The Microphone Poll: SM57, I5, or ???

[dystrust]

Re: The Microphone Poll: SM57, I5, or ???

I'm thinking about a mic for live use on my 18 Watter combo (Celestion Classic Lead 80, open back). We're looking ahead to the big college reunion gig in May, and we're short on mics, so I'm thinking about grabbing myself another. My guitar sound is jangly 80's - clean to crunch (no really high gain) lots of chorus & delay, BB Preamp for solos. Think Summers, Marr, Honeymann-Scott.

I have and use both. In general I prefer the i5 because it seems a bit less bright and harsh than a SM57; while it isn't as fat as a MD421; kind of a middle ground. My bro loves using an i5 as his main guitar amp mic. For your application I'd stick with a 57 as it's more 80s sounding. If you want to thicken your sound a bit and roll off some bright, try an i5. Overall I would want both. (and a 421)

 

[krankguitarist]

Re: The Microphone Poll: SM57, I5, or ???

Oh ok. You're not as cool as I thought then...

One would do well to respect the Moose. A single look at his studio is enough to make a man's testicles recede into his body.

I believe you mean the Sennheiser e906 as well, which has a 3-position treble switch on it.

Here's the two:

http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.co...9-Silver-Dynamic-Guitar-Microphone?sku=276668

http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.co...e906-Dynamic-Guitar-Amp-Microphone?sku=270865

 

[jeremy]

Re: The Microphone Poll: SM57, I5, or ???

The 57 has a nasal midrange, harsh top & murky bottom... not a great sound and plugging 'em into an inexpensive IC micamp like Smackie or Maudio just exaggerates those qualities.

thats how i feel about em. i keep doing sessions and the engineer uses a 57 and it kills me, but i aint paying for it so whatever. ive made the guy setup a condenser but since i wasnt there for mixing, i dont think much of it got used

 

[supernosher]

Re: The Microphone Poll: SM57, I5, or ???

One would do well to respect the Moose. A single look at his studio is enough to make a man's testicles recede into his body.

I believe you mean the Sennheiser e906 as well, which has a 3-position treble switch on it.

Here's the two:

http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.co...9-Silver-Dynamic-Guitar-Microphone?sku=276668

http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.co...e906-Dynamic-Guitar-Amp-Microphone?sku=270865

Maybe it's all internet rumor, but do me a favor and search google for "senn e609 black" and you'll find a few threads about the ~$300 black version of the e609.

But yeah, that's his job... I've just been a hobbyist for 12 years... It's smart to invest in yourself as a business, such as he has been doing, apparent by his gear.

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: The Microphone Poll: SM57, I5, or ???

I was using the Audix D2 for a while, as it had a pleasant lower midrange bump that really works well with electric guitar.

That was until I got a Sennheiser e609 Silver. This is the best mic I have ever heard for electric guitar; it's amazing. For recording, it would slay with a 2nd mic (421 or SM57?) next to it, but even on it's own it's tremendous. It has a H U G E lower midrange bump that just makes guitars sound ginormous.

Here's a quick clip I did on Sunday night:

http://www.soundclick.com/util/getplayer.m3u?id=7385279&q=hi

 

[That90'sGuy]

Re: The Microphone Poll: SM57, I5, or ???

Well, I was pretty happy with the MD-421 U5 I have, but now you guys are making me contemplate adding a e609 to the collection.

Heck, while we're talking about ideal guitar mic setups, has anyone compared the Royer R-121 to those other options? I've tossed around the thought of getting one, but I've never followed through on pulling the trigger.

 

[supernosher]

Re: The Microphone Poll: SM57, I5, or ???

Well, I was pretty happy with the MD-421 U5 I have, but now you guys are making me contemplate adding a e609 to the collection.

Heck, while we're talking about ideal guitar mic setups, has anyone compared the Royer R-121 to those other options? I've tossed around the thought of getting one, but I've never followed through on pulling the trigger.

Dude, the price tag alone (on the Royer) should tell you enough.

 

[butnut]

Re: The Microphone Poll: SM57, I5, or ???

I use a 57 and E609... with 4 12's and a mix bag of Celestions (G12Hs, Classic Lead 80 and Vintage 30) I feel 2 different mics catching 2 different speakers will give me a pretty kool mixed tone...at least I hope so.

 

[Rich_S]

Re: The Microphone Poll: SM57, I5, or ???

I left the E609 off the list because (although it looks like a fancy, high-end microphone) I coulda sworn I read some stuff around hear saying it was overrated and not that great. Now, I'm feeling a big bunch o' E609 love. Maybe I should have that and the 57 in my bag of tricks.

 

[wahwah]

Re: The Microphone Poll: SM57, I5, or ???

Anyone who likes the e609 should A/B it against the Heil PR-30. IMO, the old standards have been superseded by a substantial margin.




Cheers.................................... wahwah

 

[ErikH]

Re: The Microphone Poll: SM57, I5, or ???

My wallet won't let me try the Heil....LOL. I'm planning on getting an e609 myself after hearing another local player use one in a live setting. I like the address design too since I don't have a small mic stand to use for my amp.

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: The Microphone Poll: SM57, I5, or ???

The Heil has a very flat frequency response, which is not what everyone is looking for. Not knocking the PR30, 'tis a great mic. I just found that, for my stuff, the e609 scratched the itch.

 

[Rich_S]

Re: The Microphone Poll: SM57, I5, or ???

Premier Guitar just reviewed a bunch of mics. They said the PR40 was "almost nondescript, but in a good way." Sounds like WahWah's description of the PR30, which I wish PG had reviewed. They also left out the E609.

 

[supernosher]

Re: The Microphone Poll: SM57, I5, or ???

try looking at the mic shootouts over at http://www.frontendaudio.com they have clips of most of the mics mentioned here on drums and guitar

 

[J Moose]

Re: The Microphone Poll: SM57, I5, or ???

Oh ok. You're not as cool as I thought then... Not that I've "seen" one, but there's plenty of talk around about the black ones that were more $$$ - and then the old 409 and the 906 are around too.

Have you tried the TAB transformer in a 57 that Mercenary sells?

Huh...

Well I guess if shops like Electric Ladyland & the Phish Barn aren't cool enough, where would you recommend I go? And all those festival dates & theaters last year... yeah... moedown sucked. That wasn't very cool at all.

A few years back I was collecting a weekly paycheck from Mercenary Audio... and I did 100% of the framing and sheetrock on their Methlab which made Mix Magazines class of 2008... that also wasn't cool.

But don't you worry... if you ever decide to hire me to produce your record, I'll make sure that the engineers & I only use "cool" microphones regardless of what things actually sound like. After all, nobody buys records for songs... they buy them because the production process utilized all the cool, hip gear.

 

[J Moose]

Re: The Microphone Poll: SM57, I5, or ???

Anyone who likes the e609 should A/B it against the Heil PR-30. IMO, the old standards have been superseded by a substantial margin.

I dunno about that superseded part. The Heil mics I've used have all been really great tools, but the PR30 seems to be very much in the vein of a 421, RE20 or Beyer M88. All great mics and mostly interchangeable...

Here's a bit for ya'll...

The 'wrong' mic in the right spot will ALWAYS sound better then the most expensive mic in the wrong spot.

And there are no bad microphones... only bad applications for microphones.

 

[supernosher]

Re: The Microphone Poll: SM57, I5, or ???

Huh...

Well I guess if shops like Electric Ladyland & the Phish Barn aren't cool enough, where would you recommend I go? And all those festival dates & theaters last year... yeah... moedown sucked. That wasn't very cool at all.

A few years back I was collecting a weekly paycheck from Mercenary Audio... and I did 100% of the framing and sheetrock on their Methlab which made Mix Magazines class of 2008... that also wasn't cool.

But don't you worry... if you ever decide to hire me to produce your record, I'll make sure that the engineers & I only use "cool" microphones regardless of what things actually sound like. After all, nobody buys records for songs... they buy them because the production process utilized all the cool, hip gear.

HEY relax, I was just f'in with ya! No need to puff up, bro. You beat me at recording by default since I am not even in the field.

 

[jeremy]

Re: The Microphone Poll: SM57, I5, or ???

Maybe it's all internet rumor, but do me a favor and search google for "senn e609 black" and you'll find a few threads about the ~$300 black version of the e609.

But yeah, that's his job... I've just been a hobbyist for 12 years... It's smart to invest in yourself as a business, such as he has been doing, apparent by his gear.

Dude, the price tag alone (on the Royer) should tell you enough.

HEY relax, I was just f'in with ya! No need to puff up, bro. You beat me at recording by default since I am not even in the field.

one should be careful of speaking of what he has not see or heard first hand and cost doesnt always = quality

 

[supernosher]

Re: The Microphone Poll: SM57, I5, or ???

one should be careful of speaking of what he has not see or heard first hand and cost doesnt always = quality

Which is why I never commented on how they sound. I also made a disclaimer, but I think that what I was saying was more along the lines of correcting misinformation, rather than what you are insinuating: misinformation. I was obviously not giving an opinion on something which I know nothing about, which is how you are making this out.

Also, I was saying that the R-121 is not even in the same league as the rest of the mics mentioned in this thread...

Wow, that's very general and condescending of you, Jeremy. You obviously have a chip on your shoulder because I've schooled you in PM or something. Now hurry and delete this post!!

 

[jeremy]

Re: The Microphone Poll: SM57, I5, or ???

i dont have a chip on my shoulder bro. do you?

funny, i dont remember learning anything from any of your pm's