Cab Mic
The Roswell Cab Mic is a specialized studio microphone designed specifically for capturing guitar speaker cabinets. With its large-diaphragm condenser design, high headroom capability, and ribbon-like voicing, the Cab Mic delivers powerful lows, a smooth top end, and requires minimal post-processing — ideal for effortlessly capturing your guitar tone.
The Cab Mic is “voiced like a ribbon mic” — sonically inspired by classic ribbon microphones: never sharp, never overly bright.
It was purpose-built for electric guitar speaker cabinets — a unique application that demands very high sound pressure level (SPL) handling, often involves strong tonal coloration, and can present phase and beaming issues when using multiple microphones.
Equipped with a low-distortion circuit and a large-diaphragm capsule with custom tuning, the microphone has reportedly outperformed many popular guitar cab microphones, including dynamic, standard condenser, and ribbon models.
The specially tuned frequency response features a gentle roll-off beginning around 3 kHz, reducing the typical harshness found in guitar speakers.
The low output, high headroom, and darker tonal character make it easier to achieve great results right away — without extensive EQ or complicated mic placement.
Roswell Pro Audio
Sensitivity and circuit design were intentionally chosen so that the microphone can be used even with very loud amplifiers (e.g., 100W tube amps) without overloading the preamp or converter.
Origin Story
David Grissom and Tim Pierce had been testing the RM8 microphone on a speaker cabinet. Both were impressed by its tone. Neither of them needed the RM8’s internal pattern circuitry. David was then approached with the idea of creating a simpler, purpose-built microphone for guitar cabs — one that could reproduce the tone he loved from the RM8, but be easier to use and more accessible to guitarists.
He liked the idea.
Guitar amplifiers represent a rather unique application. They can be loud, so the microphone needs a lot of headroom. It should have a soft top end to avoid harshness. It should also perform well on its own, so that artists don’t have to deal with comb filtering (phase cancellations) that inevitably occur when two or more mics are placed on the same speaker.
Roswell developed a low-distortion circuit and a large-diaphragm capsule with a unique tuning. The circuit was built using high-quality components. This combination has outperformed many popular microphones for guitar cabs, including dynamic, condenser, and ribbon models.
Cab Mic VS Mini K Microphones
Most “Mini K” microphones can be used on guitar cabs. They perform very well for this purpose — for example, the band Little Feat has used the Mini K67x on two cabs on stage for three years. (Scott Sharrard’s Two Rock rig is so loud that it’s placed behind a plexiglass screen so it doesn’t compete with the main PA.)
The Cab Mic has lower sensitivity, lower output, and more headroom than any of those models. It also has a darker tonality than all the others.
In terms of internal design, the Cab Mic uses a different capsule than the other microphones. The circuit shares a similar topology to the KD but is tuned differently and uses different components in key places (as every Roswell mic is optimized for its intended application).
Cab Mic VS Ribbon Microphones
The Cab Mic’s sound is similar to that of ribbon microphones, especially in the frequency range above 1 kHz. Its response gently rolls off above 3 kHz, preventing the harsh sound often produced by guitar speakers.
The Cab Mic features a nominal cardioid polar pattern, providing a more linear and predictable proximity effect than any ribbon mic with a figure-8 pattern. (For purists: the Cab Mic’s pattern is slightly narrower than a traditional cardioid, giving it its punchy sound.)
The Cab Mic is less sensitive than ribbon microphones. A gust of air will not damage its capsule.
Features
- Custom large-diaphragm capsule with proprietary tuning
- High-headroom, low-distortion circuit design
- Hand-selected audiophile-grade electronic components
- Heavy-duty, solid steel body
Benefits
- The unique tonal character makes it easy to capture your amp’s true sound.
- The microphone’s gain structure is designed for 100W tube amps without overloading your preamp or converter.
- The solid, high-quality construction ensures durability and long life.
Tech Specs
- Model: Cab Mic
- Acoustic principle: Pressure-gradient transducer
- Polar pattern: Cardioid
- Capsule: 34 mm outer diameter, true condenser
- Sensitivity: 4 mV/Pa
- Impedance: 112 Ohms
- Signal-to-noise ratio: 83 dBA
- Equivalent noise: 11 dBA
- Power supply: 48±4 VDC
- Output: Electronically balanced
- Dimensions: 150 × 44 mm; 380 g (mic only)
What's in the Box?
- 1x Roswell Pro Audio Cab Mic
- 1x Heavy-duty swivel mount
- 1x Microphone pouch
