Sennheiser ’ s E609 Silver dynamic mic and its predecessors ( like the legendary MD409 , which you may recognize from Pink Floyd ’ s Live at Pompeii ) have been taking the fight to the SM57 for years , particularly in the live rock music realm , where the 609 ’ s distinctive flat , square body can often be seen draped over an amp by the cord with its face up against the grill cloth , with no mic stand necessary . This convenience in itself gives the E609 a leg up against the 57 , especially on crowded stages , but Sennheiser ’ s mic also bests the old warhorse in honest tonal reproduction . Its less protuberant midrange and clear , open treble frequency spectrum give it a clarity and openness that the Shure can ’ t replicate . It ’ s superb on dirty guitars , and because it was purpose designed to be smashed flat up against a guitar cab
running along at full rip , it doesn ’ t flinch a bit when hit with serious volume . The Sennheiser E609 sells new for just under 110 dollars . Guitarists should also consider its somewhat pricier sibling , the Sennheiser E906 , which adds a three-way high presence filter and sells for around 189 bucks .
Sennheiser E609 and E906
Sennheiser ’ s E609 Silver dynamic mic and its predecessors ( like the legendary MD409 , which you may recognize from Pink Floyd ’ s Live at Pompeii ) have been taking the fight to the SM57 for years , particularly in the live rock music realm , where the 609 ’ s distinctive flat , square body can often be seen draped over an amp by the cord with its face up against the grill cloth , with no mic stand necessary . This convenience in itself gives the E609 a leg up against the 57 , especially on crowded stages , but Sennheiser ’ s mic also bests the old warhorse in honest tonal reproduction . Its less protuberant midrange and clear , open treble frequency spectrum give it a clarity and openness that the Shure can ’ t replicate . It ’ s superb on dirty guitars , and because it was purpose designed to be smashed flat up against a guitar cab
“... It ’ s superb on dirty guitars ...”
running along at full rip , it doesn ’ t flinch a bit when hit with serious volume . The Sennheiser E609 sells new for just under 110 dollars . Guitarists should also consider its somewhat pricier sibling , the Sennheiser E906 , which adds a three-way high presence filter and sells for around 189 bucks .
40 TONE TALK // Skip the sm57 : 6 mics that kill the classic