Tube mics

kungfumonk007

For those who have had the pleasure, would you prefer a u-47 or Elam 251 for guitar - gypsy jazz or nylon string? Any other notes on what the different mics are good for or not good for? I stick to recording small acoustic groups including vocalists, usually female. I am thinking about getting the MP versions of one or the other but haven't any personal experience in the tube mic world. I already have great sdc mics and ribbon mics for my guitar but was thinking on adding at least one tube mic to my arsenal.

Buco

Boy, a pleasure is certainly a way to put it. I didn't. I've had a pleasure of hearing u87 at a friend's place. Words and adjectives to describe it are unnecessary. It's was simply a copy/paste of my guitar's sound; the body, timbre, tone... just copy/paste. I heard exactly what I'm hearing when I play my guitar. Within seconds I said this thing is worth every penny of its price. Would love to experience u47.

kungfumonk007

I know what you mean. I have a couple sdc's modeled after the schoeps and they are just so crystal clear and uncolored. Now a days you don't need to drop a ton of money for simple transparent preamps either. I also sometimes want a colored sound too depending on what I am recording. I wouldn't trade in my sdc's for a thousand tube mics but am thinking there is a time and place for one. I do have the microphone parts t-12 which is amazing on violin and t-47 which is amazing on guitar and bass but not the crystal clear sound of my sdc's.