Tascam 388 acoustic project

[classicrockman7]

Hey, I am looking for a good setup for my studio which is mailny just a tascam 388. I have reverb units, outboard mixer (which i use as a preamp...yuck) and other various effects.

I have an D-15 with an LR Baggs M1 soundhole pickup, the pickup sounds really good, maybe through a preamp or something, and the guitar sounds very rich when mic'd. Both very usable and different sounds.

What would be the best way to lay down acoustic tracks? i have a 57 and a 58 as well as a fender acoustasonic which has a great lineout. i would really like to buy a mic preamp (looking at the electro harmonix Electro-Harmonix 12AY7 Tube Microphone Preamp, looks good read good reviews) I am looking for a full deep sound.

What would be a good way to record? Thanks

[A Reel Person]

in a basic sense, given that I have similar equipment (388, SM57, etc.),...

I'd just say, plug the acoustic soundhole-pickup straight into the board, on any channel. Trim for boost & EQ this channel to the best response, on phones or using open monitors.

Then, on PHONES with monitors turned OFF, train a SM57 on the body of the guitar, about 6"-9" away from the soundhole, or anywhere near the butt-end of the guitar (at a 45 degree angle to the soundhole/near your right hand),... anywhere that gives you a bright/full sound. Plug this mic into any unused channel. Give the SM57 an ample amount of gain on the TRIM pot. Position and EQ the mic as necessary.

Then, MIX the DI/soundhole-pickup sound with a sparing amount of acoustic sound from the mic, and route this mixed/composite signal to ONE tape track.

Repeat this mix/route/record sequence until you get the desired acoustic guitar sound recorded down to tape.

[classicrockman7]

Hey you guys always come through, thanks a ton. I will try that out and then post some stuff up on here. I already did the whole electric guitar thing, all of my recordings are here.... (www.myspace.com/sisterray) All done through my 388 with the only mice being a 57 except for some old comando's on the drums. Thanks again.

JM

[pjpjpj]

Hello all,
388 lover here. My best advice for acoustic tracking is to use two small diaphram condensers one 6" off the neckjust above the soundhole and one a foot or two off (depending on volume of guitar passage) this should give you a nice mix of "room" (sound hole) and attack (neck mic). I often use this mic'ing technique and quite often mix the two signals to my liking through an outboard mixer before tape so it goes to tape on one track ... you know take a mono out from the board (or pan both tracks to one side and take that out...same deal) into whichever track i'm recording. Hope it's helpful.
pj

[classicrockman7]

Thanks i am purchasing a matched set so i can do this. Thanks again.