RVA
Ambassador
That SJ-200 you have would probably sound good plugged into a toaster!
Plug it in or Mic it... that is the question
- Thread starter Col Mustard
- Start date
This discussion brings something to mind. In some instances, plugging in is better. I have an Ovation acoustic, which I've sort of given to one of my sons. I guess it's about 12 years old, and it's one of the shallower models. From a purely acoustic perspective, its tone leaves somewhat to be desired. But plugged in, it actually sounds pretty decent in a live setting. It isn't studio quality, so that's not really a consideration.
It can also be good in a live setting because it actually looks pretty nice:
It can also be good in a live setting because it actually looks pretty nice:
Last edited:
OP
Col Mustard
Ambassador of Perseverance
Interesting comments here for sure. I'm always willing to listen to others'
take on a subject like this. Because the technology keeps changing. So you
can make up your mind based on the old Barcus-Berry acoustic guitar pickup
and then have an obsolete opinion.
With an acoustic guitar, it's difficult even for me to consider the amp as a part of the guitar's tone.
Acoustics are supposed to supply the tone IMHO... based on vibrating (throbbing) wood. *grins
The amp or the P.A. is just supposed to make it loud. A high quality microphone will pick up the sound
made by the strings and the guitar top through the air, and there's a purity to that. Many acoustic players
will NOT give that up. I will, because I like to move around and I don't want my guitar's "presence' to
rise and fall when I move. A player who sits to perform, like a classical guy, could set up a couple of
condenser mics and have killer tone and plenty of presence. But not me...
With an electric guitar, it's all about (animal) magnetism... so the amp is an important part
of the output, otherwise why would we have a room here that goes to 11? I think that the question
of whether to mic the amp or to let the sound guys have the signal by cable comes back to the
quality of personnel on the board.
And I certainly have some experience with that. We don't always get good sound, and have learned a few ways
to get around it when something's just not right, and communications aren't getting results. For me, plugging
in my guitar lets me make the sound man's job easy. My rig doesn't feed back, or hum, I step on that tuner and
I'm out of the mix, so they can set my levels and forget them. The signal that I send to the board is one they can
usually mix. And that's the point of that.
The idea of whether to mic an amp or go direct is another can of worms to open and peer inside. EW!
I find myself agreeing with what's been said here by others. If the venue has a good PA and knowledgable crew
to run it, then mixing from a central sound board is best IMHO... Just let the guys do their job.
If the PA is questionable, and the sound man's brother in law is filling in for him, and talkin' trash to the chicks
and drinking beer, then you're on yer own.... and we've played too many gigs like that.
take on a subject like this. Because the technology keeps changing. So you
can make up your mind based on the old Barcus-Berry acoustic guitar pickup
and then have an obsolete opinion.
With an acoustic guitar, it's difficult even for me to consider the amp as a part of the guitar's tone.
Acoustics are supposed to supply the tone IMHO... based on vibrating (throbbing) wood. *grins
The amp or the P.A. is just supposed to make it loud. A high quality microphone will pick up the sound
made by the strings and the guitar top through the air, and there's a purity to that. Many acoustic players
will NOT give that up. I will, because I like to move around and I don't want my guitar's "presence' to
rise and fall when I move. A player who sits to perform, like a classical guy, could set up a couple of
condenser mics and have killer tone and plenty of presence. But not me...
With an electric guitar, it's all about (animal) magnetism... so the amp is an important part
of the output, otherwise why would we have a room here that goes to 11? I think that the question
of whether to mic the amp or to let the sound guys have the signal by cable comes back to the
quality of personnel on the board.
And I certainly have some experience with that. We don't always get good sound, and have learned a few ways
to get around it when something's just not right, and communications aren't getting results. For me, plugging
in my guitar lets me make the sound man's job easy. My rig doesn't feed back, or hum, I step on that tuner and
I'm out of the mix, so they can set my levels and forget them. The signal that I send to the board is one they can
usually mix. And that's the point of that.
The idea of whether to mic an amp or go direct is another can of worms to open and peer inside. EW!
I find myself agreeing with what's been said here by others. If the venue has a good PA and knowledgable crew
to run it, then mixing from a central sound board is best IMHO... Just let the guys do their job.
If the PA is questionable, and the sound man's brother in law is filling in for him, and talkin' trash to the chicks
and drinking beer, then you're on yer own.... and we've played too many gigs like that.
B
Biddlin
Guest
I'm thinking that if I were good enough to want to record my guitar playing so future generations would be able to enjoy my virtuoso talent..... I would probably mic it like you do. As it is though, my playing is quite forgettable and I think I'll keep it that way. It makes me happy.
First off I am not into to acoustic guitars. My mistress that I brought home from China is putting an alarm together. She wrote or let's say stool lots of acoustic songs. I did not know about the stolen thing until I started to play them on my Sea Gull ORIGINAL 6 that I love so dearly. It wasn't good enough this morning when I bought a new Martin D28. The guitar was a great deal at $2,170 and the Pittsburgh Guitar guy is bringing it Monday. I did not need it but I had one years ago and sold it for rent money. It was a 72 I think. A guy died when I was fixing his. I played it and got attacked to it. I found his family and gave it to his kid. So a very nice acoustic was in order. Now the stick it in or mic it was my thing earlier. I ordered a Shure 57 microphone and a cable.
I have a part B guys! I played acoustic into my everything day amp a Vox AC30 with no problems.Things this remind me of the jogging bra. You say how the or wtf is this bastard crazy? Yes but I think create a product create a need. The voice coil can't take the heat? Can you all put some light on this matter? I would just run it into my PA or should I buy an acoustic speaker can? My in town sweetie has a shot load of stolen songs, I saw only different words I passed gas like I was on a strick bean diet. Tia said what you think Honey Bunny? I got a cramp in the lower track and was afraid to repeat my self. That looks like my D28 and that is my China Doll 'Tia! Visual aids help explain how I get in these jack pots
Tony M.
Ambassador
I don't even own an acoustic guitar anymore.
I sold the Ovation because I sound even
worse on an acoustic than on an electric.
I always mic my amplifier unless the venue is too small
(like some house concerts for instance), even though
several of my amplifiers have voiced direct outs.
Micing the amplifier just sounds better to me.
I sold the Ovation because I sound even
worse on an acoustic than on an electric.
I always mic my amplifier unless the venue is too small
(like some house concerts for instance), even though
several of my amplifiers have voiced direct outs.
Micing the amplifier just sounds better to me.
Sérgio
Ambassador of CaliZilian Affairs
I wish I could tell some good news. I just put in Google French women hairy armpits. They had lot of hairy chics.