Darker Sound for my Acoustic

  • Thread starter Thread starter rollydog
  • Start date Start date
R

rollydog

New member
Hi, I have an Ibanez AEF-30 TVS (with an active pickup). Direct in, it's a very bright sounding guitar; I like it's tone a lot, but for my current recording project I need something darker, more earthy and natural sounding. Do you guys know if getting new strings would help? I have some pretty thin elixirs in right now, I've heard they're bright. Would getting thicker strings help? What should I be looking for? Any other ideas?

Thanks
 
What gauge strings are on it now? Guitars are usually set up for a certain string gauge and just putting on a heavier gauge my cause problems. The nut should be cut to accommodate the strings and you should verify the top bracing can handle a heavier gauge.

Maybe try a different brand of strings - experiment until you find what you like. I'm not a huge fan of elixers.

To help darken the tone - maybe try some ebony bridge pins. This probably wont make a very dramatic difference but may help a little.

Sounds like your guitars is just naturally bright and there probably inst much your gonna be able to do about it. I'm talking about the natural, live sound of you guitar - not the recorded sound.
 
You'll get a significantly mellower less bright tone by putting flatwound strings on it. You may not like the result but if it's just a one off you can switch them back quite easily. To be honest these things are so much down to taste that you have to experiment to find the sound you want if you already have the guitar in front of you. Your only other real option is how you process the signal you have now.
 
Don't DI. Work with mic placement, perhaps a dynamic like an Sm 57 placed near the bout.
 
This may be kind of an off-the wall suggestion, but some jazz guitars use (or use to use) a felt muting pad just inside the bridge saddle. You may be able to slightly mute your strings in the same way, by loosely rolling up a small piece of gauze or similar material under your strings, right next to the bridge saddle.
 
I need something... natural sounding.
Click to expand...

Don't DI.

1) Spend $30 on a Naiant omni mic and place it 2 ft in front of the neck/body joint.
2) Put whatever strings get the sound you like (bronze-wound, silk and steel, whatever... you have to experiment) and then play it in a way that gets the darker sound you want. It has a lot to do with how you control the pick or finger's sounding of the string especially related angle of attack and thickness of the pick or fingernail.
3) Press record. The mic will capture very accurately how the guitar sounds in the room.
 
Last edited:
Zaphod B said:
This may be kind of an off-the wall suggestion, but some jazz guitars use (or use to use) a felt muting pad just inside the bridge saddle. You may be able to slightly mute your strings in the same way, by loosely rolling up a small piece of gauze or similar material under your strings, right next to the bridge saddle.
Click to expand...

Man! You are one CRAZY cat!!!
 
Not sure where Elixirs fall, but on my Takamine just going from the Martin 'Phosphor Bronze to '80/20 Bronze is a big shift from bright/thin to warm and body.
Then- thin pick for clicky', thick for clean. :)
 
I think that John Peasre strings have a pretty dark tone. I really like them and the tone is as dark as I have found. They last a while too.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top