Recommend me a mic for recording acoustic lap slide guitar

Hans Henrik Rasmussen · Post by **Hans Henrik Rasmussen** » 13 Jan 2010 4:39 pm

Hi all,

I’m looking to get a better microphone for home recording of acoustic guitar (primarily lap slide, but also some conventional) at a budget of $200-$300. I’m using a M-Audio Fast-track Ultra usb interface (and an AT2020 mic for vocals). I'm looking to record vocals and guitar at the same time.

Which microphones would you recommend?

And would the advantages of a pair of microphones beat the advantages of spending twice as much on a single one? (also, I'm unsure if such a set up works as well when the guitar is lying in your lap). Oh, and should I at this point think about spending less on the microphone(s) and instead getting an outside preamp to replace those built-in to the fast track ultra?

Your help is greatly appreciated!

Thanks,
Hans

John Gould · Post by **John Gould** » 13 Jan 2010 5:44 pm

this is a mic that I have used with great results for a bunch of different acoustic instruments. Not very expensive.
I hope this helps

Justin Douglas · Post by **Justin Douglas** » 14 Jan 2010 9:47 am

i'd recommend something from NAIANT (http://naiant.com/studiostore/microphones.html) or a KEL audio HM-1 or HM-3C (http://www.kelaudio.com). Bang for the buck, they're some of the best, most natural sounding mics around.
Especially the Naiant stuff. I'd be happy to email you acoustic guitar examples recorded with both brands of mics if you'd like.

Good luck!

Rick Campbell · Post by **Rick Campbell** » 14 Jan 2010 11:29 am

I generally use a small condenser on acoustic guitars. AKG C-1000 just because that's what I have. Don't get caught up in the "best mic" game. You'll end up in the poor house. The mic is just a part of it, it greatly depends on your other gear and how you go about mic placement, EQ, compression, etc.... There's been a lot of great recordings made with Sure 57 and 58's and a lot of junk recorded with $3000 Neumans.

FYI: I have a buddy in the business that let me borrow some expensive mics for a weekend. I recorded about a dozen tracks of the exact same playing using cheap and expensive mics. They all sounded okay, none of them sounded bad, I could hear a little difference in them but nothing to get excited about. I had others listen and nobody chose the same mic, and nobody chose the most expensive one.

If you do a lot of reading you'll get the idea that "if I just had the right mic, my recordings would sound much better" I've been there, and I can tell you from eperience, the difference is not drastic. No, a $20 Radio Shack mic is not a recording mic, but especially for home studio use, you don't need to spend $1000 either.

I have a friend that bought this $99 large and small condenser package and he loves it. I heard some of his stuff and it sounded great.

http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/pr ... sku=273166

Al Terhune · Post by **Al Terhune** » 14 Jan 2010 8:11 pm

http://www.cascademicrophones.com/cascade_VIN-JET.html

I really like this mike on my resonator. If you go to the home page link after the above link, you'll see a picture of Shelby Lynne using it to record a Gibson mandolin. I also use it exclusively for recording amps for my lap/pedal steel recording.

Robby Springfield · Post by **Robby Springfield** » 17 Jan 2010 10:50 pm

Take a look at the Kel mics. These are absolutely wonderful mics.

Rick Campbell · Post by **Rick Campbell** » 18 Jan 2010 12:59 am

Robbie,
Just curious. Which KEL mics do you own or use personally? There's like three diffrent models.

Robby Springfield · Post by **Robby Springfield** » 20 Jan 2010 12:00 am

Hey Rick,

I have the HM-1. This little mic is very versatile and I have found nothing in it's price range that even comes close. It doesn't have the high-end edge boost that most of the mics out there have. Makes it really nice on vocals and acoustics. It's a 1/2 inch diaphram so you get a big mic sound but it is not so big that you pick up a lot of bad room stuff...which works well for those that are working in less than perfect invironments.

Johan Jansen · Post by **Johan Jansen** » 20 Jan 2010 12:32 am

AKD S7
http://www.pro-life.be/N_frame.html?htt ... rt_16.html

Rick Campbell · Post by **Rick Campbell** » 20 Jan 2010 6:56 am

Robby Springfield wrote:Hey Rick,

I have the HM-1. This little mic is very versatile and I have found nothing in it's price range that even comes close. It doesn't have the high-end edge boost that most of the mics out there have. Makes it really nice on vocals and acoustics. It's a 1/2 inch diaphram so you get a big mic sound but it is not so big that you pick up a lot of bad room stuff...which works well for those that are working in less than perfect invironments.

Thanks Robby.

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 21 Mar 2010 4:36 am

also don't be afraid to watch the
"SALES" and blowouts.

I couldn't agree with Rick more on this MIC subject and make sure you understand your purpose, which is understood to be home recording of Guitar and vocal at the same time which means lots of cross talking going on.

Over the holidays I found one of the net stores blowing out CAD CM217 small condensers, normally $60 each blow out 2 @ $50...It was a no brainer. I think Musicians Friend.

I have used them for Acoustic Guitars ( don't forget fresh strings) and Dobro and they are quite fine for the intended low budget purpose. I bought them for drum overheads but have not used them for that purpose yet. Believe it or not I prefer them to the old AKG D19 for AC guitars but that's also very nice.

I also use the standard dynamics and some LD condensers which everyone loves, even me...but for the intended purpose,bright acoustic guitars, these are nice little mics. The roll off allows for some flexibility. Purpose is everything...

I don't really own any really hi end mics because at the end of the day fresh strings and "good in tune playing" yield the best results anyway !

Here they are with the AKG... For $50 there wasn't much decision, they even came with 20 ft cables !

Ulf Edlund · Post by **Ulf Edlund** » 21 Mar 2010 12:13 pm

Line Audio CM3.
A small diagram condenser.
This is a VERY good high quality michrophone at a more than reasonable price.

http://www.lineaudio.se/linemic.htm

Chris Dorch · Post by **Chris Dorch** » 21 Mar 2010 5:33 pm

I have used a pair of MXL's 992/993 (marshall mics) and they sound really good.. Cheap too.. sounded better than quite a number of AKG's, Shures and Neumans...

YMMV

Brick Spieth · Post by **Brick Spieth** » 24 Mar 2010 4:05 pm

Shure SM81 is a very nice small diaphram condenser. Two is really good for all kinds of acoustic instruments or drum overheads.

Ulric Utsi-Åhlin · Post by **Ulric Utsi-Åhlin** » 25 Mar 2010 12:53 am

It´s true that the difference between expensive &
cheap mikes will prove negligible if You don´t know
how to use them,but "You get what You pay for" is
also 100% correct;professional studios don´t invest
in equipment they could do without.McUtsi

John Macy · Post by **John Macy** » 25 Mar 2010 10:13 am

Amen, Ulric...

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 26 Mar 2010 3:20 am

Of couse that is true ( above ) but the purpose of a professional studio is to provide PROFESSIONAL results which they charge moderate to high fee's for and they are competing with other professional studio's. Some studios charge more per hour than the cost of a low cost mic which can do a decent job in a home studio. EX: A Shure 57 can be bought for about $80.

The question in this thread is about simple home recording and fine results can be had with simple gear.

I may be wrong but I don't think the OP is recording his Lap Steel and sending the track to Sterling Sound for mastering.

purpose.....