• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Mic and DI?

themacinator

themacinator

Always looking for the perfect gig
Oct 8, 2009
1,511
138
8,385 feet in the Colorado Rockies
Disclosures
Endorsing Artist: Babicz FCH Hardware
#1
I run the sound in our band and have a lead guitarist who insists on mic'ing his amp. We used to run him direct and could control his sound so much better.

He is using a Mesa combo. What do you think about running a mic and a DI? Actually I was gonna run his mic cord but not patch it in!! LOL, then run the DI cord and use that.

The FOH is what matters right?
 
#2
You can control it better via DI, but does it *sound* better? Do you not like the tone he's getting with the Mesa? Is his stage volume too loud? Address those problems at the source.

BTW, the player should be involved in these tone discussions and on-board with the final decisions. (IOW, *don't* put a placebo mic on the amp just to avoid having frank conversations w/ the guitarist.)
 
#3
Umm, yeah. It's a good thing he isn't listening to you... lol. You're the guy that gives bass players like me who DO know good guitar tone a bad wrap... ;) :p

The easiest thing to do is if he's mic'ing (and if he has a Mesa guitar ANYTHING, it needs to be mic'd, ), just turn the cab facing away from the stage, either to the sides or backwards. Or get him a stand to tilt it up towards him and not laser-beaming out to the audience.

Overdriven guitar, much like overdriven bass tone, does not sound very good via DI.
 
#5
Has anyone boxed in or covered a guitar amp on stage to lower on-stage volume?

I've seen and used a drum shield and I am wondering if the same concept can be used for a guitar amp?

So, mic the guitar amp and then cover it or wall it off.

Doable?

To the OP, I agree with the others - deception will only lead to drama. If you reverse the roles and he ran sound - how would you want to be treated?

If the issue is stage volume - then the real issue is your guitarist can't hear his amp well enough. Solve that problem first (tilted amp, personal monitor mix of his amp, etc) and then deal with his sound in the house system.
 
#6
if his guitar tone sounds good comming from his amp/cab then perhaps a little experimentation with various mic angles might be a good idea -there can be a world of tone difference by simply moving a microphone a couple of inches across the face of a speaker. Perhaps recording 4 or 5 different mic placements to find what sounds the best and then using that information for a live show might not be such a bad idea.
 
#10
Thanks for the replies. Previously he set up his own mic on his cab. His sound was thin and difficult to get in the FOH. This past weekend I did his mic placement. I made sure it was located over one of the drivers and very close to the grill.

It made all the difference. He chose to use his SM58 which I thought was a poor choice since he also has a 57 but I went along with it.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back