Small Diaphragm Dilema

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borntoplease

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okay, so i posted this thread in the guitar forum but no one answered. so here it is. i need to buy a good small diaphragm condensor to record acoustic guitar with. i will use it with a 414. anyway... the only sd i have been using is the ksm109. i think it retails somewhere around 110 bucks or so. this is my question: if i spend 100-120 bucks more, could i get a considerably more "musical" or better sounding mic. now i realize its all preference, but some mics are just better than others. the u87 is better than an oktava 219. (at least 95% of the time... i think you would be hardpressed to find a vocal application where a 219 beat out a u87, but im sure it could be done.) i want to know if 200-250 dollars will get me a considerably better mic for acousitc guitar than the 110 dollar ksm 109. im recording with a digi 002, just using the digi pre's for now, but i want to upgrade. my monitoring chain is great... so really, i just need some input on sds for acoustic guitar
 
A Peluso, a used SM81. Stretch a bit for a Josephson c42 (and sell the 109).
 
Ditto on the Josephson C42. If you can test drive one, do it!
 
I think in the long run you will want a matched pair, maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but soon, and for the rest of your life.
 
Big Kenny said:
I think in the long run you will want a matched pair, maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but soon, and for the rest of your life.

i agree... its a money issue right now though, and i really want a 414... gotta make sacrifices right now... :mad:
 
Maybe Harvey can tell you which sdc would be easiest to match up later. I'm thinking the sm 81's run pretty consistant, but I only have limited experience. You could ask Dot at Sound Pure or Warren at Front End or Fletch at Mercenary
 
Big Kenny said:
Maybe Harvey can tell you which sdc would be easiest to match up later. I'm thinking the sm 81's run pretty consistant, but I only have limited experience. You could ask Dot at Sound Pure or Warren at Front End or Fletch at Mercenary

when i do end up buying a matched pair... i'll buy the pair at the same time... not add to what i have. hopefully i'll have enough money by then for something at the next level... we'll see
 
so does anyone own both the peluso cemc6 and the josephson c42? are these comparable mics?
 
Sorry, I don't own both... but I have a matched pair C42's... great mics IMO.
 
DJL said:
Sorry, I don't own both... but I have a matched pair C42's... great mics IMO.

would you recomend them for micing a martin? its kinda heavy on the mids and low end... not bright like a taylor. im into a folky sound... but not too "twangy". i like smooth and rich
 
DJL said:
Sorry, I don't own both... but I have a matched pair C42's... great mics IMO.

Damn it DJL. You own all these great mics but you do NOTHING with them.

What's with that? :mad:
 
borntoplease said:
so does anyone own both the peluso cemc6 and the josephson c42? are these comparable mics?

They're comparable in that they're two of the best SDC mics you can get for under $1000K/pr and both mics approach the performance of higher-end SDC's. The C42 were modeled after the Neumann KM84, are colored with some of that Neumann "sheen" and nice high-end detail. The Peluso CEMC6's were modeled after Schoeps CMC6's and are more neutral and natural. The C42's are cardioid-only, the Peluso's come stock with cardioid caps and also have optional caps available: omni, hyper-cardioid, super-cardioid. To give a generalization, the C42's might be more of a choice for rock - especially drum OH's, and the Peluso's would be the choice for more acoustic-based music and as a pair for general stereo recording.
 
borntoplease said:
okay, so i posted this thread in the guitar forum but no one answered. so here it is. i need to buy a good small diaphragm condensor to record acoustic guitar with. i will use it with a 414. anyway... the only sd i have been using is the ksm109. i think it retails somewhere around 110 bucks or so. this is my question: if i spend 100-120 bucks more, could i get a considerably more "musical" or better sounding mic. now i realize its all preference, but some mics are just better than others. the u87 is better than an oktava 219. (at least 95% of the time... i think you would be hardpressed to find a vocal application where a 219 beat out a u87, but im sure it could be done.) i want to know if 200-250 dollars will get me a considerably better mic for acousitc guitar than the 110 dollar ksm 109. im recording with a digi 002, just using the digi pre's for now, but i want to upgrade. my monitoring chain is great... so really, i just need some input on sds for acoustic guitar

You would be very hard pressed to find a better mic for your purposes than the GT-44. ABout $200 at your local GC. Get one while they are on sale. A friggin' great mic.
 
Last edited:
borntoplease said:
would you recomend them for micing a martin? its kinda heavy on the mids and low end... not bright like a taylor. im into a folky sound... but not too "twangy". i like smooth and rich
They pretty much sound good on whatever you stick in front of them.

Mark7 said:
Damn it DJL. You own all these great mics but you do NOTHING with them.

What's with that? :mad:
No need to get mad marky... I'm part owner of a small commercial studio... and we have a lot of great mics.
 
And so, another layer of the onion is peeled away.

Now. If you could just tell us which studio it is, and post a link so we can all look at your gear. :D
 
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