Which mic would you use on acoustic guitar?

[shadowbox]

It might be slightly above your price range but-a Neumann TLM103 is a great all around mic to have. I record my Martin through the 103 and an Avalon 2022 and get great results.

[DrC:drive]

I use a pair of BLUE Dragonflys into a Pendulum Audio MDP1-A, absolutely awesome at 96K.

[leon777]

You guys have been a great help - thanks for all the great advise!

DrC,

That's syncronicity for you. I somehow happened on the "Dragonfly" a couple od hours ago and read all the info I could on it. I was just checking in and noticed your post. Must be fate!

I have added it to my list along with some others. I may wind up buying 3 mics. I have to narrow it down though.

I am going to buy a C1 because of price. If I don't like it, I'll sell it. The Marshall is cheap enough to try and the TLM-103 seems highly recommended elsewhere. If I get it I won't be able to afford anything else though.

I've been asking myself the question what's best for acoustic? Condenser; Tube; or Ribbon?

I so far like the following in order of preference

1) BLUE "Dragonfly" Microphone
2) Royer Labs SF-1 Ribbon - FIGURE 8 - concerns me. ---I never had much luck with the 8 pattern.
3) Earthworks SR77 Microphone
4) 451 or 184 - not sure - which one?
5) TLM-103 - price concern.

I probably can purchase 2 of the 4 but which two?
Real tough decision!

Any suggestions?

Leon

[img]images/icons/rolleyes.gif[/img]

[rmx]

I use a Earthworks tc30k somewhere around the player's ear in my tiled bathroom for some great ambience.

Peace
Rob

[Jules]

Beyer 201 (won shootout against back of Royer 121)
Neve 1073 (160hz rolloff only)
Fatso (warmth 2, tranny, GP & Spank compression)
Cranesong Hedd converter (won shootout against Prism)
Mix +

sounded quite "Shawn Colvin"

shock horror! - at last - a use for the Fatso compression! (acc gtr 'riffs')

[img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

[studiojimi]

EQing the track pre has always been something i've done on this type of this
using the ear on each situation of couse roll off bottom to get rid of unwanted bonking
and help the highs a bit by brighening

i used a 414 for year but have switched to my audio tech choir mic.....not expensive but it seems to capture it well.....if they have a good guitar like a taylor or a guild
Paul Warren, Rod Stewart's lead player uses a guild and nothing has ever touched it.

a little room mic can't hurt
i agree with the "blending"guy
a good player helps produce the sound if they have a strong left hand.

[Alécio Costa]

2 AT4050´s - body / fret position.
great mic!

[leon777]

Jules,

Who did the shootout? I can't find any mention of it! Is this the Beyer M-201 hypercardoid?

Leon

[Paul Turpin]

1) BLUE "Dragonfly" Microphone
2) Royer Labs SF-1 Ribbon - FIGURE 8 - concerns me. ---I never had much luck with the 8 pattern.
3) Earthworks SR77 Microphone
4) 451 or 184 - not sure - which one?
5) TLM-103 - price concern.
I probably can purchase 2 of the 4 but which two?

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">If those are the choices - I'd pick the KM184 and the SR77 (with the Royer in third).

The royer doesn't have enough high end for AC gtr really (depending on outboard stuff - it can be achieved though).
If on a budget - you should check out the Shure KSM32 or KSM44.
A pair of KM184's are really useful all the time (great for drums and percussion, brass, etc etc).

A list of what I've used (it depends on the Guitar in question of course) sort of in order of preference, often in combinations with eachother :

Neumann M147
Nuemann KM184
Earthwords QTC1
Royer SF12
Shure KSM32
AKG ck391 (rather use a 451 - I need to get one)
Shure SM81

[Doug Ring]

Interested by the M201 recommendation. It's a great sounding mic, but it has such a low output you need a really good preamp with lots of gain - 65dB isn't unusual, I've found. BTW it does work well on dobro, which is a louder instrument.

I stopped using my (admittedly very old) 451s because they started to make squeaking and popping noises, but I'll maybe dust them off again if people have such a high opinion of them. Does anyone know of any first-aid treatments that might resurrect them (we are talking AKG CK451s with the screw-on capsules, right?)