you might try reposting this over in the acoustic music forum. Lots of good ideas over there......

As for best mic for acoustic guitar, there's a lot of good choices, from Neumann KM-84's to AT4050s' to....too many to list here. Most folks prefer small diaphragm condenser mics, but you can try just about anything, if it sounds right for you. Placement counts as much as anything, ditto for a good instrument in the first place.

I've gone as far as using spaced omni's for a bit of room/ambient sound, along with an LD cardioid in the middle for punch & warmth. Others like to use two mics; putting one on the sound hole, and another up at the strings. And then there's those who like a MS approach....more of which you can probably read about over on the Acoustic Music forum.

Thre isn't ONE mic or even any number.

It is such a SUBJECTIVE choice that it cannot be answered. Given the sound that YOU may have in mind, the choice of microphone will also depend on:

1) the guitar sound (is it cedar, spruce, braz. or indian rosewood, etc...)

2) the strings (or combination of) used

3) the nails

4) the player's ability to get a good sound

I have used for my own classical guitars (I have 6 that I use often) any combination of microphones, from OKTAVAS to NEUMANNs, to CROWN, to Earthworks, Sennheisers and SHURE.

It all depends on what sounods good the intrument/room/player/style of music.

I've been using the Rode nt5 with acoustic steel string guitar. For this application I've been very impressed with it in comparison to some "better" large diaphram compressors. So much that I wish I had invested in higher end SDCs and budget LDCs. So the Rode NT5 is in your price range, but you might consider saving your pennies for something a bit better.

Of course I know that the sound may vary a lot from mic to mic. One of the things that inerested me in sontronics, especially in stc-2 beside the price (about 250/300 euro and I can get some discount) is that I read a very positive review, also a little bit comparative, saying that this is a clear mic in all ranges of frequency and a versatile one. I do not search to much warmth colour or personality in the mic. If I want something different I can add it later.
As I said I already recorded tracks in external studios always using 2 mics.
But I would like to record in my home studio using just one mic.
if you want you can read this review here
http://
http://www.musictechmag.co.uk/mtm/reviews/stc-1
but of course I would also like to hear something from someone who already had tried the stc-2.
anyway thank you for the answers!

P.S. ok, and for me a classic guitar is a guitar with nylon strings the other are most generically called acoustic guitars. I own 2 classic guitars

>>. ok, and for me a classic guitar is a guitar with nylon strings<<

What I meant is BRAND and MODEL of string. It isunderstood that we are talking about nylon strings since the subject is classical guitar.

Sound varies greatly from brands and models...

If you want ONE good microphone in the $200.00 range look no further than the CROWN CM700.

MIC, the sontronics stc-2 costs about 250 euro. And I assume it is definatly better that the rode NT-5.
I'm evaluating mics in the range 200-300 euro. Also the rode NT2-A.
(of course if there is a true convenience one can spend +50 Euro)
I'm continuing the discussion also in the acoutic music forum; if you are interested take a look. There are many mics in this range.

Dear digit I want to satisfy your curiosity but don't you think it is a bit ridiculus to talk about strings when the topic is about mics? If the mic is bad the strings count for nothing. ;)

Not to mention that I'm not interested at all in a set up which sounds good with my set up and then sounds bad just changing strings or even instrument.
The basilar requirement for a good condenser mic is that it MUST give you a good flexibility. As for me I search for the MAX flexibility, I don't want coloring mics. I want the true sound.

Strings. I don't use always the same strings but lately I've bought hannabach 8001 mt (medium tension) and Hannabach silver 200 (medium-high tens)

Guitars: I often use a Yamaha guitar g245 s

>>don't you think it is a bit ridiculus to talk about strings when the topic is about mics?<<

If you re-read my post(s)-starting with the 1st one-you'll notice the part that says "It is such a SUBJECTIVE choice that it cannot be answered. Given the sound that YOU may have in mind, the choice of microphone will also depend on: ..etc...etc..."

The choice of microphones is too vast for the question to be answered with "here's ONE microphone". I suggested the Crown CM700 but, I could have suggested a number of other microphones in that price range.

In the end, it must sound good for you and with you playing your guitar, with your choice of strings on it. There is no such a thing as ONE microphone which magically will sound best on any classical guitar, played by any player, using any set of strings. That is why good studios go to great lenght to pick the right microphone(s) for a given session.

So, no...it's not ridiculous. You may choose not to apply that principle but, strings, intrument and player ALL contribute to make "a" sound. Based on that there will "a" microphone that will capture that sound better than others.

But, you may not be as picky :wink:

Shure SM81