Trion 7000, Fathead II, or.......Naked Eye

[spenceroo]

I'm in the market for a ribbon mic for my guitar amps. In this case, is it really true that you "get what you pay for", meaning that I'd get a much better sound with the Crowley & Tripp Naked Eye over the other two? Is there really a $600 difference in sound? I mean, if a mic sounds good it sounds good right? Give me your opinions about this and let me know which one you'd be inclined to get. Please leave the AE84 & Royer 121 out of the equation. I'm more interested in the qualities of the Naked Eye.

[phillysoulman]

I own a Trion 7000 and imho, it sounds just a good as a "more expensive" ribbon.
If you know your stuff, you cant go wrong

[drBill]

Originally Posted by spenceroo

I'm in the market for a ribbon mic for my guitar amps. In this case, is it really true that you "get what you pay for", meaning that I'd get a much better sound with the Crowley & Tripp Naked Eye over the other two? Is there really a $600 difference in sound? I mean, if a mic sounds good it sounds good right? Give me your opinions about this and let me know which one you'd be inclined to get. Please leave the AE84 & Royer 121 out of the equation. I'm more interested in the qualities of the Naked Eye.

Not trying to get you to buy a R84 or 121, but I think this might have a little bearing on your decisions. Cascade used to have a CD with demos contrasting the FHII, Royer 121 and AEA R84 (I believe it was done before the CAD or Naked Eye was out) that was independantly done by a GS member. You can probably still get one from them. Often during the tests I chose the FHII as my fav. Sometimes (more on the lead line stuff) I chose the 121. On those tests I don't recall ever choosing the R84. THe FHII is a good mic.

Here's a link to a post discussing the topic:

Fathead vs. 121 vs. 84 Shootout CD

[spenceroo]

I haven't heard that CD. I'll have to look into it. I've heard that the R84 can sound "hairy" or "wooley". I've heard good things about the FH and Trion but I've been burned in the past by buying cheapo gear and don't want to make those mistakes again. The Naked Eye sure looks good as far as the description goes and it's probably indestructable and will probably far outlast the cheepies. Maybe I should just pick up a Fathead and give it a go since it's so cheap. Have any of you guys done this already and then wished you wouldn' have?
I can get the Trion new for $219.

[Brad McGowan]

I own both the R121 and the Fathead. They both are nice on electric guitar, but the Royer does have a more refined and detailed characteristic to it with a much tighter bottom end.

Having said that...when I was at TapeOpCon a few years ago there was a guitar miking demo and an R121, Naked Eye, and SM57 were all placed on a Fender Twin Reverb. Upon playback from the Radar machine my friend and I both had the same immediate impressions:

1. SM57: "yep, sounds like a 57"
2. R121: "yep, a familiar sound...sounds much better than the 57"
3. Naked Eye: "ooh that sounds really good. Why don't we have that?"

The Naked Eye has been on my list ever since. From what I remember it sounded more like the amp in the room than the Royer did and had a response that I could really identify with as a guitarist. Thinking about it...why don't I have that mic yet??

Brad

[joelpatterson]

Very happy with my two Trion 7000's... 14,000 worth of Trion (well... I do have the 6,000 AND the 8,000, so I guess that's a grand total of 28,000 worth of Trions...)

It's just really good, for guitar amps, for room, for all that ribbony stuff. Very accurate and smooth and "gripping" sound. What the hell does that mean? I dunno... sometimes you run out of words describing mics. I mean that listening to the track is very engaging and interesting and "enveloping" sounding.

I should have quit when I was ahead.

[spenceroo]

Man you guys are making it tough on me!

[dasoundjunkie]

By the way the Cascade DR-2 is the same mic as the Trion 7000. And I think their version is cheaper too boot!

[CrankyRayHanky]

Originally Posted by spenceroo

I can get the Trion new for $219.

That's not a great price, you can get it for less than 2 bills

I had a trion and winded up reverting to my 57 so often that I sold the CAD. I'm not looking for a mic that I can dial in for only 20% of my sound to supplement my guitar tone...I'm looking hard at Gomez, Naked Eye, 121 and Fathead premium right now

Not saying the Trion was anything less than a solid mic, I just found it uninspiring and unsatisfying for my gear lust

[jnorman]

the fathead II is a great ribbbon mic, and easily holds its own against anything i have used - and i have owned pairs of R-121s and coles 4038s. the shinybox 46 is also an incredible deal, hand assembled here in US.

i think the comparison clips of r84, r-121 and fathead II are posted on the cascade website.