Acoustic guitar is a delicate instrument, and require a microphone that’s capable of capturing that nuance and subtlety of your performance.
Below is a list of what I consider to be the best microphones for recording acoustic guitar, giving you a good sense of what to look for when trying to capture the perfect sound from your guitar.
Quick recommendations
After years of testing and experimenting, I believe the Shure SM81 is the best microphone for recording acoustic guitar. It adds little to no color and excels at handling the high-end shimmer and transients of the instrument.
For those looking for something more affordable, the Shure SM57 is a tried-and-true option for guitars and many more applications. It’s a staple in my studio and I find myself reaching for it often due to how comfortable I am with how it sounds. Nothing fancy, but definitely hits the mark.
Finally, the microphone I always want around, the Neumann U 87 Ai. While it’s pricier than many others on this list, it has served me well in countless recording scenarios.
Chances are that most of your favorite records have also employed this microphone. It’s a sound that everybody is used to, whether consciously or not, and what’s more is that it rarely fails when used properly.
Contents
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Why you should trust me
With over 15 years of experience, I have recorded, mixed, and produced countless records across genres including folk, bluegrass, punk, jazz, electronic, and more.
I’m also a guitarist and singer-songwriter, which enhances my expertise in discussing the best microphones for acoustic guitars.
Growing up, many of my favorite records featured the acoustic guitar as a centerpiece of the arrangement.
Before discovering punk rock, I was captivated by the sounds of Led Zeppelin III, Rubber Soul, Elliott Smith’s early records, The Microphones, John Fahey, and Nick Drake.
I was also introduced to Robert Johnson and Blind Willie McTell thanks to my uncle’s influence.
Later, when I studied jazz in college, I immersed myself in the music of Paco de Lucia, Django Reinhardt, Al Di Meola, and others.
All this is to say that I am well acquainted with a vast array of approaches, styles, and uses of the acoustic guitar.
I have studied the players and their techniques, as well as what it took to capture them on record.
How I chose my top picks
As I combed through the options for the list, I kept several factors in mind when it came to finalizing my decisions.
Among these were frequency response, versatility, and the microphone’s cost-to-value ratio.
For a quick run down for anybody who needs clarification on what I mean by all of this:
- Frequency response: The width of sonic information the microphone is able to capture, as well as what parts of the spectrum it enhances or diminishes. Generally, the acoustic guitar resonates primarily between 80 Hz to 400 Hz, while the air, sparkle, and clarity of the instrument sits around 3.5 kHz to 20 kHz.
- Versatility: Does the microphone work well for different styles, does it also work for different recording scenarios or perhaps other instruments?
- Cost-to-value ratio: Does the microphone’s performance justify the price tag?
Obviously, microphone placement is of utmost importance, and will prove to be one of the core hurdles you face when trying to get that perfect tone.
A few inches off can leave your performance lifeless, dull, and muddy. Alternatively, you can achieve results that are too percussive, grating, and high-end centric.
I’ve tried to pick out microphones that are more forgiving when it comes to this particular problem.
You’ll find that microphones like the Shure SM57 and Neumann U 87 Ai are fairly flexible when it comes to being placed slightly off, and will still come out with results that are at the very least usable.
Here are my top picks for the best microphones for recording acoustic guitar:
- Personal favorite: Shure SM81
- Best if money is no object: Neumann U 87 Ai
- Best budget: Shure SM57
- Best for warm tones: Beyerdynamic M 160
- Best for transients: AKG C451 B
Check the Honorable mentions for three more microphones that work great on acoustic guitars and are well worth your attention.
Personal favorite: Shure SM81
The Shure SM81 is the microphone I personally trust the most when it comes to recording acoustic guitars.
It tends to pop up whenever talking about recording the instrument, and for good reason. It’s specifically designed for recording acoustic guitars.
The microphone is a small-diaphragm condenser with a cardioid polar pattern.
The SM81 has an incredibly flat frequency response, with hi-pass filter pads to help your acoustic guitar cut through in a mix. It showcases little self-noise in conjunction with a high output.
The thing I love most about the Shure SM81 is that the mic adds very little color, even when positioned off-axis.
Not only is the SM81 great at handling the high end shimmer and transients of an acoustic guitar, but I find it to be an equally capable microphone when it comes to drums and piano.
See current price at: SweetwaterAmazonBest if money is no object: Neumann U 87 Ai
What is there to say about this classic microphone? While you may be intimidated by its price, if you have the means you should most definitely buy it.
The Neumann U 87 Ai sounds good on just about whatever you throw it at. Whether you sing into it, point it at an acoustic guitar, or try to record drums.
The microphone has an incredibly flat frequency response, and to me, is one of the most honest-sounding microphones available, period.
The U 87 Ai is one of the more sought-after microphones for this very reason. It may be expensive, but the investment is worth far more than an arbitrary number. You can take my word for it.
Read my full Neumann U 87 Ai review to find out more about how it performs in different scenarios and applications.
See current price at: SweetwaterAmazonBest budget: Shure SM57
While it may not be the “absolute best” microphone to record acoustic guitars with, why knock a classic?
This tried-and-true staple has proven its usefulness a billion times over in almost any and all applications you can put it up to.
There’s a good reason why studios will have at least ten to twenty of them on deck. They’re cheap, reliable, indestructible, and sound as good as you truly need anything to sound. I myself have about ten lying around the studio.
It may not be as graceful-sounding as a condenser, or as warm as a ribbon microphone, but the SM57 delivers consistent results and is fabulous at capturing the transients and body of an acoustic guitar.
Adding to the fact that this microphone costs only $100 makes it an absolute bargain for those looking for a budget option for recording acoustic guitars.
Read my full Shure SM57 review to find out more about how it performs in different recording scenarios.
See current price at: SweetwaterAmazonBest for warm tones: Beyerdynamic M 160
While ribbon microphones are great for a number of reasons, one of their defining characteristics is that they tend to have a figure-8 polar pattern.
This made them rather popular in the days of radio, as engineers could use one microphone to pick up two broadcasters. However, the microphones add a level of warmth that proved them far more capable in a wider variety of applications.
The only issue with a figure-8 pattern is that it can pick up a lot of unwanted background noise if you’re only trying to capture one sound source.
The M 160 tries to nullify this effect with a hypercardioid polar pattern, which is similar to a figure-8, except that the 180 degree address is less pronounced. Because of this, the M 160 has become a staple since its inception in the 1950s.
I like the way it makes guitars sound warm, silky, and smooth. It also has a double ribbon design, which boosts its output levels and creates less self-noise, which is perfect for quieter interludes.
See current price at: SweetwaterAmazonBest for transients: AKG C451 B
The C451 B is a small-diaphragm condenser microphone, and it’s the best option if you’re trying to get your transients to cut through the mix.
It has long been a tried-and-true favorite amongst drummers. It was often used on hi-hats, snares, and rides before somebody had the brilliant idea to try it out on a steel string.
Surprisingly, it worked its magic just as well in this application. Its ability to capture the quick transients and shimmer of high-ringing percussion translates very well when it comes to recording acoustic guitars, especially in rock and more groove based settings.
The C451 B has a slight boost around 5 kHz to help your acoustic poke out in a mix. It also has two hi-pass filters which cut off your bass at either 75 Hz or 150 Hz to help it poke out even further.
Read my full AKG C451 B review to find out more about how it performs in different applications.
See current price at: SweetwaterAmazonHonorable mentions
Here are a few options that are also worth looking into:
- Shure KSM141. This microphone is particularly adept at capturing the shimmer of your guitar, and shouldn’t be slept on. While it may not capture as much body, it’s amazing when it comes to capturing the fine details of your recordings. It may be better when used some distance away from the guitarist, unless you’re wanting to hear a more ‘picky’ and percussive sound out of your guitars.
- Rode NT1. While the Rode NT1 isn’t the most sought-after microphone on this list, it does do a great job when it comes to acoustic guitar. The clarity it presents in the mid-range can really help your steel-string sit comfortably in a mix. Something rather interesting about this mic is that it has a self-noise level of 4 dB, making it one of the quietest microphones of its type in the world.
- Neumann KM 184. The KM 184’s frequency response is incredibly flat, showcasing a slight boost in the high end around 8 kHz. In pure Neumann fashion, however, I find that the microphone’s performance is incredibly honest, so honest that it may be a little disconcerting for some of you. The KM 184 is very sensitive, so it might be in your best interest to record in a well-treated room, as the mic will pick up whatever unwanted reflections are present.
Recent updates
- September 13, 2024: I’ve updated the text for clarity and restructured it to meet current site standards. Additionally, I’ve included more personal insights to provide better guidance.
- January 4, 2024: I verified the accuracy of the picks, with no changes to the recommendations.
- September 22, 2022: I compiled the original list of the best microphones for acoustic guitars, based on my experience in various recording scenarios.
Final thoughts
In conclusion, there isn’t any “correct” choice of microphone when it comes to recording acoustic guitar. Although some microphones are clearly better than others.
Ultimately, the microphone you decide to go with will have to be the one that suits your needs. Which depends on whether you’re looking for a more neutral sound or a bright and shimmery sound, or something in between.
Your choice will be largely informed by your budget, so don’t feel shot down if the microphone you really want is out of your price range. Such is life.
The Shure SM57 is listed for exactly that reason, because while it may be cheap, it is more than capable of delivering fantastic results.
