Best Live Guitar Condenser Mic under $100

[rockabilly69]

Another vote for the Beta 87A.

[RockerDuck]

Originally Posted by rokdog49

Guys and gals,
I am looking for a condenser mic for live playing to mic my guitar, not a vocal mic. There are many choices under $100, I just wanted to get some user feedback and/or suggestions.
Something like this:
https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=sr_nr_p...nid=2528832011

Thanks

Every one of those types of mic' s are meant for studio. Live on stage they will pick up your breathing, footsteps, and more, unless you are playing on a sound stage. I have played many stages and the sound man always used vocal mic's for acoustic guitars.

[SpruceTop]

For stage work under varying venue conditions, a good dynamic mic like the Shure Beta 57A might be a better choice than a condenser mic.

[J Patrick]

....the MXL 603S is an outstanding value and performs very well...its based on a Neumann KM 184 and although it doesn't quite measure up its pretty darn good and gets excellent reviews....i learned about them some years ago from string wizard Dayan Kai who uses them for live shows and in the studio,,,

...an interesting little vid....

[rokdog49]

Originally Posted by RockerDuck

Every one of those types of mic' s are meant for studio. Live on stage they will pick up your breathing, footsteps, and more, unless you are playing on a sound stage. I have played many stages and the sound man always used vocal mic's for acoustic guitars.

I think that seems to be making more and more sense.

[SpruceTop]

Originally Posted by J Patrick

....the MXL 603S is an outstanding value and performs very well...its based on a Neumann KM 184 and although it doesn't quite measure up its pretty darn good and gets excellent reviews....i learned about them some years ago from string wizard Dayan Kai who uses them for live shows and in the studio,,,

...an interesting little vid....

I chose correctly as I heard Mic B having a smoother tone with more warmth which I equated as belonging to the Neumann. I have to say, though, at ten times the price, the Neumann recording doesn't sound ten times better to me but we're only hearing both these mics used with only one musical source: an acoustic guitar. Compared to the MXL, it's likely the Neumann mics a variety of other musical instruments better than the MXL.

[MikeBmusic]

Originally Posted by rokdog49

Guys and gals,
I am looking for a condenser mic for live playing to mic my guitar, not a vocal mic. There are many choices under $100, I just wanted to get some user feedback and/or suggestions.
Something like this:
https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=sr_nr_p...nid=2528832011

Thanks

All the mics on the 1st page of that Amazon link are side-address condenser mics, not what I'd recommend for live guitar work.

[roylor4]

Originally Posted by MikeBmusic

All the mics on the 1st page of that Amazon link are side-address condenser mics, not what I'd recommend for live guitar work.

Agreed. If you go with a condenser mic, go with a pencil condenser.

We used to use an AKG Perception 170 with good results but finally switched over to pickups and preamps.

[varmonter]

Plus one on the mxl 603s i picked up a stereo
Pair on fleabay for 140.

[Mischief]

Originally Posted by J Patrick

....the MXL 603S is an outstanding value and performs very well...its based on a Neumann KM 184 and although it doesn't quite measure up its pretty darn good and gets excellent reviews....i learned about them some years ago from string wizard Dayan Kai who uses them for live shows and in the studio,,,



...an interesting little vid....

Thanks for the link to the video.
Once I'm relocated and start buying gear again I might pick up a pair of these.

I can't believe only a short time ago I thought. pfft I'd never spend much on a mic what's the point I'll save that money for instruments.
Now I've built a mic locker up of 3X very nice LDC's 2 being a matched pair and one multi pattern multi-voicing, number of dynamics mikes and a really great ribbon mic so far. All of them being very good quality.
But since I'm not in the market at the moment for SDC mikes (otherwise I'd get carried away and probably go more high end then I need to) these tickle my fancy. Low risk and a great way to try out for live and recording for little outlay.