AK47 on Guitar cabs

[macca]

Hi all, wondering if any of you have been trying the AK47 on guitar cabs and, if so, what you think. I've read that it is darker than, say a Pearlman, and has some really nice mids, which is what I am looking for, so I'm thinking of trying it out.

Any thoughts are much appreciated,

Bill

[shikawkee]

We used one last week a coupla' feet away from
the amp and the artist was very pleased.

[TonyBelmont]

I've heard good things about them from various people... Fletcher has been trying them in his studio and seemed quite pleased.

Maybe he'll chime in.

Do you already own the Pearlman and are looking for something darker? Maybe a ribbon like the Peluso R14 would fit the bill...

[macca]

Yes, I've already got the Pearlman and like it on my vocals, but haven't had much luck with it on cabs. I've got a few dynamics (including an SM7) and ribbons (including an m260) that I like on cabs, but am still looking for another flavor, so was thinking of/obsessing over an LDC/tube mic, maybe how the Beatles used the U67's on their amps during the second half of their career. I'm not looking for a U67 clone, just something that might be similarly darker and strong in the mids. (Never used a U67 before so I'm just going on some research here). I have a few mics on the way to audition, but none are LDC/tube, so I was thinking that the AK47 or an old Gefell UM70S might be worth looking into.

[NathanEldred]

If you are talking about medium to low crunch or clean, then it's going to sound great and is one of the few handful of condensers I'll give a thumbs up to in this application (because of it's less emphasized top end). If you are using an amp with heavy distortion I wouldn't recommend it, or any condenser, they just aren't my cup of tea in that application for up close usage. But for heavy distortion and ear splitting levels, using it pulled back about 6 feet or more combined with a ribbon or darker dynamic up close on the grill is perfect. Panned opposite of the close mic and then stacked with layers (flip flop panning of 2nd overdub) sounds mind blowing. More than likely you'll need to pad the output of the microphone by 10-20db before the preamp as it will output too hot even with relatively clean amp.

[TonyBelmont]

Originally Posted by macca

Yes, I've already got the Pearlman and like it on my vocals, but haven't had much luck with it on cabs. I've got a few dynamics (including an SM7) and ribbons (including an m260) that I like on cabs, but am still looking for another flavor, so was thinking of/obsessing over an LDC/tube mic, maybe how the Beatles used the U67's on their amps during the second half of their career. I'm not looking for a U67 clone, just something that might be similarly darker and strong in the mids. (Never used a U67 before so I'm just going on some research here). I have a few mics on the way to audition, but none are LDC/tube, so I was thinking that the AK47 or an old Gefell UM70S might be worth looking into.

It sounds like you have a nice collection of mics already.

It may be worth waiting for Dave's new TM-2, which should be reminiscent of the U67... I've had the prototype over here, and it really had a lot of balls. It had less top end than the TM-1, and should be priced much less than the TM1....

I can't wait to hear a production model.

[woomanmoomin]

It's about time either those guys or Peluso came out with a U67 clone...

[noone]

Originally Posted by macca

Hi all, wondering if any of you have been trying the AK47 on guitar cabs

Lol. Could have been a post on a terrorist forum.

[macca]

thanks for the thoughts, everyone, that is very helpful

Tony, do you know when the TM2 is scheduled to be released?

Nathan, re your use of the AK47 with a ribbon, do you mind sharing what you like about the combo . . what does the ribbon give that the AK47 does not, and vice cersa?

thanks again

[TonyBelmont]

Originally Posted by macca

thanks for the thoughts, everyone, that is very helpful

Tony, do you know when the TM2 is scheduled to be released?

He's just waiting for the metal work now. He's hoping to have that in the next month or so...

[gm5k]

Originally Posted by TonyBelmont

It sounds like you have a nice collection of mics already.

It may be worth waiting for Dave's new TM-2, which should be reminiscent of the U67... I've had the prototype over here, and it really had a lot of balls. It had less top end than the TM-1, and should be priced much less than the TM1....

heard this mic in person quite a bit in austin.

i thought it had a very tight highend. mic has a lot of bite to it. id love to hear a pair on OH's.

it definitely was not taking a step down in quality from the TM-1. just a different sound. seems like a great deal at around $1000.

[TonyBelmont]

Originally Posted by gm5k

seems like a great deal at around $1000.

Hopefully it will be around $1000.

[illiummusic]

He's just waiting for the metal work now. He's hoping to have that in the next month or so...

I talked to Dave yesterday and he said the bodies should be arriving in the next week.
I demoed the TM-2 a while back and it sounded awesome on guitars, clean and distorted!

[TonyBelmont]

Originally Posted by illiummusic

I talked to Dave yesterday and he said the bodies should be arriving in the next week.
I demoed the TM-2 a while back and it sounded awesome on guitars, clean and distorted!

Wow! That was quick...

[NathanEldred]

Originally Posted by macca

Nathan, re your use of the AK47 with a ribbon, do you mind sharing what you like about the combo . . what does the ribbon give that the AK47 does not, and vice cersa?

thanks again

Ribbons in general are more forgiving, to my ears they chop a lot of the midrange and high frequency harmonics leaving a very fundamental tone (no pun intended). The AK47, while on the flatter side of things in the highs, is still a condenser and still has condenser like qualities. I guess we'd have to ask a microphone expert why ribbons exhibit certain characteristics and why condensers have their own behaviour, but they react to the audio differently, and IMHO is why I think what I wrote in my first post in this thread.

[Graham Tobias]

I'm still waiting for a machine gun joke...

[woomanmoomin]

Originally Posted by Graham Tobias

I'm still waiting for a machine gun joke...

We've already had at least an allusion to machine guns (see 'terrorist' post above).

Originally Posted by NathanEldred

I guess we'd have to ask a microphone expert why ribbons exhibit certain characteristics and why condensers have their own behaviour, but they react to the audio differently, and IMHO is why I think what I wrote in my first post in this thread.

I'm no expert, but... diaphragm resonance?

[NathanEldred]

Originally Posted by woomanmoomin

I'm no expert, but... diaphragm resonance?

I'm sure it's easy to crack a book or look it up on the internet, but I'm feeling too lazy at the moment.