Recommend me a condenser mike?

[Vince]

I'm interested in a condenser mike, to record my acoustic bass guitar. No vocals or other instruments.

Have about 300 odd dollars to spend.

Any suggestions?

[robnobcorncob]

Do you have an audio interface with phantom power to plug between the microphone and your PC?

[willow13]

those 12 gauge mic's are great .... I use mine for vocals and they work a treat

[Vince]

Do you have an audio interface with phantom power to plug between the microphone and your PC?

I use an old 4 track, running the mike into the 4 track and the output into my PC. I'm open to alternatives.

[robnobcorncob]

Do you have an audio interface with phantom power to plug between the microphone and your PC?

I use an old 4 track, running the mike into the 4 track and the output into my PC. I'm open to alternatives.

Cool. It has phantom power I assume?

[Vince]

Cool. It has phantom power I assume?

Not sure of the details. But it has the preamp for the mikes and I used it for most of the stuff on my soundcloud so, whatever it is, it works.

[Kris]

a condensor will require phantom power-dynamics mics like you have been using (i'm guessing?)will work fine for an old 4 track.You may have to look at an upgrade.

[Vince]

a condensor will require phantom power-dynamics mics like you have been using (i'm guessing?)will work fine for an old 4 track.You may have to look at an upgrade.

Yep, good guess. I have an SM 57 and a 58. The "upgrade" should not be a major issue.

[Slowy]

Rode NT2

[alanp]

For the money, the 12 Gauge mics are hard to beat.

[Vince]

For the money, the 12 Gauge mics are hard to beat.

"For the money" is not really the point.

[rickenbackerkid]

I would recommend an Octava MK012 from www.octava-online.com

However, check your 4 track first to make sure you have phantom power. If you don't, you may need to invest in a little USB interface as well

[Vince]

Yeah, I've heard good things about the Octavas. Today, actually.

Must look into the Rodes.

The 12 Gauge ones seem ok for most things, but if all I am recording is the acoustic instrument, I want the best possible sound I can so I am prepared to spend a little more.

[rickenbackerkid]

12 Gauge mics are interesting. They certainly have a ‘vibe’ but it’s not the nice clean sort of mic you use all the time. That being said, I’m very glad I have one.

Vince, check out ebay for an Octava MK319. They are quite expensive new, but for some reason cheap as chips second hand. Mine was $150, landed in NZ. It would have been something like $600 had I bought it new.

[Hamburgla]

FYI- I have an old phantom-power box I could sell you.

Two local places worth contacting:

The guy at Oceania Audio (Nigel) is cool to deal with. I bought a Studio Projects B1 off him years ago, and over time he's always had a few brands in that were doing good low-price condensers.
http://oceaniaaudio.bigcartel.com/category/microphones

And Troy at STL Audio does good stuff. Though for their current mic range, I feel they're only really doing low+high end - no real mid-range. But you might like the CAD price-point.
http://www.stlproaudio.co.nz/condensers/