micing electric guitar strings...

[pearldrum944]

So I was playing Grand theft auto:San Andreas on PC. I was wearing headphones so I noticed something cool in one of the early 90's rock songs. On the left I could hear that the guitar strings were either miced, or the guitarist was standing near a mic on the amp. I thought it sounded great and look forward to experimenting with it. Anyone know if this is common practice?

[ecktronic]

Not too sure, wouldnt say its a common practice. But it is worth experimenting with definetly. I have heard of micing the bass strings to add more clarity, not sure if it works or not though. MIght do.

[Richard Monroe]

Although not a common practice, it can really rock to put a mic on the guitar itself, even a solid body. It works best if the amp/cab is isolated, as in another room. It doesn't apply well to lead, but I do it when I'm recording clean heavy rhythm, as in "Tommy" by The Who. I tend to pan the 2 tracks soft left and soft right.-Richie

[grn]

check out the song Keep Fishin' by Weezer... the entire intro is clean electric guitar, sans amp. with some snapping for sass. make sure you get the remix or radio edit.

[Vullkunnraven]

This technique works well especially on arpeggio's

[Matheon]

that's a great idea.

i hear a lot of people record and mix acoustic guitars only to have them end up sounding a lot like an unamplified electric.

why not just cut out the middle man and start with that sound

[warble]

Something I've never tried, but hey, maybe it will let me have some more fun in the studio.

[treymonfauntre]

i do this a lot when i'm doing a scratch track for the drummer so he can hear the rhythm of me htiting the strings

[giraffe]

sounds good mixed in with distortion,
mmmmmmmmmmm

[dwillis45]

I've tried it before on a Rickenbacker 360 with an SM81. The sound had an interesting textural quality to it, although it was a little like someone was playing a comb! I was looking for more of the sound that you hear during parts of Blur's Song Two.

[EleKtriKaz]

Originally Posted by giraffe

sounds good mixed in with distortion,
mmmmmmmmmmm

Yup. I sort of use it to help the electric poke through the mix a little bit, almost as an alternative to volume automation or eqing. I'll throw it in during the choruses to give electrics more attack and stand out a little.