Mics for acoustic guitar

[TurboJets]

I've always been impressed with the Fishman Matrix Blend thing, at least the way the system sounds in a Martin. It sports an internal mini-mic on a gooseneck. The other Fishman blend thing...prefix blend?..sounds good to my ears too.

[swafford]

I've used a lot of mics inside the guitar and find them all pretty useless in trying to get decent sound. Took about 20 years, but it suddenly dawned on my big idiot head, why would you want to mic the inside of the guitar? All the good shit is happening out front.

When I can't use a mic outfront, for solo work these days, I use a Baggs iMix for my Bourgeois Slope D. It's a great stereo set up getting some bite from saddle pick up and low end thump and ambiance from a well positioned transducer. I've also used a Highlander SP-2 with a Sunrise going through a stereo Pendulum (kind of the classic singersongwriter set up) and just the Highlander in my Martin, which works best for a large band. I alost always run anything through a Demeter tube DI.

Have fun.

[nas]

check out K & K. Really good stuff:

Acoustic Guitar Pickups - K&K Sound

[sdelsolray]

Joe Mills
AKG 416L
AKG 516
DPA 4099 (external but mounts to the guitar)

[robertshaw]

I don't think the mic matters at all really providing it is of some quality. It's more the guitar and the pick and player (other than the placement of ofcourse)

I have over 50 mics in my collection, with acoustic guitar is never comes down to the mic as long as it is quality. You can split hairs and switch between ribbons, SDCs and LDCs you can even use a 57. At the end of the day it's all the gtr, the player and I hate to say it but the room... But that being said I would hate to have this turn itno a room treatment thread since that isn't gonna matter if the guitar just does not sound good and the player is weak to begin with.

Mic selection is splitting hairs. Yes, splitting hairs can make a difference with acoustic gtrs but not as much difference as the gtr itself , the player and the placement of the mic.
crap sound in front of a good mic is still crappy sound coming out.

Though I do recommend a UM57 for short$$$ (neumann dough) or for darker tone, a Beyer M160...............

[Musicliner]

Fishman is good, but if you really want top quality, try L.R. Baggs. iBeam (they used to call it Duet II)
They actually did a public A/B test comparison with Neumann mics in Nashville, and hi-res files were available on their website.

I've been recording with it for the past 6 years, and it sounds great...

[swafford]

Originally Posted by robertshaw

Though I do recommend a UM57 for short$$$ (neumann dough) or for darker tone, a Beyer M160...............

Can you describe your preferred method of mounting a UM57 inside the guitar?

[Karloff70]

Originally Posted by swafford

Can you describe your preferred method of mounting a UM57 inside the guitar?

.....and will it be a "John Hurt moment" when the thing breaks its way back out of there?

[la grange]

Hey Simo,
I don't know what sort of music you play and what type of band you play with but you play smooth music, there is nothing that beats AMT mics.
One of the most famous endorsee is Pat Metheny so it says it all...
A blend of this mic and the low end from a regular LR Baggs will give you one of the most natural sound you will ever get through a PA.
There are 2 types of mics, one omni and one cardioid which I would use for live. I have seen musicians using them while i was working either the house or the stage and they are really fantastic

Have fun

Oli