Nylon Gtr Budget Mic Recommendations?

[EyreSpace]

I have a friend recording solo nylon string guitar. He asked me to check with the community at large about specific mic choices others had success with.

He likes vintage Neumanns, but, would like to limit his purchase to $1.000.00. Any recommendations?

Thanks

[malice]

I tend to like LDs on classical gtr.

If he likes vintage Neumann, my pick would be something like fet47.

But as the budget won't allow this, how about an aniversery edtion of the Brauner PhantomC, it is about the right price, and he'll have a killer vocal mic to start with.

malice

[otek]

For solo classical guitar, I tend to use an SDC X/Y a few feet away (say, KM-100s with the omni capsule). But since he specifically wants to buy one mic, I'd do what Malice said and get an LDC.

My pick would be a Brauner VM-1, but since that too is out of your budget, the Phantom C sounds like a great alternative.

[Brendo]

I don't see where it specifically says one mic?

[otek]

I don't see where it specifically says one mic?

You're right, it doesn't. Gold star for reading comprehension. :Wink:

Though, with a preference for vintage Neumanns and a budget of one grand, you might argue that it sorta limits it to one mic by design....

[Brendo]

Well how much is a pair of C451? Pair of C414? Pair of Røde? Surely there's a pair of something, decent, around a grand?

[malice]

A pair of Josephson C-42 is about the price.

malice

[malice]

And btw, I do like 451 on Classical, but I would advice to try to find the earlier ones, and stay away from the new versions.

malice

[Tim Halligan]

Regardless of which mic he chooses, there is no requirement for stereo.

Unless the guy has a stellar room, and the engineering chops to make the best use of it, there is no point in spending the dosh on a pair.

Do the maths: 1 good mic VS. 2 not-as-good mics.

Whaddya think? :lol:

Also, as far as I'm aware, some of the best sounding classical guitar records I have (Pepe Romero's Rodrigo CD springs to mind...) were recorded with one guitar mic in the right place in the right room in front of an orchestra. It brings a nice focus to the recording IMHO.


Cheers,
Tim

[studjo]

I love the Sennheiser MKH80 for classical guitar (not so much for steel string) - but I fear it's a bit more than 1K - perhaps the Sennheiser MKH40 (or whatever that cardioid mic is called)


Jo

[stevep]

AKG 414s are good Mics for nylon Gtrs Also great workhorse mics to have around






steve perkins

[otek]

And btw, I do like 451 on Classical, but I would advice to try to find the earlier ones, and stay away from the new versions.

Absolutely. The old ones are much nicer sounding mics.

I use the "B" models a lot (the new ones) as an additional snare mic, paired with a 57 or a Beyer 201 - it has a pad, so it can take the beating, and that unnatural high end lift works well for that purpose.


Tim Halligan:

Stereo is by no means mandatory in an ensemble situation, but I don't remember hearing a lot of mono solo classical guitar records lately, which is why I go with an X/Y pair.

If you are using artificial reverb in lieu of a stellar room, I totally agree one mic will suffice.

Generally though, like you said, one good mic is better than two mediocre ones. Though if I were recording almost exclusively classical music, a great stereo pair of something would be high on my list.

[stevep]

Well how much is a pair of C451? Pair of C414? Pair of Røde? Surely there's a pair of something, decent, around a grand?

You can get a pair of 414s for 1000$ in perfect condition :Thumbsup:






steve perkins

[Tim Halligan]

Generally though, like you said, one good mic is better than two mediocre ones. Though if I were recording almost exclusively classical music, a great stereo pair of something would be high on my list.


Absolutely.

...and mics that end with "...eops" would be contenders... :lol:


Cheers,
Tim

[malice]

Generally though, like you said, one good mic is better than two mediocre ones. Though if I were recording almost exclusively classical music, a great stereo pair of something would be high on my list.

If it is for classical music, I would say : try to save for a pair of DPAs then.

malice

[Brendo]

Absolutely.

...and mics that end with "...eops" would be contenders... :lol:


Cheers,
Tim

Sennheops?

AKGEOPS?

BeyerDyneops?

[otek]

If it is for classical music, I would say : try to save for a pair of DPAs then.

The DPA's are amazing.

If he can't afford that, at least a pair of Neumann KM-130's or 131's would do the trick nicely.

[otek]

Sennheops?

AKGEOPS?

BeyerDyneops?


I think Tim meant "Schoeps"... :Roll eyes:

[G. Hoffman]

Do the maths: 1 good mic VS. 2 not-as-good mics.

Whaddya think? :lol:




Or, maybe, one not as good mic and good and real (i.e., not foam) room treatment?



Gabriel

[G. Hoffman]

I think Tim meant "Schoeps"... :Roll eyes:



Yeah, those, or a DPA (or two) would be my first thoughts on the matter. Which one depends on what you are after.


Gabriel

[chrisj]

Or, maybe, one not as good mic and good and real (i.e., not foam) room treatment?

:icon_eek:

Well, THERE'S a thought...

Actually I'd have to agree bigtime just on the strength that you probably don't want to super-close-mic or gobo the thing to death and even very cheap mics (like cheap LDCs) can pick up loads of room.

Though I suppose you could record real dead (beware low room resonances though, no cheap foam!) and do artifical reverb, like convolution verb...

[otek]

Also, don't forget (and I think Gabriel might back me up on this one), classical guitars are built to project. The sound only comes together completely at a couple of feet's distance.

I'm sure this case can be made for a lot of steel-string acoustics too, however it's been my experience that a classical guitar in particular gets extremely resonant and boomy when miked up close.