Best Bang For Buck Mic' For Recording Acoustic... <$1000.00

[gainiac]

I'll start:

AKG C 460B.

Now, since I don't have one anymore and I'm looking for something else what would you guys recommend?

[Denyle_Guitars]

I'll go outside the box and say a 421mk2. I have a difficult to mic acoustic (read POS) and after trying all sorts of stuff from high end condensers on down, the 421 sounded best.

Or since you have a healthy budget, try a 441.

[mischultz]

Sennheiser MD441

Microtech Gefell M300

Audio Technica AT4051

Not in order, but three great ways to approach the task, depending on the instrument.

Michael

[onemind]

Blue Baby Bottle ... Buy Two!

[elambo]

Seems to me that you should be able to find a Neumann KM84 for under $1000, which will be tough to beat. Or a used Schoeps CMC6 series. Or look for a Peluso 22-47, which you could probably find for under $1000 (at one point they sold new for $1050 but are now $1500-$2000), which is remarkably close to a real U47.

I like the Gefell mics quite a bit.

I depends a bit on the guitar and the style. What kind of guitar? What style of music (and is it strummed or picked)?

[loudboy]

Used Neumannn KM-184 and a Used AKG 451 (old one.)

Two different, but VERY usable flavors.

Loudboy

[tms13pin]

If you're on a budget... SM81.

--Tom

[gainiac]

I'll go outside the box and say a 421mk2. I have a difficult to mic acoustic (read POS) and after trying all sorts of stuff from high end condensers on down, the 421 sounded best.

Or since you have a healthy budget, try a 441.

I got a 441!!!

I usually use that in front of the amp.

I'll try it.

(Doh!)

[gainiac]

I depends a bit on the guitar and the style. What kind of guitar? What style of music (and is it strummed or picked)?

Taylor 814CE. Rosewood/ Spruce, big wobbly bottom.

Strummed and picked with a pick. Not to much fingerstyle.

[gainiac]

Used Neumannn KM-184 and a Used AKG 451 (old one.)

Two different, but VERY usable flavors.

Loudboy

Thanks, A friend already recommened the 184.....How similiar is the 451 to the 460???

[gainiac]

Blue Baby Bottle ... Buy Two!

I've always wanted one just because......well...........

(They look cool!!!!)

Nice pricepoint on that one.

[elambo]

Taylor 814CE. Rosewood/ Spruce, big wobbly bottom.

Strummed and picked with a pick. Not to much fingerstyle.

Taylors are bright relative to many guitars (I even had an 814B for a while so I know that general sound) and some of these mics will only enhance the brightness, which isn't an asset in my opinion. A KM184 is great on strumming parts but might be too brittle sounding in the high-end for that guitar.

I'd still stand by my guns and recommend finding a used Neumann KM84 (vintageking.com or micshop.com has them for time to time) or a Gefell M300. Either of these will sound incredible for your guitar.

[loudboy]

Thanks, A friend already recommened the 184.....How similiar is the 451 to the 460???

460 is quieter, sounds a litle different in the mids. I use them interchangeably.

Loudboy

[billdurham]

Studio Projects C-1.... you could buy 4 or 5 for $1k

BD

[gainiac]

Folks,

Thank's a lot you've given me some great choices to mull over.

I'm going to try out a Baby Blue Bottle since I can get one at a no brainer price, I might end up ordering a Gefell from sweetwater as well to check it out. How does the Gefell compare with the KM84?

This Friday I'll be auditioning a few other pieces, AKG 451..KM84...and a minty U47 just to hear what a good one sounds like first hand....

[elambo]

Gefell will probably be as close to a real KM84 as you're going to find. They are the only company I know of still making the thin nickel diaphragms that helped make the KM54 such a legendary mic. Gefell is what's left of the original Neumann (new Neumann - not the same). I don't know their m300 personally, but I know people who own Gefells and swear that they are very close to the Neumanns, or certainly close enough.

[sears]

I just picked up a EV 635A for $40 that sounds the business for certain acoustic applications. It's actually better than the 441 sometimes.

But the safest is a small diaphragm condensor. I use the CM700 most of all.