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The folks at SamSystems got in touch and asked if I would review their Integral IM12 - an interesting new way of micing your guitar amp. Instead of having mics external to your cabinet positioned on stands, the IM12 fits inside your amplifier, directly over the speaker, and is locked in place so that it never moves. An XLR junction box gives you a balanced output to go straight to front-of-house or into your mixing console. I'll be showing you how to fit it in this video.
The IM12 is primarily aimed at the live environment and, in theory, the benefits of having a super-cardioid microphone locked in place in close proximity to the speaker are many. The main one is isolation: you'll get minimal bleed from other loud instruments on stage, reducing the need for excessive filtering. The off-axis positioning of the mic also gives a sound aimed at keeping the FOH engineer happy....generous in the upper mids and filtered in the low end to help your guitar sit in a dense band mix. Not to mention giving you consistency in sound from one venue to the next; as well as never kicking a mic stand over ever again. Sounds good, right?
On paper, the IM12 should be the answer to every gigging guitarist's (and cantankerous soundperson's!) prayers. But is it? The most important thing for me is...how does it sound? And to be completely honest - as I always try to be on this channel - I think that is the IM12's downfall. As much as I loved the concept of it, and I can see what SamSystems were aiming for RE live sound, the simple truth of the matter is (in my humble opinion): it just doesn't sound very good. I wanted to love it; but I didn't. If I was out-front at a gig and heard these tones coming from a custom shop guitar, going through a boutique overdrive, through a handwired Dr Z amp and out of a Celestion Alnico Gold, I'd be disappointed.
What do you think? Do you agree with my critical thoughts in the video's outro? Or are you a fan of the IM12? Comment below!
Guitars are:
- Fender MIJ '52 Telecaster w/ Monty's '53 bridge and Bare Knuckle Flat '50 neck pickups
- Heritage H535 w/ Monty's PAFs
- Gibson Les Paul Custom w/ OX4 Hot Duanes
Recorded through a Dr Z Z-Wreck (Celestion AlNiCo Gold) with just the SamSystems Integral IM12. That's it.
jp@joeperkins.co.uk
0:00 Intro
2:41 Fitting The IM12
4:33 Playing
11:51 Outro: What Do I Think?
Vector images by freepik.com
