Best Acoustic Guitar Mic

[MrNobody]

Can anyone table suggestions for the best value/qaulity acoustic guitar mic for <= £400?

In my past research i have come up with:
1) Shure SM81
2) AT4050
3) Rode NT2000

Also, if you're feeling generous...what's the deal between LDC & SDC?
Applications? Use?

If it can double for a Vocal mic thats a bonus too!

[Keire]

ive made a 57 and an 81 sound great on acoustic.

[BudgetMC]

Lots of answers to this question to be found via the search function.

But, in short, SDC's often do a better job of replicating the fast transients that make up a large part of the acoustic "sound". But, LDC's can have a bigger, if not less accurate, sound. Your taste and the demands of the mix are what matters.

I spend a lot of time recording acoustics (leading to much frustration, since they are some of the more challenging instruments to get a really good sound from).

Mics I've had good luck with include:

1) Blue Bluebird. I love this LDC on acoustic. Lots of nice top end, but with a nice firm round bottom

2) Fathead Ribbon. Great "color" mic for acoustic. Definately brings out the low mids. I don't ever use it alone, but it is a great addition when I use...

3) a pair of Naiant SDC's. I've got some MSH-2s, which I think sound great. Interestingly, John at Naiant recommends the new X-Q's over the MSH-2s (soon to be discontinued) for acoustic guitar work. Given the fact that the X-Qs go for an absurd $32 each and the MSH-2's go for $29, I don't think anybody has an excuse not to own a pair.
Naiant Studio Store - Microphones

[warhead]

Oktava MK-012
sE Electronics SE3

I would give either a serious listen.

War

[Yetti]

Sm81 is great for acoustic guitar....I really can't imagine someone not liking it for this application.

[JPeters86]

I always like tube condensers on acoustic guitars, but it's very personal. Give it a shot if you have the chance.

[Audio Hombre]

sdc's handle the transients better, have far better off axis rejection and help focus the sound more, so in a busy mix, they really accel.

[warhead]

Originally Posted by Audio Hombre

sdc's handle the transients better, have far better off axis rejection and help focus the sound more, so in a busy mix, they really accel.

Tis true, which offers up a tighter stereo image as well due to that better off axis response.

War

[tINY]

Which is why the AT u873r is one of my favorite for acoustic Guitar...




-tINY

[Emi]

great results here with AKG 414B ULS, Neumann KM184, and Oktava ML2500 (valve mic) on acustic and specially on flamenco guitarr

[andychamp]

I recently learned to love the Neumann KMS105 for this application (among others). Basically it's the 184's HYPERcardioid sibling, the 185, in a handheld package. The player was sitting down & I aimed the mic down at the guitar from about 5 ft. up and 1ft. away.
The hypercardioid pattern helped in hearing the distance to the source without adding too much room sound.
There's a lot to be said for SDCs on Ac.Gtr.

[aknightin?]

Does anyone have any idea what mic might have been used on Cold Play's Parachutes album for acoustic guitar?

[rackdude]

NO ONE MENTIONED A SCHOEPS?

You must have never used one. Other mics are jokes

[Greg Curtis]

I've tried LDCs, like M49s, U87s, 414s, and they can sound great, but I had to spend a lot of time with very careful placement (U87 was best, overall). (And a had a really bad experience with one player's loud grunts and groans bleeding into the 49... ). And I always have to dump a lot of low end and tweak the highs for the mix with LDCs on acoustic gtrs....

But I've had great luck with SDCs: Schoeps, Km84s, 184s, and MKH800s. Just aim at the 12th fret, and hit record. Even instrument changes (6-12 string, baritone, baritone ukele, etc) required very little or no mic re-positioning. Very quick and easy setup, the artist, composer, director and producer are happy, everyone wins! Sounds sweet and easy to mix with very little EQ.

Good players and instruments are key, of course. I've been lucky to have George Doering, Grant Geisman, and John Dearman sitting in front of the mic.

Good SDCs for me.

Millennia HV3D pre, btw...

Greg

.

[rackdude]

And just so you know, I got my schoeps for $800, so that should be in your price range. Ebay it!


It has such a hot output that pres don't matter too much on it. It sounds great through crap, though it would sound better through a better pre...

[Jim vanBergen]

I love my Schoeps, but rarely on acoustic guitar, --though they sound great-- because it sounds REAL. Few guitarists want to sound "accurate", they want to sound like what they THINK their tone is. And if we spend a lot of time getting that tone, odds are it's gone as soon as it's sitting in a mix with more than two other instruments.

I find most guitarists love the sound of my Neumann KM85i in a mix. With the built in low end rolloff from the capsule and no EQ, it has a flattering warmth without ever getting boomy and plenty of top end sheen for picking and strumming alike. One guitarists called it my "instant golden guitar" secret weapon. Well, I guess it's no secret.

[usamike]

Oktava MK-012, my fave in my locker.

[u b k]

i'm always amazed at how selecting a different pick changes the sound more than selecting a different mic.

km56 lover over here. the mk012 is a lovely little mic as well, and considerably more attainable.

i'd love to hear the tube peluso sdc... mental note.


gregoire
del
ubk
.

[Freddo30]

Neumann KM84, is a very well known mic in the ac.guitars arena.
i think it's been a standard since the beginning.

So... i would say MXL603 , wich i consider a cheap clone of the km84.

you can check an A/B test between the 603 and the km84, here:
MXL 603S vs Neumann KM84 on an acoustic guitar


When used with a high quality pre, the 603 really shines. i paid 55$ for one on ebay.

But, what really sold me on this mic, besides the thread above, was an acoustic guitar clip that i heard in the Tony Shepperd Recording&Mixing DVD ( no, i don't work for tony shepperd ).

beautiful sound...


just my .02cents

[duvalle]

i really don't record accustic guitars too much.
so i have only a simple setup: sm81 !

when i record guitars via tiny terror and orange PPC112
i use a sm57.

cheap, classic and it works for me .... ;-)

[Pasta4lnch]

Originally Posted by Keire

ive made a 57 and an 81 sound great on acoustic.

another vote here for a 57 . . . I may never use another mic for "rock" acoustic guitars!


. . . oh and on nylon strings - just frickin' amazing!!

[88fingerz]

Originally Posted by Roberto Lanczos

Neumann KM84, is a very well known mic in the ac.guitars arena.
i think it's been a standard since the beginning.

So... i would say MXL603 , wich i consider a cheap clone of the km84.

you can check an A/B test between the 603 and the km84, here:
MXL 603S vs Neumann KM84 on an acoustic guitar


When used with a high quality pre, the 603 really shines. i paid 55$ for one on ebay.

But, what really sold me on this mic, besides the thread above, was an acoustic guitar clip that i heard in the Tony Shepperd Recording&Mixing DVD ( no, i don't work for tony shepperd ).

beautiful sound...


just my .02cents

I'm in total agreement here! Paired with a Neve-esque type pre (GR here & Vintech 1272) it belies it's low price tag. Outstanding!

[lildrummerboy70]

As far as my mic locker goes, I have used a vintage AKG C451EB, an Shure KSM 137, and a Shure KSM 44. My fave would have to be the C451EB. I have also used a Neumann M149 on acoustic and really loved the tone.

[Chaellus]

im usaully about the SDC's when it comes to acoustic guitar miking....never thought much of LDC's though ive used them in several occations pardon the spelling im just waking up...i feel like a zombie right now....

[Kronos147]

Originally Posted by Roberto Lanczos

So... i would say MXL603 , which i consider a cheap clone of the km84.

I tried a pair of the MXL 600's (the predecessor to the 603's, I think) for acoustic guitar and I love them! I used to like NT-1's on guitar (over the SM-81) until I got the MXL's. The high end is a tad smeary so at times I will use some KM140's, but I do like the MXL 600's.

[Jeff A. Roberts]

You take a pair of vintage 452's with omni capsules, send them to Tony Merrill at Stephen Paul Audio for some magic, and you will then have the finest acoustic guitar mics I have ever heard.

I can't record acoustic guitar without them. I spent many years in the studio with Leo Kottke and I'm rather particular about acoustic guitar mics.

[Sean Sullivan]

I tried SM81s, MK-012-01s, KM184s, C451s, Charter Oak SA538 pair, C414, MXL 603s, Fat Heads, TLM 103s, and AT4033 on a Gibson J45 running into a Millennia HV-3 and this is what I liked:

AT4033 pointed where the neck and body meet...this had a nice top end which really cut though the mix. Matched with a KM184 at the bridge or over the players right shoulder about ear level was the best pairing of any microphones.

The Charter Oaks sounded amazing, and if acoustic guitar was the focal point on the music (like for a Jack Johnson-esque recording) they would be my first choice. Very detailed and warm, but I don't often record music where acoustic guitar is just a character piece so I don't get to use them at this application much.

Oktavas are a bit bright, but they work great for me for rhytmn acoustic in a rock setting.

MXLs were very useable, but compared to everything else they sounded a little cheap and 2D. However, for the price, I think they are great microphones. When people are on a tight budget I also recommend them.

SM81s are fine, a little boring and flat sounding though. C451s are very bright and I thought they sounded tinny and piercing. C414 was very mid-rangey and honky sounding. TLM 103s were ok, but not memorable (which is why I can't describe the sound in more detail because I forget).

So, if you are on a budget, look for a used AT4033. I see them used on eBay for $175 all the time. Charter Oaks are super expensive ($3000 for a pair...I got mine used for $1200 on eBay *best score of last year*) but I use them on a lot of things...vocals, bass, drums...Oktava's are also great for about $300 a pair used (you might get lucky, I got mine for $150 on the Sweetwater classified).

You know, a combination I didn't try was a MXL 603 and AT4033...maybe one of each is within £400?

[Gdim]

Originally Posted by Pasta4lnch

another vote here for a 57 . . . I may never use another mic for "rock" acoustic guitars!


. . . oh and on nylon strings - just frickin' amazing!!

57 and what preamp(s) if I may ask? I would imagine they were finger picking the nylon.

Not trying to hijack the thread, but I am really curious what mic(s) would give you great focus/presence in a mix without shrill and boxiness (finger-picked nylon)? I am looking at KM184 to add to AT4050 as a combo. I can't seem to get what I want from the pair Rode NT5s I have.

I was going to start a similar thread. Great ideas and timing!

[Baz]

Originally Posted by rackdude

NO ONE MENTIONED A SCHOEPS?

You must have never used one. Other mics are jokes

My CMC4 and trust me, my KMi84 is anything but a "joke" compared to it

I have to agree with the SDC comments. I find I often get better results, far easier, with an SDC on an acoustic than my 414BULS or 87i. Not to say that there isn't a place for these mics and I do use them but it depends on the source and material.

[vernier]

I just use anything ..seems they all sound good ..probably a dynamic more often for a tougher sound.