A mic for recording acoustic guitars/mandolin/banjo

[dillon]

I now got the electric guitar cab mic
I would like some advice on a nice large
or small condenser mic for recording acoustic
guitars.
My thoughts are a Manley ref cardiod
or DPA 4011's, schoeps?
mojave MA200 Bock 151

[Sandyrb]

I would like some advice on a nice large
or small condenser mic for recording acoustic
guitars.

There are so many to choose from! A few personal faves of mine would include AKG C414s / C451Es, Lawson L251s, Earthworks, Josephson C42s / C617s, various Neumanns... the list goes on.

Do they have to be condensers? I would also happily go for AKG D202s, Beyer M130s / M160s, Royers, etcetera, etcetera...

Perhaps you could clue us in to the type of approach you're going for and your budget, so we can narrow down the field?

Hope this helps. :)

Cheers,

[Mixwell]

The JOSEPHSON C617 w/ Mk221 Metal Capsule is one of the most musical omni microphones out there in my opinion. Its got a huge dynamic with a extremely linear response that befuddles the mind, especially on acoustic instruments that need detail and every last inkling of it recorded. It has a very fast attack and extremely large amount of depth that basically puts you in the room with the sound.

These two elements [the metal MG capsule, and David J's hi-voltage amp body] make magic happen - when you connect them. In my experience; the C617SET is a seriously cool option for quieter material, and more esoteric acoustic instruments - but I would suggest they are very high quality precision tools for all types of recordings. Recently, I used a pair in our room [and some single point sources] w/ the new Josephson Spherical Baffles, which change the frequency response on axis and provide a gentle roll off. I found these pretty damn awesome for stereo A/B recordings. Epic actually.

Here is Dave talking more about it. (http://www.gearslutz.com/board/5479659-post32.html)

I do like SDC's for smaller acoustic instruments and for bright ones sometimes I use ribbons to quell that. Actually, the e22s a first call microphone here, there and everywhere. I love that thing, it just works all places. Certainly all of this is going to depend on the context. I have adopted the ethos of never pre-disposing equipment before I actually hear the sound in the room, and the music I am recording it against.

Anyway, without talking more about the texture you want in your recordings, for this instrument and others; we're just throwing shiny objects at you. Ultimately - your music and your aesthetic will dictate the choice for your instruments and your sources. There is no way around simply trying the microphones in your own environment to determine their worth in your studio - before you decide to invest into them as the high quality tools they all are. Surely there are plenty of colors in the rainbow.

[Halfway Competent]

All of those you mention are well-reputed (though I haven't used a one of them).

I venture to you that any of those mics, with an appropriate preamp and positioning, will give you the sound you want (or, at least a base on which to build that sound).

[cookseyeng]

I herd the Manley ref card. at gear fest on an acoustic guitar HOLY SHIT i really liked it but it depends on what your looking for and your taste, the mojave, is a nice choice as well, I kinda like the 201 a little more, but! are you going to mic the fret board ??? and how many mics do you need to do this?

[dillon]

just one.