Guitar Cab Mic -- $200.00 Budget

[sms7949]

What microphone would you recommend for a Soldona Guitar Half Stack. It has a very full and defined sound to it so, I would like to pick up the best mic for my budget. What about the Senheiser E906 (in comparison to other mics in this price range?)

[maskedman72]

for $200 you can get a sm57 and an e609 silver and you will be set.

[frans]

How about a Beyerdynamic M500 ribbon? For a ribbon it´s cheap (most come under 150 $ on Ebay) and it has a healthy output for a ribbon. I think they stopped making them in the 80´s but BeyerdynamicGermany still services them.

[sleep over jack]

sm57

[orange]

either

a sm57 and a good night out on the remaining cash

OR

a sm57 and a nady ribbon mic (or one of the shiny box ones)

[sms7949]

sorry, I should have said that I have an Sm-57 and no matter how I position it or tweak it I get a very muddy sound. I need something that has a very defined bottom end response, while maintaining the integrity of the mids and high. (of course as good as it can get for the budget)

[everybody's x]

Originally Posted by sms7949

sorry, I should have said that I have an Sm-57 and no matter how I position it or tweak it I get a very muddy sound. I need something that has a very defined bottom end response, while maintaining the integrity of the mids and high. (of course as good as it can get for the budget)

please dont take offense to this, but, if you cant get a decent guitar sound with a 57, it's either the amp settings or the mic placement. Now if you just don't like the sound of a 57 thats one thing, but if you can't capture it with it, then throwing more money at it aint going to help.
I'd practice getting it there with the 57 first and when you've got that down get a nice ribbon mic to compliment it.

[Fast420A]

Originally Posted by sms7949

sorry, I should have said that I have an Sm-57 and no matter how I position it or tweak it I get a very muddy sound. I need something that has a very defined bottom end response, while maintaining the integrity of the mids and high. (of course as good as it can get for the budget)

EV N/D468

It's good down to 30Hz and can be setup in many number of positions. It also works well with Horns and drums.

[mindbend]

I have a soldano hotrod 100+XL halfstack, and I use a beyerdynamic M88TG with a great river ME-1NV and it rocks. You can probably pickup a M88 off of ebay for around $200.

[mrface2112]

Originally Posted by everybody's x

please dont take offense to this, but, if you cant get a decent guitar sound with a 57, it's either the amp settings or the mic placement.

+1 to that. it's either that, or it's the room the amp's in.


does the amp sound good in the room? if you can find a spot where the amp sounds good to your ears, put the mic where your ears are. :-D


cheers,
wade

I'd practice getting it there with the 57 first and when you've got that down get a nice ribbon mic to compliment it.

i'd probably second that, but if ya don't feel like being patient and you want to barely squeeze in under $200 I'd suggest the A-51S. Or you could save a little more and move up a notch to an AT4047.

But the ADK ain't a bad mic...

http://www.frontendaudio.com/ADK_A_5...one_p/1008.htm

[Sounds Great]

Originally Posted by jordan19

Or you could save a little more and move up a notch to an AT4047.

That's what I am using on my guitar cabinet now. thumbsup

[retropete]

I've got a Soldano pre going into a VHT 50/50 that I use a lot. I often reach for the Sennheiser MD421 first. Used, that's roughly in that price range. I find it's less boxy than the 57.

[drummin4christ]

I use a 57 and a AKG C1000 into API's and it sounds great! The C1000 has great high end that compliments the 57 very well. I would have never tried the combo, but I read a review in TapeOp that spoke very highly of the C1000/API combo.

[sms7949]

What do you all think about the Groove Tubes GT55 ?(it is a little out of budget, but possibly in budget if used)

[pan60]

just snagged this on ebay today & 26.00 it will go good with they others.
these things do sound good on a cab.

[pan60]

sorry it is a ev-re16

[sms7949]

Originally Posted by everybody's x
please dont take offense to this, but, if you cant get a decent guitar sound with a 57, it's either the amp settings or the mic placement.

I will relook at the 57, but it seems that I have come across many people who are getting a muddy sound out of the mic...I will take your suggestion to find a sweet spot for the mic (by the way the amps sounds amazing in my room.)

So there seems to be a number of people suggesting a single condensor Mic, and others suggesting a combo of a dynamic/condensor (one for close placement/ one for room dynamics) for the guitar cab.

If I invest my money in to something like the Audio-Technica AT4047/SV how would you suggest placing the mic. From what I've heard, certain mics are made to withstand a louder instrument. My amp really starts showing it's tone when it is farily cranked up. Could that possible damage a condensor?

Aren't condensors made to pick up higher frequencies??? so for the single condensor set up.....how will it perform at picking up the bottom end of my guitar set up?

[joeq]

the beyer m260 ribbon is a kick-ass guitar mic. I don't know what it is about ribbons and guitar cabs, but I really love the combination. It will come out sounding like what your amp sounds like. Its about $350 but if you could find a used one you could probably squeeze it into your budget....

[everybody's x]

dfegad shit bstd keyboard

[sms7949]

to tag on to my questions above:

I have researced ribbon microphone design online, and many souces say that they are no good to use in a situation where there is a loud audio source pushing a lot of air. I am thinking that this would make the design not suitible for micing a guitar cab that is cranked up.

[orange]

shouldn't be a problem...just check the max SPL rating....loud audio doesn't cause a breeze.

if you are nervous then use a pop shield.

si

[audioalchemy]

It might be a bit over $200 but you could probably find a used one pretty cheap, but my personal fav is the Sennheiser MD421. It's a classic that is an update of the even more classic 441. It's a front address mic with a 5 position bass rolloff switch. I love it on guitar cabs. I usually combine that with a 57 or i5 close miked and a LDC about 3 to 6 feet back. It sounds killer, even through crap pres.

IMHO you should go for a 421.

AudioAlchemy

[aussie_techie]

work with the sm57, if you cant get a decent sound then you have other problems. you could move up to a beta57, it has the love of the sm57 but better low end responce, and a bit more detailed.

[Junkie]

SM57!

[Greg B]

Originally Posted by sms7949

If I invest my money in to something like the Audio-Technica AT4047/SV how would you suggest placing the mic. From what I've heard, certain mics are made to withstand a louder instrument. My amp really starts showing it's tone when it is farily cranked up. Could that possible damage a condensor?

Yes, loud amps can damage sensitive condenser and ribbon mics. Many mics, like the A-51S mentioned earlier, have pads that allow for higher SPLs. The "S" in A-51S stands for SPL.

Originally Posted by sms7949

Aren't condensors made to pick up higher frequencies??? so for the single condensor set up.....how will it perform at picking up the bottom end of my guitar set up?

Most condensers pick up both the high and low frequencies more accurately than an SM57. It's the boosted mids and rolled off highs in the SM57 that some regard as "fat", and others call "muddy". I think it's both. It can be great, or not.

One reason many folks think condensers don't have much low-end is because so many people use them as room mics a few feet back. Try placing an SM57 5 feet away from your amp and see how much low end you get. If you put a directional (cardioid or figure-8 pattern) mic very close to the cab, you'll get more bass. This "bass proximity effect" can be an alternative to EQ. Closer=bassy/thicker, Farther=thinner. Of course as you get farther back, you'll also hear the sound of your room more....which can be good, or not.