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Post by delb0y on Apr 14, 2022 17:10:42 GMT
I've been experimenting this week with mic-ing up my acoustic guitar with my old SM58, which I plug into my AER Compact 60. But it's so quiet! I have to have the amp turned way up just to hear anything. I'm assuming there's a better microphone for this job, but what? Any advice?
Derek
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Post by malcolm on Apr 14, 2022 18:16:51 GMT
Welcome to the sixties, that's what we did back then and that's why good acoustic pickups were invented and became such a success.
Seriously, if you want to play in front of a microphone, you need a condenser mic and then you will have to deal with feedback issues.
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Post by delb0y on Apr 14, 2022 18:38:17 GMT
Yes, I have the Tanglewoods with pickups installed which are great, but this my gypsy jazz guitar, my dreadnaught, and my resonator, none of which have pickups. I will look into condensers. Cheers, Derek
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Post by woodtoner on Apr 14, 2022 21:12:43 GMT
I'm currently loving the Rode NT1-A into my Roland AC60. I highly recommend the mic (and amp) for acoustics. I assume your amp has phantom power? if not phantom power units are available. I ran the mic into the mic channel and a K&K into the guitar channel which sounded great and then I tried a 10 band graphic EQ between the K&K and the amp and it sounded even better still - so that's my new rig. The mic on its own sounds fantastic without the K&K. The Roland has a handy anti-feeback knob/button that works a treat so I have no feedback issues whatsoever. The mic could pick up a fly fart at a thousand yards. I picked mine up at cash converters for £80. Probably the best £80 I've ever spent.
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Post by ocarolan on Apr 14, 2022 21:19:37 GMT
Not the only possibility by a very long way, but I got four of these - www.gear4music.com/PA-DJ-and-Lighting/Audio-Technica-MB4K-Cardioid-Condenser-Microphone/10Q4?origin=product-ads&gclid=Cj0KCQjwjN-SBhCkARIsACsrBz7jnAnCU4LsAST-XMINu1bCgog44jUnV5Ko1YKzvEGUrtm76cbNPNAaAg-mEALw_wcBfor our church hall. They are cheap for the quality they give; battery or (better) phantom power; great for vocal but also acoustic guitar works well through them for recording or live in the right situation if you stay close to it (or better, use two). Streets better than an SM58 for guitar in my experience as you don't need to be on top of them to get a decent signal - they pickup up at a greater distance than SM58 which is more of a lollipop mike for close vocal use. I can't recommend from personal use any other mikes- have stuck with these for 10 years or so. A large diameter condenser would give better results for recording but these can be difficult to use in some live situations unless you can control the external conditions. If you were able to try one (?borrowed) in the situations you wish to use it that would obviously be helpful, but may not be possible. I wouldn't contemplate trying one at a pub gig though... Keith
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Post by lavaman on Apr 14, 2022 21:24:27 GMT
Derek, I'd try a small diameter condensor mic. One of the best is the Neumann KM 184, but they are expensive. One of the cheaper alternatives (and there are many) is the Rode NT5. woodtoner 's suggestion has merit. The Rode NT1-A is good value and can double up as a vocal mic too. Iain
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Post by woodtoner on Apr 14, 2022 21:27:43 GMT
Also a neat trick for combating feedback problems when using a mic is to cover 1/4 of your soundhole with a piece of paper.
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Post by papadon on Apr 15, 2022 1:59:32 GMT
My vote in the moderately priced range is for the Audio Technica 2085.
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Post by papadon on Apr 15, 2022 2:21:18 GMT
Also a neat trick for combating feedback problems when using a mic is to cover 1/4 of your soundhole with a piece of paper. +1. I cut one of those rubber plugs in half and it does a pretty good job with a pickup as well.
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Post by surfguy13 on Apr 15, 2022 7:34:20 GMT
SM58s are really great mikes but not the best option for an acoustic straight into a combo. There are some superb reasonably priced condenser mikes out there but my go to no-nonsense mike for acoustic is an SM57. I have used my ancient SM57 for countless years for miking up guitar and bass cabs as well as miking up acoustics and it does everything so well. Very easy to set up and tough as nails. It is one of the very few dynamic mikes that work well for acoustics. I have never had any problems with volume with the SM57 and I normally place it around 10" from the guitar, pointing diagonally at the 12th-14th fret. At the moment I am using it straight into an ACUS for strings acoustic amp, without a preamp, and for what I want/need it is perfection.
You can pick up a SM57 for peanuts and they are definitely worth trying.
Although they are not necessarily thought of as the ultimate acoustic compatible mike I have always had great results with a SA2200 and they are not expensive. In fact there are numerous great condenser mikes between £100 and £200.
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Post by peterh on Apr 15, 2022 14:42:44 GMT
Hello all,
Is it possible you just need an "impedance transformer" if you are plugging in an XLR cable ?
Don't really understand the technical stuff but it increases the volume significantly, with my old Trace 40 R amp.
Some one else will hopefully know why and how they work... I'm sure!
Kind regards
Peter
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Post by slidingwolf on Apr 17, 2022 7:56:43 GMT
SM58s are really great mikes but not the best option for an acoustic straight into a combo. There are some superb reasonably priced condenser mikes out there but my go to no-nonsense mike for acoustic is an SM57. I have used my ancient SM57 for countless years for miking up guitar and bass cabs as well as miking up acoustics and it does everything so well. Very easy to set up and tough as nails. It is one of the very few dynamic mikes that work well for acoustics. I have never had any problems with volume with the SM57 and I normally place it around 10" from the guitar, pointing diagonally at the 12th-14th fret. At the moment I am using it straight into an ACUS for strings acoustic amp, without a preamp, and for what I want/need it is perfection. You can pick up a SM57 for peanuts and they are definitely worth trying. Although they are not necessarily thought of as the ultimate acoustic compatible mike I have always had great results with a SA2200 and they are not expensive. In fact there are numerous great condenser mikes between £100 and £200. Another vote for the SM57. And the AKG C1000S.
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Post by dreadnought28 on Apr 17, 2022 12:54:03 GMT
Plus 1 for the SM57. Great inexpensive microphones I’ve used live many times over the years in conjunction with a 58 on vocals.
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Post by malcolm on Apr 19, 2022 18:48:36 GMT
Plus 1 for the SM57. Great inexpensive microphones I’ve used live many times over the years in conjunction with a 58 on vocals. This was the standard combination back in the sixties, but we have much more choice now. Also probably into a PA rather than an amp, which would work better.
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Post by Matt Milton on Apr 20, 2022 8:34:51 GMT
In terms of dynamic microphones, I would look for a modern neodymium mic rather than an SM57 or 58. They tend to have a louder output. Go for one that is supercardioid or hypercardioid as it is less likely to feedback.
In terms of condenser microphones, go for a small diaphragm one. There are loads of cheap small diaphgragm 'pencil' mics around and even the dirt cheap ones are pretty good. I have Thomann's cheapest supercardioid pencil condensers (they are about 30 quid) and they are absolutely fine. Even for recording.
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