half decent mic for micing guitar that wont make me go broke

[BenB1989]

any ideas?

[E-Rock]

Not to be one of those dudes, but....
57

[mindseye]

Used 57 or 609!

[mindseye]

Here ya go......
http://www.thegearpage.net/board/showthread.php?t=476273

[Jan Folkson]

Used 57 or 609!

Blech and meh...

How much can you spend before you go broke? What's the rest of your chain like?

[LSchefman]

I've used 57s to record guitar for a very long time, and they're still my favorites for guitar.

I've used all the usual suspects, the Royers, the R84s, Neumanns, etc., etc., etc.

I still like 57s.

I do like a condenser on a Vox AC30, if it's one with a dark high end.

[powermatt99]

Heil PR30

Blows away the Beta57s and SM57s I had been using.

[elambo]

Another vote for a 57. Not the BEST guitar cab mic, but certainly the most popular, and at the same time one of the cheapest.

[Guitarplayerdan]

id say get a e609, it seems like I spend less time placing (with it compared to a 57) and more time playing. I started to use one because its so standard and then relize i have to work hard for a good sound so I say whats the point. Sometimes I can get a good sound from just a 609 but always have to pair a 57 with something.

[rob2001]

A 57 gets most of my tracks but I dig an Audix I5 at times. Yes the 57 can be finiky with placement but I see that as more variation in tones.

[tooold]

What are you trying to do with your guitar sound? 57's are cheap, they don't break, and they're the standard - they've been used for so long, they're a part of what people think of when they think of guitar sounds. Good guitar, good amp, good player, a 57 with a good pre and a little of a good comp, and, presto, good sound. All those elements are important, the good comp being the optional one, but just barely. So, if your guitar sound isn't making it, check the entire list, not just the microphone.

[SideBMusic]

It's interesting how many of you mentioned the 57. I did my research and had been trying many different possibilities, had thought my condenser mic was the way to go. But it wasn't right somehow, no matter what I did. So, I switched to the 57, turned off my software effects and... there it was, the sound I wanted. I realize there are better mics, but had to make it work with what I had for now. I may wind up changing things some when it comes to the mixing, but the basic sound is there without the boominess on the low end or tinny sound on the high end. This thread was somewhat of a confirmation of where I arrived.

[devinb]

I've used 57's in some pretty high end studios with a lot of options. No need to over-think it.

[meterman]

spend a few bucks more and get the e906, I'm pretty impressed with mine. Supposed to be less bright than the 609. I find the 906 sounds similar if not better than my 57 and is easier to position

[snacker]

+1 for the e906 - mine sounds great!

[elambo]

I did my research and had been trying many different possibilities, had thought my condenser mic was the way to go. But it wasn't right somehow, no matter what I did.

Dynamics and ribbons have a tendency to play best with gtr cabs. Condensers can be nice, but I've only been happy with them for low-gain clean tones, or as room mics at a distance.

Good to see the 57 is working out for you now. We've been programmed to expect that type of recorded tone from our guitars for decades and anything else (most of the time anyway) is just not right to our ears.

Modern recordings are slowly changing that paradigm. I hear a lot of albums with non-57 tones. There are a lot more ribbon-esque tones hitting the airwaves - they're a bit more hi-fi. I assume that's partly because the Royer 121 has become so popular.

[LSchefman]

Not that I want to discourage anyone from experimenting when I recommend a 57; but it's a great place to start.

No matter what you use, however, with a guitar amp you'll need a mic preamp with good headroom. Doesn't have to be expensive. There are mic preamps that come with audio interfaces and inexpensive mixers that are ok for the job.

I also find that the UA 610 tube preamp is a very nice preamp for electric guitar at a reasonable price, if you want to invest a few more bux. This because you can achieve additional girth if you want it, or run it clean, and it seems to have enough headroom for even loud cabs without causing problems.

It also works well for vocals, has a nice direct instrument input, and is many an engineer's first choice for several applications.

[Dale]

Heil PR30

Blows away the Beta57s and SM57s I had been using.

I am no pro. I like PR-30 and a cheap room condenser (mxl 990). I use a sm57 as well.

[altruistic8]

Shure 57 are the standard go to mic for guitar cabs, there great for live and for recording they will work pretty good also, even major studios use 57's. Audix I-5 is also a popular alternative. Personally my favorite mic for guitar cabs is Beyerdynamic 201 they go for about $300, if your willing to spend this it would definately be worth trying out. It seems a bit more "focused and articulate" than 57's. The AKG 609 are also pretty good but there a little bright sounding for my taste.

[mgrier1]

Shure 57 are the standard go to mic for guitar cabs, there great for live and for recording they will work pretty good also, even major studios use 57's. Audix I-5 is also a popular alternative. Personally my favorite mic for guitar cabs is Beyerdynamic 201 they go for about $300, if your willing to spend this it would definately be worth trying out. It seems a bit more "focused and articulate" than 57's. The AKG 609 are also pretty good but there a little bright sounding for my taste.

+1 :RoCkIn

as discussed in that other thread, 201 is well worth the money... Also excellent on snare & rack toms...

Beyerdynamic makes great mics...

Best,

Mike

[aram]

i've been using a heil pr30 lately and it's amazing.

that combined with a 57 or beyer m130 and it's da bomb!

[meterman]

i've been using a heil pr30 lately and it's amazing.



Anybody know how the pr30 compares to the Shure SM7b? the descriptions are somewhat similar....I've been looking at the SM7b mostly for vocals and also maybe guitars but the pr30 is $100 less....

[fr8_trane]

Maybe you need a really expensive mic pre and tape saturation to get good sounds out of a 57 but with my rig I find them harsh and unpleasant. I've a/b'd them on guitar and snare and they always sound broken to me in comparison to other mics. That high mid peak just comes across as hash to my ears.

I have a beyer M-500 which I had re-ribboned and it just smokes the 57 for dirty and clean guitar.

I am seriously looking into other more modern, inexpensive ribbons (fathead, etc.) as a compliment or even a replacement for the beyer. IMO Ribbons just seem to be very complimentary to bright (verging on harsh) midrange instrument like guitar, horns and strings.

[Somniferous]

Sure 57 for most things, Senheiser 421 if I'm looking for a darker sound.

[kludge]

I assume you mean electric guitar?

A $100 SM57 plus a $500 quality preamp (RNP, Grace, etc) will sound better than a $500 mic on a $100 mixer. Beyond that kind of money, preamps just get to be about flavors and nitpicking, but the difference from Behringer mixer crap to a real quality preamp is phenomenal.

The RNP is nice because it gives you two preamp channels, opening up two-mic techniques. Try that $100 SM57 with a $100 cheapo ribbon, both through a RNP. Killer, killer sounds. Or use two different amps with different mics. A couple of cheap mics will give you more flexibility than one expensive mic.