Guitar Cab Mic Placement

Cadorman said:
You are so handy to have around! I never would have got the 900 where I wanted it without your input. I will have to pick up an e609. Looks like a winner.
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57 on sweet spot & another mic is my fav heavy guitar set up...it has that certain sound . I got my studio guy out of the norm lately. trying 57--audix 5 & gls this week & ribbon...to get out of the 57 zone..i like it but don't want boxed in so much. The 57 could be whats been bugging me lately..especially on the softer passages & clean chords..been loving the condenser
 
BFT Gibson said:
57 on sweet spot & another mic is my fav heavy guitar set up...it has that certain sound . I got my studio guy out of the norm lately. trying 57--audix 5 & gls this week & ribbon...to get out of the 57 zone..i like it but don't want boxed in so much. The 57 could be whats been bugging me lately..especially on the softer passages & clean chords..been loving the condenser
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Your guitar parts sound really good to me on the recordings I have heard. Very natural.
 
Thatbastarddon said:
Ask @RVA ...he has both the e609, and the I5. I may soon have all three.
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mic's & preamps are cool...never knew....running 2 pre's at home togehter...with 2 dif mic's is what i been hearing in my head but could never get it figured out...iset my tone from standing in front of my amp but back about 3 ft..back from the the front of my amp....the sound isnt all on the cab..its everywhere else also !!that is where openess is..my first capture this week.. can hear my individual notes like never before.
 
BFT Gibson said:
mic's & preamps are cool...never knew....running 2 pre's at home togehter...with 2 dif mic's is what i been hearing in my head but could never get it figured out...iset my tone from standing in front of my amp but back about 3 ft..back from the the front of my amp....the sound isnt all on the cab..its everywhere else also !!that is where openess is..my first capture this week.. can hear my individual notes like never before.
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So, you are using 2 channels? I remember you said you were running a mic straight on and one at 45 degrees.
 
yes, 2channels, 1 into GAP 73 pre & 1 into DBX pre..then in Reaper L&R in a channel. And singles of each so i can do what i want later in mix with pan & dif volumes. The cleaner parts are a lot of fun, tracking a few parts ,,changing pickups for same rythym,,it thickens up in a natural way & starts to build some natural effects of bigness without adding stuff from software,,trying real hard to make an old school warm recording,,not so sterile..part..stop..new part stop..focused on drum turn arounds & lead into next parts more ..
 
BFT Gibson said:
mic's & preamps are cool...never knew....running 2 pre's at home togehter...with 2 dif mic's is what i been hearing in my head but could never get it figured out...iset my tone from standing in front of my amp but back about 3 ft..back from the the front of my amp....the sound isnt all on the cab..its everywhere else also !!that is where openess is..my first capture this week.. can hear my individual notes like never before.
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When I was recording demos for some locals, I used to let the guitarist set up, and find his sound...I'd watch where he gravitated to, in the room. Then, after he was happy, I'd go and ask him to take a step off to the side(politely), and plant the room mic where he was standing, at head level. Most understood, and took it well....and were happy with the result.
 
Thatbastarddon said:
When I was recording demos for some locals, I used to let the guitarist set up, and find his sound...I'd watch where he gravitated to, in the room. Then, after he was happy, I'd go and ask him to take a step off to the side(politely), and plant the room mic where he was standing, at head level. Most understood, and took it well....and were happy with the result.
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That is so cool...you are concerned with capturing his sound..very smart !! The soundman & studio engineers are an integral part of us sounding good..basically..you can steer the ship wherever ya want and make us sound better than we are..or crush us !! be nice to the sound guy,,he is part of your band during recording & live..Sound guy..first thing i do at the venue we playing..meet him..earn his respect..he will mix ya good if he like ya
 
Thatbastarddon said:
When I was recording demos for some locals, I used to let the guitarist set up, and find his sound...I'd watch where he gravitated to, in the room. Then, after he was happy, I'd go and ask him to take a step off to the side(politely), and plant the room mic where he was standing, at head level. Most understood, and took it well....and were happy with the result.
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There really is only one sweet spot in a particular room. At least that has been my experience. Even with a full stack I find it is about 8 feet from the front between 5 -6 feet high and just a smidge right of center. Now I am doing this in a 15 foot wide room that is 30 feet long and a combination of cinder block and unfinished insulated walls with a lot of soft furniture. And I have the amp in a corner at an angle.
 
Point is: You, as the guitar player(or bassist), are going to naturally gravitate to that sweet spot....where you like the way that you sound... It's the engineer's job to pay attention to this, and act accordingly. You know the sound you want, as a player...I want to capture the sound that you want, as an engineer....If I let you find that sound comfortably, with no interference/pressure, it makes it easier on both of us.
If you're trying to wear both hats, player/engineer, it's a good thing to remember....set up your rig, and jam for a bit.....put the mic where you were happy jamming out. You may be happy with the result.
 
this type of info we discussing on mic's. I never really payed attention to before. It is so critical to get a mic placed right . The room is also important & a proper preamp & interface. It all maters as much as the gear used to make the noise Just when i thought the gear purchasing wars where done now the guitars & amps are done, This stuff is really fun.

Also, a few of these goodies used right can eliminate some gear, by how you set a mic can radically change the sound of an amp/speaker

It has given me an endless job i love to do. Told my wife my schedule in life is full now. Have focus & direction now...making these songs. Everyday there is a new part & challenge to learn & record.
 
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Cadorman said:
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I've been recording with a Shure SM57 and am trying to figure out the best spot to position the mic. Bottom cab is a mid 2000s 1960b with 2 Greenbacks on top and 2 V30s below. Top cab is a custom pine A style with 4 Greenbacks.

Where is the best spot generally to locate the mic and how close?
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If you are mic'ing two cabs you are going to need two mic's IMO. I usually go right up against the grill and slightly off center to one speaker.

On a 4x12 I mic two speakers most times. One top left close to center of the speaker and the other bottom right off center to the outside edge.
 
on another note...it's really an art to mic a room. You should move them around and not only listen, but record and playback. You might
be surprised the recording often times sounds different than what you hear direct.
 
I've only been mic'ing the A cab as it is livelier. I might have a go at mic'ing the room to see what kind of sound I get. I also think I want to try one of the Sennheiser mics the guys were talking about.
 
Like others have said, when I'm in the studio I use a Sennheiser e609 along with an SM57 in front of a couple of speakers. Then we set up an old ribbon mic a foot or two away from the cab, then one or two condenser mics overhead. Then we mix everything down to get a nice full sound out of my guitars and amps.
 
Cadorman said:
I intentionally reverse all of my pictures!
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are your guitars right handed in the mirror.? My mind is not processing that possiblity today.

And being a Holiday..how come the banks & credit card processors we use for collecting..hold our money during this period to use it to make money for themselves..can i charge them a late payment fee? Crazy when we thought about it..Company has taken 35 Credit+card swipes since last thursday..none of it will fund until mid-nite tonite..makes no sense...

It will not stop the GAS tho..Reverb about 11:45 last night. 11:30 pm to 12am seems to be my sweetspot for purchasing..dont drink..that would be scary..if i did, a Neve console would prob be arriving..yikes !!
 
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