Good all-around bluegrass instrument mic

Jimbo · 6th October 2005

Hi Folks -- long-time lurker, first-time poster.

I'm building the Hamptone JFET, and I'm itching to get a new mic to go with it. I'm pretty low-end, and the Hamptone is definitely my best piece of gear.

I play and record bluegrass/folk/americana, and I own a MK-012 and a v69ME. I'm quite happy with the v69 on my vocals, and the MK-012 works great blended with the pickup in my banjo.

I'm looking for a good microphone for fiddle, guitar and bass.

Having read many posts on the subject I'm considering the Beyer M160 (should take the edge off the fiddle and sound good on the upright bass), and the AT4050 (good all-around multi pattern).

I realize that these mics are quite different in their abilities, and I'm not asking which one is better.

I am curious if anyone has any other suggestions?

Price?? Well, I'd like to keep it under $600 -- I've found each of the mics I mentioned for around $450 which is a nice price.

Thanks for the slutty advice

- Jim

Rick Sutton · 6th October 2005

Hi Jimbo, Welcome to the forum. I do a lot of acoustic reording and also play several acoustic instruments. In your price range I think the best all around mic is the Neumann KM84. You'd have to find one used as they are no longer made. The Beyer M160 needs lots of gain, but if you want to try one let me know as I have one that I never use. PM me if you want to work something out on it. I've got 4 KM84's and they get used all the time.
Cheers, Rick

mrmicguy · 6th October 2005

I can confirm the AT4050 as a good choice for your styles, or you could possibly get a pair of AT4033s for that kind of money. I also find that the Sennheiser 441 & 421 are great all round mics. I own and use all these mics regularly and can definitely recommend them .... they're all good!

be sure to look at ribbon mics too .... AEA etc

Jimbo · 6th October 2005

Thanks for the advice.

For those people who record acoustic instruments, do you find multi-pattern mics (e.g., AT4050) usefull? Or, should I focus on a strong cardioid mic?

Thanks again.

- Jim

cgarges · 6th October 2005

I find multi-pattern mics useful all the time. The 4050 is an excellent mic for an MS setup, which I use a fair amount. It's also great for acoustic guitar and just about any source you put in front of it. It's my favorite really versatile mic.

When I first read your thread, the two mics that immediately jumped to mind were the MC012 and the M160. I probably use those more than any other mics when recording mandolin, dobro, banjo, etc. I think the 4050 will give you more versatility, but the M160 will give you another choice that's pretty dissimilar to what you've already got.

For whatever it's worth, a couple days ago I recorded two different mandolin players, one of whom also played banjo and octave mando. I wound up using an M160, a Blue Mouse, and a Royer R121 in a variety of configurations.

Chris Garges
Charlotte, NC

mrmicguy · 7th October 2005

A multi pattern mic is a very useful tool to have, for starters the dead sides of a fig 8 pattern are "deader" than the back a of a cardioid. So a pair of Fig 8s are usefull for micing up a singing guitarist and keeping good separation between the vocal and the guitar. A variable pattern is also interesting to use (like a Rode NT2000 or Rode K2, however both these mics are quite bright and airy sounding - but not as bright as some of the the other Rodes like NT1A or NTK or NT1000 etc.)

I've said it many times before ... always start your mic collection with 3 mics - a good condenser, a good dynamic & a good ribbon. (An AT Condenser (or similar), a Sennheiser, Shure or EV dynamic and a Royer or AEA Ribbon) That gives you 3 really different flavours to play with. Note that Chris talks about having different choices ... that is the best advice you can get ... make sure you have have some really different choices.

6th October 2005	#1
Jimbo Lives for gear Joined: Oct 2005 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 2,520 Thread Starter	Good all-around bluegrass instrument mic Hi Folks -- long-time lurker, first-time poster. I'm building the Hamptone JFET, and I'm itching to get a new mic to go with it. I'm pretty low-end, and the Hamptone is definitely my best piece of gear. I play and record bluegrass/folk/americana, and I own a MK-012 and a v69ME. I'm quite happy with the v69 on my vocals, and the MK-012 works great blended with the pickup in my banjo. I'm looking for a good microphone for fiddle, guitar and bass. Having read many posts on the subject I'm considering the Beyer M160 (should take the edge off the fiddle and sound good on the upright bass), and the AT4050 (good all-around multi pattern). I realize that these mics are quite different in their abilities, and I'm not asking which one is better. I am curious if anyone has any other suggestions? Price?? Well, I'd like to keep it under $600 -- I've found each of the mics I mentioned for around $450 which is a nice price. Thanks for the slutty advice - Jim

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Good vocal/instrument MIC for Voxbox?	Blacky	High end	3	10th April 2006 05:54 AM
favorite instrument-mic-pre-comp chains?	xiandishinger	So much gear, so little time!	0	5th November 2005 02:20 AM
Mic Instrument Preamplifier	mackie824	High end	0	21st August 2005 12:06 AM

6th October 2005	#2
Rick Sutton Lives for gear Joined: Feb 2003 Location: Atascadero, CA Posts: 4,058	Hi Jimbo, Welcome to the forum. I do a lot of acoustic reording and also play several acoustic instruments. In your price range I think the best all around mic is the Neumann KM84. You'd have to find one used as they are no longer made. The Beyer M160 needs lots of gain, but if you want to try one let me know as I have one that I never use. PM me if you want to work something out on it. I've got 4 KM84's and they get used all the time. Cheers, Rick

6th October 2005	#3
mrmicguy Gear Head Joined: Mar 2005 Posts: 59	I can confirm the AT4050 as a good choice for your styles, or you could possibly get a pair of AT4033s for that kind of money. I also find that the Sennheiser 441 & 421 are great all round mics. I own and use all these mics regularly and can definitely recommend them .... they're all good! be sure to look at ribbon mics too .... AEA etc

6th October 2005	#5
cgarges Lives for gear Joined: Nov 2004 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 903	I find multi-pattern mics useful all the time. The 4050 is an excellent mic for an MS setup, which I use a fair amount. It's also great for acoustic guitar and just about any source you put in front of it. It's my favorite really versatile mic. When I first read your thread, the two mics that immediately jumped to mind were the MC012 and the M160. I probably use those more than any other mics when recording mandolin, dobro, banjo, etc. I think the 4050 will give you more versatility, but the M160 will give you another choice that's pretty dissimilar to what you've already got. For whatever it's worth, a couple days ago I recorded two different mandolin players, one of whom also played banjo and octave mando. I wound up using an M160, a Blue Mouse, and a Royer R121 in a variety of configurations. Chris Garges Charlotte, NC

7th October 2005	#6
mrmicguy Gear Head Joined: Mar 2005 Posts: 59	A multi pattern mic is a very useful tool to have, for starters the dead sides of a fig 8 pattern are "deader" than the back a of a cardioid. So a pair of Fig 8s are usefull for micing up a singing guitarist and keeping good separation between the vocal and the guitar. A variable pattern is also interesting to use (like a Rode NT2000 or Rode K2, however both these mics are quite bright and airy sounding - but not as bright as some of the the other Rodes like NT1A or NTK or NT1000 etc.) I've said it many times before ... always start your mic collection with 3 mics - a good condenser, a good dynamic & a good ribbon. (An AT Condenser (or similar), a Sennheiser, Shure or EV dynamic and a Royer or AEA Ribbon) That gives you 3 really different flavours to play with. Note that Chris talks about having different choices ... that is the best advice you can get ... make sure you have have some really different choices.