best mics for recording acoustic guitar

I tried to do a search, I know this has been posted.

I have a Neuman U87AI that I use for my vocal tracks. But would like to "X/Y" for the acoustic guitars, and I would like a matched pair. What do you experts have to say about it?

Thanks.

KM184s are Neumanns.

Nice on hats too. I love them on a 12 string. What pre are you using? I tend to use my Avalon 737 with the 184s because the 737 is pretty colorless. By comparison, I use my LA610 on most vocals and brass.

Looks like they're pretty proud of these too! Damn, you favor high end stuff!

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/LA610Sig/

So that 610 is better for vocals than the 737? More "color?"

So the 610 is a better "more colored" pre for vocals?

I have yet to find the perfect guitar microphone! I find that different guitars "like" different microphones, or vica-versa.

I have a late 1970s Martin D-18 that is very difficult to record. I tends to overwhelm any microphone placed nearby. And even at a distance it sounds boomy, making it less than ideal when mixed with vocals! The only microphone in my collection that works well with it is an ancient Tascam PE-120 with a cardiod capsule (and modified to operate on phantom power) The only microphone not in my collection that has worked well with it was a Schoeps CMC6/CK41, and that microphone costs more than the guitar is worth!

I have a lovely Santa Cruz D/PW that I can record a number of ways, depending on what I'm after. My first choices are an Earthworks SR-77 and a Blue Dragonfly, but there are lots of other combinations that work well.

On my Larrivee OM-10 I can use almost any microphone, it just loves to be recorded. My first choice is usually an AKG C61 or C451 and a Shure KSM32 or a Neumann TLM-193. I've also recorded it with different ribbon microphones, it is the only acoustic guitar I have that works well with ribbon microphones, although several friends have OM and similar sized instruments that also behave well with them.

I should state, for point of reference, that I am one of the few folks that does not care for the AKG C414 or the Neumann KM-184... which may help you understand from whence my strange tastes emerge<G>!

Bill
(who would do most anything short of murder - or paying the current going price - for a pair of KM-84s in good shape)

So many microphones, so many guitars, too many combinations!

I had forgotten about the 451, that is another of my favorites! Sadly, I've never been much of a fan of the SM81, although I've heard some really wonderful recordings made with it!

Bill

ORIGINAL: ohhey

Shure SM81 for clear focused sound with sparkle, AKG 451b for huge wide open sound.

I use a pair of Audio Technica 4041's.

I also urge my clients to use my '99 D-18V due to the fact that I've honed a great sound using this guitar and the 4041's. The secret is placement. Also the medium action and medium strings have turned this guitar into a real cannon.

IMHO the 4041's are very underated. I prefer them to my SM-81's

Nice, well I have an NT1, maybe I'll try to X/Y it with my U87? I mean, it's not matched, but maybe it could work out?

Ahh, hey thanks! Another vote for the 441s? :-)

And on the cheapy cheap my pair of mxl 603s with the Dorsey mod sound really really good on my '53 j45, both my classicals, even my mandolin. It smooths out the peakiness and eliminates all the harshness making them really quite useful (imho). For $100/pr and $5 worth of caps it's hard to go wrong. Same mic is sold under at least 3 different brands with prices all over the place. Not that I wouldn't mind a couple Sm81s to get that authentic '70's acoustic sound; can we say Eagles? My CAD Trion 7000 ribbon doesn't do anything for me but the 414 is ok on the body and with the Oktava 012 pointed at the 12th fret to provide detail I'll get by. Have you tried a tube on acoustic? Bu, you know, there is no "best mic" for this. So much depends on the axe, the player, the room that what works in one situation will utterly fail the next. Shoot, just a tiny change in placement could make more difference than any mic and that just takes practice, practice practice.