What's mics are you using on an Vox AC30?

[James Lugo]

I'm a new AC30 owner. I'm tracking in the morning, the rig is set up. Stereo split:

Marshall>121>TG Channel - 57>BAE312
Vox AC30>57>BAE312

I phased the mics tonight and got the basic sound. My concern is with the single 57 on the Vox. I know I hate a single 57 on my Marshall and I don't have another ribbon mic. I have to hit the ground running tomorrow, I've fallin' way behind. I don't have time to experiment.

I can go to GC in the morning and pick up a reasonable ribbon mic. I don't even know what they sell as far as ribbon mics. What's a good GC ribbon?

I own:
Soundelux E49
Soundelux U195
2 - Neumann KM84i SD Condesor Mics
Pearlman MT-1 Condenor Tube Mic
Shure SM7
Sennheiser e609 Mic
AKG D-112 Mic
Shure Beta 52
Shure Beta 57

What do you guys think? Again, I had the day from hell and I can't screw around in the morning with shooting out a bunch of mics. What would you choose? I'm looking for something that has more body than a 57 to compliment it.

[RACKMAN]

you ever use your d-112 for guitar? I find that you need just that instead of the 2 mic thing. To me it sounds like your ears are hearing it in the room.

[True North]

Just in the midst of tracking guitar now. I used a E609 (all black) in close and a U87 (your U195 will do) at about 2 feet away from the front of the cab (4 x 12). Once I got around the phase issues I found a blend of the two worked quite nicely. I heavily favoured the U87 to the close mic'd 609. I had the 609 pointed just off of the center of the cone.

Don't know if that helps but good luck anyways

[James Lugo]

thanks guys.

[alnico]

If you take a sec and use good placement, the SM7 can be great on that combo amp

[Meriphew]

I've been using a Royer R-121/Shure Beta 57 combo. Having the R-121 has helped me to round off a bit of the "bite". Before I had the R-121 I wasn't using the AC30 that much. I had been using a Blue Baby Bottle/Beta 57 combo, but it wasn't quite there.

[rlnyc]

probably too late for this session but you ought to have a beyer m160. for guitar cabs they are tony the tiger, even if you need to back em up a little to protect them. since they are a double ribbon hypercartioid, they have a nice tight pattern and will reject more room. one of the main mics for eddie kramer on jimi h's guitars, back before digital took over the world.

good luck with your session,
rlnyc

[Eric Greedy]

what kind of Guitar Part(s) are you cutting?
Big heavy semi modern stuff?
Or Jangling Beatles? etc.

If it's the former..just use the 57 and go for less voice coil..angle at 45 degrees and think more mid cone.

If it's the latter..try that U195

[SoZo]

57 works great...

you can mellow the crap out of it if you go towards the edge of the cone and like Eric says off angle.

[Scinx]

I have a botique AC-30ish sounding amp for which an RE-20 really excels. Slightly off center, off axis. Just a thought. I havent had a ton of success with the single 57 on it. I have used the SM7 + SM57 and that worked fine

[lucey]

I often record my AC-30 with an AEA R92 into a TG2 thumbsup

The R92 is very even and can go on the grille as a dynamic would. It takes eq like a dream and is honest to the amp.

[I Lurk]

Originally Posted by rlnyc

probably too late for this session but you ought to have a beyer m160. for guitar cabs they are tony the tiger,

Watch out for speaker excursions, m160 are ribbons, and fragile ones if you ask me.

MD421 are good as well on vox AC30


regards

[Jay Kahrs]

Try the Beta 52 on electric guitar sometime. Just jam it right up on the grille...

[Fibes]

Try micing the speaker from the back of the cabinet. Some of my best AC-30 tones come from there.

For some reason my 421s never work on AC-30s but the 57 and a 121 rocks.

[James Lugo]

I'm heading in, I'm going to try some of these ideas. You guys are cool, thanks for the tips.

What's the deal with micing from behind? Years ago when all I did was metal, we use to put a mic on the back of a 4X12, which I don't do anymore. Is it cool on a combo?

[Jay Kahrs]

Way cool.

Get your front mic where you need it and then stick a mic around the back and move it around until it gives up something usable. Flip the polarity because it's obviously out from the front mic, one's pushing & the others pulling. I almost always high pass the rear mic and sometimes compress it depending on the part and what we're going for.

[James Lugo]

will do

[Tone Laborer]

How did the session go?

I thought the U195 might have been my other choice. Skip the trip to the Band Joe Centre and SAVE.

Of course, I realize this violates a basic and sacred slut oath to spend.

That looked like a great set up for some egtr tracks, whatever the mic choice.

[mtstudios@charter]

try 57 in front 421 in back

www.bluethumbproductions.com

[borau]

Well I usually go for a Coles 4038 or beyer M160 on guit amps.

But lately I've been crazy in love with our Soundelux E47 in this application, just finished a record, where all the guitars are recorded like that, and it's seriously the best sounds I have ever gotten. (Moderatly loud and crunched country rock guitars)

A shame I never tried the U47 I used to have aviable in that application. Also there was this quite popular british band 40 years ago that had some succsess with the
AC-30/U47 combo.

So what I'm trying to say I guess, is try the PEARLMAN, or even the E49, and see what happens.

[Double Tones]

Hey, this is from a couple months ago now, but I am about to start recording my AC-30 and was wondering what you went with!? I've got a royer 122, as well as some usual dynamics....can't wait!

Peace

[drundall]

Yeah, I use 47's and the Pearlman works great on that too. I also like 67's but it depends on what sound you're going for.

Got that from Ken Scott, so if you like that sound, that's what they did.

[Sarusan]

KM-84s are awesome for amps. The 195 could also work well. The 609 is a worse than useless mic for guitar. All fizz, no body.

Royer, Coles, RCA, AEA and Beyer are going to be the only ribbons worth spending money on. I've heard some of the cheap chinese ones and although they're cool for lo-fi they aren't going to do much for electric guitar.

90% of the time it's an R121 and 57 (non-Beta) on guitar amps for me.

Steven

[davenutz]

try the 57 or the 609 in front, and the d112 or 52 in back.

[AdamJay]

Originally Posted by rlnyc

probably too late for this session but you ought to have a beyer m160. for guitar cabs they are tony the tiger, even if you need to back em up a little to protect them.

YES.

[Mike Caffrey]

Originally Posted by rlnyc

probably too late for this session but you ought to have a beyer m160. for guitar cabs they are tony the tiger, even if you need to back em up a little to protect them. since they are a double ribbon hypercartioid, they have a nice tight pattern and will reject more room. one of the main mics for eddie kramer on jimi h's guitars, back before digital took over the world.

good luck with your session,
rlnyc

I'll second that opinion. I do that combination with one particular artist all the time. Sounds great.

[Musiclab]

I found the U195 brought out a top end I didnt really love on my AC30.

[Lindell]

SHure SM7

[lucey]

Originally Posted by Musiclab

I found the U195 brought out a top end I didnt really love on my AC30.

ouch


The Josephson e22 is something we've used with the R92 to go effect on an AC30 ...

[lane thaw]

I'm tracking my AC30 right now, but damn, need to look on line for hum reduction solutions. Way too much, Anyone send theirs to Butler in CA for his upgrades?