Mics for guitar cabs. What has impressed you the most?

Moderator: Capt. Black

User avatar
griff
Vintage Post Junkie
Vintage Post Junkie
Posts: 1743
meble-kuchenne.warszawa.pl
Joined: Sun Feb 12, 2017 6:57 pm
Has liked: 498 times
Been liked: 247 times

Mics for guitar cabs. What has impressed you the most?

Post by griff »

Hey all.
I have tinkered with a 57 in various positions in the past and got pretty average results to be fair. After a couple of years trying out impulse responses and a load box, I want to go back to trying to mic my cab again. My setup has changed slightly (Friedman clone, Greenbacks, Audient interface) So hoping for better results this time around.
Those Cascade Fatheads sound killer from most of the demos I've seen lately, but they are pricey. I guess ribbons have the sound I'm after. Are there cheaper ribbon alternatives to the Fathead that sound similar?
Any other dynamic mics that could be worth a shot?
Any input appreciated :mrgreen:

User avatar
moliere
Squier
Posts: 315
Joined: Sat Feb 05, 2011 12:13 am
Has liked: 79 times
Been liked: 37 times

Re: Mics for guitar cabs. What has impressed you the most?

Post by moliere »

I personally like a Beta 57 / Fathead mix. Beta 57 gets that crunchy presence, and the Fathead adds a bit of fullness and warmth. I can't recall my Fathead being too spendy though, what do they go for these days? Some people hate the Beta 57 vs a plain 57. Bunch of people like the Sennheiser 906. I've had good results with a Sennheiser MD421 in the studio too.

User avatar
Danger Mouse
Vintage Post Junkie
Vintage Post Junkie
Posts: 11459
Joined: Mon Oct 16, 2006 3:32 pm
Location: Jafa Land
Has liked: 351 times
Been liked: 661 times

Re: Mics for guitar cabs. What has impressed you the most?

Post by Danger Mouse »

One of the Audio Technica AT20XX mics are worth a look
I think mine was the AT2020 (sold it ages ago) I got very good results from it.
The older I get, the more disappointed in myself I become.

null_pointer
Vintage Post Junkie
Vintage Post Junkie
Posts: 3674
Joined: Thu Nov 05, 2015 9:37 pm
Location: The Tron
Has liked: 162 times
Been liked: 410 times

Re: Mics for guitar cabs. What has impressed you the most?

Post by null_pointer »

Torpedo has really impressed me for recorded/straight to PA tone. Not the cheapest way to go but in the last few recordings we've done, the Torpedo track sounded better than then mic'd cabs for the most part, even with decent ribbons. I'm sure great mics and careful placement can exceed it of course, but for limited time/budget approaches its pretty great. Here's a video that talked me into one:


User avatar
griff
Vintage Post Junkie
Vintage Post Junkie
Posts: 1743
Joined: Sun Feb 12, 2017 6:57 pm
Has liked: 498 times
Been liked: 247 times

Re: Mics for guitar cabs. What has impressed you the most?

Post by griff »

Cheers. $700 for a new fathead over here. Can probably get one for $450 shipped from the U.S though

User avatar
Reg18
Vintage Post Junkie
Vintage Post Junkie
Posts: 3657
Joined: Thu Feb 06, 2014 1:57 pm
Has liked: 312 times
Been liked: 928 times

Re: Mics for guitar cabs. What has impressed you the most?

Post by Reg18 »

I like a 57 mixed with something else personally, although I haven’t tried any Ribbon mics to give a recommendation. I have a cheap Superlux condenser and it’s not to bad, the same brand have a cheap Ribbon mic which could be worth a look.
I’d love to try a Beyer Dynamic M160 on a guitar cab too, not super expensive for a Ribbon either.

User avatar
griff
Vintage Post Junkie
Vintage Post Junkie
Posts: 1743
Joined: Sun Feb 12, 2017 6:57 pm
Has liked: 498 times
Been liked: 247 times

Re: Mics for guitar cabs. What has impressed you the most?

Post by griff »

null_pointer wrote:Torpedo has really impressed me for recorded/straight to PA tone. Not the cheapest way to go but in the last few recordings we've done, the Torpedo track sounded better than then mic'd cabs for the most part, even with decent ribbons. I'm sure great mics and careful placement can exceed it of course, but for limited time/budget approaches its pretty great. Here's a video that talked me into one:

I should probably spend more time with my Weber Mass and IR's.
But in the past I felt something was missing.. Was kinda flat sounding. Maybe I'm looking for more of that 'in the room sound' I dunno. Thanks for your input bud!

User avatar
griff
Vintage Post Junkie
Vintage Post Junkie
Posts: 1743
Joined: Sun Feb 12, 2017 6:57 pm
Has liked: 498 times
Been liked: 247 times

Re: Mics for guitar cabs. What has impressed you the most?

Post by griff »

Reg18 wrote:I like a 57 mixed with something else personally, although I haven’t tried any Ribbon mics to give a recommendation. I have a cheap Superlux condenser and it’s not to bad, the same brand have a cheap Ribbon mic which could be worth a look.
I’d love to try a Beyer Dynamic M160 on a guitar cab too, not super expensive for a Ribbon either.
Ola for the win!

User avatar
Reg18
Vintage Post Junkie
Vintage Post Junkie
Posts: 3657
Joined: Thu Feb 06, 2014 1:57 pm
Has liked: 312 times
Been liked: 928 times

Re: Mics for guitar cabs. What has impressed you the most?

Post by Reg18 »

“But in the past I felt something was missing.. Was kinda flat sounding. Maybe I'm looking for more of that 'in the room sound' I dunno”

I’m looking into this as well, I’d like to find a good IR that’s of a couple of cab mics and like 20% blend room mic. I’m Sure they are out there but I haven’t found one yet.

User avatar
higainer
Vintage Post Junkie
Vintage Post Junkie
Posts: 1160
Joined: Wed Dec 27, 2006 7:10 pm
Location: Auckland
Has liked: 50 times
Been liked: 61 times

Re: Mics for guitar cabs. What has impressed you the most?

Post by higainer »

FWIW, I found Pete Thorn’s demo of UA OX box pretty interesting.
57 with Royer 121 seemed to be a good combo.

User avatar
griff
Vintage Post Junkie
Vintage Post Junkie
Posts: 1743
Joined: Sun Feb 12, 2017 6:57 pm
Has liked: 498 times
Been liked: 247 times

Re: Mics for guitar cabs. What has impressed you the most?

Post by griff »

Reg18 wrote:“But in the past I felt something was missing.. Was kinda flat sounding. Maybe I'm looking for more of that 'in the room sound' I dunno”

I’m looking into this as well, I’d like to find a good IR that’s of a couple of cab mics and like 20% blend room mic. I’m Sure they are out there but I haven’t found one yet.
I also tried adding reverb after the fact. Still wasn't happy.

User avatar
griff
Vintage Post Junkie
Vintage Post Junkie
Posts: 1743
Joined: Sun Feb 12, 2017 6:57 pm
Has liked: 498 times
Been liked: 247 times

Re: Mics for guitar cabs. What has impressed you the most?

Post by griff »

higainer wrote:FWIW, I found Pete Thorn’s demo of UA OX box pretty interesting.
57 with Royer 121 seemed to be a good combo.
Yeah the Top Box is on the gas list, but man, it's pricey.

User avatar
Green Bastard
Fender
Fender
Posts: 580
Joined: Thu Sep 25, 2008 4:30 pm
Has liked: 12 times
Been liked: 57 times

Re: Mics for guitar cabs. What has impressed you the most?

Post by Green Bastard »

Thomann has a fathead rip off for good price, only issue is their flatrate shipping is a lot when looking at small items
I got one off TM a while back, only used it a couple of times but liked it mixed with a 57.


User avatar
Reg18
Vintage Post Junkie
Vintage Post Junkie
Posts: 3657
Joined: Thu Feb 06, 2014 1:57 pm
Has liked: 312 times
Been liked: 928 times

Re: Mics for guitar cabs. What has impressed you the most?

Post by Reg18 »

Green Bastard wrote:Thomann has a fathead rip off for good price, only issue is their flatrate shipping is a lot when looking at small items
I got one off TM a while back, only used it a couple of times but liked it mixed with a 57.
It’s $85 flatrate aye? I’m looking at getting at Attenuator from them but it would be helpful if I could add a couple of other items to reduce the shipping cost.

Post Reply