R121, Crowley, or AEA R84 for rock guitars?

[Matt Hepworth]

So, how's the Crowley vs the R121 vs the R84 on rock guitars?

Is it as simple as the R121 is IT, or do the others do great as well?

[Texum]

First of all, which Crowley and Tripp are you thinking about?

There's a ton of information on ribbons and rock guitars on the board, a simple search would give you lots of help.


You could start with these:
Ribbon for heavies.
Dissatisfied with dynamic mics on distorted guitars!
Best Ribbon for Rock Guitar?

Myself I use the 121 for close cab miking and the AEA for room, so my advice is to get both of those

[Protools Guy]

I got a 121 and I'm in heaven.

[Matt Hepworth]

I was thinking the Naked Eye Classic.

I did read half a dozen threads including two of those three threads you posted before I started this one. I didn't see much comparing the R121 and Crowley.

Thanks for the other link.

[Texum]

Originally Posted by glitch

I was thinking the Naked Eye Classic.

I did read half a dozen threads including two of those three threads you posted before I started this one. I didn't see much comparing the R121 and Crowley.

Thanks for the other link.

crowley and tripps naked eye versus royer 121 for guitars, overheads, etc.
Naked Eye VS R-121 I HAVE CLIPS !
Naked Eye Roswellite
Crowley and Tripp Naked Eye
Newer ribbon mics
Ribbon Mics On Test
Ribbon Mics: Audio Files

[IntenseJim]

Steve Stevens loves the R121 and I think he (and his engineers) get some of the best hard rock/pop metal tones around.

So I bought one, mix it with an SM57, and it works well on electric guitar for all styles of music.

[effitall]

Are you specifically looking for a ribbon for guitars? Or just something to mic guitars? For ribbons I'd suggest a look at the AEA R92. I think it kills on guitars. In general I like the Senn 409. But those can be expensive and hard to find.

I don't think the R84 is particularly magical on guitars. It's a great mic...But I don't think guitars are it's forte.

[James 'LA' Lugo]

I had a couple of 121's over the years and never really got the results I wanted, I've ended up with an R92. I like the balance of tone. Never used the Crowley but I sang into one years ago when they first started at AES and it sounded great.

[fhames]

I use a Crowley and Tripp Naked Eye Roswellite about 10" out and a bit off the cone of a Mesa Lonestar and it sounds great every time.

[Roc Mixwell]

Demo the C&T NE-R against the R121.

Its a really good and fair fight if you ask me. Bob Crowley's ribbons are voiced more traditionally, so you'll find a bit more forward low mid "fun zone" stuff, which the R121 really doesn't have. But both are excellent ribbons for a variety of acoustic and electric instruments, along with the rest of the gang, drums, and sometimes vocals.

[Roc Mixwell]

Originally Posted by James 'LA' Lugo

I had a couple of 121's over the years and never really got the results I wanted, I've ended up with an R92. I like the balance of tone. Never used the Crowley but I sang into one years ago when they first started at AES and it sounded great.

R92 RULES!!!

[warhead]

The R92 excels at close mic'ing applications for guitar cabs in particular. For this sole purpose I would consider it over the R84. For most other uses I would choose the R84.

In the C&T line, the Naked Eye is a contender as well. It has a somewhat more aggressive thing happening, particularly in the upper midrange.

War

[drummerboy1533]

Just a note from one of the little guys:got a DIY ISOCAB with one and/or two 8inch Alnico spkr cabs in place.I did the recommended Royer website thingy utilizing both cabs facing one another and phase reversed, with a fig 8 mic inbetween. I've tried both the R121 and R84. The AEA just sounds better in this application. Also,I curently have each cab powered by individual amps ( Torres Tiny Tone and EP Valve Jr.)Hey, it sounds great!