Gearslutz.com - View Single Post - Shure KSM141 vs Shure SM81 vs Gefell M70 on acoustic guitar

acmeman · 2nd January 2012

nice audio test I liked the way this was presented. so many shootouts have mics positioned anywhere with lots of room spill but this was more realistic.

All 3 mics sounded good to me, each one handled the three playing styles well.

SM81
I'd never heard the sm81 before and sounded smooth with a tame high end. On the finger picking notes it sounded, muffled? but nice by itself.
With the pick it sounded choked and a little dull. Still useable in the right context. I really liked how it handled the strumming and I could imagine
it fitting in a sparse mix as is. I'd buy it just for that. Sounded less full than the other 2 and I can imagine it would take eq well for fitting into a denser mix.

If I needed a smooth 70's tame strumming sound I'd reach for the sm81

Gefell m70 - Sounded full and rich with finger picking, lots of harmonics and rich tone with a pick. Strumming was great too more alive than the 81.

KSM141 - Didn't sound bad with fingers but not my fav. I would choose this one for its bright tone with a pick. Sounded brighter than the other two
strumming, still nice just different.

I f I had to give a word to describe each:

SM81 Subdued
M70 Rich
KSM141 Bright

I'd happily own all 3

Someone give this man more mics to test!

2nd January 2012	#25
acmeman Gear Head Joined: Jan 2011 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 31	nice audio test I liked the way this was presented. so many shootouts have mics positioned anywhere with lots of room spill but this was more realistic. All 3 mics sounded good to me, each one handled the three playing styles well. SM81 I'd never heard the sm81 before and sounded smooth with a tame high end. On the finger picking notes it sounded, muffled? but nice by itself. With the pick it sounded choked and a little dull. Still useable in the right context. I really liked how it handled the strumming and I could imagine it fitting in a sparse mix as is. I'd buy it just for that. Sounded less full than the other 2 and I can imagine it would take eq well for fitting into a denser mix. If I needed a smooth 70's tame strumming sound I'd reach for the sm81 Gefell m70 - Sounded full and rich with finger picking, lots of harmonics and rich tone with a pick. Strumming was great too more alive than the 81. KSM141 - Didn't sound bad with fingers but not my fav. I would choose this one for its bright tone with a pick. Sounded brighter than the other two strumming, still nice just different. I f I had to give a word to describe each: SM81 Subdued M70 Rich KSM141 Bright I'd happily own all 3 Someone give this man more mics to test! __________________ Give me a sunset over the water my breedlove acoustic and a beautiful woman to gaze at... heaven.