Need a Mic for accoustic guitar

  • Thread starter Thread starter ritz
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ritz

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I play mostly clasical/instramental/ambient style guitar...
The mic would be used for 90% guitar (5% dulcimer/mandaline)
and 5% vocal.

The type of sound I love is the "David Wilcox" style of smooth
original fingerpicking with true solid lows. For those of you who may not have heard of Dave, it's alot like James Taylor (with respect to the guitar part). So it would be really important to
me that the mic preserve as much of the low frequencies as
possible.

I have electric/acoustic guitars but I have a problem with sqeeking when I slide and (especially on my Ovation with the under bridge wire pickup) the squeek is unbearable....
I am going to try some fingerEase first, then flat wound strings, and depending on how all that goes.... I may still need a mic.

Price range would be under $200....

I was looking through the posts to this group but it's
pretty overwhelming for someone who has no clue about
microphones. But I do want to learn.... :)
Thanks all
 
Bruce, Bruce, Bruce....where ya gonna find a 4041 for under $200......

Id say a pair of Marshall MXL603's....but when using it for vocals, you wont get much out of it...a sm57 will do ya a better job there.....

Ive heard both the mxlv67 and the SP C1 on acoustic guitar and they both sounded pretty damn good....the only downfall Id see is controlling room sounds......and on vocals both will do an excellent job......
 
I use the C1 for acoustic guitar also. I feel it gets good results but I don't have the expeirence of using the other high quality mics to compare it to. I may like the others better but I'm very pleased with the results I'm getting.

My 2 cents
 
Gidge said:
Bruce, Bruce, Bruce....where ya gonna find a 4041 for under $200......
Click to expand...
Oh.... was there a price limit?

Even so... it'd be worth it to save for!


Bruce
 
ritz said:
Price range would be under $200....
[/B]
Click to expand...

Yep, price limit.....but Id be curious to know what preamp he'll be using, as that will be just as much a factor in the sound he'll get.......
 
The AT 4041 is $189 at www.8thstreet.com Sorry Gidge.

ritz- I read that James Taylor used a pair of Neumann K184's on one of his last albums, and they are small diaphram condensers. Small diaphram condensers are good at picking up the small, high-energy frequencies of an acoustic guitar, while a large diaphram mic can capture the warmth and low-end. Most people are split on which kind of mic they prefer for acoustic guitar. I won't even try to recommend a particular mic.....I don't own enough of them to really give you an objective opinion.

My best results have been using two mikes, one large diaphram and one small diaphram about 12" away and then I pan them to the same position. One mic captures the brightness and "chimey sound" of my Taylor 414 and the other captures the mid-range and low-end. It gives me a lot of flexibility when it comes time to mix and EQ.

I record steel-string and nylon string (Yamaha CG171) guitar a lot and it's the most fun part of recording for me. I'm probably better at playing electric guitar, but I just love the richness and depth that acoustic guitars have.
 
Re: Re: Need a Mic for accoustic guitar

I will most likely just run it right into my Boss digital efects patch. Currently that is the only preamp I own.

Gidge said:


Yep, price limit.....but Id be curious to know what preamp he'll be using, as that will be just as much a factor in the sound he'll get.......
Click to expand...
 
RODE NT3

I've used the Rode NT3's for mic'ing acoustic/classical guitar, and the results have been very good..avoid the AKG C1000's, they are electret and they will die slowly..the NT3's are nice because they're kinda a 'middle ground' as far as condensers go..they're not small diaphragm, they're not large diaphragm..they're 3/4", compared to 1/2" and 1", for small and large, respectively.

Plus they would be useful for vocals, and can even be used for live performance as you can hold them.

The only draw back to them, is that they are kinda big and somewhat heavy..at least that I've found.
 
Ok, Ill have to so go with a mxl603 and get yourself a decent preamp....just a Art Tube MP would make a difference you would not believe.....

I started using a shure sm57 thru my Johnson J-Station after starting off with a cheapo Radio Shack mic....of course I recognized a difference but the bigger difference was when I moved up to a real preamp (Delta DMP2)......

do not underestimate the importance of a quality preamp in your signal chain....since vocals is only 5% of what you are using it for, the 603 can be made to work...its easy to bottom out but singing at an agle with a pop screen will help...
 
Gidge- The prices change on that site almost daily.....if you look at the bottom of the page for Audio Technica's you will see 4041 Bulk Pac- they say it's not in the original packaging, I assume it's a new mic but who knows. $189.

8thstreet has the Marshall 603's for $79.95. That's a pretty tempting price..... where the hell did I put my credit cards ?:eek:
 
I don't think the bulk pacs are used or seconds. I think it's as simple as they are shipped in bulk instead of being individually packaged. My guess is the savings in labor, packaging, and a smaller margin (quantity sales) make for the lower price.

I don't think you can legally sell used, blemished, or seconds unless you inform the buyer up front.

Could be wrong. I'd still be wary with an Internet buy.
 
mic for guitar

I really like the Oktava 012-01 condenser mic for about $140 bucks. I record and play much of what you tastes are and the Oktava is very sweet, sensitive and not harsh at all. I do use it in conjucntion with a CAD D94 on the upper end. Whew !! just great sound.
Che
 
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