Groove tube 57 large diaphram for classical guitar

[Guitarist-1977]

Recently came across a used one. Was wondering if it is good for recording classical guitar. Looking for a warmer LDC to compliment the SDCs I have.

Thanks a lot for your feedback

[DupleMeter]

I thought the GT67 was tube & The 57 was FET. Do I have that wrong? It's been a long time. I remember trying one out. I don't remember it being "smooth" or "warm", quite the opposite. But I'm pretty sure it was the GT67 that I tried & it was definitely a tube mic.

Again, it was along time ago...but it left enough of an impression that I wrote off Groove Tube mics.

[Guitarist-1977]

Originally Posted by DupleMeter

I thought the GT67 was tube & The 57 was FET. Do I have that wrong? It's been a long time. I remember trying one out. I don't remember it being "smooth" or "warm", quite the opposite. But I'm pretty sure it was the GT67 that I tried & it was definitely a tube mic.

Again, it was along time ago...but it left enough of an impression that I wrote off Groove Tube mics.

You are spot on, the 57 is not a tube mic just a misnomer lol.
So you dont think the 57 is warm for a nylon guitar?

[Rudy4]

It's the guitar (not the mic...) that needs to sound "warm". The mark of a good mic is that it should accurately portray what's in front of it. That said, the characteristic sound of all those inexpensive import LDCs is a high end emphasis that doesn't do justice to almost anything that's being recorded.

[Guitarist-1977]

Originally Posted by Rudy4

It's the guitar (not the mic...) that needs to sound "warm". The mark of a good mic is that it should accurately portray what's in front of it. That said, the characteristic sound of all those inexpensive import LDCs is a high end emphasis that doesn't do justice to almost anything that's being recorded.

So more focus needed on platyng technique than mic selection?

[Rudy4]

Originally Posted by Guitarist-1977

So more focus needed on platyng technique than mic selection?

The things that are going to be much more determinate to your recordings are going to be:

1. Environment
2. Mic placement
3. settings for equipment (gain structure) and format selection (bit depth / sample rate)

"Playing technique" is important, of course, but your end result is only going to be as good as your performance capabilities and the sound of your instrument.

[min7b5]

Originally Posted by Guitarist-1977

.. Looking for a warmer LDC to compliment the SDCs I have.

If I was looking for something softer to compliment SDC's I personally might go for a ribbon first. Or maybe just a very subtle saturation/tube or tape emulation plugin on the track with the SDC's.

[Guitarist-1977]

Originally Posted by min7b5

If I was looking for something softer to compliment SDC's I personally might go for a ribbon first. Or maybe just a very subtle saturation/tube or tape emulation plugin on the track with the SDC's.

The reason I want to get LDC to supplement the SDC is for multi tracking. Like use SDC for rythym and LDC for recording solo. Instead of having to swap mics on the inputs of zoom h6 for overdubbing

[KevWind]

Originally Posted by Guitarist-1977

The reason I want to get LDC to supplement the SDC is for multi tracking. Like use SDC for rythym and LDC for recording solo. Instead of having to swap mics on the inputs of zoom h6 for overdubbing

Never used any GrooveTube mic's so can't comment

Couple thoughts in general :
First, what is your realistic budget range for an LDC ?

Second, to clarify you have 2 SDC's ? so your are thinking a stereo rhythm part and mono solo part ?

Also as a general note : both Solid State and Tube mics produce both even and odd harmonics that said , in general SS tends to produce more odd harmonics (often perceived as more detailed ) and tubes tend to produce more even harmonics (often perceived as more colored ) but that is not the entire story. The sound characteristics (the good, the bad, and or the ugly ) of any given mic,, is more the sum total of all it's parts as opposed to being just tied to it being either SS or Tube

Here are both on my voice see what you think (understanding these are two different performances, not ideal but it is what it is)

Tube


FET

[AcousticDreams]

Originally Posted by KevWind

Also as a general note : both Solid State and Tube mics produce both even and odd harmonics that said , in general SS tends to produce more odd harmonics (often perceived as more detailed ) and tubes tend to produce more even harmonics (often perceived as more colored ) but that is not the entire story. The sound characteristics (the good, the bad, and or the ugly ) of any given mic,, is more the sum total of all it's parts as opposed to being just tied to it being either SS or Tube

This is what I love about AGF....I learn so much! I did not know the Exact differences between tube and SS before.

As far as what makes the differences in recording?.....Absolutely Everything. Your playing technique, the guitar, the mic, the mic positions, the room, the preamp...and more. And the more usually is your engineering & mixing skills. It has taken me years to learn that it is the Sum, as KevWind says.

With that being said:
That doesn't mean you can't get relatively close to your ideals with Less than perfect parts. I have heard many acceptable if not close to great recordings with medium quality microphones, and less than Ideal room conditions. But the better you have in all areas, might make your journey to your ideals easier.

Warm, is a term that means different things to different people. But I certainly strive for warm myself. The problem is, I want everything all at once. I want detail & warm...and that is where the challenge for me begins.

[Guitarist-1977]

Originally Posted by KevWind

Never used any GrooveTube mic's so can't comment

Couple thoughts in general :
First, what is your realistic budget range for an LDC ?

Second, to clarify you have 2 SDC's ? so your are thinking a stereo rhythm part and mono solo part ?

Also as a general note : both Solid State and Tube mics produce both even and odd harmonics that said , in general SS tends to produce more odd harmonics (often perceived as more detailed ) and tubes tend to produce more even harmonics (often perceived as more colored ) but that is not the entire story. The sound characteristics (the good, the bad, and or the ugly ) of any given mic,, is more the sum total of all it's parts as opposed to being just tied to it being either SS or Tube

Here are both on my voice see what you think (understanding these are two different performances, not ideal but it is what it is)

Tube


FET

Thank you for sharing your thoughts and the 2 samples.

On my PC speakers, the Tube sample sounds a bit warmer (good warmth without loosing details).

I have 2 SDCs AKG P170) that i used to record currently.
I want to do some overdubbing to record a rhythm and play a solo along with it on my Zoom H6. Since on zoom H6 i need to swap inputs to overdub - So to avoid that (because i am lazy lol) i plan to get 2 LDCs to use SDC for rhythm and use the 2 SDC i have for solo (or the other way around).
My budget is like 200-25 for the pair.

[Guitarist-1977]

The LDC options I am considering:
A. 2 AKG 420
B. 2 AT 2035
C. GROOVE TUBES - 1 GT57 & 1 GT 55

Also C is not an exact match, does that make any difference for recording stereo in a spaced pair?

Lmk you thoughts for the warmest recommendation.

Thanks

[TBman]

I used to use the AT 2035. They are good mics.

I now use a Warm Audio WA-14 and a WA-47jr when I record with LDC mics. The 2035 are sitting unused. The problem with mics is as you go up the food chain $$ wise, there are a lot of unused mics left sitting around. Consider "saving up" and going up another notch or two.

[Guitarist-1977]

Originally Posted by TBman

I used to use the AT 2035. They are good mics.

I now use a Warm Audio WA-14 and a WA-47jr when I record with LDC mics. The 2035 are sitting unused. The problem with mics is as you go up the food chain $$ wise, there are a lot of unused mics left sitting around. Consider "saving up" and going up another notch or two.

I totally get what you are saying as I have a lot of other hobbies and I hear you.
But dont want to spend a fortune given I am just using the h6 (by no means a hi end preamp if you know what I mean).
When you say save up to get what? Warm audio? AKG C214?

[TBman]

Originally Posted by Guitarist-1977

I totally get what you are saying as I have a lot of other hobbies and I hear you.
But dont want to spend a fortune given I am just using the h6 (by no means a hi end preamp if you know what I mean).
When you say save up to get what? Warm audio? AKG C214?

I don't know. The AT-2035 are good mics I think, but my solution to getting "better" recordings was to throw more money at it. (I'm still thinking about getting a pair of sE8 SDC mics, )

Along the way I started using a Zoom F3 instead of a H5 and had changed my recording area in my house, to the nice quiet basement, and bought more room treatment panels. I'm not sure if I had to get "better" mics. I do know that I have bought more mics than I can use, but experimentation is the basis of experience so...

I've also found that a pair of less expensive dynamic mics gives me a clean tone as well so there's that.