Which microphone to choose to record your acoustic guitar in a home studio?
Good question.
While it is always possible to record a classical or folk guitar with a Shure SM57, it is often preferable to use a more suitable microphone.
The problem is that making a choice is quite difficult: as usual with studio microphones, there are hundreds of different models…
To help you in your search, I have compiled this list of 10 microphones for acoustic guitar. In the same vein as my previous article on microphones for singing, they are all:
- excellent for this application;
- and available at an accessible price for home studio users (on average between 100 and 600€).
A quick reminder before continuing: if you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment on the article and I will respond!
What type of microphone for acoustic?
Before diving into the choice of microphone, it is important to define what you are looking for in terms of directivity and type.
Directivity
Cardioid, figure of 8… all directivities can be useful for recording an acoustic guitar.
For a simple setup, especially if your room is untreated, I recommend initially opting for cardioid microphones, which are more directional.
However, omnidirectional microphones can also be interesting as they are not subject to the proximity effect (increased bass levels the closer the microphone is to the sound source).
It is worth noting that some of the models presented below are multidirectional, offering an even wider range of sound possibilities.
The Type
Dynamic microphones, which are often seen for singing, are not really suitable for acoustic guitar. Indeed, they do not reproduce the details of the instrument well enough.
Therefore, I recommend you preferably turn to condenser static microphones.
These come in two types:
- Large Membrane Microphones — lighter background noise, more sensitive to level variations;
- Small Membrane Microphones — very good frequency response and captures transients well, more detail.
They can be used separately or together. Thus, it is common to see a large membrane microphone positioned to capture the sound of the guitar body, while a small membrane microphone points towards the neck of the instrument to capture the details of playing.
Finally, it is worth noting that small membrane models are often sold in matched pairs (a pair of microphones with identical characteristics). This allows for stereo recordings via XY positioning, ORTF, etc…
Now that you have all this information, you are ready to choose your next microphone. 🙂 Below you will find a list of 10 models, starting with small membrane ones and then large membrane ones.
1. LEWITT LCT 140 Air
Brand: LEWITT
Type: Small Membrane Condenser
Directivity: Cardioid
The LCT 140 Air from the Austrian brand LEWITT is one of my favorite small membrane microphones for home studio.
In certain situations (if you play very, very softly), there may indeed be a bit of background noise, but the sound quality is real, with a lot of detail and pleasant highs.
Additionally, an “Air” mode allows you, if you wish, to highlight the highs — giving you two sound options instead of one.
The price, for its part, is very compatible with home studios 😉
Note the existence of a paired version of the microphone (“stereo pair”) that I recommend and that I use myself in my studio (see my detailed test here).
► See the current price on :
2. RØDE NT5
Brand: RØDE
Type: Small Diaphragm Condenser
Directivity: Cardioid (optional omnidirectional capsule)
Available alone or in pairs, the RØDE NT5 was specifically designed for recording acoustic instruments, making it logically a good mic for acoustic guitar.
Characterized by low noise, it proves to be quite transparent. The sound is modern, even slightly metallic.
No pad or high-pass filter on this model, which is a bit of a shame. However, it remains quite versatile.
Although it comes standard with a cardioid capsule, it is possible to purchase an omnidirectional capsule separately for more flexibility.
Interestingly, this mic is guaranteed for 10 years by the manufacturer if registered on the official website.
► See the current price on : Thomann Woodbrass Amazon
3. AKG C 451 B
Brand: AKG
Type: Small Diaphragm Condenser
Directivity: Cardioid
The famous AKG C451 is a microphone of excellent quality, offering a faithful and rich sound. This is notably due to a slight boost in the highs, which adds air and presence to recordings.
Capable of recording sounds at very high volume, it features a pad setting of -10 or -20 dB, as well as a low-cut filter that can be set to 75 or 150 Hz.
An excellent investment, quite versatile.
► See the current price at: Thomann Woodbrass
4. Shure SM81
Brand: Shure
Type: Small Diaphragm Condenser
Directivity: Cardioid
The SM81 is also a very famous microphone designed by a leading brand.
On acoustic guitar, it captures many details and allows for high-quality recordings.
Looking at the associated frequency spectrum, we see that it is quite flat, highlighting a certain transparency in the sound.
A -10 dB pad is integrated, as well as a high-pass filter set around 100 Hz with a variable slope.
Note that this model is not sold in pairs. Indeed, Shure states that its manufacturing quality is such that two SM81s can be purchased separately and they will still be similar.
An excellent choice for acoustic guitar!
► See the current price at: Thomann Woodbrass
5. MXL 770
Brand: MXL
Type: Large Diaphragm Condenser
Directivity: Cardioid
Now let’s move on to large diaphragm condenser microphones.
Among these, the 770 from Marshall/MXL stands out with a stunning price-to-performance ratio.
Quite versatile, it is a very good entry-level microphone for home studio, featuring a FET preamp and a -10 dB pad.
Its frequency response is not really flat, but its significant presence in the highs proves interesting for guitar recording.
A nice choice for beginners in home studio!
► See the current price at: Thomann Amazon
6. MXL V67g/i
Brand: MXL
Type: Large Diaphragm Condenser
Directivity: Cardioid
Another option from Marshall/MXL, but offering a more colored and vintage sound.
Like the 770, it offers a very good price-to-performance ratio.
Two quite similar versions exist:
- V67g — a single capsule, no attenuation pad;
- V67i — two capsules, one identical to the V67g, allowing for either a warmer or clearer sound; attenuation pad (-10 dB).
This is a microphone I use quite regularly, as I appreciate the color and warmth it brings to recordings.
► See the current price of the V67g on: Thomann Amazon
► See the current price of the V67i on: Thomann Amazon
7. AT 2035
Brand: Audio-Technica
Type: Large Diaphragm Condenser
Polar Pattern: Cardioid
The AT 2035 is a classic yet excellent choice for home studio.
Offering sound with very good definition and a slight presence boost appreciated above 10 kHz, it includes a pad and a low-cut filter.
Moreover, it is characterized by a low noise level and can handle very high acoustic pressures.
To be honest, I find it significantly better than its little brother the AT2020, which is a bit “limited” for serious recordings.
► See the current price on: Thomann Woodbrass
8. Aston Microphones Origin
Brand: Aston Microphones
Type: Large Diaphragm Condenser
Polar Pattern: Cardioid
Aston Microphones is a relatively new brand in the microphone market, but it stands out from its competitors with an absolutely unbeatable quality/price ratio, and an impressive visual identity.
The Origin excels for acoustic guitar recording, as you can hear in this beautiful video.
Designed around a transformerless circuit, the sound is rather smooth, quite intimate yet very natural, especially on the highs. As for the details, you will truly hear all the sonic characteristics of your instrument.
Notably, it features both a pad (-10 dB) and a high-pass filter that can be activated at 80 Hz.
A very good choice at a quite reasonable price for the quality. My favorite in this list.
9. Aston Microphones Spirit
Brand: Aston Microphones
Type: Large Diaphragm Condenser
Polar Pattern: Omnidirectional, Cardioid, Figure-8
Yes, as you can see from its design, the Spirit is also made by Aston Microphones.
If the Origin presented just before is truly neutral, the Spirit is rather colored, thanks to a high-end output transformer generating interesting harmonics.
It also proves to be very versatile, as it can adopt different polar patterns: omnidirectional, cardioid, and figure-8. In other words, many sound options and configurations are possible with this mic.
Like the Origin, the Spirit has a low-cut filter at 80 Hz and an adjustable pad (Off/-10/-20 dB).
► See the current price on: Thomann Woodbrass Amazon
10. Neumann TLM 102
Brand: Neumann
Type: Large Diaphragm Condenser
Polar Pattern: Cardioid
Finally, it’s hard to finish this list without mentioning the TLM 102, one of the more affordable microphones from the famous brand Neumann.
This one captures a tremendous amount of detail. The sound is very clear and quite neutral, which is explained by a particularly flat frequency response spectrum, except for a slight presence boost around 6 kHz.
Moreover, the capsule is mounted on an elastic suspension, which isolates it from the body and thus limits its sensitivity to vibrations from the floor and the stand.
An excellent tool, and an opportunity to get Neumann quality at a reasonable price!
► See the current price on: Thomann Woodbrass Amazon
And you?
So what about you, what are your favorite microphones for recording acoustic guitar? Leave a comment below to share your experience 🙂
Otherwise, to go further, check out my detailed studio microphone guide…