mxl v93m

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robjh22

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This condenser has been "on sale" at m.friend for
about 4 weeks at $99, allegedly retailing at $399. I am tempted to grab it but frankly would rather have time to test a few mikes before hurrying to buy my next one. So the questions are: 1) is this really that extraordinary a deal? 2) If I procrastinate, will I really regret it, or are there always great condensers for $99 - $125 if I look around? I notice m.friend is always running specials of one kind or another.
I finally notice that the v93m is not oft mentioned on this board in the "what is the best mike for under . . . " type threads on the board.

Oh, this is for miking my golden voice (ha ha ) and my HD-35 (not ha ha)
 
This is precisely a MXL2003 made for Mars Music, wired with Mogami cable, so you might look up the MXL2003 to get more information. I got mine at Mars for $150.
 
I doubt I'd "rush" right out and get it. It'd make a decent vocal mic if you don't already have one, but there are much better choices for acoustic guitar.
 
guitar mike

Flatpicker: Well, what are the better choices? I don't mind spending $150 if the result will be "much" better.
 
Its a very nice mic, but you dont have to rush out and get it........but you wont be disappointed if you do either......

they regularly sell thru dealers on ebay for between $125 and $150
 
I have two V93M mics. They are quite bright, very detailed, and have a broad frequency response. The cardoid pattern is just slightly wider than average and they have less proximity effect than, for example, the V69G. I am happy with them.

They have a single switch that controls both the pad and the bass rolloff. So you can have the pad or the bass rolloff or neither, but not both. I usually use them with neither effect turned on.

It is clear that Musician's Friend bought the entire stock of Mars when they went bankrupt. When that stock is gone that will be the end of it. There are already a couple of Mars mics that MF used to sell but do not any more. How many more does MF still have in stock? I don't know.

You might want to go to www.thelisteningsessions.com and listen to the 2003 in comparison with some of the others.
 
Re: guitar mike

robjh22 said:
Flatpicker: Well, what are the better choices? I don't mind spending $150 if the result will be "much" better.
Click to expand...
I have a couple of MXL 603s and a Studio Projects B3. I like the 603s for solo stereo stuff and the B3 for stuff that's going to be mixed with other instruments. The 603s take a little work because they're picky about placement. The B3, on the other hand, is not as picky about placement and has 3 patterns to choose from. I like the B3 because it seems to capture the sound of my Gallagher dreadnaught guitars. Either option is under $150.

There are lots of other options, though. Lots of people here like the Oktava 012s, the Studio Projects B1 and the Behringer ECM8000s (though I don't hear as much about the ECM8000s as I used to). A slightly more expensive option I'm considering are Beyer ribbon mics like the 160, but I don't know where (in the states) to get one or how much it is.:cool:
 
It's really bright, so I guess if you like that sort of thing . . .
 
I have a v93m and i've been liking it.....

......on my acoutstic guitar lately.

It is definitely a bright mic.

But I've been using Phosphor bronze lights and looking for that real zingy sound, and this seems to work real well about 6" off the 10th fret tilted toward the joint.

The only thing is you have to keep your fingers slick as the brightness really exagerates finger squeak.

I haven't liked it very much on vox though....especially mine.

-mike
 
Flat's Gallagher

Flatpicker, I hate to keep bugging you, but now you mention you have a Gallagher, and I got to know more! I have only beheld two: I have heard Doc W's on the Circle album, and perhaps on others, and it just sounds too fabulous. I also played one in Lafayette, La about 20 -- oh no, it's closer to 30 -- years ago (how is that possible!). The sound was just okay, but I don't know that it was one of the premium models. Tell me about yours, and does Gallagher still make guitars? Do you recommend them? Details, man, details!

p.s. -- thanks for the tips on the mike; I think I'll wait and save up for something I'm sure to like. I'm not so desperate to improve the sound of me and my Martin with my sm 57 on my Fostex anyway. I got one bright mike already (an Akai) and it's really too bright.
 
Re: Flat's Gallagher

robjh22 said:
Flatpicker, I hate to keep bugging you, but now you mention you have a Gallagher, and I got to know more! I have only beheld two: I have heard Doc W's on the Circle album, and perhaps on others, and it just sounds too fabulous. I also played one in Lafayette, La about 20 -- oh no, it's closer to 30 -- years ago (how is that possible!). The sound was just okay, but I don't know that it was one of the premium models. Tell me about yours, and does Gallagher still make guitars? Do you recommend them? Details, man, details!

p.s. -- thanks for the tips on the mike; I think I'll wait and save up for something I'm sure to like. I'm not so desperate to improve the sound of me and my Martin with my sm 57 on my Fostex anyway. I got one bright mike already (an Akai) and it's really too bright.
Click to expand...
Hey, no problem. Glad to talk about Gallaghers. I’ve got an ’82 Doc W. cut-away. I bought it new (21 years old, now) and it sounds just like Doc’s.:D I had another one custom built in ’94. It’s similar to a 72 special with a German Spruce top and Brazilian rosewood back and sides. Doc played it back in 95 and said it was the best Gallagher rosewood model he’d ever had his hands on!:cool: (he's way more parcel to mahogany bodied guitars, though)

Over the years I’ve played several of them and became good friends with Don Gallagher. His Dad started building guitars in the ‘60s and Don is still carrying on the tradition. The sound may vary from guitar to guitar (just like Martin), but it doesn’t seem to have anything to do with the model. I’ve heard less expensive models sound better than more expensive ones.

You can go to their web site here http://www.gallagherguitar.com and look for a dealer close by. Most of the ones I’ve played lately are really nice, but if I were getting a new one, I’d order it with a German or Red spruce top instead of the Sitka they are normally built with.
 
Maybe it would help if I talked a bit about my decision to get the 93M, since I also got it for voice and the 67G is much more often suggested as a vocal mic.

To start with I have a very deep voice. Adding a mic with lots of proximity effect like the 67 I was concerned would just have rumble. The 93 has a wide frequency response and no appreciable drop off below 100 hz like most mics if you can trust the charts. So I thought it would catch the natrural low resonances of my voice without hiding it behind a lot of resonance effect. Natural bass sounds different than resonance effect. What convinced me of this was listening to the mic at www.thelisteningsessions.com That struck me was what happened when the lowest string was struck on the guitar. With the 2003 you hear not just the string but the body of the guitar resonating in a very distinct and crisp way compared to other mics. That might not even be desirable in guitar recording, but when thinking about my voice it set a light bulb off.
 
V93

When I was rushing to buy a condensor for studio vocals with a few bucks left on my credit card I went for the V63M that M.F. was offering for $80 with a sweet shock mount. Haven't been disappointed one bit. My buddy with a higher credit limit than me bought a $1500 Neumann, and frankly I think I'm getting better recordings with mine... Well, I think my vocalist is just really good actually...
 
v2003

The MXL 2003 is $89 at Musician's Friend now. It's will not likely be your last mic purchse but it's a _great_ value if the only thing you have now is a SM58. It's a bright and almost crunchy sounding mic so keep that in mind if you're trying to pair that with a warmer dark mic. Marshall makes a warm dark mic incidentally -- V67. They pair together nicely. Only thing I think I'm missing is a nice dynamic now. The condensers are incredibly sensitive so it's tough to record in the same zip code as my noisy ass computer.
 
Unfortunately the V63M is now sold out. I did not see any mention of the 2003 on Musician's Friend Site, only the V93M
 
I couldn't resist - I picked up the 93 yesterday based on this thread. Eighty-nine bucks - right on!

My other LDCs are the V67 and the SP B1, so this should fit the "bright" side of the spectrum well - at least for this bottom feeder.

Thanks for the tip!

Fab
 
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