How to mic an amp

Discussion in 'Guitar Gear Talk Forum' started by guitardoctor, Jul 19, 2010.

  1. guitardoctor

    guitardoctor Will Rx for food

    Hi guys!

    I was wondering if someone could write (or direct me to) a decent guide to micing your amp.

    Maybe it's not rocket science but I don't get good tone when I mic my amp. I was wondering what I could do to remedy this.

    Gear is mentioned below. I should mention that I haven't purchased a good mic yet - using some cheap crap (the sort of mic you use to chat over the internet). Please provide some recommendations as to a decent mic also... 3k range (is this less? :confused: What's the minimum?)
     
  2. ambush

    ambush _RASTA_man_

    Just a good mic wont do. You would also need a recording interface to record it.
    Basically you just have to point the mic at the amp. 3-4 inches away from it and record. The problem is that without an acoustically treated room you will pick up the room ambiance as well. So you'll not get a clean signal. For a cleaner signal you just have to take the line out - if you amp has one. With cab emulation the sound would sound pretty decent.
     
  3. flood

    flood New Member

    it's really not THAT simple...

    ...and you shouldn't be puzzled if you're using a crappy PC mic for the job - they have extreme bass roll off, clip easily and are exactly what you don't want for the job.

    if you're serious about micing your amp, i'd suggest - with no reservations - the SM57. it's priced VERY well at $99 and is pretty much a lifetime investment if you don't treat it too badly. you will need a mic preamp and/or an audio interface as well. 3k will buy you the budget stuff - i think the SM57 is available for around 4-5k, less used. so spend the extra grand and just pick up the real thing.

    i've spent a lot of time fooling around with cheapo mics over the years, and can honestly say it's not worth it.
     
  4. ustdjohnny

    ustdjohnny New Member

    Agree with flood 100% 57s are THE shit. Also, IMHO, a mic-ed amp ALMOST ALWAYS sounds better than any direct line in unless you are using some expensive processing like maybe a pod. But then you take the out from the processor, not amp.
     
  5. guitardoctor

    guitardoctor Will Rx for food

    SM57... Got recommended the same by several other people too. I better save up a little more cash, I guess... Thanks for the tips guys...
     
  6. flood

    flood New Member

    good idea, and definitely worth it. it never fails to amaze me how a microphone as inexpensive and ubiquitous as the SM57 has become a studio mainstay and an industry standard of sorts.

    just make shure (lololololololol) you are buying an original shure (lolololololol) microphone, not a problem if you buy it from an authorized dealer or one of the better known music stores. there are a lot of fakes in circulation in the PA/speaker/electronic markets, like mumbai's lamington road. the shopkeepers usually tell you they're fake though; they cost 900 bucks or something.

    if you really want to be shure (lolololololol, i know, my maturity drips out of my pores), here's a quick guide for indentifying fakes: https://acapella.harmony-central.com/showthread.php?t=2101768
     
  7. rickkkyrich

    rickkkyrich Guest

    wat are the chances of getting a fake mic if we order it online.. like from bajaao, sbmusic and amazon, musiciansfriend in US?
     
  8. flood

    flood New Member

    practically none at all. the fakes are the ones sold on ebay.com for 40$ or something. or an offer like "10 SM57s for $300" like in that link. also, they usually come from the far east.

    the people you've mentioned are authorized dealers, they have a rep to sustain...
     
  9. rickkkyrich

    rickkkyrich Guest

    ok cool.. here in bangalore reynolds inc. are the authorized dealer of shure.. if i dont find anybody comin down from US i'll buy it from there itself.. i plan to buy the SM58 in a months time..
     
  10. guitardoctor

    guitardoctor Will Rx for food

    Yup, I'll make shure it's the real deal when I buy one!
     
  11. rickkkyrich

    rickkkyrich Guest

    jus one off topic query... i've heard sm57 and sm58 are almost same mics with slight difference in wat you call is the proximity effect.
    I need the mic for vocals recording and not for any live performances and neither for any instrument. Which will be more suitable for my need. SM57 or the SM58?
     
  12. ambush

    ambush _RASTA_man_

    58 is supposed to be more bassy while the 57 is a bit trebly. I really cant tell the difference, and i doubt you would either in a home recording set-up.

    I would say get the 58 if you have a bassy sound and want it to be more bassy, and 57 if you are a tenor and want more air.
     
  13. flood

    flood New Member

    the SM58 is better suited towards vocals AFAIK. i'm not a vocalist though.

    ive seen the SM57 being used as a vocal mic though, but doesn't suit all voices well. i think ambush said it all...

    if you do a google search, you'll find a gajillion threads about the SM57/58 and their various uses.
     
  14. rickkkyrich

    rickkkyrich Guest

    thanks for ur replies.. i think its gonna be SM58..
     
  15. shailm

    shailm New Member

    Another mic that i really like for miking amps is the sennheiser e906, for a different flavour compared to the sm57. Its pricier, almost double of the 57 but the sennheiser e609 is the same price as the 57(i think) and is also a nice mic. Musicians Mall has sennheiser mics , but i dont know if they have either of these.
     
  16. flood

    flood New Member

    i've never used a sennheiser but have heard people being not particularly happy with them.

    the mic in particular - e609. heard some recordings (morgan amps with... a strat, suhr loaded, if i'm not wrong) and it just lacked a lot of body. i guess it would be interesting to use it in conjunction with the SM57, but seemed to be tinny and brittle when used alone.
     

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