mic'ing a guitar amp

  • Thread starter Thread starter The Garage
  • Start date Start date
T

The Garage

New member
i've got the sm57 on the grill technique down. but what about using a condenser like a 4033. i've heard of people using them. what will be the difference in sound quality and where would you position the condensor? also, who has tried mic'ing the back of the guitar amp? what kinda sound do you get from that? obviously i'm gonna try it myself, but i wont get a chance for another few weeks. thanks.
-teddy
 
http://www.nowhereradio.com/artists/7/1410/singles.shtml

there is a fine example of guitars tracked with the 4033 miked close on the speaker about an inch or two away with the -10db switch in effect. I experimented here because I have 2 mics i use for guitars and frankly I was tired of the 57--it just seemed dull at times. So i slapped a 4033 on there and this worked out okay. It gave me super clean guitars (kinda like using an expensive pre). Even so, I think i'm sticking to my Audix d3 on guitars. It does wonders IMO. The D3 has way better resolution than the 57 and has greater high end, however seems to have slightly less gain than the 57.

good luck.
 
The "57 right in the grill" technique seems to be the only way most people use them. What a waste because I prefer the sound of a 57 about 6" away from the grill, angled about 30 degrees into the center of the cone!

If you want to use a condensor, I would probably suggest that you back up to a foot or two or three or four and try to catch some of the room sound. I found that older 414's work better than 4033's for this, but I have successfully did some very nice sounding lead guitar tracks using a 4033 with the other guitars using a 57. The contrast sometimes helps make the solo cut a bit better.

I am a Creep!
 
Creepy said:
I have successfully did some very nice sounding lead guitar tracks using a 4033 with the other guitars using a 57. The contrast sometimes helps make the solo cut a bit better.

I am a Creep!
Click to expand...

that's a good idea
 
If you have the extra tracks, try micing with both. SM57 off axis 2" from the grill. LD condencer 4' away. Used on your lead guitars this technique will give you guitar a big sound. I dont reccomend using this for rythem parts because they will seem harder to sit in the right place in the mix.
 
If you mic both the front and back of a guitar cab,be sure to reverse the phase on the back mic so the bass doesn't cancell out.
Try your big condensor as a room mic.Wear phones while someone else is playing and walk around the room with the mic in your hand listening for "sweet spots".
Tom
 
these are all good suggestions. if i were to place the 4033 close to a very loud amp, isn there a possibility i could harm the condensor?
 
RecTechMin said:
these are all good suggestions. if i were to place the 4033 close to a very loud amp, isn there a possibility i could harm the condensor?
Click to expand...

You will harm your hearing long before you will harm that mic with high SPL. It handles something like 130dB SPL or more. I have used one on snare, about 3 inches from the head. I have used one for a kick drum too.
 
How does angling the mic affect the sound

One post mentioned angling a mic at 30%. How does that change the recorded sound? Is it better used when recording on the clean channel, or with the gain turned up? How does it affect an acoustic guitar? Or a bass guitar?

Thanks.
 
Give it a try and you will see. I seldom put a 57 right up on the grill in a studio environment anymore. I don't like how crushed the sound is. Half a foot back, angled can give good tight low end response, a much more clear sound, and detracts from the proximity effect of the mic with guitarist that like a bit of low end in the sound. The overall sound is a little more aired out and even sounding.

I am a Creep!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top