Favorite Mic For Nylon String?

oceantracks · 5th March 2006, 07:07 AM

Like the SM57 on electric guitar amps, is there some kind classic standard used for recording nylon string guitar? I'm talking nylon string in pop or easy listening context, not so much a solo nylon string player doing a classical guitar album, which might require something different because it isn't cutting through the mix.

Thanks
TH

Matt Grondin · 5th March 2006, 07:17 AM

I tried using my typical acoustic setup of condensers on the neck and soundhole but it was too bright. On the other hand, it was a shitty Ibanez nylon. However, when I put a Royer R121 right up close to the soundhole, it was very sweet and sounded like a much nicer guitar. So in conclusion.... ribbons + nylon strings=sweet guitar sounds.

oceantracks · 5th March 2006, 07:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dobby12

I tried using my typical acoustic setup of condensers on the neck and soundhole but it was too bright. On the other hand, it was a shitty Ibanez nylon. However, when I put a Royer R121 right up close to the soundhole, it was very sweet and sounded like a much nicer guitar. So in conclusion.... ribbons + nylon strings=sweet guitar sounds.

That's good to know... I also need to pick a mic that's great for pop electric..and the 121 does that...kill two birds and all that!

TH

u b k · 5th March 2006, 08:04 AM

no question for me: josephson c22-s. snare, agt, whatever. amazing mic.

gregoire
del ubik

DigitMus · 5th March 2006, 07:32 PM

For me the Microtech Gefell M295 is unbeatable - either a single or stereo pair. In the past I tried SF-12, R84, e22s, KM184, QTC-1s, M149 and seveal others. Got decent results with many of them, but the M295s just stood out as "best" to my ears. A good room helps; it plays a bigger part in getting the tone than some people seem to think...

Scott

ISedlacek · 5th March 2006, 07:45 PM

A pair of Schoeps MK4V ...

echorec · 6th March 2006, 01:38 AM

A pair of Schoeps M221B ...

Steve G · 7th March 2006, 07:53 PM

C-12 - Neve 1073 - great player with great instrument

Steve

brucegel · 7th March 2006, 09:06 PM

Give me one hour of recording in a great church in europe with that man and NO ONE HERE WOULD HAVE THE SLIGHTEST INTEREST IN WHAT MIC WAS USED.

Ollie · 7th March 2006, 10:17 PM

I have used a Neumann KM264 tube mic with great results.

u b k · 8th March 2006, 06:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brucegel

Give me one hour of recording in a great church in europe with that man and NO ONE HERE WOULD HAVE THE SLIGHTEST INTEREST IN WHAT MIC WAS USED.

YES WE WOULD

.

gregoire
del ubik

brucegel · 10th March 2006, 04:05 PM

Jim Williams · 10th March 2006, 06:58 PM

Transformer removed AKG 460B. Sounds like what I hear when I play, that's all I ever wanted, nothing more, nothing less.

Jim Williams
Audio Upgrades

Boby Stoica · 10th March 2006, 08:28 PM

a bit off topic - Jim, what about the newer AKG C480 - your sugestion can aply on it?
Thanks.

wwittman · 10th March 2006, 10:09 PM

neve1073 · 10th March 2006, 10:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by echorec

A pair of Schoeps M221B ...

DHD · 10th March 2006, 10:37 PM

Hi Oceantracks

I use a dynamic mic that is below the ordinary SM58 in the shure mic range! It sounds amazing!LOL. Position it right and it thickens the attack and makes it toneful. I dsiscovered it by total accident. Lively, warm and toneful.

It doesn't work for steel stung acoustic though. much too thick and plunky.

Peace,
DHD

u b k · 11th March 2006, 03:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DHD

I use a dynamic mic that is below the ordinary SM58 in the shure mic range! It sounds amazing!LOL. Position it right and it thickens the attack and makes it toneful.

and the mic in question is...???

gregoire
del ubik

Killahurts · 11th March 2006, 04:09 PM

You guys are gonna laugh, but my Pearlman TM1 sounds absolutely sick on my nylons.

(and no jokes concerning my nylons, please)

Mine has the high cut switch, which for this application is left off.

Guess it wouldn't do for some the purist/ classical guys out there, but I love what I hear.

I also have a pair of EW SR77's into an EW pre that work well for this, or if omni is do-able, maybe one or a pair of QTC1's.

But the Pearlman is so....well, flattering - it's hard not to go to it when the sound needs to be up close and personal.

TanTan · 11th March 2006, 04:33 PM

Lawson L47

Riad · 11th March 2006, 05:12 PM

I did a very short Nylon String Guitar test with here:

http://www.gearslutz.com/board/showthread.php3?t=61870

rwhitney · 11th March 2006, 11:12 PM

For clear and bright I've really liked the Josephson c22s on nylon.

For thick and "pop-music" sweet, the M149 w/Fearn pre.

Rick Sutton · 11th March 2006, 11:19 PM

For me it's Tele 47 with Tab-Funkenwerk V72S pre. If I used compressor it would be Aphex Compellor followed by something tighter (only if neccesary in context of mix).

DHD · 12th March 2006, 01:40 AM

Hi Ubik

it's a Shure Prologue 12L low Z.

Peace,
DHD

rwhitney · 12th March 2006, 03:44 AM

Oops. I meant Josephson _C42s_ for clear and bright nylon string guitar. (Not c22s, which I don't even think exist, as stated in my pevious post.)

beats workin' · 12th March 2006, 05:04 AM

i'm surprised to be only the second person in favor of a 47( not too close!). puts you right there.
other than that a 121 is a great choice. and cheaper....
pre is key. i wouldn't use an api- type. too forward. rather use something clean, but still warm.
david lawrence

mpr3 · 12th March 2006, 05:19 AM

m160 among others

Jim Williams · 14th March 2006, 04:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boby Stoica

a bit off topic - Jim, what about the newer AKG C480 - your sugestion can aply on it?
Thanks.

I don't care for it. The design was done well, but.... it's the same old surface mount parts problems again, like Neumann/Sennheiser. I would rather use a fixed up AKG451.

Jim Williams
Audio Upgrades

massimo · 14th March 2006, 05:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick Sutton

For me it's Tele 47 with Tab-Funkenwerk V72S pre. If I used compressor it would be Aphex Compellor followed by something tighter (only if neccesary in context of mix).

Rick,
I am curious about the TAB v72s with nylon string guitar.
Classical music or what? Clean enough? Use with other microphones?
Thank you
best regards
Massimo

Beech · 14th March 2006, 05:17 PM

I'd normally go for a DPA 4011 first but because they were on the piano on a session I was doing the other day, I decided to put up a U87Ai and a R122. I spent some time with cans on moving the mics around and changing from omni to cardioid on the 87(I settled on cardioid). I recorded both through GML pres and had a listen back this morning. Both mics needed eq. The Royer with the usual high pass filter and the 87 needed a little filtering in the 3k area. Both sounded pretty good although I'd love to hear a Coles 4040 in this application some day.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Favorite mic pre for steel string acoustic???	araw	So much gear, so little time!	35	16th August 2006 01:34 AM
classical nylon string guit.-best way to record?	gem	So much gear, so little time!	1	13th January 2006 05:15 PM
recommend mic to make nylon string more present?	u b k	High end	13	1st December 2005 01:08 AM
Tracking - nylon string acoustic guitar in church	eyesore	Work in progress / advice requested / Show & Tell / Artist showcase	28	29th June 2005 07:24 PM
friend wants me to record nylon string but i have never done this	tom evans	So much gear, so little time!	5	20th March 2004 05:52 AM

5th March 2006, 07:07 AM	#1
oceantracks Lives for gear Join Date: May 2004 Location: Boca Raton FL Posts: 978	Favorite Mic For Nylon String? Like the SM57 on electric guitar amps, is there some kind classic standard used for recording nylon string guitar? I'm talking nylon string in pop or easy listening context, not so much a solo nylon string player doing a classical guitar album, which might require something different because it isn't cutting through the mix. Thanks TH

5th March 2006, 07:17 AM	#2
Matt Grondin Lives for gear Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Jacksonville Beach, FL Posts: 1,108	I tried using my typical acoustic setup of condensers on the neck and soundhole but it was too bright. On the other hand, it was a shitty Ibanez nylon. However, when I put a Royer R121 right up close to the soundhole, it was very sweet and sounded like a much nicer guitar. So in conclusion.... ribbons + nylon strings=sweet guitar sounds. __________________ Matt Grondin http://www.myspace.com/incamaya http://www.inca-maya.com

5th March 2006, 07:45 PM	#6
ISedlacek Lives for gear Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Czech mountains and forests Posts: 2,871	A pair of Schoeps MK4V ... __________________ Ivo Velvet Mastering Savita Music

7th March 2006, 09:06 PM	#9
brucegel Gear addict Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 362	MANUEL BARRUECO Give me one hour of recording in a great church in europe with that man and NO ONE HERE WOULD HAVE THE SLIGHTEST INTEREST IN WHAT MIC WAS USED.

5th March 2006, 08:04 AM	#4
u b k Lives for gear Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: m a n h a t t a n Posts: 5,535	no question for me: josephson c22-s. snare, agt, whatever. amazing mic. gregoire del ubik

5th March 2006, 07:32 PM	#5
DigitMus Lives for gear Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: SouthWest Florida Posts: 504	For me the Microtech Gefell M295 is unbeatable - either a single or stereo pair. In the past I tried SF-12, R84, e22s, KM184, QTC-1s, M149 and seveal others. Got decent results with many of them, but the M295s just stood out as "best" to my ears. A good room helps; it plays a bigger part in getting the tone than some people seem to think... Scott

6th March 2006, 01:38 AM	#7
echorec Lives for gear Join Date: May 2003 Location: Europe Posts: 966	A pair of Schoeps M221B ...

7th March 2006, 07:53 PM	#8
Steve G Gear maniac Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: LA Posts: 219	C-12 - Neve 1073 - great player with great instrument Steve

7th March 2006, 10:17 PM	#10
Ollie Lives for gear Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Chicago Posts: 748	I have used a Neumann KM264 tube mic with great results.

10th March 2006, 04:05 PM	#12
brucegel Gear addict Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 362	THENYOU IS CWAAAZY.

10th March 2006, 06:58 PM	#13
Jim Williams Lives for gear Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: beautiful Carlsbad, CA Posts: 4,256	Transformer removed AKG 460B. Sounds like what I hear when I play, that's all I ever wanted, nothing more, nothing less. Jim Williams Audio Upgrades

10th March 2006, 08:28 PM	#14
Boby Stoica Gear maniac Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Bucharest, Romania Posts: 281	a bit off topic - Jim, what about the newer AKG C480 - your sugestion can aply on it? Thanks.

10th March 2006, 10:09 PM	#15
wwittman Lives for gear Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: New York Posts: 1,598	U-87 __________________ William Wittman Producer/Engineer (Cyndi Lauper, Joan Osborne, The Fixx, The Outfield...)

10th March 2006, 10:37 PM	#17
DHD Gear nut Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Melbourne Australia Posts: 82	Hi Oceantracks I use a dynamic mic that is below the ordinary SM58 in the shure mic range! It sounds amazing!LOL. Position it right and it thickens the attack and makes it toneful. I dsiscovered it by total accident. Lively, warm and toneful. It doesn't work for steel stung acoustic though. much too thick and plunky. Peace, DHD

11th March 2006, 04:09 PM	#19
Killahurts Lives for gear Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: USA Posts: 1,310	You guys are gonna laugh, but my Pearlman TM1 sounds absolutely sick on my nylons. (and no jokes concerning my nylons, please) Mine has the high cut switch, which for this application is left off. Guess it wouldn't do for some the purist/ classical guys out there, but I love what I hear. I also have a pair of EW SR77's into an EW pre that work well for this, or if omni is do-able, maybe one or a pair of QTC1's. But the Pearlman is so....well, flattering - it's hard not to go to it when the sound needs to be up close and personal. __________________ 1310 is as good a number as any

11th March 2006, 04:33 PM	#20
TanTan Lives for gear Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Israel Posts: 712	Lawson L47

11th March 2006, 05:12 PM	#21
Riad Lives for gear Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Monroe, NY Posts: 1,081	I did a very short Nylon String Guitar test with here: http://www.gearslutz.com/board/showthread.php3?t=61870 __________________ www.carvelstudios.com "I like my women the way I like my scotch, 20 years old and mix up in coke."

11th March 2006, 11:12 PM	#22
rwhitney Lives for gear Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Irvine, CA Posts: 884	For clear and bright I've really liked the Josephson c22s on nylon. For thick and "pop-music" sweet, the M149 w/Fearn pre. __________________ Ross Whitney (non-professional) rwhitney@uci.edu

11th March 2006, 11:19 PM	#23
Rick Sutton Lives for gear Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Atascadero, CA Posts: 1,841	For me it's Tele 47 with Tab-Funkenwerk V72S pre. If I used compressor it would be Aphex Compellor followed by something tighter (only if neccesary in context of mix).

12th March 2006, 01:40 AM	#24
DHD Gear nut Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Melbourne Australia Posts: 82	Hi Ubik it's a Shure Prologue 12L low Z. Peace, DHD

12th March 2006, 03:44 AM	#25
rwhitney Lives for gear Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Irvine, CA Posts: 884	Oops. I meant Josephson _C42s_ for clear and bright nylon string guitar. (Not c22s, which I don't even think exist, as stated in my pevious post.) __________________ Ross Whitney (non-professional) rwhitney@uci.edu

12th March 2006, 05:04 AM	#26
beats workin' Gear addict Join Date: May 2004 Location: New York City Posts: 479	i'm surprised to be only the second person in favor of a 47( not too close!). puts you right there. other than that a 121 is a great choice. and cheaper.... pre is key. i wouldn't use an api- type. too forward. rather use something clean, but still warm. david lawrence

12th March 2006, 05:19 AM	#27
mpr3 Gear addict Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: San Clemente, CA Posts: 333	m160 among others

14th March 2006, 05:17 PM	#30
Beech Lives for gear Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Dublin Posts: 636	I'd normally go for a DPA 4011 first but because they were on the piano on a session I was doing the other day, I decided to put up a U87Ai and a R122. I spent some time with cans on moving the mics around and changing from omni to cardioid on the 87(I settled on cardioid). I recorded both through GML pres and had a listen back this morning. Both mics needed eq. The Royer with the usual high pass filter and the 87 needed a little filtering in the 3k area. Both sounded pretty good although I'd love to hear a Coles 4040 in this application some day.

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Display Modes	Rate This Thread
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode	Rate This Thread: