Jim Roseberry

Who here has tried an SM7b for capturing elec guitar work?  How do you compare it to an SM57, Senn MD421 or Pr-30?

Hi Al, 


If you're looking for more of a full-range tone than an SM57, the SM7b does a great job on guitar cab.
IMO, It blows the MD421 away... (more punch/clarity - never cared for the mids of MD421 on Gtr)
To my ears, the SM7b has a frequency response similar to an AKG C414-XLS.  It's pretty smooth.
If you like the way your guitar/bass cab sounds, you'll be pleased with what the SM7b captures.  
Prior to getting the SM7b, I had to use a pair of mics to get this type of sound.  (SM57 paired with LDC)

The bottom end is tighter than an RE20 or RE320 (which are also pretty good).

Jim,
 
Thanks for the review.  I've been listening to a lot of clips on the net and have come to the same conclusion as you.  Now I have to go and spend more money.

Now I have to go and spend more money.

G.A.S. can be hard on the wallet.
I have it as bad as anyone...   
Oh well... I could have a Harley or other grown-up toys... but for me it's music.

Jim Roseberry

Now I have to go and spend more money.

G.A.S. can be hard on the wallet.
I have it as bad as anyone...   
Oh well... I could have a Harley or other grown-up toys... but for me it's music.

Amen, brother...amen.

FWIW.....I picked a SM7B up a few weeks ago. I don't have clips for you, but the YouTube video described exactly what I have noticed. The SM7B is fuller and smoother. As Jim R. stated, it almost sounds the way a 57 did when blended with another mic. For me it was with a Mark V and a Mesa 2 x 12 cabinet. I have noticed that getting it to sit in the scratch project I'm working on is of course different than it was with a 57.

I have yet to compare how the mics differ for clean tones. One of these days, I'll record some comparisons (if anyone is interested).

bobvila


Ok, I finally did a test, here it is, 57 first, 7B second https://soundcloud.com/travisgrotbo/sm57sm7

NICE!!
Bob this was a great side by side example.
The 7B was WAAAY warmer, fuller and louder than the 57. Just no comparison.
So which one of those mic'd sounds do you think most accuratly represents the sound coming out of your cabinet?
Also, did you have any of the switches on the mic on/off?
 

So which one of those mic'd sounds do you think most accuratly represents the sound coming out of your cabinet?

I'm not Bob, but I can answer that question without hesitation...
The SM7b captures a pretty accurate representation of the way the cab sounds in the room.
FAR more accurate than the SM57 (which doesn't capture much top or bottom)
The SM57 is great for tight/focused mids... 

Thanks Jim. Still wondering if Bob had any of the switches engaged.
Sounds like you have some experience with these mics. Do you use the high or low pass filters?

Still wondering if Bob had any of the switches engaged. Sounds like you have some experience with these mics. Do you use the high or low pass filters?

I don't like to use filters on the way in (prefer to do that after the fact via software)
I do like the presence-boost switch engaged.
With the presence-boost, the SM7b is still more tame in the upper-mids than a RE320.

I prefer the RE320 for VO work... and the SM7b for guitar/bass cab.
The RE320 isn't bad on guitar/bass cab... the SM7b is just tighter on the bottom end.

Good feedback Jim.
This helps in my search for a new guitar mic.

Hello! I had the presence switch engaged the first half, and did not use the bass roll-off for any of this clip. I took the presence switch off at 2:05 if I remember correctly. Do you want anything specific compared? I could make another recording covering any specifics you want...