Sebatron. You can spend a lot more and not get as good of acou guit sound.

 

[Robert D]

DMP-3. I've heard good things about the Rane, but haven't tried one. Frankly, when it comes to acoustic guitar, the DMP-3 performs so far beyond it's class that I don't have any plans or desire to upgrade it. It's giving me exactly what I want.

-RD

 

[paddyponchero]

I'm shopping for a mic pre right now. I have read some of the other threads on what the best mic pres are for a tight budget. I've seen many good things said about the M-audio DMP3. I'm basically down between that one and a Presonus Blue Tube DP. From what I've heard the DMP3 is very clean, which seems like it should work good for an acoustic guitar, which is my main priority. The Blue Tube is appealing though because it has a tube but also has a solid state path. I haven't found many reviews on the Blue Tube though. It is essential that it is stereo, and I'm using AKG C-1000s. Any recommendations or suggestions?

The Blue Tube is probably ok with a mic with a hot output but I find it too noisy at high gains. I'm inpressed with the VTB-1 for the price.

 

[sdelsolray]

I'm shopping for a mic pre right now. I have read some of the other threads on what the best mic pres are for a tight budget. I've seen many good things said about the M-audio DMP3. I'm basically down between that one and a Presonus Blue Tube DP. From what I've heard the DMP3 is very clean, which seems like it should work good for an acoustic guitar, which is my main priority. The Blue Tube is appealing though because it has a tube but also has a solid state path. I haven't found many reviews on the Blue Tube though. It is essential that it is stereo, and I'm using AKG C-1000s. Any recommendations or suggestions?

The DMP3 is a very good preamp for most acoustic guitar applications, plus it's dirt cheap. Hard to go wrong with it. I would suggest you sell the AKG C1000s pair and get a different SD pair, such as the Rode NT5s, Marshall MXL 603s, Studio Projects C4s or Oktava MC-012s. To many ears, mine included, the C1000s is simply horrible on acoustic guitar.

 

[punkin]

dmp3 and 603's make a nice acoustic combo...the presonus tube pre is rather noisey when the gain is turned up and the tube...it's just an effect. I for one am not a fan of effects on the mic but prefer to get a clean recording and add effects at a later stage.

 

[tdukex]

The DMP3 is a very good preamp for most acoustic guitar applications, plus it's dirt cheap. Hard to go wrong with it. I would suggest you sell the AKG C1000s pair and get a different SD pair, such as the Rode NT5s, Marshall MXL 603s, Studio Projects C4s or Oktava MC-012s. To many ears, mine included, the C1000s is simply horrible on acoustic guitar.

Couldn't agree more. I use both the 603s and the MC012. I wouldn't trade one of these for two C1000s.

 

[Robert D]

C1000s have only one application I know of where they're any good - on horns. Agree with above about 603s and 012s. The 603s are a little brighter, the 012s a little smoother. I use a pair of 012s myself, which I find pair up very well with the DMP-3. I also have a really nice omni capsule from the sound room, which adds to the versatility of the Oktava MK-012.

-RD

 

[Joel Hamilton]

On AC gtr I have been loving a shure SM81(from like 25 dollars to 200), mono, with an EH 12ay7 pre(roughly 200-250 dollars), or a manley VTL tube reference pre(roughly 1200-1800 used). I also love the ampex 601 tube pre (can be found on ebay for around 450 dollars) .

Using the EH pre, with an SM81, I am using about 400 dollars worth of gear total, and I love the sound of that combination regardless of price. very professional signal path throughout the EH, and the 81 just seems to like recording AC gtr's at the neck joint. Doesnt even sound mono in the end, because of the depth in that combo.... really dig it lately.
Sits really well with drums, just the right amount of pick/wood/string in the mix with a tiny bit of compression (preferably tube for ACgtr).

Hope that helps!

 

[XLR]

Great website Joel... really nice. The collection of classic gear is fascinating. The Studio G site is impressive also. Very cool.

Tim

 

[Zepster]

Well... I did order the DMP3 and it arrives tomorrow. I can't wait to try it out after all I've heard about it. The ironic thing is that I was on the fence about the C1000s for a long time because I wanted to get a pair of stereo mics for recording my band live. I decided to order them after I recorded some acoustic tracks in a studio it they turned out marvelous. We'll see it how turns out on my own and I will keep all of your suggestions in mind.

www.redveda.com