best mic for recording guitar and snare drum?

AndrewD · 2010-07-12T10:05:45+00:00

Hi all, Can anyone advise me what the cheapest, decent mic would be for. a) recording a guitar amp b) recording a snare drum I don't have a big budget but...

best mic for recording guitar and snare drum?

Werner-Carstens

Talking about 58's, I actually find that certain electric guitar tones record better with a 58 than a 57. Have you guys found the same?

Mr-M

Another vote for the Audix I5!

I have an SM57 myself and a friend of mine has an I5 and after borrowing his I5 a couple times when I ran two amps in stereo live, I have to say I prefer the I5. Smoother top end (the SM57 can make a high gain amp sound fizzy without careful placement) and a more present bottom end. I felt it was more faithful in it's reproduction of the tone coming out of my amp than the 57. My buddy says he loves it on snare drum in his studio, although I didn't try it on that. I'd say go for the I5. AFAIK it's cheaper than a SM57. And...a quick Google search confirms it - R1119 at Orange Music and R995 at Sound.co.za

AlanRatcliffe

The beauty of an SM57 is while it's not the most accurate of sounds, it always works in the mix. Sometimes a bit to bright and fizzy for some sounds, but then you move it away from the centre of the speaker a little and/or angle it slightly and it smooths out.

Another great mic for electric is the Sennheiser MD421. Not sure how much they are going for though.

PeteM

Alan Ratcliffe wrote: Another great mic for electric is the Sennheiser MD421. Not sure how much they are going for though.

Yeah, the Sennheiser MD421 is great but quite pricy at US$570. I have great results with a Sennheiser e835 which costs around US$150. It's similar to the Shure SM58, but I think it has more clarity across the frequency spectrum especially at the bottom end.

Neps

I love the MD21's.. They work on almos anything..toms,snares,kickdrums,saxes,trumpets,guit amps and even some vocals.. But they are a tad pricey..

I can also concur with everyone else,if budget is the thing, then go for the PG57.. The only difference I foud between them and th SM's was just the construction..And maybe they ound a bit 'narrow'.. But it's a great mic for the price..

AndrewD

I have the opportunity to buy a couple of beta56a's at a very decent price. A good call for snare and guitar amp? Or should i keep hunting for SM57's? (would love a MD421 but they are definitly out of reach at the moment.)

AlanRatcliffe

The Beta 56a is pretty good on both snare and guitar amp (and I like it on toms though - but you need one per drum), and is smaller than a 57, so it's easier to place, but SM57s still rule for me. Like the Beta 57, the 56 has a wider frequency range (up to 16KHz instead of 15K on the 57) so can be a little harsh and while the hypercardioid pattern helps leakage it can makes positioning the mic a little more tricky. The built in stand adaptor on the 56a can be a bit problematic after time too.

AndrewD

I bought the Beta 56a's - haven't really put them through their paces yet but I'm very happy so far.

I was very interested to learn that the Beta 56, 57 and 58 all have the same capsule inside, and it's only the casings that are different!

VetGat

those mics are all great but really there is no better overall choice than an sm57 and i am certain that if you shop around R2000 could drop down to R1200. many of those second hand ones also available at all bang and strummit- ronny mill probably has a huge collection of second hand ones being a drummer himself and thats where most guys sell there pro stuff when they need cash urgently

AndrewD

For less than half of that I picked up the Beta56a's....

rikus

Sorry for the mini hi-jack, but there seem to be some knowledgeable people hanging around in this thread. Does anyone know where I can hunt down a Shure 545 locally?

TomCat

rikus wrote: Sorry for the mini hi-jack, but there seem to be some knowledgeable people hanging around in this thread. Does anyone know where I can hunt down a Shure 545 locally?

Whaaat!!!....That's going back awhile....... ? ?

There are probably a few still around somewhere.......Try putting an ad on Gumtree.....never know what will turn up.

There is also a very remote possibility that Wild & Marr might have one or two as old stock........

rikus

TomCat wrote:
rikus wrote: Sorry for the mini hi-jack, but there seem to be some knowledgeable people hanging around in this thread. Does anyone know where I can hunt down a Shure 545 locally?
Whaaat!!!....That's going back awhile....... ? ?

There are probably a few still around somewhere.......Try putting an ad on Gumtree.....never know what will turn up.

There is also a very remote possibility that Wild & Marr might have one or two as old stock........

Thanks TC! Yup, taking it back a bit... it was Paul Butterfield harp mic of choice. Very versatile tone and physically very robust. It's a favourite with harp players because the mic has got an internal impedance matching transformer, so it plugs straight into the amp...

I've tried the Gumtree thing, got a hit, but the guy wasn't really keen to part with it...

Will give Wild & Marr a call.

TomCat

@ rikus.........The 545 is still a current model..... ?......I thought that went off the market ages ago but it is still available.

Wild & Marr should have stock then. (Maybe not Cape Town but JHB should have)

Gideonl

What pretty much everyone here said...

Shure SM57 ? It just automagically makes everything sound good before you even start with production.

raithza

how to spot a fake sm57... (source: http://acapella.harmony-central.com/showthread.php?t=2101768 )

1. If it's to good to be true it probably is. This mic is usually $99 USD new so if someone is offering a new 57 for $40 more than likely a fake. Even used 57s fetch anywhere from $50-70.

2. Look at the XLR connector at the bottom, on a real sure the pins will be labled 1, 2, and 3. Fakes usually have some other brand marking or no marking at all.

3. Look at the capsule head (58 only) if there is a caution sticker... fake.

4. Unscrew the windscreen (again 58) look at the bottom of the windscreen. There will be a lip here where the threads are. If the lip is flat it's a fake, this is supposed to be rounded.

5. On both a 57 and 58 unscrew the middle of the mic. There should be 2 wires one green one yellow. Sometimes counterfeit ones have the same colors sometimes not. If it's anything but yellow and green it be a fake YAR!

6. Look at the circuit board the wires are soldiered to. There should be a red control stamp, fakes usually omit this.

7. A fake mic will usually be lighter than a real one.

8. Authentic mics ship with accessories including a microphone clip, cloth cable tie, Shure sticker, carrying pouch, manual, and warranty card. Fake microphones tend not to include all of these accessories; most obviously missing is the warranty card and cable tie. Also, the bag will be of low quality -- sometimes with a "Made in China" sticker on the inside. Remember, Shure's microphones are made in Mexico, not in China. (Direct quote from Joe Shambro).

9. Lastly, trust your ears, the real deal sounds better.

TomCat

raithza wrote: how to spot a fake sm57... (source: http://acapella.harmony-central.com/showthread.php?t=2101768 )

1. If it's to good to be true it probably is. This mic is usually $99 USD new so if someone is offering a new 57 for $40 more than likely a fake. Even used 57s fetch anywhere from $50-70.

2. Look at the XLR connector at the bottom, on a real sure the pins will be labled 1, 2, and 3. Fakes usually have some other brand marking or no marking at all.

3. Look at the capsule head (58 only) if there is a caution sticker... fake.

4. Unscrew the windscreen (again 58) look at the bottom of the windscreen. There will be a lip here where the threads are. If the lip is flat it's a fake, this is supposed to be rounded.

5. On both a 57 and 58 unscrew the middle of the mic. There should be 2 wires one green one yellow. Sometimes counterfeit ones have the same colors sometimes not. If it's anything but yellow and green it be a fake YAR!

6. Look at the circuit board the wires are soldiered to. There should be a red control stamp, fakes usually omit this.

7. A fake mic will usually be lighter than a real one.

8. Authentic mics ship with accessories including a microphone clip, cloth cable tie, Shure sticker, carrying pouch, manual, and warranty card. Fake microphones tend not to include all of these accessories; most obviously missing is the warranty card and cable tie. Also, the bag will be of low quality -- sometimes with a "Made in China" sticker on the inside. Remember, Shure's microphones are made in Mexico, not in China. (Direct quote from Joe Shambro).

9. Lastly, trust your ears, the real deal sounds better.

Nice one.

Also the XLR's in the bottom of the mic are Switchcraft. If memory serves me correctly the older ones are light green and the newer ones are black.

Regarding Beta Mics, another way to spot a fake is that the real ones have a concertina type bushing inside the XLR to provide a rattle free connection with the cable. The fakes do not have this although people pull the bush out as it makes the cable hard to plug in sometimes.