Widely and highly regarded SDC mics for recording acoustic guitar - Page 2

Bob Womack · #16 10-01-2020, 09:52 AM

Modern B model (R) $499, Vintage E model (L) ~$1000

Modern C451B response

Bob
(the other one)
Yes, I use these.

ChuckS · #17 10-01-2020, 10:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jim1960

Chuck, is that the MKH40 or is there an MK40 model also?

My mistake; it is the MKH40

jim1960 · #18 10-01-2020, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob Womack

Yes, I use these.

Both?
I took a look on Reverb and the price for a vintage E has really fallen. There was a time when I wanted a pair of C451E but it coincided with the same period in time when I couldn't afford a pair of C451E.

Bob Womack · #19 10-01-2020, 10:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jim1960

Both? I took a look on Reverb and the price for a vintage E has really fallen. There was a time when I wanted a pair of C451E but it coincided with the same period in time when I couldn't afford a pair of C451E.

Yep. We've got several Es at the studio as well as C452s and C461s. I took my price from eBay, but yes, they are less expensive on Reverb. No-one is talking here about the SM-81, either. Another workhorse. Not my favorite (a little too mellow) but they are used everywhere.

Bob

Doug Young · #20 10-01-2020, 10:40 AM

For SDCs, you're missing the Shure SM81 as well as the Oktava's that tend to be popular. The AT2021 is the SD equivalent to the AT2020. There are a lot of mics out there, your list may get big fast :-)

jim1960 · #21 10-01-2020, 01:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doug Young

For SDCs, you're missing the Shure SM81 as well as the Oktava's that tend to be popular. The AT2021 is the SD equivalent to the AT2020. There are a lot of mics out there, your list may get big fast :-)

Doug, the 81 was on the list from the beginning.
From what I've observed over many years, the popularity of the Oktava mics is in large part based upon available third-party modifications and not so much on the stock product.
The 2021 isn't all that popular and I already have two decent Shure mics on the list. The brand is well represented.

As I've said in this thread, I'm not trying to create a list of every possible mic someone could buy. People can go to the Vintage King, Sweetwater, and Reverb websites and they can see hundreds of options. The AGF user list might get pretty long, and that's okay.

Edit: The 2021 is by Audio-Technica, not Shure. But it's not one of those mics that come to mind right away so I'm still leaving it off the main list.

KevWind · #22 10-01-2020, 01:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jim1960

Doug, the 81 was on the list from the beginning.
From what I've observed over many years, the popularity of the Oktava mics is in large part based upon available third-party modifications and not so much on the stock product.
The 2021 isn't all that popular and I already have two decent Shure mics on the list. The brand is well represented.

As I've said in this thread, I'm not trying to create a list of every possible mic someone could buy. People can go to the Vintage King, Sweetwater, and Reverb websites and they can see hundreds of options. The AGF user list might get pretty long, and that's okay.

Yes I believe the M. Jolley Mod Oktava was rumored to sound reminiscent of the KM 84, but I think he is no longer Modding mics .

Doug Young · #23 10-01-2020, 01:13 PM

Oops, you're right. I looked right past the SM81. The list is already getting big enough that my eyes glaze over. :-)

KevWind · #24 10-01-2020, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doug Young

Oops, you're right. I looked right past the SM81. The list is already getting big enough that my eyes glaze over. :-)

As Louie said. "What a wonderful world"

Gordon Currie · #25 10-01-2020, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jim1960

From what I've observed over many years, the popularity of the Oktava mics is in large part based upon available third-party modifications and not so much on the stock product.

Yes, now that Michael Joly is out of the business, Oktava is no longer such a good buy.

I've got a few Joly-modded Oktavas and, while they were cheap to buy, after mods they were merely inexpensive. The quality of the sound is decent but not great.

I haven't used them in almost a decade.

jim1960 · #26 10-01-2020, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KevWind

Yes I believe the M. Jolley Mod Oktava was rumored to sound reminiscent of the KM 84, but I think he is no longer Modding mics .

Yeah, Jolly terminated that part of his business and he's doing some kind of music therapy last I heard. But there are still 2 or 3 other people doing mods on Oktavas. I bought a 319 many years back with the intention of having it modded but I never pulled the trigger on the upgrade. Every time I thought about doing it, I talked myself out of it... jim, do you really want to sink that much money into this mic you bought for a hundred bucks? The answer kept coming back "no."

lkingston · #27 10-01-2020, 02:06 PM

I have a PG 81 which I bought years ago for miking my guitar live (because of the battery option when there was no phantom power). I've been experimenting with it and it seems quite nice.

My understanding is that the PG81 uses the same capsule as the 81 except that they have about a 25% lower quality threshold. If this is true, maybe I just got lucky with a good one. That or maybe if I heard it next to an SM81 I would retire it.

The fact that I like the PG81 so much makes it tempting to go with an SM81 just in case it is mostly the same only better.

I'll note here that I am in an untreated bedroom in a low traffic neighborhood. I use a Shure SM7B on vocals because I like the room rejection. I like tracking guitar and voice at the same time, and the SM7B is also great at separating the vocal from the guitar. It is entirely possible that the lower sensitivity of the PG81 is actually an advantage for my situation (both in terms of refecting my voice and the room ambience). I am also experimenting with a second SM7B on guitar as well as a SM57 boosted with a Cloudlifter.

rick-slo · #28 10-01-2020, 03:39 PM

At some point the list gets big enough that you're back to square one.

jim1960 · #29 10-02-2020, 06:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rick-slo

At some point the list gets big enough that you're back to square one.

Perhaps the AGF list, but I think the nineteen mics on my original list cover which sdc mics the majority of experienced people are using. I suspect the list that has the potential to get really long will be the ldc, dynamic, and ribbon mics people here are using. I'll start that thread soon.

lkingston · #30 10-02-2020, 06:17 PM

This was recorded with a Shure PG81 on guitar. The vocal was nicely isolated with the Shure SM7B, but there was way to much vocal bleed on the SDC. Since I like to record vocals and guitar at the same time it has me thinking that this style of mic might not be best for me after all. I think I need a hyper-cardiod to reject the vocal. A dynamic mic might be best as well for the increased distance falloff.

My next attempt will be with SM7Bs on both the guitar and vocal.

https://www.acousticguitarforum.com/...d.php?t=594236