The Royer R-121 ribbon mic has a reputation as one of the most natural-sounding ribbon mics available, known for capturing “the sound in the room” of most acoustic sources with minimal coloration. That said, due to its offset ribbon design, the two sides (front and back) of the R-121’s figure-eight polar pattern have slightly different tonalities: the back is slightly brighter than the front. This makes the back side of the Royer perfect for capturing the air and treble presence of acoustic guitars. When recording an acoustic guitar, try positioning the mic about six inches to a foot away, with the back of the mic toward the guitar, and positioned between the sound hole and the 12th fret, for a punchy, bright tone that is truthful to the sound of the acoustic guitar in the room.
