Convince me I need a Fathead

[BroSlinger]

So, I'm listening to my recordings right now. The SM7B seems to be doing an awesome job on the guitar. I'm not sure why I feel the need to spend money.

Just stop me, please.

I would probably benefit more from another WA-12.

Thanks!

[nightflameauto]

You need a fathead. . .

. . . AND another WA-12.

You're welcome.

[newholland]

uh. duh.

gene. that sm7 has zero chance once you go ribbon.

have you tried your nady ribbon with the wa12? seriously.. it's similar, probably a bit brighter. it'll at least give you a glimmer.

the fathead isn't GREATLY different-- but i think it's a smoother and fuller, but similar texture.

seriously-- try it.

[BroSlinger]

uh. duh.

gene. that sm7 has zero chance once you go ribbon.

have you tried your nady ribbon with the wa12? seriously.. it's similar, probably a bit brighter. it'll at least give you a glimmer.

the fathead isn't GREATLY different-- but i think it's a smoother and fuller, but similar texture.

seriously-- try it.

I guess I should track the nady again before I splurge for another ribbon. I haven't used the nady with this setup at all yet.

[newholland]

uh. duh.

gene. that sm7 has zero chance once you go ribbon.

have you tried your nady ribbon with the wa12? seriously.. it's similar, probably a bit brighter. it'll at least give you a glimmer.

the fathead isn't GREATLY different-- but i think it's a smoother and fuller, but similar texture.

seriously-- try it.

I guess I should track the nady again before I splurge for another ribbon. I haven't used the nady with this setup at all yet.

the fathead's gonna be like a beefy pre eq'd thick guitar sound. the nady's more of a flatter natural sound without the midbass bump and rolled off top. nothing you couldn't achieve with eq-- but you might even like the nady better especially with reverb tails!

get that thing on a stand!

[newholland]

[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvKRy5pPrmU[/video]

AW.. just found this-- couldn't be MORE in your wheelhouse!

on top of that.. it kinda showcases how righteous another favorite cheap-ass-thing of mine sounds-- the frontman 25r.

[nakedzen]

Remember that there's only four different ribbon models coming out of China, just rebranded to a thousand versions.

The Fathead is basically a slightly tweaked version of the Nady RSM-4. Cascade upgrades the ribbon motor when they receive the mics.

http://recordinghacks.com/2008/11/01/chinese-ribbon-microphone-designs/

[JerEvil]

Remember that there's only four different ribbon models coming out of China, just rebranded to a thousand versions.

The Fathead is basically a slightly tweaked version of the Nady RSM-4. Cascade upgrades the ribbon motor when they receive the mics.

http://recordinghacks.com/2008/11/01/chinese-ribbon-microphone-designs/

So would this be a good mic for profiling my Quick Rod?

[nakedzen]

Remember that there's only four different ribbon models coming out of China, just rebranded to a thousand versions.

The Fathead is basically a slightly tweaked version of the Nady RSM-4. Cascade upgrades the ribbon motor when they receive the mics.

http://recordinghacks.com/2008/11/01/chinese-ribbon-microphone-designs/

So would this be a good mic for profiling my Quick Rod?

Depends on what kind of tone you go for? (Chinese) ribbons generally have a subdued high end and more low end than say a sm57.

[newholland]

Remember that there's only four different ribbon models coming out of China, just rebranded to a thousand versions.

The Fathead is basically a slightly tweaked version of the Nady RSM-4. Cascade upgrades the ribbon motor when they receive the mics.

http://recordinghacks.com/2008/11/01/chinese-ribbon-microphone-designs/

So would this be a good mic for profiling my Quick Rod?

i wouldn't think it'd be a BAD mic for profiling at all. the good thing i find about ribbons is that they really don't sound exaggerated on top to my ears-- so you'd end up with a very natural top without a lotta digital hash 'cause it really rolls off pretty hard past 8k. i don't find it sounds super soft on top though, regardless-- just more like what a guitar cab sounds like in my head.

i spend a pretty good amount time recording and mixing guitars-- and i used to spend a LOT more time tweaking them to sound right when i used to use 57's and the like. ribbons seriously helped me stop DICKING around with placement to get rid of top end hash because they're largely devoid of it. fatheads are really easy to place, and even if i need to eq, it's seldom a giant pain to do- whereas with a 57, its a bigger issue, 'cause it's a fairly abrasive sounding upper midrange and top end and you have to place it right to get rid of that.

all that said- if you like a super hi def toothy uber-metal sound-- it might be too soft for you, and the bottom end is givey, not super tight. 57's are great for that, and if it's your default sound- you might want to stay there. don't get the impression it's not high definition-- they really get great sounds-- but it's not as razor sharp. i generallly find that a plus, for sure, and they do eq really well.

you can typically find fatheads for about the same price as a 57 anyhow, and they're an easy resell if you don't like 'em. only thing you have to worry about is treating them nice.. you can't drop kick them like a 57, and quite a few folks i know store them standing up so the ribbons don't sag from gravity. i do as well.. never had a problem with treating them as if they're sorta fragile (though i suspect they're not the drooping lilies some people think they are!) and mine get handled quite a bit... shit if they survived daily use in studios from the 30's onwards.. i doubt they're THAT fragile.

[nakedzen]

i doubt they're THAT fragile.

I once managed to trip on a cord and sent my RB500 flying into the drumkit. Still works great.

[newholland]

i doubt they're THAT fragile.

I once managed to trip on a cord and sent my RB500 flying into the drumkit. Still works great.

i know, right? they're not super wimpy, for sure. but a little ridgy 2 micron element suspended in free space by two points versus the plastic diaphragm of a 57 attached to a big magnet... eh.. i'm still more careful anyhow, even if it's totally inside my head. i'm the same way with my condenser mics.... but more 'cause i'm cheap and don't want to replace stuff.

i think i dropped one of my fatheads once as well... still tickin'!

[crankyrayhanky]

a single 57 can deliver all your tones....but a ribbon is a great must have addition to any mic locker. Should sound great up on the grille and for me does a great job at smoothing out my lead tones which can otherwise get brittle due to my aggressive/poor technique, lol. Sounds unbelievable backed up a bit for more room tones on any source. Fun stuff! The real temptation is considering the upgraded transformer model and stereo pair.

[newholland]

a single 57 can deliver all your tones....but a ribbon is a great must have addition to any mic locker. Should sound great up on the grille and for me does a great job at smoothing out my lead tones which can otherwise get brittle due to my aggressive/poor technique, lol. Sounds unbelievable backed up a bit for more room tones on any source. Fun stuff! The real temptation is considering the upgraded transformer model and stereo pair.

well.. if you're finding your tones are bad.. and your guitar sounds good, it's entirely possible a single (or any, for that matter) 57 can't deliver all your tones.

i don't get why guitar players are so hung on 57's. they really aren't the be all end all, they're just cheap and available, and the statement 'if you can't get it with a 57, you can't get it' is full stop bullpuckey. why fight with that dog-- theres only, oh.. 5 MILLION other mics out there. try one.

meanwhile- ray-- totally NOT intentionally directed at you personally.. i just hear stuff like that a lot, and clearly you're willing to give ribbons a whip. i love 'em, obviously, and don't MIND a 57 for a little tooth.. but jeebus are there a few ways to skin that cat.

[TurboPablo]

When time allows, I plan on stereo mic'ing my cab for a SM57 vs. Fathead shootout. No pre or post anything. Just one mic on each side of the DAW. Placed as close to the same spot as I can make it.


We'll see what happens. Although I think you already know.

[BroSlinger]

FWIW, I've never owned an SM57, nor do I plan to.

I've owned these substitutes though.
Shure Beta 57
Audix I5
Sennheiser E906 (this mic was so freakin great. I want one again)
Shure SM7B
Blue 8 Ball

[nightflameauto]

FWIW, I've never owned an SM57, nor do I plan to.

I've owned these substitutes though.
Shure Beta 57
Audix I5
Sennheiser E906 (this mic was so freakin great. I want one again)
Shure SM7B
Blue 8 Ball

Most of my clips are an e609 (close relative, no roll off switch). The casing they put on those things are incredible. Mine got ran over in a parking lot and it's still fine. The dude that dropped it almost wasn't, but the mic still works.

I really want an SM7B at some point, and need to grab a ribbon of some variety. I think it might work wonders on the fiddle recordings.

So many mics. So little monies.

[BroSlinger]

FWIW, I've never owned an SM57, nor do I plan to.

I've owned these substitutes though.
Shure Beta 57
Audix I5
Sennheiser E906 (this mic was so freakin great. I want one again)
Shure SM7B
Blue 8 Ball

Most of my clips are an e609 (close relative, no roll off switch). The casing they put on those things are incredible. Mine got ran over in a parking lot and it's still fine. The dude that dropped it almost wasn't, but the mic still works.

I really want an SM7B at some point, and need to grab a ribbon of some variety. I think it might work wonders on the fiddle recordings.

So many mics. So little monies.

1. FWIW, the 906 IS a superior mic to the 609. The 906 capsule is just like the old 409 Pink Floyd used at Pompeii. The 609 capsule is a plastic-looking, Chinese quick connect jobby. Looks like it came out of a cordless phone. Not saying it's bad, but the roll off switch definitely isn't the only difference.

2. GET AN SM7B. It sounds awesome. It's everything I like about reliable dynamics with everything I like about accurate condensors. It rocks. It has a broad range, yet it's still musical.

3. Get some kind of ribbon. They sound awesome too.

[BroSlinger]

BTW, I think I just sold myself an E906 again.

They are like $150 on amazon.

[nightflameauto]

1. FWIW, the 906 IS a superior mic to the 609. The 906 capsule is just like the old 409 Pink Floyd used at Pompeii. The 609 capsule is a plastic-looking, Chinese quick connect jobby. Looks like it came out of a cordless phone. Not saying it's bad, but the roll off switch definitely isn't the only difference.

I knew there were some differences but wasn't sure of the technicalities. All I knew for sure was at the time I had $100 to spend on a mic and the 906 was out of budget. I'm such a cheapskate.

2. GET AN SM7B. It sounds awesome. It's everything I like about reliable dynamics with everything I like about accurate condensors. It rocks. It has a broad range, yet it's still musical.

3. Get some kind of ribbon. They sound awesome too.

Those will both happen at some point down the line. Maybe I'll do that with my bonus money this year? Dunno. I have a big list of wants right now for my next project, and a few small odds and ends to finish up my current one.

Honestly, you may have sold me on a 906 too if my bonus is as big as I think it will be this year. It'd be cool to do a compare/contrast between the 609 and the 906 running everything else exactly the same.

[BroSlinger]

FWIW, I'm spouting off internet garbage I heard elsewhere. I haven't opened up both mics to compare for myself, nor have I used both.

I've only used the 906.

But!, the specs do read slightly differently.

I will ask around.

[BroSlinger]

Here's a thread that compares the sound of everything mentioned.

https://www.gearslutz.com/board/so-much ... clips.html

Very interesting. at first listen, you'll think something sounds dull. You'll think something else sounds great.

Then, keep listening with your wallet. Awesome will sound fucking harsh like paper and tin foil.

906 with the switch at "flat" sounded the best for me.

[nightflameauto]

Huh, I'm surprised by the difference between the 609 silver and black. The 906 does sound a little more defined and not as high-mid spikey as the 609.

[crankyrayhanky]

well.. if you're finding your tones are bad.. and your guitar sounds good, it's entirely possible a single (or any, for that matter) 57 can't deliver all your tones.

Agree to disagree. If the guitar>amp>cab sounds great in the room, a single 57 should be able to yield a great recording. Getting that original great sound in a great room with critical mic placement is everything. At that point, a simple 57 will be fantastic. If it is not, something is wrong with the origins, not the mic.

That being said, I have lots of mics. The options are awesome for different "colors" and tones. Some mics are way more forgiving for mic placement (57 can be very particular).

JM2C