Sorry if this has been discussed, but the applicaton may be a different angle.

There is a five piece jug band in our area, Michael Lee Ammons and Water St Hotshots (VERY good!), each of the three singers are using a AKG C3000B condensor mic for vocals, and a Sure 57 or similar for instrument. They are all acoustic. They say by placing the condensor close to them and keeping the gain down, usually avoids feedback. They use condensors so they can look away from the mic when singing, which allows them to play a tough fill or chord.

I really like this idea alot. It seems I need to practically swallow my 58 and cannot look away without a drop off in sound.

Anyone familiar with using a condensor in the manner described above? Would you feel a small D vs large D condensor would do a better job for that vocal situation?
Also, anyone know anything about AT2020 or the AKG Perception 200; or recommend a good condensor for $125-200? Appreciate it.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Tom Friedrichs,

I use an AT2020 to record to my PC using Tracktion 2 (came as a bundle with the $100 Stealth Plug) and I'm very happy with the mic. I use it through an M-Audio Mobile PreUSB 2 channel preamp with phantom power. An adequate set-up for $250, counting mic stand! I would expect the AT2020 to be too omni-directional, at least for the bars I play. I use an SM58 live and so does my partner, so our PA levels match. You may want to put your 58 through a preamp that you can control, so you can boost your signal independently of the others who have the PA set for the condensers.
By the way, when I record acoustic guitar with the AT2020, I run the guitar's internal pickup through one channel of the preamp and I mic the soundhole with the AT2020 through the powered channel of the preamp. I then pan them slightly left and right; the combo is much fuller sounding than either channel alone. This may be obvious to you pros, but for this novice, it was a pleasant discovery.

Tom -

Try A Rode NT-3 - it has the advantage of being battery OR phantom powered, depending on the mixer. It has a 3/4" diaphragm and a very warm sound. For not too noisy gigs, you can set it up a couple of feet in front of you and it will pick up voice AND guitar - you don't even have to plug in, and you'll sound just like those old Son House or Skip James videos from the sixties. SM-58's are old, outdated technology. If you have to use a dynamic, cardioid - type of mic., try the Electrovoice ND967 or 767a.

Cheers,

John.

In the price range you mention, an AKG C1000 is a tried and true decent small-diaphragm condenser -- sounds good and very sturdy. I've had one for years and it's a good value for the price. It also has the battery option, so you can go without phantom power if necessary. It's noticeably not going to sound like a higher quality condenser, but it will definitely get the job done for the kind of musical situation you're talking about. It's even good enough for a solo guitar situation, although you'd probably want to use something a little better to do justice to a great quality guitar.