Best Acoustic Guitar Mic

[Mr.HOLMES]

Originally Posted by Meriphew

I think the 184 is a decent mic. Not stellar or extraordinary - just decent. For the money I'd look into some other mics first.

I never heard such a crap!!!!dfegad
Neumann-Engineers would CRY if they read that comment.... after years of research and since they have done to build the KM 184

[mdjice]

I'm very happy with my C414 ULS and my avalon 737. Wors wonders on accoustic

[Larry Villella]

If you'd asked me 15 years ago, my D-41 would be tracked with a U-87 and a KM-84.

If you asked me today, I'd have a whole different set of questions before I could answer:

1) Nylon or Steel String
2) Multi-Node Taylor, or easier to record Gibson / Martin
3) Front of the Mix Acoustic-Lead, or Background Strumming.

The One-Size-Fits-All Acoustic Guitar Mic Technique is questionable.

My Ramirez likes one thing, my '39 0018 likes another. D-41 yet another.

My 2 cents worth with Zero Plugs for ADK Gear. . . .



Larry Villella, Guitar Collector and Mic Maniac

[Bruno5150]

i had great results with both akg c 4000b, and neumman tlm 103 on the acst. guitar.. but it was a nylon strings one, since i´m a classical guitar player! cheers

[anguswoodhead]

Originally Posted by Mr.HOLMES

I never heard such a crap!!!!dfegad
Neumann-Engineers would CRY if they read that comment.... after years of research and since they have done to build the KM 184

Sorry to be a pain in the ass - but does that mean that just because a manufacturer puts years into research etc. on a product that we should revere it and treat it as a gem?

Sorry but a piece of eqpt. becomes legendary because of it's sonic performance etc. not because of the years of R&D that has been done.

I notice you come from Germany so just perhaps you are very attached to the Neumann brand ????

Not trying to pick a fight - just stating a fact.

Cheers

[dick swifter]

I gotten some really nice AC gtr tones with a Geffel M930 or MA KM69 close and a Lawson 251 out a bit. Very versatile. (Although the KM69 is a bit too noisy to use for soft fingerstyle IMO)

[Meriphew]

Originally Posted by Mr.HOLMES

I never heard such a crap!!!!dfegad
Neumann-Engineers would CRY if they read that comment.... after years of research and since they have done to build the KM 184

One man's trash is another man's treasure.

[Gdim]

Originally Posted by Larry Villella

If you asked me today, I'd have a whole different set of questions before I could answer:

1) Nylon....
3) Front of the Mix Acoustic-Lead....


My Ramirez likes one thing....

What would your Ramirez like if 3) applies?

[Larry Villella]

What Mic Loves My 1971 Ramirez?

Without hesitation, the TL-AU-V with GK-12 Capsule.

That is - a 4 polar-pattern ADK TL with upgraded Aussie-Design Capsule.

About $700 (Street).

Cheers!

Larry Villella - ADK)))

ADKMIC.com

Myspace.com/adkmic

Myspace.com/adkusers

[donsimpson]

Originally Posted by danbronson

I've loved every recording I've heard of an acoustic with an AKG 414.

+1 for 414 on acoustic. Great on body or on neck.

[inthere]

Modified Oktava 319 going into a Groove Tubes Brick is good livin for acoustic guitar................

[Meriphew]

Anyone using a Josephson e22s on acoustic guitar? If so, how do you like it?

[Track 7]

I've tested 12 mics on acoustic guitar and my fav top 3 are as follows in order of preference:

#1 Peluso CEMC6

#2 AT4047

#3 KSM32

[gehauser]

In the $600 range, I like the Peluso CEMC6 pair ($650) and SM81 pair ($700). I use the SM81s for flatpicked acoustic guitar, and the CEMC6sfor fingerpicked and strummed acoustic guitar. CEMC6s are a little bright for flatpickers IMHO, and the SM81s are smoother in that regard, also SM81s have more punch. The CEMC6s excel in clarity and detail on fingerpicking and strumming. Listen to Larry Jacobsen's fine fingerpicking on "Prayer for Noah" to hear the CEMC6s in action (recorded into a Zoom H4, no less).

[aleatoric]

joly modded oktava mk012's sound great on acoustic guitar.

[Mike Jasper]

No love for the Gefell M300? I also like the UM70/NV692 combo on acoustic guitar.

[Gaston69]

a pair of B&K 4006

or

a pair of DPA4060

in an A-B setup.

Listen to my audio samples on Acoustic Music Recordings

[timray]

One of my favorite subjects! Not a pro engineer, but have played a long time and done a bunch of recordings, many of which pro.

I’ll talk about steel string, finger picking, fingernails but no picks, and styles from Travis to Taylor with chordings, so ‘plucking’. You need a quiet room, because if you get the mic(s) in too close there is proximity effect, or booming, on certain notes/frequencies, therefore the mics need to be out of boom range so you’ll need a preamp with good headroom. I prefer the Peach 196, which is tube and has MS (see a post by UBK on this great pre); another great choice is the LaChapell 992eg. For a real treat run thru a StaLevel or 176 afterwards. I guess you could use a Helios 69-74 if you were going to thrash the thing with a stiff pick and use make up gain like with a TRS3, for a different sound, have to try that…

My experience:

Martin D35, ’64: (mellow axe, beautiful, delicate tone)
70’s Neumann U87: 3 feet out aimed at sound hole: clear, folk picking, was great.
ADK TC AUs w GK12 caps at bridge and 14th fret positions: For a real sparkle and shimmer, clear, present, upper and upper mid boost, clear resonant bass.

McPherson 3.5, 4.5 or 5.0, Collings 000: (all rosewood, brighter tone)
KM54 matched pair at 14th and bridge: bite, mean it baby, wow.
KM264 matched pair at 14th and bridge: gentle shine, great tone, ‘golden’.
KM86 matched pair at 14th and bridge in cardioid: articulate, present, and beautiful.
SM2 in MS: focus, presence, piano vibe, elegant.
U67 3 feet out: clear, massive, present, ‘real’.
U47 3 feet out: for smooching.
SF24 3-5 feet out: ‘being there’, in the room with great tone.
Josephson 617 at 14th and bridge: clear notes without punch or much character, useful but not a star sound.
ADK CS-1 AU w GK12 cap at bridge: fat, mellow and present, sparkle.
Bock 251 3 feet out: very clear, present, shimmer, beautiful.

If your room (church) is good, a U47 in omni as a room mic is delicious.

These are good starting points, just a little mic tweek making a big difference. And it depends on the nature of the song, and primarily how the guitar has to fit with the vocal/mic/pre selection. But all the above sound exceptional; by the way, all of the above are flat, the ‘eq’ done with mic selection and placement. The mics that work on the brighter guitars also work on the softer Martin type, just a little sweeter result.

[Rib Bizqit]

Santa was nice and brought me a AEA 440 and it sounded huge on a Martin.
My all time favorites are:
-4038
-Km 54/56
-U47
-4006

...and somebody who can play...