A Microphone Stand ON Your ACOUSTIC GUITAR?
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- čas přidán 29. 08. 2024
- Recently I’ve found myself having conversations with friends about clip-on mics for acoustic guitar. I’ve had interesting experiences with these mini units in the past - and unpredictable results.
One variation on this theme is a frankly improbably accessory called the Livestrings H-Clamp which was made for a short time around 2006/7. It’s a mic stand for your guitar - but of course it is!
Is this wise? Well - take a look at the video and let me know your thoughts!
Like what I do? Tip me here michaelwattsgu...
Until next time, stay tuned
Michael
My heart was in my mouth watching it being attached! Great results, though I’d always prefer a mic on a floor stand.
Is "my heart was in my mouth" an English expression or one from a different language translated into English?
It’s a relatively common English idiom which I think sums up the feeling of panic rather nicely.
Thank you Christopher! Yes, I will admit, this was a bit more hardware clamped to the guitar than I would feel comfortable with - just imagine someone tripping over the lead! Argh!
Sounds pretty good to my ears - thanks for sharing. Needless to say: excellent playing!
Thanks for listening Johannes!
The sound in your studio sounds fantastic (voice recording).
@@Grindstaff09 thank you so much! I try my best
Sounds excellent. But yes, I'd be nervous about the mechanism loosening up and dropping off, scratching the instrument, etc. Love that Kostal ¨Tree¨. Sustain for days. Exquisite playing as always on your part Michael.
Thanks George! It seems pretty well made but I’ll admit, I didn’t love the idea of a mic clamped on like this!
You could always ziptie the joint to lock it in place. But I get nervous just putting a capo on some of my nicer guitars.
if scratching is making you nervous, rethink about what it means.
A guitar which is scratched is a good guitar, it means it has been used over and over again.
A guitar which is spotless is either new, or so bad that people keep returning it.
Thanks for the real world demo!!!! Best!
Thank you Thomas!
You are truly a renegade Michael! I don't even like wearing shirts with buttons while playing my higher end instruments. While the sound was rather nice, thinking of all the potential scenarios that could happen to that beautiful Kostal while you were clipping it on gave me chills!😬
Ha ha! Yeah I know what you mean James - it was a bit of a high-wire act but thankfully it all went well
Maybe if the guitar attachment was placed as a small attachment below the sound hole and then the microphone arm curved like a standard vocal mike attachment and all made of carbon fiber in a tubular structure.Should be light and strong and not impede vibrations.
Thank you! I did try that but it didn’t feel great on my thought and as this guitar has a cutaway then the other shoulder wasn’t an option
Your beautiful Guitar playing shines through all these very informative Videos
let me play andy mckee's drifting with it lol...btw nice video as always michael!
Ha ha ha ha! Sadistic bugger.
You can't spell Michael without spelling mic first. Sounds great, Michael!
Ha ha true! Thank you Carroll!
Jason Kostal has just had a fit somewhere
A Tourett's Conniption.. yikes!
He’s used to it!
@@MichaelWatts lol it’s a good job MW😂 That said now that I have improved on the guitar and have a better understanding I totally get the quest for the amplification of the acoustic guitar that doesn’t involve that awful digital sound from a pick up. My Brook is fitted with the Duel Highlander system with the goose neck mic but I’ve yet to try it.
Not everything improves over time as it baffles me how the likes of Norman Blake played to large audiences with using a microphone. Also the amount of music shop demos of high end guitars played through the pick up has me wondering if they even know the difference🤔
The sticky-outyness would clash (literally) with a vocal mic rather badly for live use. Even if you don't sing there's a need to speak to the punters. Home or studio - why? A proper mic stand is simpler, safer and allows more adjustment in position. No wonder this gadget was only made for a short time! Nice sound though, Michael, as always.
Thanks Keith! Believe it if not the manual suggests clamping a vocal mic to the guitar too! I was NOT feeling brave enough to try that
@@MichaelWatts I don't blame you!
as a busker, i would sing in it
you could!
@@MichaelWatts Can you check that it can actually be positioned for vocals? I would be interested.
As usual, outstanding playing. Set up seems a bit awkward for my taste. Dare I say cyborgian? Is that a word?
It is now Howard! Thanks for watching!
Very nice playing! I have long thought that this whole trend (which has become a universal requirement now) toward built-in acoustic guitar pickups is at its heart just another money-making scheme. Nothing sounds as good with an acoustic guitar as an external high quality microphone.
I played gigs in venues of various sizes, from small bars to very large dance palaces, for many years - both as a single act and with bands - and used a conventional microphone stand for my acoustic guitar. I can honestly say that I never had a problem with feedback - even in the largest loudest venues.
The only reason to use a built in PU or clamped on mic is if you must save floor space, IMO.
And if you watch someone like Jonathan Richman perform he cleverly uses the mic placement to vary his tone.
Absolutely right Bob - the only reason I can think of for serious use is if you absolutely need to nail a consistent sound in between sessions or you haven’t got room for a floor stand. As a curiosity it’s fun to have but it’s very weird!
@@MichaelWatts There is another very good reason to use an installed pickup or mic, and it's the reason I use one: so you can create an acoustic guitar loop on your first pass throught the song while avoiding bleed from your voice, other instruments, etc. Then you can play mando, flute, a second guitar layer, etc. on subsequent passes. I have a Baggs "Tru-mic" installed condenser inside my steel string and nylon string. Are they the same sound as an external condenser? No, but quite acceptable, and usable for loops.
Definitely a no from me Michael 🙂 As you imply it's not really practical for live work and why would you use it in the studio or at home?
Absolutely Phil - it’s a curiosity more than anything
A mic should in theory need to be no bigger than the auditory canal of our ears...
Oh wow, that is a very good point indeed. Just an ear on a stick. That could work!
I'm frightened, Mum! Presumably the advantage over a mic on a boom is you can move around a bit, but I have visions of the whole shooting match falling off if you do so.
Ha ha ha ha! Yeah I know what you mean!
Excellent playing ....microphones are mostly only as good as my speakers . Peace ✌edit: if you have a need for a stand like that , who am I to stand in your way .......
Ha ha thank you David and yes, it’s an unusual approach and not one I’ll be using regularly!
Looks precarious at best. Not sure I would stick one of my mic's on that. If you want a close but detailed sound without the proximity effect I would suggest an omni mic or even a pair of fig 8 ribbons in Blumliein.
Absolutely right Andy! I do love the Blumlein approach too
Why not just use a condenser mic with a sound reflection filter like Aston or Marantz if feedback is an issue? That thing scares me and doesn't look user friendly. Definitely not a fan of acoustic pickups, no one has created one yet that I would use so you're on the right track, even a Shure SM 57 is preferable. That's some beautiful playing by the way.
Thank you Ellenrik! Yeah, this is more about consistency of sound than feedback avoidance I imagine. I totally agree with you about pickups…
Interesting concept. Not very practical as an on-stage option. If youre using a music stand for classical music, then this would get in the way. So not very practical for practice either. However, it does pick up the full sound better than any other option as it moves with the guitar. Great for recording purposes. I would worry about the clamp pressure on the laminate of the guitar as its not in the direction the laminate is designed to strain against. I would really like to see a condenser coil that fits around the circumference of the soundhole on the guitar. I saw on stage, a violinist using the miniature clip on boom mic you showed at the beginning. It sounded great and worked well for clarity and pitch. Only problem with a guitar using this is it wouldnt pick up the deeper lower pitch sounds to any depth, so maybe you could mix in an under-bridge pick up to get those. Im yet to see someone do the unthinkable and have a spherical microphone pod sticking up inside the guitar supported just by an X four-point cable system like what vintage studio mics used to have.
The whole thing is an intriguing idea and works in terms of sound - there are so many other variables though and practicality is one!
I’m a bit clumsy and I’d be afraid it would scratch my nice guitar!
The thought did cross my mind more than once!
Cool, it sounds better than a dpa4099 imo.
Interesting - BUT - too much risk of "handling noise".
The solution - use a Rycote INV mic clip for the M300 and a Rycote flexible XLR tail from the mic. to the main cable. The cable goes from the microphone, loops, and clips to the cable grip on the shock mount. This will isolate the microphone from any vibration of the guitar and handling noise from the guitarist.
A floor stand is obviously better - but your clamp will give a consistent sound if you move the guitar around. But you *do* need to isolate the microphone from vibrations.
Ah John you’re absolutely right and I have one of your beautiful leads for exactly this purpose - I didn’t fit it in this case but it does get plenty of use on the studio - thanks for chiming in!
Sounds wonderful, but doesn't the clamp deaden the guitars resonance?
Good question Gerry! I’m not sure that it was affecting the resonance in that position but if you clamped it in the lower bout it might.
Michael, does the DPA mic resist feedbacks if I play in pubs ?
It's pretty sensitive to be honest Luciano - you may get away with it or you may find an internal mic is more practical.
The sound quality was really good tho...in terms of dynamics they where being controlled by your playing rather than your swaying as it where. did you compress the file or was that just what was played because if so really amazing result....you look silly off course s anyone would but meh...
Michael: how about trying this with an AEA R88 ;-)
Ha ha ha ha! Absolutely, why not a stereo pair!
Perhaps inevitably, I have one ... Perhaps also inevitably, barely used ...
Ha ha, it happens!
Why not go from the bottom of the guitar?
Very good question Curt - for a single mic I tend to aim at the body join but you might be get results behind the bridge too. Depends on the mix I guess.
One question... What's the point?
Yup…NOPE! Scarier than a horror movie.
This video needs a trigger warning. I’m having an anxiety attack.
Ha ha ha I’m so sorry Moosey - I should have let you know in advance
Never in a million years. Why not just a plain old boom mic stand and be done with it. This is an accident waiting to happen in my opinion
Ha ha yeah, I know what you mean Stevie - it’s a weird old thing but maybe I’ll find a use for it eventually!