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I'm a big fan of the SM-57. Sounds good with instruments, vocals, even overheads for drums. Unfortunately I can't offer any insight on your other choices, sorry

If you can get a Shure Beta 57A, it's worth it. It's a little more than the regular 57, but I think it's worth it. My bandmate is our recording engineer, and has tons of fancy-ass mics. I'd say 85 - 90 percent of the time, we just track with the Beta 57A.

Haven't used the EV, but used 57s extensively since '84 and have owned the 609 for 3 years or so. The 57 can track good vocals, guit amps. I used one as a single mic for a kit once (before I knew the importance of placement and treatment) and it sounded meh. I think I may have tracked an old "Earth" bass cab with it with good results. I usually DI bass.

The 609 is gold on guit amps, but haven't used it for anything else. I imagine it would track vocals decently as well, and probably bass. I've been wanting to try it on my snare drum in place of the 58 that's on there now. I have to be honest, you may have a hard time getting a good drum sound with one dynamic mic, but never know until you try right? Both of these are great mics though.

absolutly a sm 57. jack of many trades master to none. however for the cost its WAY versitile

I dunno, I've never liked 57s as much as 609s...

That, basically.

whiskey_face wrote:absolutly a sm 57. jack of many trades master to none. however for the cost its WAY versitile

I think "master of none" is a bit strong. It's a master of snares, some would argue toms, it's an invaluable tool for guitar and bass cabs and many other things.
Just because it doesn't stand out like a Neumann. I think 57's are actually far too cheap for what they are actually capable of, what other mic could you get away with using on everything for a recording/gig and barely lose anything soundwise?

Definately get the 57, regular, none of this beta nonsense, unless you really like the extra brightness/harshness. Don't bother with a 606/609 unless you can stretch to a 906 which sound MUCH better (because you can switch off that nasty high end boost the 606's have).

SM57 all the way, cheap (ish) and really really useful, they are great as a standard mike pretty much anything mike.

It's hard to cover all those bases with one mic. The SM57 is pretty solid for guitars. I haven't tried one yet, but the Audix i5 is supposed to be a SM57 killer. Perhaps someone else here has experience with them no guitar. I also agree, bass is great if you run it DI.

Also I might recommend using at least 2 mics for drums. That way you'll be able to record them in stereo. You don't need 8 or more mics to record drums despite what a lot of engineers today would say. Led Zepplin mostly used 3, and those recordings bring the thunder.

AKG C1000s are pretty good general mics, i'd pair it up with a Shure if it was me but they're good enough for vocals, drums & guitar on there own and as they're quite old now, pretty cheap, phantom powered though (although they'll take 9V batteries IIRC)

modernage wrote:Led Zepplin mostly used 3, and those recordings bring the thunder.

I've read that the drum track on When The Levee Breaks is Bonham playing in the 1st floor of a 3 story building, with a stereo mike set up on the 2nd floor. So cool.

sevenSHARPnine wrote:

modernage wrote:Led Zepplin mostly used 3, and those recordings bring the thunder.

I've read that the drum track on When The Levee Breaks is Bonham playing in the 1st floor of a 3 story building, with a stereo mike set up on the 2nd floor. So cool.

It was actually like a staircase, so a super huge ceiling. Watch It Might Get Loud. It gave me a new found appreciation for everything except rack gear.

theavondon wrote:

sevenSHARPnine wrote:

modernage wrote:Led Zepplin mostly used 3, and those recordings bring the thunder.

I've read that the drum track on When The Levee Breaks is Bonham playing in the 1st floor of a 3 story building, with a stereo mike set up on the 2nd floor. So cool.

It was actually like a staircase, so a super huge ceiling. Watch It Might Get Loud. It gave me a new found appreciation for everything except rack gear.

I've never really gotten into rack gear either. That was a good movie and the videos of Page playing with Zep were great.

Oh, and back on topic. The SM57 is a great all around mic. I would also get a decent condenser mic to cover the rest of your bases.