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mooringp
New member
has anyone ever tried to mic a banjo before? I'm wondering what type of mic would work best.
mixmkr
we don't need rest!!
all the time. I have a Deering Sierra that I like to mic with a Beyer m160. I have had the opportunity to mic better banjos also, and actually there is nothing really wrong with a sm57 about a foot away either. As banjos can sonically sound so different from one another, goofing around with mic placement and type is half the fun!!.. and warding off the snide remarks and jokes is the other half 
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boingoman
New member
mixmkr said:all the time. I have a Deering Sierra that I like to mic with a Beyer m160. I have had the opportunity to mic better banjos also, and actually there is nothing really wrong with a sm57 about a foot away either. As banjos can sonically sound so different from one another, goofing around with mic placement and type is half the fun!!.. and warding off the snide remarks and jokes is the other half
57's can sound killer on banjo. I've done a lot of live bluegrass bands, and a lot of times keep going back to the 57 for banjo and mandolin.
mixmkr
we don't need rest!!
and not to mention...when you don't have a 57, most live venues will have a 58, and they pretty much do the same trick. I find condensors to be a little crispy on the most part, with most inexpensive condensors. That is why I like the darker sounding Beyer mic, as banjos can pretty much have a very crispy attack to start with.
I always like those banjos that sound like "pellets hitting off a bronze bell" in "machine gun" style. Not much sustain, but that "ping" that just rips your gut out.
I always like those banjos that sound like "pellets hitting off a bronze bell" in "machine gun" style. Not much sustain, but that "ping" that just rips your gut out.
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boingoman
New member
Someone told me once that guitars, banjos, and others are considered to be percussion, not strings, as the strings are plucked or struck, not bowed.
Don't know if it's true.
Don't know if it's true.
Farview
Well-known member
I have come to the conclusion that anything that would sound good on a snare would also work on a banjo.
philboyd studge
New member
mixmkr said:all the time. I have a Deering Sierra that I like to mic with a Beyer m160. I have had the opportunity to mic better banjos also, and actually there is nothing really wrong with a sm57 about a foot away either. As banjos can sonically sound so different from one another, goofing around with mic placement and type is half the fun!!.. and warding off the snide remarks and jokes is the other half
You've got that right. I'm down to three banjos now..they all record differently and in addition, even the same banjo varies from song to song and style. It's almost pointless to write down what was used. Usually I'll try a few mics and locations till it sounds like I want it to. More often than not, a SD condenser works best. For live, nothing's handier than a 57.
Farview
Well-known member
Yes, but you already have a '58. The 57 and 58 are really the same mic. If you are trying for variety, get something else.
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