Live guitar amp mic: SM57 or Sen609/906 and why

[Buzzgrowl]

Hey gigging telemasters!

Which mic do you use for your amp when playing live?

If it's "other" - do tell which one.

An explanation of your decision logic and/or experience would be very much appreciated!

 

[Pine Pitch]

Hang a Sen609 cause we don’t need another blasted mic stand on stage

 

[Tom Grattan]

57, its been the bench mark for me for many years.

 

[dougstrum]

57 in a short stand set up somewhere midway between the center and edge of cone.
I've got a couple of 57's, and it's the way I learned and the way sound guys did it back in the day.

 

[regularslinky]

I've never used anything other than a 57 for guitar and a 58 for vocals, decades old, dented, and beer-soaked. They are the industry standard for good reason.

 

[39martind18]

I have a 609, but don't play at volumes that require micing the amp, so...

 

[Peegoo]

I've used both playing live, and I like the Sennheiser because it's a side-address mic; loop the cable through the amp's handle and hang the mic right on the speaker. Easy peasy and nothing to trip over in fromt of the amp.

When I used the 57 on a little stand, I mic'd the back of the cone from behind the amp (open-back cabinet). Some players thought that was weird, but sound engineers were A-OK with it. It worked great.

 

[loudboy]

I've used both playing live, and I like the Sennheiser because it's a side-address mic; loop the cable through the amp's handle and hang the mic right on the speaker. Easy peasy and nothing to trip over in fromt of the amp.

When I used the 57 on a little stand, I mic'd the back of the cone from behind the amp (open-back cabinet). Some players thought that was weird, but sound engineers were A-OK with it. It worked great.

And if you leave the clip on, it won't twirl.

 

[schmee]

Hey gigging telemasters!

Which mic do you use for your amp when playing live?

If it's "other" - do tell which one.

An explanation of your decision logic and/or experience would be very much appreciated!

SM57, 58 are fine. It's all about the mids really. But from a functional standpoint, the flat style like the Sennheiser is a good thing!

 

[scelestus]

906 is apparently more neutral and a "nicer" sounding mic, but more expensive. I think the closest shootout is between the 609 and the 57.

The 57 is ubiquitous and sounds good. The 609 is brighter to my ears, especially if compared directly to the 57. It's also more convenient since you don't necessarily need a stand. I have both and use them on different amps or for different parts when recording.

Do you already own a 57? I think a 57 is more versatile on other instruments so has more utility overall. But I do really like my 609!

 

[soundchaser59]

And if you leave the clip on, it won't twirl.

Exactly what I was going to say.

To me the (factory authorized authentic) SM57 and the E906 sound identical. I record both at the same time on the same speaker and when I play it back I cannot tell any difference.
For home use the SM57. For $99 bucks authentic and delivered to your front door, it's a no brainer.
But for stage hang the E906 as described above. Put a spring loaded mic clip on it to hold it in place against the grill cloth, so it won't spin.

For some reason some of the EV mics seem to be strong in the guitar frequency spectrum. ND967 or ND468 for example. Heil PR30 is another good one I've seen on a few stages.

 

[Dennyf]

57. It's a good-enough hammer.

 

[chris m.]

Love my 906 but I'm sure a 609 works just as well for less $$.

 

[clydethecat]

Any difference between the three is within the reach of the tone controls on the channel strip.

I'd prefer a LDC, such as an AKG C414.

 

[Rich_S]

I own both an SM57 and an e906, but I use an H&K Red Box. I mounted it on a bracket in the back of my combo amp, so it takes no space on stage. It sounds great and doesn’t take bleed from other instruments on stage.

 

[thescarecrow]

I would use an SM57 cause I have a case of 'em. When I started setting up my room, I bought a bunch of them because they are versatile and bulletproof.

 

[haggardfan1]

My current stage amp has a speaker-simulated XLR out. When I used amps that did not, I used an SM57, hung by the cable or on a little stand, or one of my Behringer XM8500s. There is very little difference except price.
I've used a 609 in a friend's music room, and honestly can't tell any difference.

One of the best pieces of tube amp gear I ever let get away was a Peavey EDI. It was a passive equalized transformer box that patched into the speaker output, and had a balanced output. Sound guys were consistently impressed, and happy to have one fewer open mic onstage.

 

[johnb]

One of the best pieces of tube amp gear I ever let get away was a Peavey EDI. It was a passive equalized transformer box that patched into the speaker output, and had a balanced output. Sound guys were consistently impressed, and happy to have one fewer open mic onstage.

I still have an EDI and it works just as good as in did in '85 when I bought it. It works well to keep other instruments from bleeding the guitar mix. AND ... I can use my amp and speaker as I see fit; mixing in with the volume of the other instruments of course.

 

[noname_dragon]

We've used the E609's for years and it's so convenient. The sm57 sounds just as good and requires that extra stand to position it optimally.. disappointing results hanging the 57 in front of the speaker as it's not made for side address and misses the fullness of straight on. It can be done in a pinch tho.
I love the 57 for vocals too, it suits my voice, altho the Beta 87a is awesome and my preference.

 

[Musekatcher]

Ive use a 57, 58, 609 and an MXL DX2. The 609 is the easiest to use, and close enough in sound qualiy for the win. DX2 is the runner up.