Tech: Peter, Paul & Mary live microphones

Subject: Tech: Peter, Paul & Mary live microphones
From: GUEST,just a-passin' through
Date: 02 Jul 15 - 10:41 PM

Might anyone know if PP&M preferred particular mics at any stage of their career?

I'm abandoning the piezo/plug in acoustic sound and I want to look into better-quality vocal and instrument mics. I'm familiar with Shure, Sennheiser (my preferred vocal mic is the e835 when it's available at a venue) and other mid- to higher-end brands.

I realize, of course, that PP&M could request/require whatever they wanted, especially at the "legendary" end of their run.

If anyone has other recommendations for good acoustic mics on the used market, I'd love to hear them.

Fwiw, I'm playing both 6 and 12, strumming and fingerstyle. I tend, ala Seeger, to stand a bit back from typical vocal mics and really belt at times, so an instrument mic that can handle more gain to compensate for some physical distance would help.

Thanks!

Subject: RE: Tech: Peter, Paul & Mary live microphones
From: Joe Offer
Date: 03 Jul 15 - 01:52 AM

Well, I do know that Peter's fussiness about microphones was legendary. Pre-concert sound checks took hours and hours - I've seen some. Despite his perfectionism, my PP&M CDs, especially the ones of the early albums, are awful. It sounds like they're lisping on every cut.
Mary's singing sounds especially lispy on the early albums. Perhaps I should say, "Mary's thinging thounds ethsthpecially lithpy."

Get your sound advice from somebody else.

-Joe-

Subject: RE: Tech: Peter, Paul & Mary live microphones
From: GUEST
Date: 03 Jul 15 - 03:45 AM

PP&M or not, I'm interested to see what people have to say. I also like to be "rigorously" acoustic, i.e. mike the guitar not use a pickup, and although people often complain that I'm too soft-spoken when I talk, I do tend to be a good bit louder than most when I belt it out. So come on experts, we want to pick your brains....

Subject: RE: Tech: Peter, Paul & Mary live microphones
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 03 Jul 15 - 05:28 AM

It may be 50 years since the only time I saw them live on tour in UK but I seem to remember they shared a mike like the Weavers or traditional bluegrass bands. As for makes,presumably whatever they used then has been superseded by even better models. I leave the real answer to the techie sound guys!

RtS

Subject: RE: Tech: Peter, Paul & Mary live microphones
From: GUEST,punkfolkrocker
Date: 03 Jul 15 - 08:13 AM

Whatever classic mics they used back in the 1960s.
Chinese factories now provide a full range of very usable clones
for a mere fraction of the price...

I did have lists of websites dedicated to getting the best budget price mics for a required purpose..

but annoyingly lost along with all my other equipment 'research' of the last 6 months
when that effin hard drive suddenly expired last week....

Subject: RE: Tech: Peter, Paul & Mary live microphones
From: treewind
Date: 04 Jul 15 - 04:03 AM

Agree about the Sennheiser e835 - does everything a Shure SM58 does but better, and it's better at doubling as an instrument mic.

My favourite cheap mic is a pair of Behringer C2s. Should get a good guitar sound, and if you don't like them, no great loss as they sell brand new at a throwaway price. They'd be an odd choice for vocals, but if you like to keep them at a distance you might get away with it.
(nothing to do with PP&M, sorry)

Subject: RE: Tech: Peter, Paul & Mary live microphones
From: GUEST
Date: 04 Jul 15 - 04:47 AM

I like the Rode M2 vocal mic.

Subject: RE: Tech: Peter, Paul & Mary live microphones
From: GUEST,just a-passin' through
Date: 04 Jul 15 - 10:48 AM

Looks like there's no simple answer to the original query. ;)

When I can afford one or two, I'm going back to the Sennheiser.

Right now, I've got a Shure Prologue 12H. A little tip if you're ever looking for good mics on the cheap... the Prologue series are commercial (stores, warehouses, etc) versions of the SM57 and SM58.

It works for vocals, although the small p.a. I have isn't the greatest-sounding unit.

Subject: RE: Tech: Peter, Paul & Mary live microphones
From: GUEST,punkfolkrocker
Date: 04 Jul 15 - 01:16 PM

An alternative live mic for singers worth mention is the TC Helicon MP-70..


http://www.tc-helicon.com/en/products/mp-70/

"Best-in-class off-axis noise rejection and feedback suppression"

Online reviews are positive.

Introduced to rival the sure sm58 at a similar price point.
but if you shop around they have been sold as low as £25
in shop promotions & lightning sales.

[I grabbed a couple at that price primarily to use with a vocoder]

It may possibly just have been discontinued.

There is the higher priced MP75 which has a switch enabled for use with specific TC Helicon vocal processors.

Subject: RE: Tech: Peter, Paul & Mary live microphones
From: GUEST,Musket sans hobnob
Date: 05 Jul 15 - 02:54 AM

Just to pick up on the "rigorously acoustic" stipulation.

Whilst it is true that peizos and transducers pick up the vibration of the strings prior to them making a sound we hear, and yes, humbuckers don't even include the saddle in their pick up, there are plenty of in guitar microphone combinations that are like a microphone away from the guitar but closer, the argument of acoustic being therefore moot. LR Baggs make an excellent one called Lyric that I use in a guitar I had made to my spec' so didn't want to lose the effects of my chosen tone woods.

Most top end in guitar systems combine microphone with transducers and piezo and allow you to blend between them to achieve the best amplification of the acoustic qualities of the guitar.

In concert, it's the sound your audience hear. I personally prefer the reassurance of consistency, ease of sound check and minimise risk of feedback. (I always fit a cover over the sound hole.)

Subject: RE: Tech: Peter, Paul & Mary live microphones
From: PHJim
Date: 05 Jul 15 - 11:08 AM

I prefer a mic over a pick-up, though I do have pick-ups in all of my guitars, since I do realise that there are situations where they are needed. The option of playing the mic; moving close for solos and back for rhythm, is not available with the pick-up. I have been told that I should get a volume pedal for this.
When I supply my own mic, I use a Beta 57 for an instrument mic and a SM58 for vocals.
Some venues supply the sound system and the mics are usually an SM57 and SM58.