Question: What are my options for mounting the AT8491G Guitar Mount with the ATM350a microphone?

Answer: Actually, the mounting options for the AT8491G are nearly limitless. Given that, you may then ask, “Which option is best?” As in all things audio the answer is, “It depends!” Before moving forward with this discussion it would make sense for you to read the previous Question of the Week “When would I use the ATM350GL guitar mounting system?”  This has some great suggestions for set up and use of the AT8491G.

As for options, there are three questions that you need to ask yourself before choosing where to mount the device:

1. What type of guitar do I have?
2. What is my playing style?
3. What is the sound I am after?

First, the mount is adjustable and will fit on guitars with a body thickness of 90 mm to 135 mm. Also, please note that this mount will not work on guitars with a rounded back such as an Ovation-type guitar. The front and back of the guitar must be at right angles to the side.

As for playing style, this is extremely import to consider because you don’t want to place the microphone in a position where it could be in the way or that could necessitate changing how you play. Mounting the microphone something like the following would work for strumming.*

For those that finger pick, there are many more options available to you since, for the most part, your hand is stationary.

As for the best sound – or, we should say, the sound you want – that is something you may wish to experiment with. You will find that having the mic very close to the sound hole will produce a very bassy or muddy sound. Near the bridge will produce a more powerful and brighter tone. It is generally believed that placing the mic near and above the twelfth fret will produce a balanced sound. The below photo shows a good position to use for this since it provides a balanced sound, is out of the way when strumming, and still works well when finger picking.

One other option to think about is the length of the gooseneck itself. The gooseneck included with the ATM350GL mounting system is 9 inches in length. This is the AT8490L gooseneck, which may also be purchased separately. The AT8490 gooseneck is only 5 inches in length and may work better for certain placements. This is also available separately.

Below are a couple of other placements that may help get your creative juices flowing when considering where you would like to mount the AT8491G on your guitar.

Looking at all of these options you may find that none that we have pictured work for you. Get creative; try various positions. Please note that, again, as in all things audio, there will always be tradeoffs. Experiment and find what works for you.

In closing, please note that we have not mentioned using the AT8491G on an archtop guitar. While you might be able to make it work, the AT8491G is not designed to be used with archtops. Perhaps this is a topic we can investigate further in a future Question of the Week.

If you have additional questions about how to use the AT8491G mounting system with your guitar, please contact us here in the Audio Solutions Department.

*Note: To clearly show the position of the mount and gooseneck, the setup images in this article do not include the ATM350a microphone.