The Best Clean Harmonica Mic

This is my review of the Beyerdynamic M-160 on clean acoustic harmonica.

Whether it’s live or in the studio, Lee Oskar ALWAYS plays harmonica into his favorite Beyerdynamic M-160 Ribbon Mic (which is a whopping $800! 😳)

Lee was originally turned on to this microphone by Mickey Raphael, the harmonica player for Willie Nelson - another player with superb TONE, who also uses it both in the studio and live on stage.

So what’s the deal? Could it possibly be worth shelling 8 big ones for a clean mic? Does it really make a difference?

We are talking about subtleties for sure. I’m a mixing and mastering engineer, so I deeply appreciate the subtleties that the 160 gives me: more body, and smoother and silkier top end.

I’ll say for me playing it in the room, I just felt more inspired when I was playing my harmonica through the Beyerdynamic M-160160. Hard to say how much of that inspiration was coming from the SOUND of the mic, and how much of it was coming from how COMFY the M160 is to hold.

I’m DEFINITELY stoked to have bought the M160, and I’m looking forward to trying this mic on harmonica gigs and in the studio in the near future.

If you recently won the lottery, it might be worth it for you to pay $800 to have a mic that’s comfy to hold sounds a little sweeter.

But if you’re a beginner or intermediate player, I think for the time-being you can just play whatever mic the venue provides, and thank me later for saving you $800. 😉

Thank you for watching my review of the the Beyer M160 on harmonica.

#beyerdynamic #microphone #harmonica #microphonereviews #harmonicalessons

[JB-rwxt]

I’m not a fan of clean tone but the Shure sounds better. Ironically I’m using a Beyer mic preset for singing through my Bose Tower. As a preset it sounds better than the other mic choices on my Bose system.

[JoeBananas]

I listened a few times and I like the sound of the shure.

[etaborya]

I like M190 more, but 58 is still a good mic. My mic of choice for acoustic plaing is Electro-voice N/D967

[paulbookwood]

The Shure SM57 might be a good choice.

[JoeBananas]

Damn, i was surprised at the prices. I always thought shur was the more expensive.

[doug]

Listening with AirPods, I literally cannot hear a difference, but if I had to choose I think the Shure might maybe possibly (can’t say for sure) sound warmer. I was really surprised to hear you say you prefer the Beyer.