Best Mic for a Don Henley type voice ?

[dreamsongs]

Hi All,

I am looking for a mic for my own vocal demos. I record mostly pop, ac and some pop-country.

I sing with a raspiness, like a Don Henley type delivery. A little sandpapery...if you know what I mean. On some bad singing days maybe Bob Seger or Rod Stewart...ha, ha !

I was looking for a mic that was a little smoother and not so detailed, yet warm.

Something that when the pipes are a little strained, would mask that certain raspiness a little more...

Chain is GR MP 2 NV or 737sp, Distressor, Apogee Rosetta.
What mics would be a good choice for this under 2k ?

Thanks

[Rockman]

Neuman M149 is worth checking out. Great mic!

[dreamsongs]

Is the M149 a tube mic ? What type of mic is it ?

Any other ones...?

[Rail Jon Rogut]

Neumann u67 with an API preamp.

Rail

[dreamsongs]

Rail...

I guess you didn't see my budget in my first post...

Where am I gonna find a U67 for around 2k ?

[Rail Jon Rogut]

No I didn't.. but you asked about Don's vocal chain.

However....

http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-Neumann-...QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.com/Rare-Vintage-Neu...QQcmdZViewItem

Rail

[dreamsongs]

I appreciate that Rail...

Is that what Don uses really ? I am a huge eagles and Don henley fan...

I don't try to imitate anybody although I like his singing style. I just happen to sing with that raspiness, it's been like that all my life. I guess I should stay quiet the week I know I'm going to sing...

Anyway, I will look into that or any other options for around 2k...

Keep'em coming....thumbsup

[Rail Jon Rogut]

When he sang/recorded at Record One.. that's what we used.

Rail

[dreamsongs]

Which album was that Rail ?

[Rail Jon Rogut]

Building the Perfect Beast.

Rail

[Matt Grondin]

Best Mic for a Don Henley type voice ?

I would say no mic at all

In all seriousness though, I do like Don Henley's voice, especially on stuff like Desperado, but he's such a cheeseball sometimes and he seems like a dick.

[darkwater]

Originally Posted by dobby12

Best Mic for a Don Henley type voice ?

I would say no mic at all

In all seriousness though, I do like Don Henley's voice, especially on stuff like Desperado, but he's such a cheeseball sometimes and he seems like a dick.

My mom always said, "If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all."

[dreamsongs]

OK...So far I have a M149 and a U67...

Anything else I could be looking at ?

[dreamsongs]

I checked various places online for prices...

The M149 is out of my price range at the moment, but the M147 I can swing. I can get that new for under 2k.

I think they're the same mic except for all the polar patterns on the 149...

Does anybody use the AT 4060 or Rode Classic II for these type of vocals ? I mean, for the price, they sound like a decent deal. Would they be suitable for my voice ? Are they smooth or do they have that peaky mid-high thing that my TLM 103 has ?

[tedcrop]

get a u67. As long as the mic is in good working order it will be an excellent sounding mic. The mic has been used on tons of records.

[Sounds Great]

Yup, the U67. But since that is more than your budget,

Find yourself a Gefell M-582 with the M71 capsule. Around 800-1200 and it is a wonderful tube mic with the U67 vibe. Check it out.

[Matt Grondin]

Originally Posted by darkwater

My mom always said, "If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all."

Sorry. Hey, I did say that I liked Don Henley's voice. Pre-1980 that is.

[Tone Laborer]

I'm pretty sure he's been using a Blue Blueberry lately, thought I read that, FWIW

[TinderArts]

An old FET47 / Daking pre combo has worked well for me for a guy who is a bit Henley-like at times. This is on a heavier rock thing than Henley does though.

[qubi]

Hey dreamsongs, the 147 and 149 are very different mics, its not just the polar patterns that's different. If you do a search you'll see that the 147 is NOT a very popular mic around here. I have one, which i used to use as my main mic, but now I've pretty much switched to a soundelux u195 for vocal work (male/female/pop/VO). I dont think the 147 is that bad, but its just not the best on many vocals, and it is overpriced for what you get.. the 149 is in a much higher class sonically..

Now, if you'd like to buy a used 147... then thats a different matter

[kats]

I was looking for a mic that was a little smoother and not so detailed, yet warm.

M7 styled capsules seem to be more agressive IMO in the midrange than K67 capsules. I think you've been given good advice on the U67. U87 is smooth in that range too, but then your dealing with its low headroom (PITA).

Actually I've ordered the innertube mod for my 87 I've been told that it solves the U87 issue I describe.

[Sounds Great]

Originally Posted by dobby12

Sorry. Hey, I did say that I liked Don Henley's voice. Pre-1980 that is.

Henley's 2000 release 'Inside Job' is one of my very favorite records.

[popmann]

Mmm...you guys sure about Henley and the 67?

I'd have put money on Hotel California being an old 87. And the newer stuff sounds real C12'y to me--neutral through the middle with that serious ZING up in the 9-12k range. Of course, you can Eq that in...and I've used a modded 67 before that had it, so...

That said...if you want a very 67'y sound on the cheap...the new Mojave Ma200 fits the bill.

I remember one night playing around with an old 87 into a GR ME1nv(driven hard) then La2a, and being drawn to sing Heart of the Matter...cause it was "that" sound.

[garbarek]

Don't overlook the Neumann CMV-563 as a contender.

If you shop around you can find one used for anywhere from $1200-$1800. Then, get Tracy Korby or Bill Bradley to work on it and sell you a new power supply.

You could do all of this for under 2 grand.

Just another mic to consider...

[Matt Grondin]

Originally Posted by Sounds Great

Henley's 2000 release 'Inside Job' is one of my very favorite records.

Well, there you go... I will listen to it right now on Rhapsody. I'm sure it's good if a fellow slut vouches for it.

Nevermind, it's not on there.

[Matt Grondin]

Originally Posted by popmann

I remember one night playing around with an old 87 into a GR ME1nv(driven hard) then La2a, and being drawn to sing Heart of the Matter...cause it was "that" sound.

Not a bad song, but if I was going to listen to a song like that, I'd much rather hear Steve Winwood's "Back In The High Life Again". I like his vocals MUCH better.

Speaking of that song, anyone know who's playing drums on it? Those are some tasty beatz, yo! And is that James Taylor singing backup? I bet it is.

[popmann]

Stan Lynch and three chicks sing harmony. That would be funny bet to lose, no? Oh wait...you meant High Life.

Winwood's got a great voice, no doubt...too bad his songs never touched Henley's...

That said, Winwood's got higher chest voice, too...so, it's a little like saying, "I'd rather listen to Sarah McLachlan." ...which I would, but not really the same instrument.

[Matt Grondin]

Originally Posted by popmann

Stan Lynch and three chicks sing harmony. That would be funny bet to lose, no? Oh wait...you meant High Life.

Winwood's got a great voice, no doubt...too bad his songs never touched Henley's...

That said, Winwood's got higher chest voice, too...so, it's a little like saying, "I'd rather listen to Sarah McLachlan." ...which I would, but not really the same instrument.

Yeah, but those songs inevitably remind me of each other, and that's why I mentioned that. High Life is a great song, even if that record is very 80's sounding.

[dreamsongs]

Good tips you guys, thanks. I am looking into all of those options. By the way, I love the way Don sings, he is not the "best singer" with the best chops out there, but almost always has great interpretation on almost every song including his solo career. I love the Inside Job and End of the Innocence albums, great songwriting, musicianship and great songs.

I saw him with the Eagles 3 times (great show) and 4 times solo. I guess you could say I am a fan, first saw them in mid seventies, No...I'm not that old, I was a teenager then, but I loved their music since then.

Maybe in my subconscious, there's a bit of Don Henley when I sing. Maybe because most people always remind me that I sound like him. The problem with this type of voice is that if I strain it too much, it begins to sound more like Bob Seger after a wild party ! That's not what I want although I've sang some rock tunes with my pipes ripped to shreads and it sounded OK but at the expense of further damage.

Anyway, my local guy here at GC says he can get me a new U87ai for $1,950. Is that a good mic for my voice ? I though I read some threads about the new U87's sounding a bit edgy around the top end...

I don't know, please set me straight on this one. I can always return it if it doesn't work for me but I thought it was a good deal at that price for that mic.

What do you guys think ?

[Matt Grondin]

Originally Posted by dreamsongs

Anyway, my local guy here at GC says he can get me a new U87ai for $1,950. Is that a good mic for my voice ? I though I read some threads about the new U87's sounding a bit edgy around the top end...

I don't know, please set me straight on this one. I can always return it if it doesn't work for me but I thought it was a good deal at that price for that mic.

What do you guys think ?

$1950 is what dealers pay for new 87's from what I've been told... he must really like you. Neumann will probably get pissed if they find out about that so I'd keep it on the DL. Anyway, I bought a U87 from Klaus Heyne that I'm having him modify for me but I haven't got it yet. The mod costs $1600 so I hope it's worth it. I will let you know.