Mandolin/Pedal Steel Mic and Mic Pre Setups

Staycenator · 2nd November 2005

Hi guys. I was wondering what your favorite mics were to use on pedal steel and mandolin, specifically in country music?

Chuck Ainlay · 6th November 2005

Seeing as how I'm the country music guy of META, I guess I'm best qualified to answer your question. Steel guitar in Nashville has no rivals and Paul Franklin would probably be considered the best in town, at least the most versitile. With Paul's rack of outboard gear, driving a pair of speakers I always mic his steel with a pair of Sennheiser 421's. Dan Dougmore uses a single combo amp which sounds best micing it with a Shure 57. I've tried lots of other mics but always go back to these two mics.

For Mandolin, I usually use a Royer 121 at the f hole and a Neumann Km 184 pointing down at the strings, where the musician is strumming, from about a foot or so above and out.

David R. · 7th November 2005

Thanks Chuck. For the mandolin, do you pan the mics or combine? If you combine, do you usually use more body or neck?

Chuck Ainlay · 10th November 2005

just what ever sounds good. depends on the song

theblue1 · 11th November 2005

What do you like on fiddles, Chuck?

What kind of strings do most of the Nashville guys use, gut, steel...?

I've heard of guys setting up a bi-directional mic between twin fiddles or using M/S stereo miking... thoughts?

tedpenn · 15th November 2005

Can I second the question about recording fiddles in Nashville?- I'm curious too...

Chuck Ainlay · 16th November 2005

I'm tracking with Stuart Duncan beginning Thursday and I'll get back to you about the strings after that. As for micing mostly I use an AKG C12 on fiddles although I'm really into DPA's 4041-ta, large diaphram tube mic as well. I always individually mic fiddles.

tedpenn · 29th November 2005

...Would love to know what you ended up using whenever you get a sec.

Thanks!

2nd November 2005	#1
Staycenator Gear Head Joined: Jan 2005 Location: Palmdale, Ca Posts: 37 Thread Starter	Mandolin/Pedal Steel Mic and Mic Pre Setups Hi guys. I was wondering what your favorite mics were to use on pedal steel and mandolin, specifically in country music? __________________ "That's what I love about you Harry. You're just a regular guy"

6th November 2005	#2
Chuck Ainlay Gear interested Joined: Oct 2005 Location: Nashville Posts: 22	country micing Seeing as how I'm the country music guy of META, I guess I'm best qualified to answer your question. Steel guitar in Nashville has no rivals and Paul Franklin would probably be considered the best in town, at least the most versitile. With Paul's rack of outboard gear, driving a pair of speakers I always mic his steel with a pair of Sennheiser 421's. Dan Dougmore uses a single combo amp which sounds best micing it with a Shure 57. I've tried lots of other mics but always go back to these two mics. For Mandolin, I usually use a Royer 121 at the f hole and a Neumann Km 184 pointing down at the strings, where the musician is strumming, from about a foot or so above and out.

7th November 2005	#3
David R. Lives for gear Joined: Jun 2002 Location: I left my heart, in... Posts: 1,881	Thanks Chuck. For the mandolin, do you pan the mics or combine? If you combine, do you usually use more body or neck? __________________ -David R. "An intellectual says a simple thing in a hard way. An artist says a hard thing in a simple way." - C. Bukowski

11th November 2005	#5
theblue1 Gear Guru Joined: Mar 2005 Location: Long Beach, CA Posts: 15,095	What do you like on fiddles, Chuck? What kind of strings do most of the Nashville guys use, gut, steel...? I've heard of guys setting up a bi-directional mic between twin fiddles or using M/S stereo miking... thoughts? __________________ day job \| A Year of Songs \| music and social stuff \| mutant pop on facebook \| roots acoustic on facebook

15th November 2005	#6
tedpenn Gear addict Joined: Oct 2005 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 359	fiddles Can I second the question about recording fiddles in Nashville?- I'm curious too...

10th November 2005	#4
Chuck Ainlay Gear interested Joined: Oct 2005 Location: Nashville Posts: 22	just what ever sounds good. depends on the song

16th November 2005	#7
Chuck Ainlay Gear interested Joined: Oct 2005 Location: Nashville Posts: 22	I'm tracking with Stuart Duncan beginning Thursday and I'll get back to you about the strings after that. As for micing mostly I use an AKG C12 on fiddles although I'm really into DPA's 4041-ta, large diaphram tube mic as well. I always individually mic fiddles.

29th November 2005	#8
tedpenn Gear addict Joined: Oct 2005 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 359	...Would love to know what you ended up using whenever you get a sec. Thanks!

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