The Acoustic Guitar Forum

Go Back   The Acoustic Guitar Forum > General Acoustic Guitar and Amplification Discussion > Acoustic Amplification

Reply
 
Thread Tools
  #1  
Old 05-11-2006, 07:05 AM
jonesbrass's Avatar
jonesbrass jonesbrass is offline
5075
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Powder Springs, GA
Posts: 805
Default < $100 vocal mic

Any recommendations or advice on vocal microphones in this price range? I've been considering the Shure 58A and Sennheiser E835. I'm not sure which others I should consider, or which would suit my all-purpose (live, recording, durable, etc.) needs.
__________________
jonesbrass

610e, 914CE-L1, 354-CE LTD (Maple!), baby, Taylor Classic Electric Guitar, Vox AC30CC2, Fender J-Bass, Carvin AD100D, Takamine Classical, Cerveny CFB-653-5IMX F tuba, Conn 2J CC tuba
Gone but not forgotten: 810e, AB-1, 414-CE, Epi Les Paul Custom Flametop, Miraphone 188
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 05-11-2006, 07:17 AM
CitizenAudio CitizenAudio is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 1,834
Default

there really isn't an all purpose microphone. The SM58 will fit your bill. They are perhaps the best microphone under 100 dollars. They will do magic live but their recording capabilities are not that great.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 05-11-2006, 07:28 AM
jonesbrass's Avatar
jonesbrass jonesbrass is offline
5075
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Powder Springs, GA
Posts: 805
Default

Thanks, Camelback. Okay, so maybe I should rephrase my question. I'm looking for a general purpose microphone. I don't think I'll be cutting any CDs any time soon (ha, ha), and will use the mic mostly for live performances and personal recording.
Is durability the reason why some people prefer the Shure 58A? Is the Sennheiser less durable? What about sound reproduction? Is one "better" than the other? I know they must be different, but how?
__________________
jonesbrass

610e, 914CE-L1, 354-CE LTD (Maple!), baby, Taylor Classic Electric Guitar, Vox AC30CC2, Fender J-Bass, Carvin AD100D, Takamine Classical, Cerveny CFB-653-5IMX F tuba, Conn 2J CC tuba
Gone but not forgotten: 810e, AB-1, 414-CE, Epi Les Paul Custom Flametop, Miraphone 188
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 05-11-2006, 08:04 AM
ljguitar's Avatar
ljguitar ljguitar is online now
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: wyoming
Posts: 42,558
Default It's hard to go wrong for $20 and shipping...

Quote:
Originally Posted by jonesbrass
Any recommendations or advice on vocal microphones in this price range? I've been considering the Shure 58A and Sennheiser E835. I'm not sure which others I should consider, or which would suit my all-purpose (live, recording, durable, etc.) needs.
Hi JB...
If live work and light recording is your aim let me suggest a mic that will save you some bucks. The Behringer XM 8500 is a $20 knockoff of the SM-58, and they work great. I know what some will say - ''Can a $20 be any good?'' because that's what I said when someone showed them to me.

We originally bought three for our live headphone monitor system (for musicians to communicate back to the soundboard & each other during live shows) and they surprised us. Now we use them and SM-58s interchangeably. My gigging partner and I carry them in our coffeehouse bag and with our light PA rigs.

They have been durable enough to withstand the rigors of weekly outings and the general abuse mics take in public places for a couple years. We have not ''dunk'' tested them, or driven nails with them and don't plan to. They have been dropped and continue to work fine.

The sound is not identical to an SM-58, though it is very close. The cosmetics are close enough that other musicians use them and think they were using 58s. The sound is pleasant through PAs, easy to adjust for tone, and not harsh or dull in a live mix.

XM8500 link - click
__________________

Baby #1.1
Baby #1.2
Baby #02
Baby #03
Baby #04
Baby #05

Larry's songs...

…Just because you've argued someone into silence doesn't mean you have convinced them…
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 05-11-2006, 11:43 AM
jonesbrass's Avatar
jonesbrass jonesbrass is offline
5075
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Powder Springs, GA
Posts: 805
Default

Larry, thanks for the tip. For $20, I don't think I can go wrong. I'll give the Behringer a try.
__________________
jonesbrass

610e, 914CE-L1, 354-CE LTD (Maple!), baby, Taylor Classic Electric Guitar, Vox AC30CC2, Fender J-Bass, Carvin AD100D, Takamine Classical, Cerveny CFB-653-5IMX F tuba, Conn 2J CC tuba
Gone but not forgotten: 810e, AB-1, 414-CE, Epi Les Paul Custom Flametop, Miraphone 188
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 05-11-2006, 11:57 AM
Flemtone Flemtone is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: NJ
Posts: 41
Default

For me, 'all purpose' would mean recording / amping vocals, instruments and/or amps. I'd recommend the Shure Beta 57. It's a little bit over a hundred beans, but has the crispest, most 'true' sound I've ever heard in a 'drag around to the bars' mic. Strong, clean, sturdy.

Good luck!
-Tim from Jersey
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 05-11-2006, 05:35 PM
rainsong rainsong is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Albuquerque, NM
Posts: 988
Default

Depends on what your looking for. I like the E835 because of it's lack of proximity effect. It doesn't get all boomy when you get real close to it and makes it easier to work the mic. If you like the proximity effect than I'd look at the AKG emotion D880. I, personally think the SM58 sounds a bit more nasally than the otheres I mentioned. The E835 seems to have more intelligibility with the EQ set flat and more accurate, but less bassy than the AKG. My singing partner likes the AKG but to me it's not as clear. To each his own I guess.
You won't go wrong with any of the 3. The Sennheiser looks cooler IMHO.
__________________
Mike


Takamine EAN15C w/ Palathetic pickup system and CT4B onboard preamp
Takamine GN93CE w/ TK-40 preamp
RainSong DR1000 w/ Element Onboard pickup system
Rainsong JM3000 12 string jumbo w/ Element Onboard pickup system
Yamaha FG345 w/ Fishman Matrix II


www.donohoeandgrimes.com
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 05-11-2006, 06:29 PM
JohnZ JohnZ is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: La Quinta, CA
Posts: 2,095
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Flemtone
For me, 'all purpose' would mean recording / amping vocals, instruments and/or amps. I'd recommend the Shure Beta 57. It's a little bit over a hundred beans, but has the crispest, most 'true' sound I've ever heard in a 'drag around to the bars' mic. Strong, clean, sturdy.

Good luck!
-Tim from Jersey
Try these folks:
http://www.ggvideo.com/
they'll meet that price.
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 05-14-2006, 03:23 PM
Kabalan Kabalan is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Mexico city
Posts: 1,526
Default

58 a classical for voice
57 its a fireman, even in the great studios have one
it was 3 oclock in the morning, i was producing an earlymusic record, we are in a old church, and we have all kinds of fancy ones(neumann, shuepps, senhaiser, akg
etc) in one song the soprano voice, did not works with the natural reverb of the place. yes we use a 57!!!
58 and 57 are high recomendable please get a set
kabalan
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 05-14-2006, 10:06 PM
franchelB franchelB is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Irving, United States of Texas
Posts: 5,613
Default

I've heard some not so pleasant opinions about Senheiser's E-series microphones...
On the other hand, a friend and I were really surprised at how well Samson's R-11 mics sounded...3 mics for way less than a "C note".
__________________
franchelB: TGF member #57!
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 05-15-2006, 07:11 AM
Tom S. Tom S. is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Lincoln, NE
Posts: 705
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by ljguitar
[FONT=Lucida Console][size=2][color=darkslategray]Hi JB...
If live work and light recording is your aim let me suggest a mic that will save you some bucks. The Behringer XM 8500 is a $20 knockoff of the SM-58, and they work great.
Does this hold for recording the acoustic guitar, or is this mic primarily for vocal? If not, what would be a low cost equivalent for recording the acoustic guitar?
__________________
97 Taylor 810
02 Taylor 814CE
97 Fender Tele - played twice
Formerly ITArchitect
Reply With Quote
Reply

  The Acoustic Guitar Forum > General Acoustic Guitar and Amplification Discussion > Acoustic Amplification

Thread Tools





All times are GMT -6. The time now is 06:55 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Copyright ©2000 - 2022, The Acoustic Guitar Forum
vB Ad Management by =RedTyger=