An acoustic guitar can sound beautiful in a room and surprisingly disappointing when you record it. The problem isn’t always the guitar.
Your microphone and, perhaps more importantly, where you put that microphone can completely change the recording.
Place a mic directly in front of the soundhole and the guitar may sound boomy. Move it toward the neck and you’ll usually hear more string detail. Pull it farther away and you’ll capture more of the instrument and the room.
That’s why choosing the best mic for acoustic guitar isn’t simply about buying the most expensive microphone.
For most recording situations, I prefer a small-diaphragm condenser. These microphones are excellent at capturing the detail and quick transients of acoustic instruments. The Shure SM81 is my favorite overall choice because of its neutral response, useful low-frequency controls, rugged construction, and long history as an acoustic-instrument microphone.
The Neumann KM 184 is an excellent premium option, while the AKG C451 B is another professional favorite.
What is the Best Mics for Acoustic Guitar?
Here are some of the best microphones for recording acoustic guitar.
1. Shure SM81 – Best Mic for Acoustic Guitar Overall
The Shure SM81 is an easy microphone to recommend for acoustic guitar. It’s a small-diaphragm cardioid condenser designed specifically with acoustic instruments in mind.
The SM81 has a frequency response of 20 Hz to 20 kHz and a relatively flat response curve. Instead of dramatically changing the character of your guitar, it’s designed to reproduce the instrument accurately.
That makes it particularly useful if you already love the natural sound of your guitar. The SM81 also provides selectable low-frequency response settings.
You can leave the response flat or use the low-frequency roll-off to control rumble and excessive bass. There’s also a lockable 10 dB attenuator for louder sources.
It’s built much more ruggedly than you might expect from a condenser microphone, making it useful for both studios and stages.
The biggest downside is price. There are much cheaper condenser microphones available.
But if you’re serious about recording acoustic instruments and want a microphone that can remain useful for years, the SM81 is my favorite all-around choice.
2. Neumann KM 184 – Best Premium Acoustic Guitar Microphone
If you’re building a professional studio and want a premium small-diaphragm condenser, the Neumann KM 184 deserves serious consideration. It’s a cardioid condenser microphone with a 20 Hz to 20 kHz frequency range.
The KM 184 is known for capturing acoustic instruments with excellent clarity and detail. That’s exactly what you want from a good acoustic guitar microphone.
You should be able to hear the initial attack of the pick, the vibration of the strings, the resonance of the guitar body, and the smaller details that make a good acoustic performance feel alive.
Neumann rates the KM 184 at 13 dB-A equivalent noise and 138 dB maximum SPL. It’s also compact, measuring just 107 mm long. The obvious disadvantage is cost. A beginner doesn’t need to spend this much to make good acoustic guitar recordings.
But if your recording chain, room, and guitar are already excellent, a microphone like the KM 184 can make sense.
3. AKG C451 B – Best for Bright, Detailed Acoustic Guitar
The AKG C451 B is another classic small-diaphragm condenser. AKG describes it as having an airy sound, which makes it particularly attractive for acoustic instruments where you want plenty of string definition.
It has a cardioid pickup pattern and a 20 Hz to 20 kHz frequency range. The C451 B also provides useful controls.
There are -10 dB and -20 dB pre-attenuation settings along with selectable 75 Hz and 150 Hz bass-cut filters. Those controls give you plenty of flexibility.
If you’re getting too much low-frequency rumble, engage a filter. If you’re recording an unusually loud source, use the pad.
The microphone can handle up to 155 dB SPL with its attenuation engaged, so it isn’t limited to quiet acoustic guitar.
You can use it on percussion, piano, overheads, and other instruments too. For acoustic guitar, I’d choose the C451 B when I want a clear, airy recording with plenty of detail.
4. Audio-Technica AT4040 – Best Large-Diaphragm Condenser for Acoustic Guitar
Small-diaphragm condensers aren’t your only option. A large-diaphragm condenser can produce an excellent acoustic guitar recording too.
The Audio-Technica AT4040 is particularly useful if you need one microphone to handle both guitar and vocals.
Instead of buying separate microphones, you can use the AT4040 for a singer and then reposition it in front of the guitar.
Large-diaphragm condensers can give acoustic guitar a slightly bigger, fuller presentation than some small-diaphragm models.
This can work beautifully for solo singer-songwriter recordings. The downside is room sensitivity. A condenser microphone doesn’t only hear your expensive guitar.
It also hears the reflections from your walls, computer fans, traffic outside, air conditioning, and other sounds in the recording space. If your room sounds good, that’s less of a problem.
5. Shure PGA81 – Best Budget Acoustic Guitar Microphone
You don’t need a premium microphone to start recording acoustic guitar. The Shure PGA81 provides a more affordable entry into small-diaphragm condenser recording.
It’s designed for acoustic instruments and uses a cardioid pickup pattern. That makes it a logical option for beginners building their first recording setup.
The advantage of starting with something affordable is that you can spend more of your budget on the rest of your recording chain.
You’ll probably need an audio interface, XLR cable, microphone stand, headphones, and possibly some acoustic treatment.
Those things matter too.
A budget microphone positioned correctly in a decent room can produce a surprisingly good acoustic guitar recording.
6. Shure SM57 – Best Dynamic Mic for Acoustic Guitar
The Shure SM57 isn’t the first microphone I’d normally choose for studio acoustic guitar. It’s a dynamic microphone, while condensers are generally preferred when you want to capture maximum acoustic detail.
But the SM57 has some advantages. It’s rugged. It’s affordable. It doesn’t require phantom power. And if you already own one, you can absolutely use it to record acoustic guitar.
A dynamic microphone can also be useful when your recording environment isn’t ideal. Because of its lower sensitivity compared with many condensers, you may find it easier to manage unwanted room sound.
The tradeoff is detail. You probably won’t capture the same airy, delicate high-frequency information you’d get from a good small-diaphragm condenser.
Still, if you need one inexpensive microphone that can record acoustic guitar today and a loud guitar amplifier tomorrow, the SM57 is incredibly versatile.
7. RØDE NT5 – Best for Stereo Acoustic Guitar Recording
One microphone is enough for an excellent acoustic guitar recording. But two microphones open up additional possibilities.
A matched pair of small-diaphragm condensers such as the RØDE NT5 can be used for stereo recording.
You could position the microphones in an XY configuration to create a natural stereo image while reducing some of the phase problems that can happen with widely spaced microphones. Stereo recording can make a solo acoustic guitar sound larger and more immersive.
However, don’t assume stereo is automatically better. If the guitar is going into a dense mix with drums, bass, vocals, keyboards, and electric guitars, a mono recording may be easier to place.
Stereo makes the most sense when the acoustic guitar is an important part of the arrangement.
8. Clip-On Condenser Microphone – Best for Live Acoustic Guitar
Recording in a studio and playing on stage are different problems. In the studio, you can put a microphone stand in exactly the right place and tell the guitarist not to move too much.
That’s harder during a performance. A clip-on instrument microphone attaches to the guitar and maintains a more consistent distance as the musician moves.
This can be extremely convenient on stage. You still need to think about feedback, monitor placement, and how the microphone is attached to the instrument.
But for performers who don’t want to stand completely still in front of a conventional microphone, a quality clip-on condenser can be a useful solution.
Final Thoughts
For most serious recording setups, the Shure SM81 is my top overall choice.
Shure specifically recommends condenser microphones for acoustic guitar because they can capture the instrument’s detail and nuance, and the company lists the SM81 among its acoustic-guitar choices.
If you’re building a premium studio, consider the Neumann KM 184.
For an airy and detailed sound, the AKG C451 B is another excellent professional option; AKG itself highlights it for acoustic guitar and other instruments.
For beginners, something like the Shure PGA81 gives you a more affordable way to start experimenting with condenser recording.
And if you already own an SM57, use it before buying anything. You might be surprised by how good it sounds with careful positioning.