Getting a great acoustic guitar sound isn’t always easy, but the right mic and placement can make a huge difference. Whether you’re after a warm, natural tone or something crisp and bright, it’s all about experimenting with different microphones and finding what works best for your guitar and your space.

In this post, I’ll walk you through the types of mics I like to use, how placement affects the sound, and a few common mistakes to avoid when recording acoustic guitar. I’ll also compare the sound of condenser, ribbon, and dynamic microphones, with real examples to help you decide what fits your style.

You can check out this video to hear these examples in action:

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Types of Mics for Recording Acoustic Guitar

When it comes to recording an acoustic guitar, the mic you choose plays a huge role in shaping the sound. Here are the three primary microphone types to consider:

Condenser Mics
These are super sensitive and great for capturing every little detail. They’re known for their clarity and brightness, which makes them perfect for cutting through a mix in a full-band recording.

I used two AKG 451 condenser mics in a stereo setup for this session.
Ribbon Mics
Ribbon mics have a warmer, more natural tone. If your guitar leans toward the brighter side, these mics can help balance it out and add richness to the low end.

The Avantone CR-14 Ribbon Mic is my go-to for acoustic guitar.
Dynamic Mics
These are versatile, durable, and have a nice midrange punch. They’re a bit more limited in detail compared to condensers and ribbons, but they add character and vibe.

I tried a Shure SM57, and the result surprised me. I’ll explain why shortly.

Mic Placement Tips

Where you put the mic matters just as much as the mic itself. Here are three tried-and-true tips for miking an acoustic guitar:

Start With the 12th Fret: This is a great starting point. Place the mic 6–12 inches away from where the neck meets the body. It gives you a nice balance of warmth and brightness without getting too boomy.
Avoid the Sound Hole: Aiming the mic directly at the sound hole is usually a bad idea. You’ll end up with a muddy, bass-heavy sound. Instead, angle the mic slightly off-center to avoid all that extra air movement.
Try Stereo Miking for Depth: Using two mics in a spaced pair or XY configuration can give you a fuller, more natural stereo image. For this session, the AKG 451s worked beautifully, capturing a clean, detailed sound with some nice stereo width.

How These Mics Sound on an Acoustic Guitar

During the session, I tested three different microphones to compare their tones. Here’s what I found:

AKG 451s (as a stereo pair): Bright and detailed with a percussive edge. Perfect for a full-band mix where the acoustic guitar needs to cut through.

These mics gave a clean, percussive sound that also worked very well for capturing a wide stereo image.
Avantone CR-14 Ribbon Mic: Warm, rich, and natural. This one sounded closest to how the guitar actually sounds in the room, which made it my favorite.

If you’re serious about recording a full-bodied acoustic guitar tone, I highly recommend getting your hands on a ribbon mic like the CR-14 for a sound that feels very organic and real.
Shure SM57: Gritty and punchy with a midrange-heavy tone. It added a cool, vintage character to the guitar—definitely not a traditional acoustic sound, but it worked in a unique way… one that ended up surprising me.

It gave the guitar this gritty, almost electric-guitar-like sound, kind of like in Street Fighting Man by The Rolling Stones.

Each mic has its strengths, and the right one depends on what the song calls for. Sometimes the clean, bright sound of a condenser is just what you need. Other times, a ribbon mic’s warmth is a better fit.

Room Acoustics Matter

When you’re recording an acoustic guitar, the room you’re in makes a bigger difference than most people think. Every space has its own character, and that will shape your sound in a big way.

A small, reflective room like a bathroom can give you a bright, natural reverb, while a carpeted bedroom or living room will offer a more controlled, dry tone. If you’re lucky enough to have a big open space, you can experiment with blending room tone into the recording for extra depth.

Just remember: Reverb is much harder to take out than it is to add later, so pay close attention to how the room affects your sound. Sometimes less is more when it comes to reflections.

Experiment and Trust Your Ears

At the end of the day, there’s no one-size-fits-all solution for miking an acoustic guitar. The best way to find your sound is to experiment.

Move the mic around, change the angle, record in different rooms, and listen closely to how each setup changes the tone. You might find that the simplest setup gives you exactly what you need. Even something like a Shure SM57, which might not seem like an obvious choice, can deliver a great tone in the right situation.

Trust your ears. If it sounds good, it is good. Every guitar and room is different, so don’t be afraid to try new things until you find what works for you.

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How to Mic an Acoustic Guitar for Studio-Quality Tone