Background: For acoustic guitars in standard tuning, I used to rent a room with a pair of KM84i’s and Neve 1081’s (they also had 1073’s and 1084’s, but I actually preferred the 1081’s). Since recently acquiring a pair of KM84i’s, I am quite happy to stay at home and sub my Avedis MA5’s for the 1081’s.

Quandary: With my guitars in standard tuning, this sounds great, but things really fall apart when I change to certain alternate tunings with more low end, especially EADEAE and Open D. I’ve tried EQ, using heavier strings, changing guitars, changing mics, changing mic techniques, and changing preamps. So far the best combination I have found for this is a single M49V (in omni) near the 12th fret and Schoeps MK21s staggered vertically above and below the M49V and aimed slightly behind the sound hole. This gets a very good sound, but doesn’t have quite the same effect as the KM84s do on the same guitar in standard tuning. The lows still lose a little clarity and some of that high mid magic that I haven’t been able to fix with EQ. In the room, things sound much more clear to my ear than anything I have been able to capture with a mic.

For reference, I really like the sounds Will Ackerman gets.

Does anyone have any recommendations? Unfortunately, I’m currently on the road and can’t post a sample for at least a week.