Mics recommendations plz

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maxime1122

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Hello,

I currently playing guitar in a rock band and I'm using a stereo setup (two amps). What would you guys recommend for live use mic'ing?

PS: I have the choice of SM57, R-121, 2X E609 Silver... I could buy something else if needed. I use a Marshall Superlead 1959 on a 4x12 (Greenbacks) and a Marshall JCM 800 2203 on a 4x12 (Vintage 30s).

Thanks !!
 
The SM57 or the E609 will both work fine, I don't know about the R-121 so I can't comment, however I love ribbon mics on guitar in the studio but not so much live as they have a figure 8 pattern and so they pick up more of the other stuff on stage in front of the mic.

Alan.
 
I'd agree with witzendoz, both the SM57 and E609 would work great. Another mic that may be worth looking at is the sennheiser MD421 which i find works really well on softer/warmer tones, but is a lot more than the other two and not as versatile (although when it's right, it's right!)

In terms of of the Royer, or any ribbon mic, like witzendox i love them in the studio and have heard them live on bigger stages where the amps are far enough back to help negate any of the problems with the fig.8 polar pattern, but i often find that you need to use a ribbon in conjunction with an SM57 or e609 to really make the most of it. if you do go down the ribbon route, check out the "live" versions of the royers.

As always when buying mics, if you can try them out it's well worth it. it may cost a lot initially (and making sure you get them from somewhere with a good returns policy or grace period to send back the ones you don't want), and you'd need to find a venue/mate with a PA to really try them, but it'd help you identify what mics captures/reproduces your sound live, especially if you do go down the royer route and are shelling out over £1000 per mic
 
Thanks guys ! But, I already own those mics. I'm just asking which one would you take. I like the R-121, but I need to pair it with a dynamic mic to have a the best out of it.

The e609 sounds good, but I find it a bit mid scooped and more bright.
 
Ahh, in that case i'd be tempted to take one of each, use the SM57 on it's own on one amp and the e609 with the royer on the other, using the royer to fill in the mids that the e609 is missing. Or, pick up another SM57 :)

Also, this may sound odd, but just to clarify, are you running both amps simultaneously in stereo (which i'm guessing you are) or are you running one for clean tones and one for distorted tones?
 
That's what I was thinking.. e609 + r121 on one and SM57 on the other !

Yea, I'm using both simultaneously in stereo.. both overdriven and rolling back my guitar volume knob for cleans. It's nice for stereo chorus sounds and delays, etc.

Thanks !
 
I take it your FOH is stereo, and has the quality to bring out the distinction of these different mic's and mic'n techniques. In a room that would allow this to brought to the listeners ears?

from what I've found, most of the time you run stereo through a PA and hard pan anything, one half of the room hears one sound, and the other half hears the other. If you leave it where both signals come through cleanly on both sides of the stage,, your stereo recording comes across as mono... unless you are treating each channel with different eq's and effects.


I would tend to stay away from the R121 on stage, I prefer a more unidirectional mic, picking up just the instrument it's supposed to ,, allows me better control and separation at the console (not as much bleed over).

If I just had to have a ribbon mic to make of for the other mic,, I'd find a warmer mic first, or get something like a AT 4081, or a AEA KU4

ribbon mics are fairly dainty little things. Make sure you take great care in handling them in a live setting. (don't knock them over)
 
Cool. Although it goes without saying, just be super mega ultra flippin' careful with the royer live. Although ribbons are slightly more rugged than they once were they still break pretty easily.
 
So.. I tried two sm57... It's good enough for live use and way better then e609 IMO.

Thanks!
 
Hey hey !!

So I did a sound test with the two sm57 to see how it sounds in stereo (subtle stereo chorus effect).

One is panned on 80% left and the other 80% right.



Do you guys like the tone? Comments?

Thanks !!
 
Last edited:
There's just a high pass filter around 80hz on both tracks... no EQ. Since those two amps are a bit different... one side is a bit warmer (1959 and greenbacks).

Thanks !!
 
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