Whether you want to play on stage or record your tunes, mics for acoustic guitars are much-needed accessories for all players.
A high-quality one can definitely shape your experience in a positive way or totally bust your tunes!
There are many versions available on the market, so we decided to offer you a summary of the best mics for an acoustic guitar, how to choose one, and many other useful bits of information!
At a Glance: Our Top Picks for Mics For Acoustic Guitars
- OUR TOP PICK: Shure SM57 Dynamic Microphone
- RUNNER-UP: Rode NT2-A Studio Condenser Microphone
- BEST BUDGET OPTION: AKG P420 Project Studio Condenser Microphone
Table of Contents
- Can Any Mic Be Used With an Acoustic Guitar?
- Can You Really Find a Quality Mic That’s Affordable?
- How to Choose a Mic That'll Work Great With an Acoustic Guitar
- Comparison of the Best Mics For Acoustic Guitars
- Review of the Best Mics For Acoustic Guitars
- Cautious Considerations to Keep in Mind
- How Do I Mic My Acoustic Guitar?
- Conclusion
Can Any Mic Be Used With an Acoustic Guitar?
Although you can use any type of mic with your acoustic guitars, experts have decided that some types are more efficient than others. One such type is the small diaphragm condenser mic, which captures all the details with no sound coloration and will ensure high clarity and depth.
Small diaphragm condenser mics are often used in close-miking the guitar and diminishing the studio’s acoustic influence on the recording. They are great, especially when you are miking other instruments at the same time – such as when in a band. If you want to capture the room ambiance, a large-diaphragm condenser mic will offer you just what you need.
Can You Really Find a Quality Mic That’s Affordable?
Just like any other product, an expensive mic is not necessarily a good-quality one. In fact, a high-quality mic can also be affordably priced – it all depends on what you need. You need to pay attention to the proximity effect – which means the closer you are, the more emphasis is placed on the lower register.
This can be handy for some and a deterrent for others, but the muddy effect is not a result of poor quality, but rather improper use of the mic. Some quality, affordable mics have some trade-offs between durability and sound quality, so make sure you choose wisely!
How to Choose a Mic That'll Work Great With an Acoustic Guitar
Here are some main considerations you should consider when you choose the best mic for your needs:
The Higher the SPL, the Better
An SPL handling capacity means that the mic can handle high sound pressure, so a high SPL is always a good feature to have. This also means that the sounds are noise-free and maintain their stability and integrity.
Proximity Response
Pay attention to the proximity response, as this will influence quality when performing on stage versus in the studio. This will impact the sound clarity, depending on how far it is placed from your guitar, so you need to establish whether you will be closer or further away from the mic.
Budget
Lastly, choose the best mic for your budget. Of course, unless you want to spend a crazy amount of money, there will be some kind of trade-off between features. The truth is, however, you will never need all the features in one mic, and, even more realistically, no mic has all the features. Therefore, take your time, have a look through the next section below, and decide which one fits your needs the best.
Comparison of the Best Mics For Acoustic Guitars
| IMAGE | PRODUCT | |
|---|---|---|
Our Top Pick  |
| View Latest Price → |
 |
| View Latest Price → |
Best Budget Option  |
| View Latest Price → |
 |
| View Latest Price → |
 |
| View Latest Price → |
Review of the Best Mics For Acoustic Guitars
Once you know what features you are looking for, take a look through our recommendations to find one that suits your needs and budget.
Best Overall:
Shure SM57
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
The SM57 Mic is one of the most durable, perhaps even indestructible microphones you can get - and buyers LOVE it. The shock-mount system helps it withstand any spills, bumps, and drops. It is a great mic, although it does tend to warm up the sound a bit when used with acoustic guitars. However, this is not necessarily a bad thing!
Why it Stands Out to Us
The Shure SM57 is a highly dynamic and versatile microphone, specially crafted to reproduce your guitar’s tunes with great accuracy and eliminates background noises. It is ideal for any type of sound reinforcement, great for recording, and best recommended for acoustic guitars.
Who Will Use This Most
Whether you are a beginner or a pro, you will definitely love this mic. The vocal sounds are recorded with high clarity, without distorting the tones. It is one of the most popular professional-quality microphones of all time and has a bulletproof design, making it virtually indestructible.
Bottom Line
Extremely durable and versatile, Shure SM57 is our top recommendation of a mic for acoustic guitars. It is dynamic, professional-quality, and replicates the sounds with great loyalty. It delivers crisp highs, but full low ends, which ensures that your sounds are natural and highly accurate.
Runner-up:
Rode NT2-A
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
Recent purchasers of this mic say that it is highly impressive due to its versatility and transparency. It is one of the best mics in its price range and it has an astonishing sound quality. However, it is quite bulky (1.9 lbs), but this also makes it very long-lasting and sturdy. Overall, it is an excellent mic for acoustic guitars.
Why it Stands Out to Us
The Rode NT2-A is a large diaphragm condenser with three different pickup patents, cardioid, figure eight, and omni-directional. It has a highly convenient high-pass filter switch for 40 hz/80hz. It also comes with a pad adjustment switch and all components are sturdy and well-made.
Who Will Use This Most
This mic is widespread among many categories of users. It is convenient, well-built, and highly versatile, which makes it ideal for both acoustic guitar tracking and multiple instrument recording. Whether you are a beginner or are more experienced and are on a budget, you need to check this one out.
Bottom Line
Overall, this mic is a great versatile accessory for acoustic guitars. It contains many features that are hard to come by in other alternatives on the market, such as the three polar patents, three positions for high-pass filter, and the three-position variable pad. It ticks all the boxes!
Best for the Money:
AKG P420
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
No matter the music genre or style, buyers claim the AKG offers a natural, warm sound recording with a maximum SPL of 155 dB. This microphone is quite inexpensive, which makes its top-notch features even more impressive. It is great for any occasion and is easy to match with your acoustic guitar.
Why it Stands Out to Us
The P420 is a versatile, affordable microphone with excellent performance and the ability to toggle flawlessly between three different polar patterns: figure eight, cardioid, and omni-directional. You can also switch to an appropriate preset if you desire and you can experiment with numerous setups and positions.
Who Will Use This Most
AKG comes with some interesting qualities which feature a multi-pattern, true condenser mic for both stage performances and studio recording. Both professionals and starters will highly appreciate its qualities and versatility, warmth, and clarity of the sounds. It is both durable and stylish.
Bottom Line
Overall, this mic comes with all the features you need from a high-quality mic, at an extremely affordable price range. It is durable, shock-resistant, and has three polar patterns. It is highly versatile and can be used successfully both on stage and studio – what else could you wish for?
Best Mic for Recording Acoustic Guitar:
Shure SM81-LC
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
With outstanding recording quality, buyers state that this microphone is by far one of the best mics for acoustic guitars. What is best about it is that you can turn the volume quite high before it starts distorting – much higher than many other "good quality" mics on the market!
What Recent Buyers Report
This mic offers a flat frequency response, which allows you to pick up raw sounds from your acoustic guitar with flawless clarity and makes the mixing and recording process smooth. It is truly a professional-level mic designed for studio recording, sound reinforcement, and many other tasks.
Who Will Use This Most
This mic is an outstanding performer. However, due to its complexity and high price range, it is only recommended for professional use. You can add it as one of your essential studio accessories, use it during live performances, and much more. It’s well constructed, so you can easily use it in a wide range of temperatures or humidity levels.
Bottom Line
All in all, the Shure SM81 is an excellent professional mic that can handle heavy use both in the studio and on stage. You can enhance the natural qualities of the sounds, record your favorite tunes or broadcast – all with high accuracy and precision. The low noise properties and wide frequency are a must-have!
Best Mic for Recording Acoustic Guitar Under $100:
AKG P170
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
Users report that the mic has a tremendous overall build quality, made of metal, which is resistant to shocks and unfavorable conditions. It is highly versatile and affordable, thus, they can use it in different activities without compromising on sound quality. Unfortunately, it needs an additional phantom power source and a high-pass filter would also come in handy.
Why it Stands Out to Us
The AKG P170 is a great-quality, affordable mic which delivers consistent clean and accurate sounds, both on stage and in the studio. The all-metal body is great for rough handling and long-lasting experience. It is highly efficient when paired with acoustic guitars, but other instruments, as well.
Who Will Use This Most
This mic is highly affordable, yet it minimizes distortions and eliminates unwanted rumble and feedback. It is excellent for both beginners and more experienced musicians and performs great both on stage and in the studio. It is lightweight, easy to transport, and a must-have accessory for any acoustic guitarist.
Bottom Line
Overall, the AKG P170 is an excellent microphone with a wide range of frequency response. It is compact, lightweight, and ideal for a plethora of applications, all of these at a surprisingly affordable price range. It is certainly ideal for any starter or more experienced musician.
Best Mic for Live Acoustic Guitar:
Rode NT1-A
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
According to recent buyers, this exceptional mic has nothing average about it – high-quality sounds, great design, and all components are well crafted. Since it is a professional quality mic, it is best used only with professional, high-quality instruments in order to reap all the benefits, so it is not so suitable for beginner-level guitarists.
Why it Stands Out to Us
The Rode Microphone is a revised instrument with a 5 dB SPL. It is one of the most popular condenser microphones around the world due to its premium-quality recording abilities. The product is best used with high-quality instruments and is great for professional use.
Who Will Use This Most
One of the world’s quieter microphones, NT1-A, is perfect for vocals, voice-over, and is best for acoustic guitars. It is highly versatile and delivers the best quality with all your possible applications. It is great for professionals who need a high-tech mic to help them out, both on stage and in the studio.
Bottom Line
Overall, the Rode NT1-A is a high-quality, quiet condenser microphone with large versatility and flexibility. It is durable and extremely reliable in all recording tasks. The extended dynamic range, clarity, and warmth of the sound are all combined to deliver the best experience.
Best Small Condenser Mic for Acoustic Guitar:
AKG C 451 B Small-Diaphragm
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
Buyers report that this is a great, all-purpose affordable mic and has a great, tiny, and functional design. It is suitable for any acoustic guitar and many other instruments and the high ends are cutting, especially on overheads. It lacks the smooth top ends but might be quite functional for any acoustic guitarist.
Why it Stands Out to Us
Our last recommendation is the AKG C 451 B, a functional microphone with modern specifications. It has a highly precise cardioid pattern, features a transformerless output stage, and you can easily select between the two 10dB and 20dB pre-attention pads. The switchable high-pass filter is also a great addition to AKG C451.
Who Will Use This Most
This microphone is a remastered version of a late 1960s mic. It has improved electronics, sound quality, and features, which makes it functional for any acoustic guitar player. The cardioid pickup pattern allows you to maintain the high quality and clarity of all your tunes.
Bottom Line
All in all, AKG works relentlessly to provide us with high-quality, functional, and affordable mics and the C 451 B is no exception to this rule. If you are looking for clarity and precision, this mic is exactly what you need – what are you waiting for?
Cautious Considerations to Keep in Mind
Before going for your new acoustic guitar mic, check out the below list of the most important considerations you should keep in mind:
Diaphragm
Diaphragm determines the functionality of the mic. Considering that acoustic guitar sounds are quite similar in frequency to vocals, a larger diaphragm condenser might work better than a small one. They are quite versatile, widely available, and we have presented you with some high-quality recommendations, too.
Polar Patterns
Although some mics have three different polar patterns, acoustic guitars, in fact, only need the cardioid. Variety never hurts, but you might find little use to other polar patterns, which are best suited to other instruments. The cardioid is, therefore, the most popular polar pattern. It is simple and effective – all you need for your acoustic guitar!
Reliability and Durability
Although most mics are extremely durable nowadays, it is always a great idea to check the construction materials and its build quality. This is most relevant for frequent gigging musicians or if you travel a lot – this is because you will most likely adjust the mic a lot, so there is a high chance of dropping it or knocking it off.
How Do I Mic My Acoustic Guitar?
Here are some useful tips and guidelines:
- Place the mic about nine inches away from the guitar.
- Point the mic towards the area where the fretboard meets the body – this will help you get balanced string sounds. Do not place it right at the soundhole or you will have too many low ends.
- If you have an omni-directional mic, place it in line with the soundhole, but around one foot away. If you move it closer or further away, you can change the tone and balance the sounds against the room sounds – if you have an omni-directional mic, there will be no increased low end.
- A small-diaphragm condenser mic should be placed towards the 12th fret in order to capture a bright sound.
Overall, the best you can do is just practice until you find your favorite mic position. The guidelines are some of the most common placements, but there are also some less common ones – such as having two small diaphragm condensers where one is at the 12th fret and the second is toward the body. Whatever rocks your boat!
Conclusion
All in all, when it comes to recordings, and also in stage performing, mics are necessary for acoustic guitars, given their limited volumes. We presented you with the best mics for acoustic guitars, which allow you to preserve the natural sounds of your instrument, without feedback or unwanted noise and feature great price tags for all pockets!
