Shure SM57 vs. Sennheiser e609

  • Thread starter Thread starter Thorguitarist
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SM57 or e609 to record guitar amps?

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My current feelings on this are still very similiar, but I have to say that the i5 I have is getting more work than the 57's on guitar cabs. It is sort of replacing the e609 sometimes too, using it with a 57 instead of the e609. The i5 has a more clear sound to me than the 57, but does not seem to bring out the level of etail as the 609. I gues it all depends on what you need, but having all three is a great way to go.
 
Thorguitarist said:
Right now to mic my guitar combo (Crate MX-120r) I'm using the e609 and I'm starting to think, that my amp might be giving me the poor sound. But I've been getting mixed ansewers when I ask what mic to use. I was told that the "e609 is the updated version of the SM57". Just wondering what your preferences are when micing amps (especially Distortion guitar)
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Groove Tubes GT44
 
kid klash said:
I found this article and thought it was worth posting :
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By George Petersen
May 14, 2004 12:00 PM

INSTRUMENT AMPLIFIER MIC

Years ago, I had the pleasure of recording guitar genius Ronnie Montrose. In anticipation of his arrival—and to save time—I set up about six different mics: condensers, tubes and dynamics. When Montrose showed up, he said that he had a favorite mic and asked if we could try that, as well. He pulled out a Sennheiser MD 409 dynamic with a flat-bar mount that slid into a slot cut into his amp, putting the mic about an inch in front of the grille and toward the edge of the speaker cone.

We tried them all, and sure enough, his mic won out over everything else! I became an instant convert to the mystic 409 cult and was greatly saddened when Sennheiser (what were they thinking?) discontinued the 409 a few years later. Later, Sennheiser came out with the Evolution 609, which resembled the original but wasn't the same.

Fortunately, with the debut of the new E609 Silver, the magic is back. Like the original, it's a side-address design so it can be simply hung over an amp, suspended by the cable (with three inches of duct tape to secure it) and be exactly in the sweet spot. With its high-SPL handling and supercardioid pattern to eliminate any bleed, this one's ready for anything.

On a variety of amps—Marshall, Fender, Ampeg, Yamaha and even funky Danelectro—the E609 Silver was spot-on, particularly when combined with a distant tube mic. The Sennheiser provided the punch, fury, growl and edge, with the room mic adding a smooth hugeness. Yeah!

But it's not just for amps: The E609 Silver was also great on bass amps, toms, trumpets and trombones. At an affordable list of $199.95, this one's a great addition to anyone's mic cabinet.
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These 2 mics are not related to each other in sound at all. Good sales pitch, but wrong.
 
MCI2424 said:
These 2 mics are not related to each other in sound at all. Good sales pitch, but wrong.
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Well, based upon my own experience with both the 409 and the e609silver, I'm going to have to agree with Ronnie and George. Not exactly the same, but quite similar IMHO. Different strokes, eh? ;)

Granted, we don't listen with our eyes, but here's a frequency response comparison between the two mics for your viewing pleasure :
 

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i have only used the SM-57 so i can't really take sides but i CAN vouch for the 57. Its an amazing mic for the value and at $100 you'd be crazy not to get one. even if you didn't vote for the 57 you should get it hahah

SM-57 is an amazing snair mic as well
 
Hold on to your horsies

There are so many more factors than the mic! Both are fine mics and do a certain job a certain way! You might as well ask which is better? A '67 Camaro or a corvette? Well they are different cars. Fundamentally they are muscle cars meant for driving fast and looking good but they are different cars! In the same way the 609 and 57 are fine mics for recording any guitar sound, but.... some other things matter too... and hey if it sounds good do it!

Your amp settings may sound good to you when you play and listen, but play with the settings. Reduce the gain more than you think you want. Or try more gain than you think you want! Change your eq! if you think you like a really bassy crunchy guitar sound, try turning down the bass anyways and let the bass player take over where you think you should be, chances are a recording engineer would roll off your guitar at around 200 hz anyways... try all kinds of eq settings on your amp that you think you don't like, you may be surprised! And with each setting try different mic placements! which leads to my next point.

In my experience placement is as much of a factor as the mic itself. Are you micing the cone or the edge of the speaker? How about micing from the edge pointing at the cone? Are you as close to the speaker as possible without touching or 1 inch away or 6 inches or 3 feet? How about micing the back? Experiment with all of these thing with both mics and you are sure to come up with a sound that you love (and many more that you don't)!

After all of this experimentation you should be able to find a sound that you like and love.

Last but not least, definitely try to mix the two together in all of these combinations and you will get even more variation in the sound! Take a full day and mess around with it try things that seem crazy like putting the mic in the corner of the room or close to the amp but pointed away! Don't be afraid! Get creative and have fun!
 
JIMBOdrummer said:
i have only used the SM-57 so i can't really take sides but i CAN vouch for the 57. Its an amazing mic for the value and at $100 you'd be crazy not to get one. even if you didn't vote for the 57 you should get it hahah

SM-57 is an amazing snair mic as well
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The e609 is only $10 more, fwiw. Personally, I've had little experience with micing an actual amp, but the few times I've done so, the 609 has been pretty foolproof. I'm looking into a cheap ribbon to compliment it (at distance).
 
solaris1982 said:
The e609 is only $10 more, fwiw. Personally, I've had little experience with micing an actual amp, but the few times I've done so, the 609 has been pretty foolproof. I'm looking into a cheap ribbon to compliment it (at distance).
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exactly the route I took...well, not a cheap ribbon, but cheaper. Cascade Fat Head II with the Lundhaul transformer about 5 feet back, with the e609 about 3" away. Great great sound.
 
You guys do know that this thread is like 2 years old, right?:p

Has given me time to rethink things.

A. I like the 609 every bit as much as a sm57. One is not better....just different.

B. I have changed my view on the crate amp vs. the Boogie. Always been a Boogie guy for the most part. Have never heard a crate that sounded good....UNTIL...I bought a used Blue Voodoo 60. I picked up the half stack for $200 with the intension of keeping the cab with the v30's for an extra cab at a buddies place, and selling the head. After plugging it in just to make sure it works, I was amazed, and surprised at the tone. NEVER expected this from a crate. I now run it along side my dual rec in stereo. They sound great together. And to keep things on topic.....I mic the boogie with a 609, and the crate with a sm57.
 
lolol they need to archive shit when it hits like 3 months without a response in my opinion.

i can't be held responsible for my outdated advice
 
not on the list

I use a EV Cardinal or EV N/D478 and sometimes a EV RE 20
 
If I'm using the microphone exclusively to mic a guitar amp, then the e609 is preferable?
 
and that's exclusively for home recording purposes btw and no live setups.

thanks!
 
valacirca said:
If I'm using the microphone exclusively to mic a guitar amp, then the e609 is preferable?
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"preferable" is an answer that is going to change with each person you ask. "easier" might be a better way to put it.
 
Like others, I like both mics (and the Audix i5 too), but they're different-- to my ears, the SM57 is a bit boxier or mid-rangey, while the e609 has a more open, and brighter sound. FWIW, I find the Audix to be a bit thinner and brighter than the other two.

In addition to close mic'ing guitar cabs, I will also use the e609 as the bottom mic on a snare, it captures the snare sound quite well.

My favorite guitar cab recording set up: an e609 and 421 up close, and a ribbon mic about 3 or 4 feet out. Mix to taste.
 
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