What mic should I use?

[Judas]

Trying to get the best, cleanast cruch out of my JCM 800 Lead but newer seems to be able to capture the sound. Want a clean heavy metal sound (...). Sounds just the way I want live when I use a SM57 but when I try to put it on tape it just sound flat and boring...

 

[Track Rat]

Try a combination of a 57 and an AT4033. Works for me. I listen around for the sweet spot and put the 4033 there.

 

[closer9:18]

A lot of guitarists i've worked with tend to overdo the crunch and distortion, which results in a flat sound with too much sizzle.

In my experience, crunch will really record best if you back off the gain until it just begins to distort. Too many high harmonics which sound AMAZING live will not record well because they'll get in the way of the tone.

Once you get the best amp tone, the 57 should work, but point it straight at the speaker cone a little off center. The closer you get, the brighter it will sound. If you put another mic a few feet back and blend the two, it should work well.

Experiment and you'll find what you want.

Good luck

 

[nezpierce]

umm

I hate to be the guy that asks this question but what cabinet are you using with the JCM800 head?

If you are using a 4X12 to record that can certainly be overkill in alot of instances, but it also will give you the oppportunity to mike up more than one of the speakers. Blends are yummy!


nP

 

[Neve]

What are you recording to?

Some info on your signal chain could help....


Amund

 

[theletterq]

I too have found that the live crunch sound does not at all work for recording. It either comes out, as you said, flat and boring or really fuzzy sounding.

If you listen to bands like Soundgarden, it's amazing how little distortion there is on the guitar, but how massively heavy it sounds.

Turn down the gain.

 

[Judas]

Thanks!

Thanks for all the help, I'm really new to "more proffesional" recording so I appreciate it allot.

I'm using the 4 x 12" cabinet, record on a analog Studer a 827 24 track through a Amek Angel table. (Gibson SG Standard -84 git.)