If you are a guitar player and you want to record your electric guitar for a studio track or album, you’ll need to invest in some good-quality gear. Unfortunately, there are so many guitar microphones available on today’s market; it can be difficult to make an educated decision, particularly if you are a beginner.
Luckily, we are here to lend a hand. We have taken the time to develop this hand buying guide where we’ll cover everything you need to know about picking the perfect microphone to record your tastiest licks and grungiest riffs.
If you know what you are looking for, it’ll make the recording so much easier. If you’d like to know, check out the rest of the article below.
Things to consider when choosing a guitar microphone
There are numerous things you need to keep in mind when purchasing your next guitar microphone. These include:
Polar Patterns
The polar patterns of your microphone head dictate where the microphone will pick up sound and from which side it should mute any background noise. The most common patterns include cardioid, bi-directional, omnidirectional, and super/hyper-cardioid.
The most common type of pattern is the cardioid pattern. It rejects any sound from behind and picks up on any sound in front. This is the best type of mic for loud stages and confined studios. Similarly, super-cardioid microphones pick up on sound in the same manner, but they are much better at rejecting background noise. They also have a narrower pickup.
As the name suggests, omnidirectional microphones feature sensitivity on both sides of the head, making it the best microphone for picking sound from multiple directions. Unlike the cardioid-pattern mics, this type of microphone does not feature a rejection mechanism.
Finally, bi-directional microphones can pick up on any noise coming from the front or rear but will reject any sound from the sides.
Frequency response
You should also consider the frequency response of your microphone, as different microphones are built for recording different instruments. For example, if you’re looking to record your guitar, we recommend choosing a microphone with a similar frequency response somewhere between 80Hz-5kHz.
Response Curves
A response curve is a graph that shows the frequency range of your microphone. This is a great way to understand quickly how the mic will perform and how well it will cope with your musical requirements.
Proximity Effect
Every microphone comes with a feature known as the proximity effect. Essentially, this means that the closer you are to the microphone, the more prominent the bass response. This ensures a warm tone and offers plenty of room for experimentation, particularly if you favor a vintage vibe in your musical stylings.
SPL
SPL stands for sound pressure. This is measured in decibels. Basically, the lower the decibel, the more sensitive the microphone will be. On average, most microphone sensitivity tends to be around 100dB.
What are the different types of microphones?
There are many different microphones available, but the top three most popular types for recording guitar are condenser, dynamic, and ribbon.
Dynamic Microphone
Dynamic microphones can handle high SPL and come with internal shock mounts. As such, they are usually held in your hand. In addition, their polar patterns do a great job at blocking any surrounding noise that doesn’t come from your guitar or amplifier. As such, they are perfect for live performance. They can be used for studio work, but they are much better suited to playing live. However, these are the microphones of choice for recording guitar, both electric and acoustically.
Condenser Microphone
Condenser mics are very responsive and capture all those intricacies and details of your performance. As such, they are favored in the studio due to the high-frequency response. They are the preferred microphones for acoustic guitar amps, pianos, and vocals, but they will also do a great job recording the electric guitar.
Ribbon Microphone
Ribbon mics are the most sensitive and delicate microphones out of the main three options, softening the sound and enrich performances with a warm tone. They are designed with a small strip of aluminum on the head, compared to the coil of a dynamic mic, which connects to the microphone.
Ribbon mics are the most delicate type of microphone out of all of these three options. They are known to soften the sound of the recordings and performances to enhance them with a warm, rich tone. However, they do not cope well with high SPL’s, and they need several preamps to sound their utmost best.
Guitar microphone price range
When it comes to your microphone, you pay for quality. Sure, you can find some budget dynamic mics for as little as $100 (sometimes even less). However, you’ll want to spend at least $200 if you are looking for quality. It is not uncommon to find microphones that far exceed the $500 price range.
FAQ
What is the most popular type of microphone for recording electric guitar?
Two of the best microphones for recording your electric guitar are the Shure SM57 and Shure SM58. These offer fantastic sound quality and durability. In addition, the SM58 comes with a pop filter which also makes it fantastic for vocals. Both of these microphones are considered to be the true workhorse mics of the live and studio scene.
What is the best way to place a microphone by the guitar amp?
Firstly, you need to consider where the speaker exists inside the amp. If you place the mic close to the speaker, you’ll get deep bass sounds in your mix. Conversely, the further away, the less the bass tone. If you move the mic to the speaker’s edge, you’ll reduce the mid frequencies. Also, if you move the mic to the center, you’ll get some lovely bright tones.
Do you need good monitors for recording music?
Of course! A good monitor is the best way to hear any mistakes and accidents. As such, you’ll be able to work more efficiently and record better quality music all around. So if you want to avoid lots of frustration, invest in a good quality pair of monitors straight away.