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Hi,
I'm currently using using a large condenser mic, SE 200 which cost £75, although it's OK and I have had a couple of forwards using it, I'd really like to upgrade it. I need a mic to record acoustic guitar and vocals, both are fairly quiet, I'm looking to pay around £200/ $300.
I think I'd like to stick with a large condenser mic. Does anybody have any suggestions or recommendations please.
Thanks in advance.
Gary

treesbygb wrote:Hi,
I'm currently using using a large condenser mic, SE 200 which cost £75, although it's OK and I have had a couple of forwards using it, I'd really like to upgrade it. I need a mic to record acoustic guitar and vocals, both are fairly quiet, I'm looking to pay around £200/ $300.
I think I'd like to stick with a large condenser mic. Does anybody have any suggestions or recommendations please.
Thanks in advance.
Gary

hi Gary.. I had some good recommendations here before when I asked a mic question.. maybe it might help.. here's the link to that thread:
http://forums.taxi.com/topic28116.html? ... olin%20mic

Kel

Hi Gary - I've been using a Rode NTK for years and am very happy with it. I think I got mine for around $400 used but you might get lucky and find one for less. I know Blue has a couple of models in that price range that get favorable reviews as well.

eo

I absolutly LOVE this mic!!! http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/Bluebird

Hi Gary!

For the money, I don't think you can beat the Rode NT1-A. I have that and a Shure KSM-44 as my large-condenser mics, and for general recording, I prefer the Rode. It's balanced and transparent. And, at just a little over $200, it's a pretty good deal.

If you are going to the Rally in November, you might want to check out Gage mics as well. They are solid and very affordable. I bought a pair of pencil condensers for around $70, and I use them and the Rode for acoustic guitar (stereo).

Hope this helps.

Best wishes!
John Cimino
www.twojohnsmusic.com

Thanks guys, for taking the time to post.
There's so much choice that it's nice to have things narrowed down a bit. I've only been looking for about 10 mins but I'm quite liking that bluebird mic.
Your help and advice is much appreciated.
Gary

Hello Gary,
I second the Rode NT1A, I long ago turn my addictions in to collecting mics. It is the only inexpensive mic in my collection I use regularly.

I have heard good things about the U87 copy by Gauge on this forum also, worth a look if you attend the Rally in November. They had them at a reduced price last year at the Road Rally....

treesbygb wrote:Thanks guys, for taking the time to post.
There's so much choice that it's nice to have things narrowed down a bit. I've only been looking for about 10 mins but I'm quite liking that bluebird mic.
Your help and advice is much appreciated.
Gary

I absolutely guarantee that you would not be disappointed with that BlueBird !

Once again, thank you all for your invaluable advice, I've narrowed it down to the Rode NT2A and the Bluebird, not sure which though! Very similar price here in the UK and not as cheap as in the U.S.! Sadly I won't be able to attend the Rally (this year anyway), as I've just joined and can't really afford to jet off to L.A from London, even though I'd love to attend the workshops.
Cheers
Gary

+1 on the Rode, especially for acoustic guitars you want to have up front in a mix.

But also consider the "live" condensers, like the Shure SM86, Sennheiser 865, Neuman KSM105 and others, especially for tracking vocals (but can work nicely on acoustic guitar as well). You get the best from both worlds, the detail from the condenser and the backside rejection of a nonisolated recording room from dynamic mics, which is a combination that can work really well in a homerecording situation. These mics also don't suffer as bad from the upper harshness that many of the cheap Chinese built condensers have, I think, which sometimes can make them easier to blend in a mix.