Guitar Amp Mic Comparison

Part 1 of 3.

I set up guitar amp to play back a 30 second clip of previously recorded guitar (recorded DI and dry). I then set up and close micced the amp with 6 different microphones in two different locations each. This video is the results of the test.

Mic technique:
On axis - Diaphragm between 1-2" from front mesh, directly infront of the centre of the 10" driver.
Off axis - Diaphragm between 1-2" from front mesh, in a parallel tangent out from the edge of the driver, 45 degrees to the mesh.

Amp used: Morrel custom built amplifier, based on an early Fender model. High gain with a dash of spring reverb.

Microphones used:
1: Sennheiser MD-735 - Dynamic microphone primarily for stage use.
2: JBL Dynamic - Very low budget vocal dynamic microphone, came free with PA system.
3: AKG D112 - Large diaphragm dynamic microphone, designed for close micing kick drums.
4: AKG C1000S - Budget small diaphragm condenser microphone.
5: Audio Technica AT4050 - Large diaphragm condenser microphone.
6: Behringer B2 Pro - Budget large diaphragm condenser microphone.

Further recording info:
All mics mounted on their stock shock mounts and on similar stands. The room is not acoustically treated. The microphones were set in cardoid mode where appropiate and the -10db Pad activated. All microphones were recorded into a VS2480 using the stock preamps, with gain set so that they each peaked at around -12dbFs. All feeds are 'dry' with no EQ/comp.

Let me know if you find this useful. It was conducted purely for my own use but if you would like to see more then let me know and I will start other comparisons and experiments.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Microphone
• recording
• studio
• test
• guitar
• amp
• condenser
• dynamic
• ribbon
• akg
• audio
• technica
• behringer
• sennheiser

[wolfman109h]

hey i am new in microphones, but i need to know if ît sounds good if I mic my guitar Combo (line 6 spider IV 30) with a condenser mic...

would it sound good if i play with heavy distortion???

i would like to buy a cheap and midrange mic i am looging to buy a samsn c03u, need help!

[ChrisCummins]

@wolfman109h I would recommend a Shure SM57. Not much more than that condenser, but it has an excellent reputation for miccing guitar amps, and is pretty much the industry standard. It performs well above it's price range.

[MrMutron]

@ChrisCummins How do you like the B2? Have you used it for anything else than guitars? What about micing a amp from about 4 feet away or so?

[ChrisCummins]

@MrMutron The B2 is an interesting mic, but not one I use regularly. It has a curious peak in the low treble end. This gives quite a harsh and sibilant tone to vocals, but can work for drum overheads, depending on your taste. In the end I always chose the MD735s though. If you look at my recent drum videos, I am using MD735 overheads in those.

[MrMutron]

@ChrisCummins Is it hard to EQ it out? Is it a B2 or B2Pro?

[ChrisCummins]

@MrMutron A bit of aggressive EQing can help alleviate the problem, yes. And it's the B-2 Pro.

[deadbirdsings]

Oddly enough, I thought the cheap JBL dynamic mic sounded best, and the AKG D112 sounded a lot better in this application than I expected. I didn't like the MD-735, C1000S, or AT4050 at all. The Behringer B2 Pro wasn't too bad, especially off axis.

[nuncle2000]

I'm impressed at how the B-2 had so little off-axis coloration, even compared to the AT, which probably costs 4 or 5 times as much. I bet that's not a bad mic to use for M/S. Have you tried it?

[sumnerlance1]

You know what combo of mics always sounds great is a large diaphragm condenser on the center cone and a beefy dynamic mic on the outter edge. A great combo is an AT4047 in the center and a MD421 on the edge.

[0UT3RL1M1T5]

Hey I was wondering what kind of mic to get to mic my peavey tube amp, it has two (12"?) drivers and I am on a budget. However, I do need a mic that has good specs. I would be using the mic to record on a reel to reel so I would say I'd need the high freq response to be around 20,000 hz. Any thoughts on what model or type of mic I should use? Also, should I get two mics or one stereo mic? Thanks and i loved the vid! Great playing by the way.

[wolfman109h]

@ChrisCummins

hey thanks for your reply

but i'd like to know, how i can have good and "quiet" quality, cause i don't have a studio, it's just my room where i sleep.