Thunderbird Club

[ToddOfThunder]

Just started to do my little mic shootout when I realized I left my R84 in Jamie’s car and she’s out running errands. Started anyway, using the CR-14, as well as my EV RE27 and RE20 on voice/speech. Just used the preamp in my Steinberg MR816X audio interface with no processing of any kind. Gonna do acoustic guitar and mic a vintage Fender champ on electric guitar as well. Might even mic a bass amp for fun

Envious

 

[dukeorock]

COOL!

They make high end ribbon mics and a cool little pre amp called Cloudlifter. Scored myself a CL-1 and CL-Z. Now I’m trying to butter them up for one of their 44 style ribbons

 

[dukeorock]

Boom! Should be getting a Cloud 44a within a couple weeks!

 

[Gaolee]

Ok, did a shootout of sorts with the AEA R84, Avantone CR-14, EV RE-20 and RE27 on voice, acoustic guitar and two electric guitars

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

My personal thoughts.

VOICE/SPEECH

I could see any of these mics being perfect for anyone, depending on voice characteristics and preference. I really did like em all, but slightly preferred the R84 as it had a big, classy sound. Really thought they were all terrific, though.

ACOUSTIC GUITAR

Again, very subjective. Overall, I’d personally go with the R84, or the RE27 if you want that glassy, cuts through the mix sound. The R84 has the best realism to me. Didn’t care for the CR14, but it didn’t suck by any stretch.

LES PAUL SPECIAL/VINTAGE FENDER CHAMP

Two problems. I’ve never been a huge fan of that particular guitar and the Champ needs servicing, but it’s the only guitar amp I had on hand.
Though I didn’t love any of em, the CR14 was my favorite and the R84 my least favorite, by far.

SQUIER TELE/ VINTAGE CHAMP

Very different guitar, but same outcome. Liked the CR14 best, followed by the RE20. R84 was my least favorite

Different tools for different tasks. It is great to know what they all excel at ahead of the game. It is great when you do these comparisons.

 

[Gaolee]

They make high end ribbon mics and a cool little pre amp called Cloudlifter. Scored myself a CL-1 and CL-Z. Now I’m trying to butter them up for one of their 44 style ribbons
View attachment 3355035

I use Cloudlifters with the 330s. They work great! If you can finagle another 44 style mic out of 'em...

 

[Gaolee]

Here I was thinking I was gonna be all cool and upgrade the hell out of this lower end TBird, new bridge, tuners, whatever it takes....now.....doesnt seem so bright(see what I did there). Hmmm....Guess I'll hang onto all these parts and see if I can find a deal on something a bit better. That 64' that may be sold sounded intriguing until I saw they were going for the price of a used RV.

Yeah, one can dream of a '64, but the chances are not so hot. If you already have parts rounded up, there is no reason not to install them and see what happens. The wood won't care. You may need to do a little modifying at the pickups, because the bolt ons have a slightly different size pickup. Or did anyway.

But really, another one to start a flock is a good idea, too. We are here to enable.

 

[JJR58]

An outage?

Or so it's being labeled as such. I'm sure my next time out is coming shortly.

 

[GonePlaid]

Or so it's being labeled as such. I'm sure my next time out is coming shortly.

It's related to the explanations of gas price hikes-because they can.

 

[dukeorock]

Different tools for different tasks. It is great to know what they all excel at ahead of the game. It is great when you do these comparisons.

They’re fun for me and I learn from em. Hopefully someone else can find it useful too. Speaking of which, I was playing the tele through champ and decided to pull the R84 back around one meter from the amp. Whole other world. Sounded awesome

 

[dukeorock]

If you can finagle another 44 style mic out of 'em...

Then I’d have a stereo pair? Great thinking!!!

 

[fasterpussycat]

Boom! Should be getting a Cloud 44a within a couple weeks!

How do I get into some of this free gear action?

 

[JJR58]

It's related to the explanations of gas price hikes-because they can.

Nah, new approach. Forget all that. My bad for bringing all that stuff up.

 

[GBassNorth]

I’m not sure everyone is talking about the same bass. The O/P corrected his original statement to say he had a IV bolt on.

Same advice applies.
If it were a Gibby 2015 the advice would be to lower the pups. Everything else remains the same.

 

[dukeorock]

How do I get into some of this free gear action?

Live in a van for 35 years, play thousands of shows, play on as many records as you can, produce a couple that do well and be nice to everyone you meet, because you never know

 

[fasterpussycat]

They’re fun for me and I learn from em. Hopefully someone else can find it useful too. Speaking of which, I was playing the tele through champ and decided to pull the R84 back around one meter from the amp. Whole other world. Sounded awesome

If there is no good reason mic the nose hairs, would think a metre is a good rule of thumb.

 

[RedVee]

Here I was thinking I was gonna be all cool and upgrade the hell out of this lower end TBird, new bridge, tuners, whatever it takes....now.....doesnt seem so bright(see what I did there). Hmmm....Guess I'll hang onto all these parts and see if I can find a deal on something a bit better. That 64' that may be sold sounded intriguing until I saw they were going for the price of a used RV.

Pretty fair step up that. Epiphone bolt on to a 64...

But more power to you if you pull it off

 

[RedVee]

An outage?

Or an outrage ?

 

[GBassNorth]

I've got some tools and other items on facebook marketplace. Tried looking in on them throughout my day, on break, home, etc., and no connection. Wife says USPS, Instagram, a lot of platforms and websites are malfunctioning.

Don't look now, but there might be a black helicopter hovering over your house, and that TV repair vehicle across the street may not be what it appears to be.

 

[dukeorock]

If there is no good reason mic the nose hairs, would think a metre is a good rule of thumb.

I guess it depends on how much you want the room involved in the sound. With dynamics on guitar cabs, most just shove em up against the grill. Certain ribbons work great close mic’d (Royer R121 comes to mind). But most RCA derivitaves seem to work better away from the source. I had a phase where I didn’t close mic anything because I wanted everything to ‘breathe.’ Each individual track sounds awesome that way, but mixing was a nightmare of ‘everything louder than everything else.’

 

[JJR58]

If i could only be as mellow as Frankie. He's just got his eye on us humans. Sort of a protector. He'd ask, would you like if i snuggled with you? Random thing from me ya know.