How To Mic Electric Guitar Amps

Setting up microphones for electric guitars is a relatively easy task. Electric guitars are important in church worship because of their complimentary sounds to vocals and other instruments in your praise team. For this reason, the amplification and control you need to obtain through setting up a microphone is important. Regardless of the size of your church stage or sanctuary, small or big; the power to attenuate and control the electric guitar is crucial to the quality and quantity of stage sound. As well, the use of compressors on electric guitar amps will give you even more control.

Electric Guitar Through Monitors

Most electric guitar players like to hear a little of their guitar through their stage monitor. To get the best sound and tone out of an electric guitar amp, the volume level must be driven a little farther for the tubes to sound great. Now that the electric guitar amp is increased in volume, the amount of stage noise is now hotter from the electric guitar amp. Turning the guitar amp around, facing the opposite direction (or a 90 degree turn) from the congregation, will help reduce the over powering sound of the electric guitar amp. A lot of guitar players like to have their guitar amp in front of them and facing backwards towards them. If the guitarist doesn't like doing this then you must mic the electric guitar amp. Once the mic is set up, just mix it into your monitor channel(s). Now that you have that settled, you can mix the electric guitar through the main speakers to achieve a desired level and equalization. Do not use a DI-box when hooking up electric guitars; as this will make for a really muddy tone.

Where Should The Microphone Be Placed?

The dynamic microphone should be placed on a microphone boom stand, that way you can point the mic towards the outside-center of the speaker diaphragm. Do not rest the microphone right against the speaker cabinet (or netting) as this will cause distortion, static, and unwanted noise. You will want the microphone close to the amp but not touching it.

**Also, DO NOT hang the microphone from the top of the amp by the XLR cable. This is bad for a few reasons. Firstly, the microphone (if dropped) could break. Secondly, the mic will be pointed at the floor, which will get you fairly muddy sounding guitar tone.**

Conclusion

Setting up microphones properly for the electric guitar amp is important to your church sound. Though a few easy readjustments on stage of the electric guitar amp and the mic positioning will improve your house mix and help set a much more comfortable setting for your worship team.

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