how do ya get that big sound

[Jammer429]

is there some special way to go about getting a big sounding guitar.I have eq'd the guitar and it sounds good but still not big and lively enough for the mix..I don't know how else to explain it but is there any pointers I could get?

[westgate]

Originally Posted by Jammer429

is there some special way to go about getting a big sounding guitar.I have eq'd the guitar and it sounds good but still not big and lively enough for the mix..I don't know how else to explain it but is there any pointers I could get?

the right amounts of compression and reverb should do it. that's what worked for me, anyway.

i haven't done any serious recording since '91 so i've forgotten exactly how much of each to use.

[rayc]

I rely on my guitar tech Ivor.
He's available for freelance work just contact him on ivorbiggun@whopping.com.nz

[Jammer429]

Originally Posted by westgate

the right amounts of compression and reverb should do it. that's what worked for me, anyway.

i haven't done any serious recording since '91 so i've forgotten exactly how much of each to use.

Originally Posted by rayc

I rely on my guitar tech Ivor.
He's available for freelance work just contact him on ivorbiggun@whopping.com.nz

I have tried some reverb but it kinda makes it stand farther away from the mix but I don't know I will mess around some more and see what I can do .Thanks

[owwmyfoot]

multiple guitar tracks!

[Nick The Man]

theres a couple ways to thicken. Record the same track twice, maybe slightly different tones? or move the mic a little. Or if thats not an option you could duplicate the guitar track on your DAW and EQ then differently. Use verbs like someone said... I feel like there is more ways, I can't think right now.

[Jammer429]

Originally Posted by Nick The Man

theres a couple ways to thicken. Record the same track twice, maybe slightly different tones? or move the mic a little. Or if thats not an option you could duplicate the guitar track on your DAW and EQ then differently. Use verbs like someone said... I feel like there is more ways, I can't think right now.

I do double the tracks so I got the stereo guitars but I just feel like they aren't big enough I know that I am not giving much info but basically I want my guitars to sound like this

[Sonixx]

Source quality (start with a big tone and mic positioning) and Post tracking EQ

[westgate]

Originally Posted by Jammer429

I have tried some reverb but it kinda makes it stand farther away from the mix but I don't know I will mess around some more and see what I can do .Thanks

iirc, for a 'big' guitar sound, the compression is more important than the reverb; the 'verb is only the 'icing on the cake'.
and as others are saying, doubling, etc can help a lot.

now that i think about it, i also used a sholz rockman to get 'big' guitar sounds i liked. iirc, it had onboard, and could mix, the above effects (among others) to get a desired sound.

[darrin_h2000]

One SM57 off axis by the grill...one LD condencer 5 ft away...pan at 3 and 9 o'clock.

[Sonixx]

OP, what's your idea of a Big Tone... example?

[didgijimmy]

Multitracking, but remember with gain less is more. Back off on the gain when tracking the guitar. It won't sound "big" coming out of the amp but when you have a couple of guitar tracked this way, panned left and right or what have you, you should get a variation of what your looking for, the rest just comes after experimenting. Luck,
James

[Sonixx]

Originally Posted by didgijimmy

..remember with gain less is more. Back off on the gain when tracking the guitar.

I just don't find this to be a universal truth.

I would never just throw a mic(s) up and not expect to redial.

[darrin_h2000]

Originally Posted by Sonixx

OP, what's your idea of a Big Tone... example?

VanHalen...Steve Vai...etc.

[didgijimmy]

Originally Posted by Sonixx

I just don't find this to be a universal truth.

I would never just throw a mic(s) up and not expect to redial.

I guess I should of advertised differently
I suppose that I was just stressing that many people when recording want a "big" guitar sound and they crank the gain and track 50 different tracks like that and the end result is just a muddy, often thin sound due to the over saturation. I just recommended rolling back the gain a bit as a starting point, I know it has helped thicken my sound.
and i did stress experimenting as the ultimate benefactor. But I am by no means and expert.
James

[darrin_h2000]

Originally Posted by didgijimmy

Multitracking, but remember with gain less is more. Back off on the gain when tracking the guitar. It won't sound "big" coming out of the amp but when you have a couple of guitar tracked this way, panned left and right or what have you, you should get a variation of what your looking for, the rest just comes after experimenting. Luck,
James

This is true when recording a distorted track...you want to think of what you want and then back off a little...too many people overdo a distorted guitar track.

My favorite piece of gear I have came from a Tech 21 trademark amp with a broken casing...I replicated a Randall isolation cabinet using a celestion classic 30 and put that very versitile modeling amp to use mounted on the end...I do all my rythem guitar tracks with that...with the bass going direct using a sansamp and drums fully mic'ed I can record the rythem section in the same room without any bleed and still get that live groove you can only get from the guys feeding off each other...I allways get the best results this way.

[rockdude326]

Are you close miking, distant miking? Is your mic level set just below the onset of "break up"? Do you initially mic the guitar with a flat EQ or do you preemptively color the sound?

There are a lot of variables to this. My view has always been this:

Good player + good equipment + good judgment = good recording

Let your ears decide what's right.

[rayc]

What! no-one knows Ivor Biggun?
I can only assume that the joke was so lame it was ignored.

[Jammer429]

I'am sorry guys I meant to put a link in my last reply for I didn't I am close micing with a sm57 and this is the sound I am trying to achieve http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm...iendID=3374393

[Armistice]

Read the Slipperman guide...

http://www.badmuckingfastard.com/sou....html#contents

[chiefnoshow]

you want it to sound like that get a nice rig and go into a pro studio. that band's sound is the product of countless hours of post-production, mixing, and editing.

[didgijimmy]

Originally Posted by chiefnoshow

you want it to sound like that get a nice rig and go into a pro studio. that band's sound is the product of countless hours of post-production, mixing, and editing.

ALOT of bands are the result of countless hours of post production, mixing, and editing, and alot of stuff you find on this forum are the result of countless hours of mixing, and editing. That's kinda the point of HR. To make a recording you can be proud of, that stands up or is on it's way to standing up with what comes out of a "pro-studio."

[soundchaser59]

I dont know how you can get that sound, but I know what wont work......

You wont get that sound just recording 1 or 2 tracks with one SM57 and then doing some clever panning. All the reverb and eq in the world wont get that sound from 1 or 2 SM57 tracks. I'm sure there's a lot more to it than that......

Hopefully, you are starting with a great rig, great speakers, great pickups, great preamps, etc.....??

[starbuck26]

why do you want to sound like this band?

methinks they suck.

[didgijimmy]

I didn't actually listen to them until I saw your post Starbucks, but I pretty much agree. It's like they use drop d chugging as an intro, so that you think they are a metal band, and then the rest of the song is Starting Line esq pop/punk dime a dozen radio friendly boy band IMHO. I don't want to turn this thread into a band basher, just dont really get it I guess. I also really don't understand why they have someone screaming behind everything the dude sings in the verses. Just sounds corny.

But Jammer, if that's what you want I definitely recommend pretty much what the general consensus was earlier, there are alot of great guys on HR who do metal really well, check them out. I believe LegionSerial is one, or something like that anyway. And remember the gain thing, I think you will understand why when you apply it.
Luck
James