What´s wrong? I feel my SM57 fuller and tigher than my MD421...what the f*ck?!!

[acappa]

A few months ago I took a good offer on some MD421 and I picked them.
I used them mainly in toms, guitar&bass cabinet. The fact is when I solo my guitar tracks and compare my 57 and 421 that are both in the same position I find the 421 weaker, with more highs and less body, it´s just I expected a different colour as is 3 times more expensive than SM57....
The bass roll off is set to M that is supposed to be the flattest setting, I tried various speaker with the same results....any experience, input or idea????

I see producers as Andy, Collin and many other swear by them and use them in every production...please some one shed some light!

 

[006]

Considering the 421 is generally considered a more "scooped" mic than the 57, it makes total sense the 57 sounds fuller.

 

[greyskull]

421's are odd sounding mics.
A lot of the time, I think they sound better off axis. and i HATE off axis!

 

[Trevoire520]

Is it a 421-II or an older one? The MkII's have a bit of a bump around 3k compared to the older ones, and that coupled with the scooped character of the 421 could mean it ends up sounding not as full as the 57.

 

[acappa]

It´s a MD421 II, the newer ones. I´m gonna try off axis and see if its better, thanks!!!

 

[Skinny Viking]

I'm hearing the newer ones are not as good as the originals for guitar

 

[Trevoire520]

Yeah I heard the same thing, seems there's quite a bit of 421 talk on here just now, probably explains why a whole bunch I was watching on ebay disappeared

 

[Damian B]

I may be mistaken, but aren't the 421s faked fairly often? It might be worth checking...

 

[Trevoire520]

Are they? I know 57's/58's are very commonly faked, as are Sennheiser vocal mic's, but I've never heard of fake 421's?

 

[drew_drummer]

Never heard of fake 421's either. Might be a new thing though...

Try a different position. Just because the SM57 sounds good in one place doesn't mean the 421 will sound good in the same place!!

I ended up using a 421 and 57 on my guitar and our 2nd guitarists guitar-tracks for our new album. I ended up settling on the 421 for my stuff, and the 57 for his stuff. Just depends where you put them is all.

 

[MetalJonesy]

i've always hated the sound of an MD421 on a guitar cab.. and on drums for that matter.. just a matter of personal preference though!