^ I've been using KSM137/141s for like 15 years. All of this is true. A Josephson e22 can beat them on snare or toms, but that's at 3x the $. Not to mention many other things they can do that e22s weren't made for (overhead, acoustic instruments etc).
It's taken me that many years to even think about buying another SDC (I'm Soyuz curious) and that's more out of mic lust than any practical need.
Re: Gear: TALK ME OUT OF IT or JUSTIFY MY PURCHASE?
962Might keep an eye out for a used pair. Any excuse to buy more mics, ya know?eephus wrote: Mon May 19, 2025 5:13 pm KSM137/141 very hard to beat for a small diaphragm condenser. Easy to place, and they sound good on lots of stuff. Excellent snare mic that can take a hit.
The preamp is (or at least was) the same one that is in the KSM9 vocal mic. I had to shrink it into the KSM mic heads for the Shure wireless things, so I got to know them pretty well.
I thought the 137/141s sounded better than the SM81. The 81 has a flatter response, but I think extra lows in a small diaphragm mic aren't necessarily great, and if you run the 137/141 flat, it's plenty full sounding for what it is. If I'm using a SDC I probably want a bit of a lift on the "air" side of things, which the 137/141 has that built-into it. The 137/141 paired with a good ribbon mic is very nice for acoustic guitar.
The mechanical polar pattern switch on the 141 is worth the extra money. For strictly snare, doesn't matter, you'll want cardioid anyway. But the omni setting on the 141 is pretty great for a front-of-kit excitement effect or a big open ambient sound on whatever.
Re: Gear: TALK ME OUT OF IT or JUSTIFY MY PURCHASE?
963I forgot I have access an M80 at work & I have heard good things. They aren't cheap though so I'll wait until the right drummer comes through.
An M80 should really blow up the snare.
*ahem* Sorry, I'll see myself out
An M80 should really blow up the snare.
*ahem* Sorry, I'll see myself out
Re: Gear: TALK ME OUT OF IT or JUSTIFY MY PURCHASE?
964I’ve used the KSM137 on acoustic, but never tried it with a ribbon. I had a AEA KU5A out that sounds cool on acoustic in kind of a Django single note way, but a little cartoonishly “vintage” unless I got the position just so. Went ahead and setup the Shure with it to give it a try when I have a minute. I bet it will be great.eephus wrote: Mon May 19, 2025 5:13 pmThe 137/141 paired with a good ribbon mic is very nice for acoustic guitar.
Unrelated, but with a lot of sdc mics I never feel like they sound that great solo, though not bad, but hearing the mics in context with everything they really come alive.
Re: Gear: TALK ME OUT OF IT or JUSTIFY MY PURCHASE?
965Man, I feel like that's just how recording acoustic guitar is. Not so much the cartoonish Django sound, but it's really hard for me to get a good sound with a single mic unless it's positioned just so. Ribbon, ldc, sdc, dynamic - all been the same in that way.llllllllllllllllllll wrote: Wed May 21, 2025 9:13 pmI’ve used the KSM137 on acoustic, but never tried it with a ribbon. I had a AEA KU5A out that sounds cool on acoustic in kind of a Django single note way, but a little cartoonishly “vintage” unless I got the position just so.eephus wrote: Mon May 19, 2025 5:13 pmThe 137/141 paired with a good ribbon mic is very nice for acoustic guitar.
Staying on topic, I've had a pair of KSM137 for almost two decades now. They're great and I never felt like I needed to upgrade.
Re: Gear: TALK ME OUT OF IT or JUSTIFY MY PURCHASE?
966Already have one TTTides guitar.
But I always wanted an SG too.
Copper SG with a golden anodized neck and wooden fret, 2xP90s, one knob, one switch.
Salary is in two weeks. Deposit is €500.
But I always wanted an SG too.
Copper SG with a golden anodized neck and wooden fret, 2xP90s, one knob, one switch.
Salary is in two weeks. Deposit is €500.
Nothing major here. Just a regular EU cock. I pull it out and there is beans all over my penis. Bean shells all over my penis...
Re: Gear: TALK ME OUT OF IT or JUSTIFY MY PURCHASE?
967This is a reverse, but I'm considering selling my 1977 P bass. Why? I dunno, I'm not as active as I used to be and I don't even play bass in a band anymore, though I don't know what the future would hold. However, I could get a pretty penny for the bass and just get a non-vintage one and reinvest the rest of the money into something else, like a second guitar. The poor thing has been hanging on my guitar rack for like 7 years just collecting dust.
I'm happy with the idea of letting gear go. I'm not really into hording gear and letting it collect dust just because of some value it holds. I know the replacement I would get would sound a little different, but that's just tweaking amps and EQs. I think part of me still holds onto it from my own history with it.
Am I crazy to do this? Who wants a killer P bass from the 70s?
I'm happy with the idea of letting gear go. I'm not really into hording gear and letting it collect dust just because of some value it holds. I know the replacement I would get would sound a little different, but that's just tweaking amps and EQs. I think part of me still holds onto it from my own history with it.
Am I crazy to do this? Who wants a killer P bass from the 70s?
Last edited by cakes on Fri May 23, 2025 2:13 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Gear: TALK ME OUT OF IT or JUSTIFY MY PURCHASE?
968Nah, let it go. You will always be able to get a pretty damn good P-Bass for probably 1/3 of what that's worth.
Re: Gear: TALK ME OUT OF IT or JUSTIFY MY PURCHASE?
969I guess this is more of a “Talk Me Out Of Trying To Replace My Trusty OD-3” than anything else.
My Boss OD-3 is the best overdrive pedal I’ve ever used, bar none. Barely anything gets close except my Danelectro Roebuck (Ibanez Mostortion clone), and even then the OD-3 has that special sauce that gives it a little bit more. Why have I tried to replace it? Dumb reasons, like “it’s a little awkward stomping it next to my other OD pedal with a normal footswitch”, it’s a little scooped and could use a 3-band EQ, et c.
Recently I’ve tried buying a couple things to try unseating it. EQD Plumes (too clean, too loud, not enough bass), clone of a BJFE Emerald Green (not enough treble for my taste especially for something that’s supposed to be a Vox-in-a-Box), Wampler Paisley Drive (actually gets close! But the OD-3 is just immediately better despite the tone-shaping options on board)—all have been found wanting. I’m driving myself crazy here for seemingly no good reason.
I guess my choices here are to Stop Worrying and Love the Boss Footswitch, or have someone build me either a clone in a normal pedal form factor, either a straight clone like the Aion Heliodor or have it modded all to hell. Because I can’t keep going through this dumb cycle again and again.
My Boss OD-3 is the best overdrive pedal I’ve ever used, bar none. Barely anything gets close except my Danelectro Roebuck (Ibanez Mostortion clone), and even then the OD-3 has that special sauce that gives it a little bit more. Why have I tried to replace it? Dumb reasons, like “it’s a little awkward stomping it next to my other OD pedal with a normal footswitch”, it’s a little scooped and could use a 3-band EQ, et c.
Recently I’ve tried buying a couple things to try unseating it. EQD Plumes (too clean, too loud, not enough bass), clone of a BJFE Emerald Green (not enough treble for my taste especially for something that’s supposed to be a Vox-in-a-Box), Wampler Paisley Drive (actually gets close! But the OD-3 is just immediately better despite the tone-shaping options on board)—all have been found wanting. I’m driving myself crazy here for seemingly no good reason.
I guess my choices here are to Stop Worrying and Love the Boss Footswitch, or have someone build me either a clone in a normal pedal form factor, either a straight clone like the Aion Heliodor or have it modded all to hell. Because I can’t keep going through this dumb cycle again and again.
Formerly FM kazoozak. Guy in Fake Canadian.
Re: Gear: TALK ME OUT OF IT or JUSTIFY MY PURCHASE?
970Having been down a similar road: don't try to replace something you actually like. You're searching for what? If you asked me, I wish every pedal had a Boss-style footswitch. Also, every guitarist worth their salt should have at least one Boss pedal on their board, if only for the buffer. For me, on my physical board, the first pedal in is a Boss TU-3 and somewhere in the middle is a TR-2.defendyachtrock wrote: Fri May 23, 2025 3:54 pm I guess this is more of a “Talk Me Out Of Trying To Replace My Trusty OD-3” than anything else.
My Boss OD-3 is the best overdrive pedal I’ve ever used, bar none. Barely anything gets close except my Danelectro Roebuck (Ibanez Mostortion clone), and even then the OD-3 has that special sauce that gives it a little bit more. Why have I tried to replace it? Dumb reasons, like “it’s a little awkward stomping it next to my other OD pedal with a normal footswitch”, it’s a little scooped and could use a 3-band EQ, et c.
Recently I’ve tried buying a couple things to try unseating it. EQD Plumes (too clean, too loud, not enough bass), clone of a BJFE Emerald Green (not enough treble for my taste especially for something that’s supposed to be a Vox-in-a-Box), Wampler Paisley Drive (actually gets close! But the OD-3 is just immediately better despite the tone-shaping options on board)—all have been found wanting. I’m driving myself crazy here for seemingly no good reason.
I guess my choices here are to Stop Worrying and Love the Boss Footswitch, or have someone build me either a clone in a normal pedal form factor, either a straight clone like the Aion Heliodor or have it modded all to hell. Because I can’t keep going through this dumb cycle again and again.
There's something about Boss that makes them seem boring. They've been around for a long time, their pedals look boring, they're probably the first pedals (next to DoD) that you experienced. There's so many boutique pedals out there, they gotta be better right? Probably not. Work with your ears, not your eyes. If you have clumsy feet, I feel ya. That's what I deal with, too.