Microphone under $100?

Chris Brooks · Post by **Chris Brooks** » 29 Nov 2005 7:21 am

Any recommendations for a decent cheap mike?

Thanks in advance.

Chris

------------------
Carter SD-12 Extended E-9 with 5 & 6; Peavey N 112; Small Stone, Hughes & Kettner Rotosphere.

Brad Sarno · Post by **Brad Sarno** » 29 Nov 2005 7:26 am

What is your main use for this mic?

Brad

Jim Sliff · Post by **Jim Sliff** » 29 Nov 2005 8:45 am

Guessing it's either for vocals or miking a guitar amp, th4e best cheap mic I've found is the MXL Fox - it's a budget SM58-style and great bang-for-the-buck (as are a lot of the MXL studio mics - $99 can get you a Neumann or AKG-type knockoff that is tremendous).

Martin Abend · Post by **Martin Abend** » 29 Nov 2005 9:04 am

I have the MXL 900 condenser mike and for the 60 EUR I payed on ebay for it it sounds just awesome. But don't A/B it with a Neuman...

Also check a russian make called Oktava. I have a buddy that swears by them.

Edit: It's a MXL 990.

------------------
martin abend Pedal-Steel in Germany
s-10 sierra crown gearless 3 x4 | GiMa squareneck

[This message was edited by Martin Abend on 30 November 2005 at 02:29 PM.]

John Macy · Post by **John Macy** » 29 Nov 2005 9:32 am

The new AudioTechnia 2020 is pretty nice, extremely well built, and seems pretty consistent and streets for $99... My rep dropped a couple off for us to try, and would be a good investment for that price. The build quality is great.

Mark van Allen · Post by **Mark van Allen** » 29 Nov 2005 10:20 am

Ditto on the AT 2020. If you can spare another $100 try out an Audio Technica 3035- fantastic mic on most vocals, acoustic guitar, dobro, toms...
I have several JoeMeek mics I got direct for $75. I believe they are the pre-cursors to the Studio projects line, but whatever they morphed into they are some of my favorite go-to mics, even sound good on scratchy fiddlers. If I ever see any more of 'em on ebay... oops...

------------------
Stop by the Steel Store at: www.markvanallen.com

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 29 Nov 2005 12:07 pm

The old standard, Shure SM58, is still going for $99.99 @ Musicians Friend. And the Shure SM57 is priced at $89.99.

Marlin Smoot · Post by **Marlin Smoot** » 29 Nov 2005 12:35 pm

I agree, the 58 is a great mic in your price range. Sometimes you can find them used for $50 or less. Some mics look cool but sound kinda muddy. The 58 is excellent for vocals and guitar amps. The 57 is a great mic too, if I couldn't find a 58 I'd take a 57.

Chris Brooks · Post by **Chris Brooks** » 29 Nov 2005 1:19 pm

Thanks, guys. I should have mentioned it's for vocals.

Chris

Will Holtz · Post by **Will Holtz** » 29 Nov 2005 1:23 pm

Is the application for live reinforcement or recording?

Jim Peters · Post by **Jim Peters** » 29 Nov 2005 2:41 pm

For live music, get a 58. For recording vocals, try one of the Marshall condensor mikes.
To hear this mike (Marshal), click here

thrill is gone)
http://www.swirlband.com/songs.html [This message was edited by Jim Peters on 29 November 2005 at 02:42 PM.]

Mike Winter · Post by **Mike Winter** » 29 Nov 2005 2:47 pm

What Erv, Marlin and Jim said.

------------------
Mike
------------------
Blue Moon Highway
(Country Music...and then some.)
www.bluemoonhighway.com

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 29 Nov 2005 4:55 pm

We just bought a Samson Q7, supercardiod mic, under $100 at Sam Ash.

We were looking at the Beta58 and tried it and a Beta 87A, to replace an SM58 when the salesman asked us to try the Samson Q7. The Q7 seems to have more gain than the Beta58 and much more than the SM58.

We needed a "hotter" mic for my wife, who has a weak voice. We used it on the stage today, at our weekly job and a major improvement over the SM58. I used to have to run the input gain, on a Peavey XR600g, at 6 and that was almost on feedback and it still wasn't really loud enough for my wife. With the Samson, I set the input gain on 3 and she was "loud".

D Schubert · Post by **D Schubert** » 29 Nov 2005 5:56 pm

The SM-57 and SM-58 are "standards" for live performance. You can expect good results with lo- and medium-priced PA equipment, as well as higher-end stuff. You can drop 'em many times before they break. I have several that have been used weekly since the 70's. No complaints.

Chris Brooks · Post by **Chris Brooks** » 30 Nov 2005 5:03 am

Thanks for your inputs. Yes, this is for live vocals . . . or as live as I can be while singing and picking.

I'll probably go with what I suspected was a Best Buy, an SM-58 or SM 57.

Cheers,

C

Jim Sliff · Post by **Jim Sliff** » 30 Nov 2005 5:54 am

For recording the Marshall (MXL) 990 is unbeatable for the price - around $70 at GC and Muscian's Friend. A nice condenser with great sound, a shock mount and hard case. I don't know howw they do it at that price, but many major studios use them now when they don't want to break out the $5,000 mics...

Jim Peters · Post by **Jim Peters** » 30 Nov 2005 6:07 am

Chris, our band uses Senheiser mikes now, but you just can't lose with 58's. My wife uses a Shure condensor mike(I don't remeber the #) that is a lot hotter and cleaner than a 58. The 57 has a lot more proximity effect, it can be too much if you're not careful. JimP

Jim Sliff · Post by **Jim Sliff** » 30 Nov 2005 1:25 pm

He was asking about *cheap* mics.

BTW, MF has the MXL 990 on sale for $49!

Marlin Smoot · Post by **Marlin Smoot** » 30 Nov 2005 2:16 pm

*Decent* was also mentioned. It's all subjective anyway.

Dave Grafe · Post by **Dave Grafe** » 1 Dec 2005 11:56 am

There are mics that are a little bit cheaper and there are mics that are a lot better than the Shure SM58, but it's still the best deal on the planet by far - it's the one mic that you'll never ever need to replace.[This message was edited by Dave Grafe on 01 December 2005 at 11:58 AM.]

Jim Sliff · Post by **Jim Sliff** » 1 Dec 2005 3:13 pm

Nothing indecent about the MXL's. Just a lot of mic for the money.

Brad Sarno · Post by **Brad Sarno** » 1 Dec 2005 5:23 pm

Ya just gotsta have an SM58 in your collection. That's one of those desert island mic's.

Brad

Bill Myers · Post by **Bill Myers** » 2 Dec 2005 5:05 pm

Do yourself a favor....forget an SM58....this is technology that is 30 years old! Take a look at an Audix OM-2. They are made in the US...And they will flat blow the doors off of a 58 for punch and clarity. We bought some of these mics and the lead singer wouldn't give up his 58...until after he hear the other singers on the om-2....then he said..give me one of those mics...just my 2 cents

------------------
2003 Carter D10, 9x5 Black and 1998 Carter D10 9x5, Evans Amp

Craig A Davidson · Post by **Craig A Davidson** » 3 Dec 2005 6:22 am

The nice thing about an SM-58 or SM-57 is that you can get use them either live or in the studio with good success. Yers there are better but like the old Fender ad, I won't part with mine either.

Wayne Franco · Post by **Wayne Franco** » 9 Dec 2005 12:31 pm

I sure like my Sennheiser 609 Silverface for my Steel. sounds just like it.