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Vintage threads from the first ten years

"Mics for Guitar tones"

3/10/1999 10:59 AM
Trace	"Mics for Guitar tones" Hey all; So what's everyone's favorite mic for guitar? There's the 'ol faithful SM57 and 421. I'll share a pretty nifty mic that's mighty killer and not really that expensive...Stedman N90 large diaphram dymanic mic. You'll be impressed for a little over $200.00 US dollars. Trace

3/10/1999 8:33 PM
nic	sm57 maybe cause I own two of them and have never tried anything else.

3/11/1999 7:55 AM
Trace	Nic; They rule for a reason!! I still use them all the time. Trace

3/11/1999 3:02 AM
Warren	Re: "Mics for Guitar tones" Ah man, do i have to pick only one? Right now my favorite chain is an Audio Technica 4050 into a Summit mic pre, into a LA-2A. (This is also my favorite vocal chain by the way.) 57's are great for that in your face rockin' sound, but I find I choose large diaphram condensers most often. The AKG 414 is a pretty good choice. They can take high SPLs pretty well and seem to capture the depth and air. The Neuman TLM-170 (when you can find one) is great, especially for clean to overdriven tones. Alot of people like U-87's, but the times i've tried them I felt the were a little to dark and muddy. Ribbon mics are great too. Steve Albini swears by his Coles 4038, and IMHO he gets some of the best sounds I've ever heard. Using a combination of dynamic and condenser mics, eached panned opposite can give you a big complex guitar sound without getting in the way of the vocals or other instruments. The more different the two mics sound, the more drastic the image will be. I really like multiple mic techniques but you have to be very carefull about phase. Moving the mic a quarter inch can drasticaly change the sound. Just keep moving the mics and flipping the phase switches untill you find the sound you like. Be sure and check mono compatability as well. It can be alot of work to get it just right, but it can be well worth the effort. I also find that the mic-pre is an enormous factor in the sound. Picking the right combination of mic and mic-pre is like matching a guitar to an amplifier, and all of us here know how much of a factor the amp is in the tonal equation. Anyone on a looking for a great mic thats isn't all that expensive should check out the Audio Technica 4033. I think they go for under $400.00 and they're great for just about anything. Screaming amps, bass cabinets, vocals, tamborine... Two of them make a great pair of overheads. Its the same thing as the AT4050, but it only does a cardiod pattern. They make a tube version too but I haven't had a chance to try it. I heard reports from NAMM that were very favorable. Anyone heard it yet? Warren

3/11/1999 3:02 AM

Warren

Re: "Mics for Guitar tones"

Ah man, do i have to pick only one?

Right now my favorite chain is an Audio Technica 4050 into a Summit mic pre, into a LA-2A. (This is also my favorite vocal chain by the way.) 57's are great for that in your face rockin' sound, but I find I choose large diaphram condensers most often.

The AKG 414 is a pretty good choice. They can take high SPLs pretty well and seem to capture the depth and air. The Neuman TLM-170 (when you can find one) is great, especially for clean to overdriven tones. Alot of people like U-87's, but the times i've tried them I felt the were a little to dark and muddy. Ribbon mics are great too. Steve Albini swears by his Coles 4038, and IMHO he gets some of the best sounds I've ever heard.

Using a combination of dynamic and condenser mics, eached panned opposite can give you a big complex guitar sound without getting in the way of the vocals or other instruments. The more different the two mics sound, the more drastic the image will be.

I really like multiple mic techniques but you have to be very carefull about phase. Moving the mic a quarter inch can drasticaly change the sound. Just keep moving the mics and flipping the phase switches untill you find the sound you like. Be sure and check mono compatability as well. It can be alot of work to get it just right, but it can be well worth the effort.

I also find that the mic-pre is an enormous factor in the sound. Picking the right combination of mic and mic-pre is like matching a guitar to an amplifier, and all of us here know how much of a factor the amp is in the tonal equation.

Anyone on a looking for a great mic thats isn't all that expensive should check out the Audio Technica 4033. I think they go for under $400.00 and they're great for just about anything. Screaming amps, bass cabinets, vocals, tamborine... Two of them make a great pair of overheads. Its the same thing as the AT4050, but it only does a cardiod pattern. They make a tube version too but I haven't had a chance to try it. I heard reports from NAMM that were very favorable. Anyone heard it yet?

Warren

3/11/1999 8:05 AM
Trace	Warren; NO...you don't have to pick one!! (ha, ha) I like the summit mic pre and LA-2A thang'. I was never a 4050 fan for some reason. They always seemed a bit "odd" (?) in the midrange, kinda like there was a vail over certain frequencies. I kinda dig the original 414 better. I'm a fan of the U87 (original) but I agree about with you about it's effect tight miked on a cabinet. The 4038's are super but gotta save up to add that to the mic-locker! (ha, ha) Multiple mics is cool but you are right Phase is monster at times! (ha, ha) There's ways around it of course but you have to get familer with hearing things in phase verses outta phase first. (just my opinion) Mic pres make or break a guitar tone (or any tone for that matter) I like the older Never strips and the API lunch box is pretty kickin' too! The 4033's been around for a while now so I'm familer with it. You can't beat ir for the money! Try one of those Stedman's to when you get a chance. Trace

3/11/1999 8:05 AM

Trace

Warren;

NO...you don't have to pick one!! (ha, ha) I like the summit mic pre and LA-2A thang'. I was never a 4050 fan for some reason. They always seemed a bit "odd" (?) in the midrange, kinda like there was a vail over certain frequencies. I kinda dig the original 414 better.
I'm a fan of the U87 (original) but I agree about with you about it's effect tight miked on a cabinet. The 4038's are super but gotta save up to add that to the mic-locker! (ha, ha)
Multiple mics is cool but you are right Phase is monster at times! (ha, ha) There's ways around it of course but you have to get familer with hearing things in phase verses outta phase first. (just my opinion)
Mic pres make or break a guitar tone (or any tone for that matter) I like the older Never strips and the API lunch box is pretty kickin' too!
The 4033's been around for a while now so I'm familer with it. You can't beat ir for the money! Try one of those Stedman's to when you get a chance.

Trace

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