• From: London, ON
  • Registered: 2007-11-05
  • Posts: 5

Topic: Live tone through the PA

Hi everyone,

I've been having issues with keeping my tone sounding the same coming through the PA system. what types of mics are the best for retaining all the bottom end and character of the sound? any tips would be helpful. thanks

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  • gsj
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Re: Live tone through the PA

What amp/speakers do you use?

les_paul70 wrote:

Hi everyone,

I've been having issues with keeping my tone sounding the same coming through the PA system. what types of mics are the best for retaining all the bottom end and character of the sound? any tips would be helpful. thanks

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  • jim m
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  • From: Okie City, OK
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Re: Live tone through the PA

les_paul70 wrote:

Hi everyone,

I've been having issues with keeping my tone sounding the same coming through the PA system. what types of mics are the best for retaining all the bottom end and character of the sound? any tips would be helpful. thanks

SM57's are a tried and true instrument mic. They will give you the bottom end. The key is to not mic the voice coil but out in the middle of the cone.

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  • Kyle
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  • Registered: 2006-04-21
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Re: Live tone through the PA

Personally I believe as well that you need some space between be the mic and the speaker.  Putting it right to the speaker will obviously give a more direct sound, and in a live setting perhaps a tighter sound, but I really feel like youll get a more accurate representation of the sound you hear from your amp if you give the mic alittle space.  I'm a fan of condenser mics as well.  The SM57 dynamic obviously you can't really go wrong, but personally I prefer condenser mics.  Which I could tell you some specific mics, but I haven't had extended varied experience with different mics, a little too poor for that to happen.

  • From: London, ON
  • Registered: 2007-11-05
  • Posts: 5

Re: Live tone through the PA

gsj wrote:

What amp/speakers do you use?

I use a traynor YCV50... its a celestion vintage 30

G&L ASAT Classic Semi Hollow -> Ernie VP -> Boss TU-2 -> Ernie Wah -> catalinbread super chilli picoso -> Fulltone Fulldrive 2 MOSFET -> Fulltone OCD -> Empress Tremolo -> Line 6 DL4 -> Diamond memory Lane 2 -> EH Holy Grail -> Traynot YCV50
  • Registered: 2006-04-22
  • Posts: 1,168

Re: Live tone through the PA

421's and EV's and Beyer M -88's are in our bag of tricks.  Mic the outside of the cone.  The more inside you the less bass.  You also have to make sure that the house engineer has no eq or high pass on the channel.  That will kill you faster than a can of raid and a ant hill.  many aspects go into the out front tone.. 
Joe B.

7 Reply by MontiusWinston (edited by MontiusWinston 2007-11-19 06:23:36)

  • From: Kansas
  • Registered: 2007-10-12
  • Posts: 375

Re: Live tone through the PA

I've always liked the Sennheiser 609 for guitars.  421's are great, too.

Royer Labs makes an excellent ribbon guitar mic (R-121 or the R-122V).  I have only used these in recording, so I am not too sure on how they handle the road.  Pricey as well, but absolutely awesome sound quality.

EDIT:  Royer Labs now makes a series of live ribbon mics.

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  • mitch
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  • Registered: 2006-04-22
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Re: Live tone through the PA

The best recorded amp sounds I've had have come from using the big & fairly cheap Nady Ribbon mic - it sounds sort of between a dynamic and a condenser- very smooth but detailed, but I wouldn't use it for the road- way too fragile! Stick with a good old  SM57,  or I'm about to try out some AKG D22 dynamics on my Bluesbreaker/Plexi Set-up they're fairly cheap, but they look very tough with a small profile- anyone else use 'em?

Mitch

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  • From: Detroit
  • Registered: 2006-06-02
  • Posts: 5,807

Re: Live tone through the PA

hughes and kettner makes that red line out box, but have never used it. it is supposed to maintain guitar sound integrity through a PA

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  • Registered: 2006-04-22
  • Posts: 1,168

Re: Live tone through the PA

Some swear by the Palmer Speaker emulator.  Condensor mics for live could get dangerous.  Lots of high end and some cant handle the SPL of the amp.  Again what ever works for you is the best.  Its how you want it hear.  But go out and listen to it from the front of the stage.  Its a fun process when you get into it.  JB

11 Reply by gsj

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Re: Live tone through the PA

That's a sweet sounding speaker in the right cab. As previous posts have suggested....mic at the edge of the cone....and as Joe said, get out front at the soundcheck and take a listen to your amp mic'd through the house PA. My favourite piece of advice is to be nice to the guy working the desk, he can be your best friend or your worst enemy....treat him with respect and he'll take care of you and make you sound good....then it's all up to you smile

les_paul70 wrote:
gsj wrote:

What amp/speakers do you use?

I use a traynor YCV50... its a celestion vintage 30

never give up, never slow down
never grow old, never ever die young