eliminating fretscrape

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malgovert

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what's the best way to eliminate 'fretscrape' when recording acoustic guitar? I have tried every mic position under the sun but it's still picking it up. I'm using a Rode NT3 and/or AKG cs1000.

Thanks - Malg.
 
Try switching player!

Seriously, it's a method of playing. Not lifting the fingers enough. Changing mic position to get it less noticable will probably result in having to comprimise in sound quality.

This is not a fix it in the mix thing.
 
There is actually some stuff you can buy for this.. No joke, it's called Gorilla Snot. It's a kind of oil that you either put on your hands or on your fingers to eliminate the string noise..

If you can't find it, try something similar, like maybe baby oil (try to apply only a tiny portion to the top of the strings, or on your fingers so you don't affect the wood or the sound of your playing)

Cy
 
Why take it out?

I know this isn't what your gonna want to hear, but why not leave it there. That's just a natural sound of playing an acoustic and while your focusing so much on that string noise, it's actually something that don't hurt the mix as much as you would believe. Listen to some professional mixes and see what I mean... I think the last song that comes to mind is the Creed song My Sacrifice... right at the start of the song.. And they even go so far as to put delay on it.. so you get two string slide noise instead of one.. :) but guess what.. I bet you never noticed that before.. lol... see what I mean.. your overanalyzing it actually.. so in my opinion.. just let it be.. and get some Gorilla Snot if you can't bear it.. lol.. but when I record I try to minimize it as much as I can and let the rest ride... because believe it or not.. That's the way the instrument should sound...
 
It is becoming some sort of fashion indeed. I even heard it used in a song covering no acoustic guitars at all. Its available as soundeffect on most keyboards.

A little is natural, to much can be ..well..just to much.
 
Cyrokk you've gotta be kidding... I was actually gonna put something like that at the end of the original post - like I was gonna say was it about time to start waxing my fingers or something and follow it with (at least) one of these :D ... what a name, man... do 'baby oil' and 'gorilla snot' have similar properties - seriously thoguh doesn't it hurt to get oil on the strings and stuff? Someone's gonna tell me now I should have been oiling those strings for the last 20 years :D

Mix, I know what you're saying too - in fact I kind of agree - thing is this all started when I got some (useful) feedback on a mix and was told the fretscrape - which I had kind of liked to tell the truth - was annoying, and that better miking technique would help... So that's where it came from. Hence, Downside, my question - I had heard it could be fixed by better miking - can't switch players I'm afraid there'd be no one left in the studio :D

Malg.
 
Cy, I thought Gorilla Snot was a gummy substance that you put on your picks to stop dropping them, I could be wrong though. :confused:
 
Gorilla Snot is a tacky substance that drummers put on sticks for traction and guitar players on their picks so they won't drop 'em. Finger ease is the revolting slime I've seen guitar & bass players spray on their strings to eliminate squeeks. I picked up a guy's guitar once that used that shit and it was like putting your hand in a lung cookie. Very nasty.
 
like mix said, I'd just leave it.

you could also try flatwound strings. this probably won't eliminate it but lessen it a good degree.

-Sal
 
If gorilla snot is in fact the tacky substance, then I apologize. I was going by the memory I had of an ad in Guitar magazine for this stuff.. I could've sworn this was for fret noise.. but my memory is starting to go. Sorry folks!

The first time I recorded acoustic I had the very problem of that high pitch squeal that came from fretting.. I tried to mix it out but it was impossible.. So I re-recorded the track. I got rid of it by licking my fingers at the places where I created the noise (eww.. I know.. but it worked)..

I recommended baby oil, but I'm talking a very VERY small amount on either your fingers or the strings.. just a slight trace to help you slide a little more smoothly.. I don't think I'd go as far as using the spray stuff Track mentioned though. I may be wrong (and quite possibly am), but that may not be good for the wood finish..

Incidentally, what is a 'lung cookie'?...lol

Cy
 
Cyrokk said:
There is actually some stuff you can buy for this.. No joke, it's called Gorilla Snot. It's a kind of oil that you either put on your hands or on your fingers to eliminate the string noise..

If you can't find it, try something similar, like maybe baby oil (try to apply only a tiny portion to the top of the strings, or on your fingers so you don't affect the wood or the sound of your playing)

Cy
Click to expand...

I used to sell Gorilla Snot, but it was a sticky substance used by drummers to aid in hanging on to the drum sticks. Fangar Ease may help you too. That Snot stuff is very sticky.

Fangar
 
"SCREEEEAAAACHH"

I've had good luck with Elixer (sp?) strings - that coating (or whatever it is) seems to minimize the 'creaking', and actually had a secondary effect of warming up the recorded sound of my guitar (Taylor 410 - pretty bright sounding)...

Anyway, I hope this helps! -

By the way - these strings seem to have a little longer life than the D'addarios I was using..

Jim
 
SalJustSal said:
you could also try flatwound strings. this probably won't eliminate it but lessen it a good degree.
Click to expand...
Flatwounds will give you a different sound too...

I agree with Downside. It's all in he technique. I remember practicing on that when I played classical guitars a few years ago. The guy doesn't need any oil on his guitar, he needs to work on his technique.
 
MANY MANY MANY people will make the artist soak their hands in warm water before they record. It works. You can also drop the freqency of the string squeak on your equalizer. Otherwise, nobody really tries to cut it out, its natural sound.
 
MANY MANY MANY people will make the artist soak their hands in warm water before they record.
Click to expand...
DON'T FALL INTO THIS TRAP. It's a common joke. The artist will pie on your studiofloor. I know. Some of my friends tried it on me while i was sleeping.
 
lol @ Downside


Elixir strings and a mic placement that doesnt boost it are your best quick solutions. A 12th fret mic will pick this up much more than an over the shoulder setup.
 
PAM....anti sticking cooking spray, its teflon don based and is very slippery. cover the finger board with a towel, and spray the strings, wipe of the excess so its a very light coating.
Its a trick I learned form a session pro on bass who wrote an article on session tricks.

Peace,
Dennis
 
i'm very surprised (and dissapointed) that no one has mentioned FAST FRET!!!!!!!!!!

that's right FAST FRET. RETARDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

errrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.
 
Read up in the post ya dork. I mentioned Finger ease. It is the same thing except you don't have to rub it on with a goofy applicator.

Fangar
 
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