mic for rock guitar

[billiamwalker]

i'm kind of stuck on research. i can't find a mic a to decide on for getting the best guitar sound reproduction. I have a 57 and i'm wanting to combine it with another mic to increase the realism and warmth of rock and roll amps.
i know a guy who uses an sm81 and 57 on axis. i've considered this but i'm looking at some more options to best fit sound reproduction. any other suggestions?
also, what pattern mic will i be better set on? theoretically i'd think it'd be a

p.s. lets keep it around or under $500 if you can. (that means no royer 121's haha)

[mjau]

Some like the Blue Baby Bottle on amps (I have for some things, not for others)...a 4047 can sound cool, too...so can a c1000. Guess it all depends.
On the cheap, check out a Sennheiser e609 - different flavor than a 57, and the two mics blend well together.

[AstroDan]

All I know is the Beyer M160 will be my next dedicated guitar amplifier microphone.

I had an ancient M260 a couple years back, and I'm missing that sound.

[billiamwalker]

All I know is the Beyer M160 will be my next dedicated guitar amplifier microphone.

I had an ancient M260 a couple years back, and I'm missing that sound.

that was also a huge consideration i have been looking into.

[PeterAuslan]

You could try a Sennheiser 609 in place of a 57.

[Red Rockets Glare]

Feeling DIY-ish?
Get an Oktava ML-52, put a Lundahl Tranny in there, (tape op article in past issue) and send it to Steven Sank for some NOS RCA ribbon.

[Shawn Simmons]

Sennheiser MD-421 and a 57. 421 aimed at the edge of the dust cap. 57 near the edge of the speaker. Both on-axis. API preamps. Works like a charm.

[Randy]

in addition to the above, consider the Sennheiser e906. I just got one last week and it's suprising how good it is. It has a 3 position eq switch so you can get a 4-5k bump, flat or 4-5k roll off. It sounds huge. To me, it sounds close to what happens when I use my c414 and TOMB ribbon on the cabinet together, except not as much bleed and a tad edgier. Not peaky and harsh, but just a little less smooth than the ribbon/condenser combo. A really nice mic.

The mic doesn't seem exactly rugged and the clip is really tight; so tight that I'm afraid the mic is going to break when I squeeze it in. I have been using a spring loaded clamp mic clip instead.

[mingus2112]

i'll 3rd the Sennheiser e609 on a guitar amp. I've never combined it with the 57, so maybe that could be a good sound. As for a second mic, I like a tube mic about 4' back about 4' to 5' up and NOT facing down at the amp. Instead, face it in the direction of the amp, but keep it perpendicular to the floor. To me, this catches what the amp sounds like in the room. If you don't like the amp in that room, however, don't do this! lol

-James

[I'm Painting Again]

All I know is the Beyer M160 will be my next dedicated guitar amplifier microphone.

totes..its a great mic on guitar amps..

[I'm Painting Again]

the e609(silver) I have does the same thing as the sm57 with a bit of a darker curve..

[kayagum]

I'm with Randy on the e906. The three way switch is great, if only to provide more options. I'm not sure I completely agree with Sennheiser's explanation of the 3 way positions: bright = metal, flat = rock, dark = blues, but hey, whatever works, right?

I'm guessing the silver e609 is like the bright setting, and the original 609 is more like the flat setting.

[JamesHE]

I picked up an e 609 silver a few weeks ago. It's not HUGE sounding, but that's a good thing most times. Sometimes I use a GT am-11 right up on the grill near the edge of the speaker. Nice when I'm not recording too loud.

[billiamwalker]

in addition to the above, consider the Sennheiser e906. I just got one last week and it's suprising how good it is. It has a 3 position eq switch so you can get a 4-5k bump, flat or 4-5k roll off. It sounds huge. To me, it sounds close to what happens when I use my c414 and TOMB ribbon on the cabinet together, except not as much bleed and a tad edgier. Not peaky and harsh, but just a little less smooth than the ribbon/condenser combo. A really nice mic.

The mic doesn't seem exactly rugged and the clip is really tight; so tight that I'm afraid the mic is going to break when I squeeze it in. I have been using a spring loaded clamp mic clip instead.

hilarious... i jsut read your review at hamony central. the end of the review i was like "this sounds real familiar" and sure enough..it was you.

and the name at the end was also randy.

[Randy]

hilarious... i jsut read your review at hamony central. the end of the review i was like "this sounds real familiar" and sure enough..it was you.

and the name at the end was also randy.

I have a tendency to repeat myself.