admin
Joined:
01 Jun 2001
Posts: 1266
|
 Posted: 06/17/2010 at 1:23 PM Post subject: Mics for guitar |
link
|
|
What mics do you guys like to use for recording guitar? Any techniques/suggestions? Could be a very useful thread.
I personally like to use the good ol' Shure SM57 up close, and include a AKG Solidtube w/distance. Messed around with the Audix D3 (I think it was a D3.. can't remember). I also like the mic slightly off center but pointed straight at the cone. Don't do the off axis stuff much.. seems too dark for me.
What are you guys using?
admin
|
|
Back to top
|
|
|
|
Disclosure: Any links to eBay or Amazon.com are affiliate links. Affiliate links may provide commission payments to the site based on purchases.
|
|
|
|
1uncertain3
Joined:
02 Aug 2007
Posts: 77
|
| Posted: 06/17/2010 at 11:10 PM Post subject: RE:Mics for guitar |
link
|
|
This really depends but the last few times I recorded with Billy Anderson, he used SM57s. What I have been told (and what I have witnessed from BA and sound guys alike) is that you want to find the speaker that sounds good to you - within your cab - and point it about an inch from the speaker; I honestly cannot remember if you point the mic dead center (the speaker's center) or somewhere else - here again, I am sure that this is totally subjective; I'd say experiment and try to find a sound that you like by playing with mic placement and go from there.
Hopefully someone who has a lot more experience can chime in because truth be told, I don't have sufficient engineering knowledge to really have a voice on this topic; but what I do know is that there is no "right or wrong" answers. There are however general guidelines but in the long run, your ear will tell you what to do.
But yeah, I personally like the SM57s haha.
|
|
Back to top
|
|
|
peggyfoster
Joined:
20 Jun 2008
Posts: 83
|
| Posted: 06/17/2010 at 11:44 PM Post subject: RE:Mics for guitar |
link
|
|
I mic acoustic guitars with a Neumann TLM 170. I do it just slightly off axis, not as much as I would if I were using a strict uni-directional mic. My TLM 170 has 5 switchable pick-up patterns, I use the cardioid pattern for guitars and vocals and when mic-ing my acoustic Ovation bass.
It's an expensive mic but it's a workhorse. My audio engineering teacher advised us to splurge on the very best microphone we could afford for our studios and if we had to cut corners - do it elsewhere. It was good advice, this mic is true and warm and doesn't add any metallic shades to the sounds.
Hope that helps ... You have access to a lot of serious audiophiles on this website - you'll probably get a lot of good advice! Peggy
|
|
Back to top
|
|
|
SamBean
Joined:
15 Jan 2010
Posts: 12
|
| Posted: 06/19/2010 at 5:42 PM Post subject: RE:Mics for guitar |
link
|
|
If you have a little extra cash the TLM is a great all around mike, especially if you have a great sounding room. Warning, up close a guitar amp can blow it an expensive mistake. The good old SM57 is bulletproof for cab miking and is probably what you hear on lots of recordings. A blend of close and room can be cool but use your ears for phase problems, if fading in a second mike channel sucks the wind out of the sound, move it around. Most of the cool old "Classic " rock guitars were captured with placement in great sounding rooms.
|
|
Back to top
|
|
|
peggyfoster
Joined:
20 Jun 2008
Posts: 83
|
| Posted: 08/30/2010 at 10:39 PM Post subject: RE:Mics for guitar |
link
|
|
Thanks for reminding me - yes, I use an old SM 57 for miking amps. I also use the 57 for my stand-up bass ... I bought the bass (German, Schuster) at World of Strings in Long Beach ... I asked them about attaching a transducer or pick-up ... they asked me if I had an old SM 57 and suggested that I wrap a hand towel around it and gently stick it down into the tailpiece facing up with the cord coming out the bottom. I used it live in a jazz show ... the sound I got was so beautifully balanced across all the strings and notes that I have never installed a pick-up. Peggy
|
|
Back to top
|
|
|
rlrlrl
Joined:
24 Dec 2007
Posts: 260
|
| Posted: 08/31/2010 at 9:58 AM Post subject: RE:Mics for guitar |
link
|
|
I'm a big fan of ribbon mics on electric guitar. People always talk about the Royer mics, but Beyers are really cool and cheaper. You need to have a good preamp, cause they require a lot of front end gain. A real classic sound, and to me, more detailed and interesting than a 57. Then again, a lot of amazing records have been made with whatever was lying around.
|
|
Back to top
|
|
|
|
Disclosure: Any links to eBay or Amazon.com are affiliate links. Affiliate links may provide commission payments to the site based on purchases.
|
|
|
|
SamBean
Joined:
15 Jan 2010
Posts: 12
|
| Posted: 08/31/2010 at 8:12 PM Post subject: RE:Mics for guitar |
link
|
|
Was World of Strings the place on Anaheim that had all the violins? Did you ever play at Bogart's in Long Beach?
|
|
Back to top
|
|
|
peggyfoster
Joined:
20 Jun 2008
Posts: 83
|
| Posted: 09/01/2010 at 1:55 AM Post subject: RE:Mics for guitar |
link
|
|
Hmmm ... Beyer ... I'll remember that.
Peggy
|
|
Back to top
|
|
|
peggyfoster
Joined:
20 Jun 2008
Posts: 83
|
| Posted: 09/01/2010 at 2:01 AM Post subject: RE:Mics for guitar |
link
|
|
World of Strings is in Long Beach, it's where the members of the LA Philarmonic buy instruments and get them repaired; they have a huge room full of stringed instruments. It's near Cal State Long Beach, which has substantial arts programs.
I haven't heard of Bogart's in Long Beach but I will look it up.
Peggy
|
|
Back to top
|
|
|
SamBean
Joined:
15 Jan 2010
Posts: 12
|
| Posted: 09/05/2010 at 9:18 PM Post subject: RE:Mics for guitar |
link
|
|
I used to do sound there (Been closed since the early 90's) and at Cal State as well. Used to pock my head in at World of Strings cause they always had a guitar string special. Back to the microphones, if you don't have a great acoustic space, stick to the close miking and if you have the money buy a Neumann it's great for anything.
|
|
Back to top
|
|
|
SamBean
Joined:
15 Jan 2010
Posts: 12
|
| Posted: 09/05/2010 at 9:19 PM Post subject: RE:Mics for guitar |
link
|
|
Pock my head? No I poked my head in there ha ha.
|
|
Back to top
|
|
|
|
Disclosure: Any links to eBay or Amazon.com are affiliate links. Affiliate links may provide commission payments to the site based on purchases.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
