Which mic for Acoustic Guitar?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Jburn34
  • Start date Start date

Which one is the all around best for acoustic guitar?

  • AKG C1000s

    Votes: 2 3.7%

  • Oktava mc 012

    Votes: 25 46.3%

  • MXL 603

    Votes: 27 50.0%
  • Total voters
    54
Last night i tested about 11 mics at work...........and some good mics that showed the best performance for acoustic (Taylor) guitar were:

AT3035 200$
Blue, Dragonfly 800$ (very smooth, this one is my winner)
KSM44 600$
SM81 300$

Ive used MK 012's on classicals and they do good, real cool for overheads!
 
Could those Neumans, or the Marshals be used well on other instruments than the Accoustic guitar? I want to get a pair of SD condensors that will basically do everything.

They don't have to be ideal for everything, but it would be nice if they would work. Like, accoustic guitar, maybe some piano, maybe some steel drums, maybe some conga's, drum overheads, etc.. etc... just any thing i think i'd like to stick a mic infront of where a LD condensor wouldn't work.
 
I mic acoustic guitars with a RODE NTK and an NT-3.

The results are superb.
 
zallen25 said:
Blue, Dragonfly 800$ (very smooth, this one is my winner)
Click to expand...

Interesting. Can you share how you had it positioned? I've been having difficulty getting a worthwhile sound on accoustic guitar with the dragonfly, but I'm not giving up. I do like the 603 and mc012 a lot, though.
 
Thanks for all the advice guys.

I ended up getting a 603, mainly because of price. I actually got an akg c1000 in a package deal with an eq and effects unit, so I'm waiting on them to get in and then compare them...I have a friend buying the akg from me for drums/percussion.

I've been doing acoustic on a beta 58, sm57, and C1 with unsatisfactory results...although the C1 was by far the best!

Keep it coming with suggestions!

Jeremy
 
The C1 and the 603 combined might get you the results you're looking for.

Make sure you employ proper placement.

Good luck! :)
 
Sorry to jump in here, but would the MXL 603 also sound okay for recording ambient room noise? (I want to mic my guitar amp with a dynamic and then put the condenser in the background to catch the room sound). It's just with it not being an omni that I wasn't sure, I just persumed you'd need an omni for that sort of thing.

Cheers,
Bluesmouse.
 
I've been using an ADK A51 and an ADK 51SC... the large diaphragm mic positioned around the upper right bout of the guitar, at a slight angle and close in, and the 51SC pointing straight into the 12-14th fret, about 12" away. I run both mics through a Presonus Blue Tube. It sounds phenominal, live at church or recorded on my Fostex VF160.
 
I really like the C-1 for acoustic, for my taylor i use the high pass filter without
the windscreen, when i record my yamaha 12 string its just the opposite.
finding the sweet spot is the key and its not difficult. havent tried my B-1 yet.

Bostonfan2
 
I have gotten some great recordings

Hi, new to the board. I have done quite a bit of recording both in my job and for fun.

In a studio setting I use a Shure 300 series figure 8 mic with one node pointing into the room, the other at the guitar--play with the placement. The ribbon responds to the similar vibration the guitar strings make with a wonderful richness and clarity.
 
best acoustic microphone

I've had had much luck recording all kinds of acoustic guitars with AKG's "Blue Line" Series. The C-391B (w/cardioid small diaphragm) is one of the nicest mics I've ever encountered. This mic works well on both large body & smaller 00/000 body styles. We just did a live recording using a C-391B pointed at the neck/body joint while also using a KSM44 off to the side of the bridge (in omni to pick up the room and the audience). This combination was magical when recorded with a vintage Nagra two channel deck. Those old Nagras are serious machines! :cool: No preamps or any EQ everything sounded incredible!
 
While I am fairly new at this, I have been very pleased with the results I have had recording an acoustic guitar with a Studio Projects C3 large diaphram mic (US$300) about a foot infront, 2-3 in above the hole and a Shure beta58 near the tuning pegs pointed at the fretboard.

I could easily get by with just the C3, but I have liked having the fretboard sound in there just a bit to give the sound a little more attack (not sure that's the right word... It provides more treble sound and finger slide and just makes it sound more ~real~)
 
Dagnabbit

Have you used the little ADK A51SC on anything else and if so what have been the results?

I have been thinkung of buying a pair from Turnkey in the UK for £49 each ($80). I want them mainly for bongos and darbuka, but also as an acoustic/ stereo all rounder, what do you think?

Cheers
 
After 3 years of experimenting I believe I've found a winning combination...a Rode NT3 pointed at the 12th fret @ about 4'' away and an AT4040 dead in front of the soundhole @ about 6" away. Both mics run through ART V3 preamps right into a Yamaha aw16g workstation. Wow! The mics and pres will run you just over 600. but my recordings of my Morgan acoustic played fingerstyle has gotten excellent reviews. Very powerful tone.
 
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I'm surprised that no one's mentioned the Josephson C42's.
I have a pair and think they should be at the top of mics to at least check out for acoustic material.

I chose these over KM-184's. The C42's have a much smoother, creamier high-end and are very workable mics as far as placement. They have a really nice mid-range.

You can have one for about $399 HERE.

Oktava's are my second recommendation if you can't swing the Josephson mics.
 
Have you checked out Rode? THey have a matched pair for pretty cheap. I have used the Octavas and liked them all right, but Rodes are something to hear.
 
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