Yeah , thats a pretty cool mic. I've used it on guitars now and again and soetimes it works , sometimes not. From memory its pretty bright (I've been installing a stuidio instead of recording for the last month and a half :) .
I've used it as a room mic for a drum kit and it was pretty cool. I had it about 6' away a,d 6' up looking down at the kit , sounded pretty crunchy.

Daniel

I like using the MD 409 on Guitar amps, woodwind instruments, brass instruments, and they've been known to sound pretty decent on drums... IMO, they will sound good anywhere you'd use a dynamic microphone.

--Ben

I'd love to try them on toms sometime. I always seem to get drummers that have the cymbals about 4" over the toms and I can never get a mic where I want it. Anyone ever try a 409 or 609 there? How are they?

FWIW, I've read that the 409 is all Terry Date uses on Toms...

The Sennheiser E609 is the modern day MD409, right ? Or am I simply fooled by their alike looks and are they actually quite different ?

I read they're intended right on speaker-grills - how about more distant cab micing ? And how do they compare to a MD421 ?

Thanks,

Peter

They are the ancient predecessor of the 609 but thats where the similarity ends..The 609 appears to be a budget type of mic whereas the 409 was and always will be the real deal....HIYA JAY nice to see you could stop by...The 409 is a lot like the 421 in its tone...Its not as sensitive and therefore can be stuck right to something...I've used them on git cabs,toms,Ilove them for the 80's speed-metal kick sound,under the snare,bass cabs,and vocals.As with anything it depends on the sound you're looking for on a particular track, but the quality is built-in to this mic and you WILL find a spot for it somewhere.

Thanks Davedog,

For an upcoming rehearsal-room-but-let's-be-serious-and-get-it-as-good-as-we can-DIY-10track-recording we can use someone's E609.

But not knowing this E609 mic I'm hesitant (especially after your posting) just to use this mic on something (say the gtr / Twin Reverb) while it could have been our MD421, MD441 or an SM57.

So we just might try the E609 on gtr to get an idea, but we'll likely use one of the mics we already know (then I'll go for the old grey MD421).

We're sort of being limited mic-wise, so any decent mic is welcome
- any suggestions for an alternative application of this E609 ?

The E609 on kick perhaps ? The MD441 will likely go on bass (double bass thru an 8*10 SWR),
the MD421 on gtr and the SM57 on snare.

Thanks,

Peter