EQing Guitar

[Ignition.]

Can anybody give me some good general EQ tips for recording? What frequencies do I want to EQ up, and what frequenceis should I roll off of to get a good solid rock, heavey sound...like rhythm guitar sounds from bands like STP and the like. I've read a bunch of books, but still...just can't get the same sound they do...I know they have billion dollar studios, but that can't be the only answer.

 

[gtrman_66]

The best way I've found to get solid rock guitar sounds is to get it nailed down at the source by adjusting the amp etc. to exactly what you want and mic placement. A little EQ at the mix is ok, but if you are having to make radical EQ adjustments in the mix to try and find the tone you're after, you probably won't find it. Best to re-cut the track and nail it down "to tape".

Don't be afraid to crank the amp either, air moving from the speaker cone into the mic(s) is what makes a lot of the tone.

 

[chessrock]

...I know they have billion dollar studios, but that can't be the only answer.

You're right. They also have really, really, good amps and cabinets. And guitars. That's about 95% percent of it right there.

 

[Farview]

What kind of rig do you have? If it isn't a Marshall, you are pissing in the wind.

 

[sile2001]

What kind of rig do you have? If it isn't a Marshall, you are pissing in the wind.

And if it IS a Marshall, then you are pissing directly on yourself...

 

[rgonzale]

You didn't say whether you are micing a guitar amp or running the guitar directly into your mixer etc and applying fx via stompboxes or software...

The point is that there is a difference between applying EQ before and after nonlinear effects like distortion. It may not be possible to get the sound you want by simply applying EQ at the end of the recording chain.

If you are doing the traditional approach of micing a guitar amp, and you're not against stompboxes, try inserting a good quality 6-band EQ before the guitar goes into the amp. That will give you a lot of flexibility as far as tone goes. For example, if you boost the heck out of the 600 Hz region (plus or minus) then you get a midrangy tone which distorts very cleanly. If you boost the bass instead (before going into the amp), and then roll off the treble at the end of the recording chain, you get a fuzz tone.

If you are applying distortion in software, then simply insert an EQ plugin before and perhaps after the distortion. Again, boosting the midrange before the distortion fx gives a nice smooth distortion. You can mix a bit of clean signal back in to the final mix to fill in the bass if you like...

In any case, don't let anyone tell you there are rules to this game. There are just approaches that work well and those that don't work well. There's nothing wrong with applying EQ before going into your amp to get the sound of a different sort of pickup: after all pickups are themselves essentially little amplifiers with their own EQ characteristics.

 

[HangDawg]

What kind of rig do you have? If it isn't a Marshall, you are pissing in the wind.

So what the hell is that supposed to mean? Marshall has a corner on the market for good guitar tone? Bah! Hogwash!

 

[chadsxe]

So what the hell is that supposed to mean? Marshall has a corner on the market for good guitar tone? Bah! Hogwash!

I think all that Fairview was trying to say, is that igniton wanted an STP sound. If I am not mistaken STP used Marshall.

 

[chessrock]

I had a heavier band come in the other week, and their guitar player brought in a Diesel cabinet that he was apparently on some sort of waiting list for for several years ... and he paid somewhere around 3 grand for it.

I love those kinds of sessions. They make me look like such a brilliant engineer.

How the hell did I just get that guitar sound? Must be some special, magic microphone I used. Or maybe I'm just a freakin' whiz with the EQ and I know all the special frequencies to cut and boost. Or better yet ... maybe I actually spent days studying Slipperman's elaborate and insanely genius methods. Yea right (no disrespect intended - we all love Slippy).

Guys, it's in the amp. As difficult as it is for some people to grasp ... you have to have an amp that records really well if you want a good recorded guitar sound. If you can't afford that kind of rig, then rent one for a day or two and track with it. Might set you back 50 bucks or so. Next, stick a mic in front of it -- any old mic, and go. Now sit back and enjoy the fruits of your grueling labors and pat yourself on the back for being a brilliant engineer.

 

[NL5]

I had a heavier band come in the other week, and their guitar player brought in a Diesel cabinet that he was apparently on some sort of waiting list for for several years ... and he paid somewhere around 3 grand for it.

I love those kinds of sessions. They make me look like such a brilliant engineer.

How the hell did I just get that guitar sound? Must be some special, magic microphone I used. Or maybe I'm just a freakin' whiz with the EQ and I know all the special frequencies to cut and boost. Or better yet ... maybe I actually spent days studying Slipperman's elaborate and insanely genius methods. Yea right (no disrespect intended - we all love Slippy).

Guys, it's in the amp. As difficult as it is for some people to grasp ... you have to have an amp that records really well if you want a good recorded guitar sound. If you can't afford that kind of rig, then rent one for a day or two and track with it. Might set you back 50 bucks or so. Next, stick a mic in front of it -- any old mic, and go. Now sit back and enjoy the fruits of your grueling labors and pat yourself on the back for being a brilliant engineer.

So, your saying you can't make a crappy old peavey amp sound like a Mesa TR? I thought if you miced it just right, and slapped a bunch of eq on it........

 

[chessrock]

Well, actually there is one particular cheap model that Peavey made back in the 80's that you can get to sound something like a Mesa, odly enough. I'm not sayin' which one it is (hint: it's not the 5150). You have to guess.

 

[Farview]

So what the hell is that supposed to mean? Marshall has a corner on the market for good guitar tone? Bah! Hogwash!

He is looking for a very specific sound, (stp, and the like) this sound comes from a Marshall. If he has a mesa triple rectifier, he is capable of good tone, but not the tone he is after.
Marshall does not have a corner on the market for good guitar tone, but they did corner the market for a good Marshall tone.
Relax, I stopped playing Marshalls years ago, I was just trying to point the guy in the right direction. I'm sure what ever you are using is just as good as a Marshall and no one is looking down their nose at you.

 

[Cloneboy Studio]

Electric guitar is one of those things that anything more than mild eq and compression and it isn't going to sound so hot.

 

[NL5]

Well, actually there is one particular cheap model that Peavey made back in the 80's that you can get to sound something like a Mesa, odly enough. I'm not sayin' which one it is (hint: it's not the 5150). You have to guess.

Hmmmmmmmm....one of the "Ultra" series? They sound better than the 5150 in my opinion, not as good as a mesa tho.........

 

[Ignition.]

Thanks Ya'll for the advice ;-)

First off, I don't have a Marshell. I don't have a Messa, I don't have anything worth anything. I've got an old Fender M-80 Half stack from the 80's. I've also got two practice amps that I have also tried using. I've used 4 different mics...no I don't have a sm57....I know, I know I've got the Korg D1600mkII 16 track recording in a bundle thing with outboard Alesis Compression, and outboard Alesis EQ....again, I know the equipment is not the greatest...but I can't imagine that is the real issue. Don't get me wrong, I understand that better equipment and all will do nothing but help, but I know if you took a pro engineer and had him/her go to town with only the stuff I've got, he could get pro-results no-doubt.

I can't afford better equip right now, so until I do...I guess I'll just have to rely on my wits and all the advice from you guys

By the way, I've only posted a few times on this site, but can not tell you how much I have learned from reading everyones input (over the last 8 months or so) and advice. I appreciate all your help, and will check ya'll later.

 

[chessrock]

but I know if you took a pro engineer and had him/her go to town with only the stuff I've got, he could get pro-results no-doubt.

Maybe / maybe not. Just because someone's a professional doesn't mean they can work miracles. They're still limited by what they have to work with.

A major part of what a good engineer will bring to the table will be his/her ability to listen to your gear and say things like: "Nope. This amp ain't cuttin' it for what you're trying to do. Can't make a Fender sound like a Marshall. We need to change it out for something else. Try this one instead and see what you think."

Any good engineer wouldn't waste his time messin' around with something that's simply not going to work for the job. That would be a waste of your time/money and his. Part of his role is that of consultant; helping you pick the right gear in order to get the sounds you want.

In a way ... sometimes it's like working with a financial planner / stock broker. You can't just hand a bunch of bad stocks to someone and say: "Make me tons of money with these crappy stocks." The biggest part of what you're paying him for is his expertise; use it and leverage it.

 

[Fry13]

LOL yeah, pro or not, if the gear isn't great, you're not gonna get a great sound. If you really need this recording to be good, just rent a good Marshall, that should get you a lot closer (a lot quicker too) to what you are after. Pro's are pro's because of their knowledge and skills, but that doesn't mean they can turn water into wine...these guys are human beings, after all. They would be able to get the best possible sound out of the equipment you have, but that doesn't mean that it's anywhere near what you are after, IMO.

 

[GABritton]

Ignition,
You're probably doing a bunch of EQ as you record, right?

If so, it will be better to stop that. Record a nice guitar track then alter it a little if needed. You might have a great sound, but screwing it up thourhg compression end EQ. A lot of times people just add compression and EQ because everyone tells them they need to. I've been a culprit too!!!

Work with your mic placement a lot too. If you don't ahave a 58, the I assume you have a cheaper dynamic mic (nady or something like that). You won't get a "pro" sound with it, but you're not completely up shit creek either. Try a different speaker in your cab and defenitely work with placement.

Remember this too, If you're going to be recording rock w/ a lot of distortion, turn your gain down. You don't need as much as you might think. Give your amp good juice so it has a full sound, but don't kill the gain, it'll muddy things up.

Well hope this helps, let us know your progress...

 

[Cloneboy Studio]

In general the rule of good sounding distorted guitar is: less gain and crank the master volume!

 

[HangDawg]

He is looking for a very specific sound, (stp, and the like) this sound comes from a Marshall. If he has a mesa triple rectifier, he is capable of good tone, but not the tone he is after.
Marshall does not have a corner on the market for good guitar tone, but they did corner the market for a good Marshall tone.
Relax, I stopped playing Marshalls years ago, I was just trying to point the guy in the right direction. I'm sure what ever you are using is just as good as a Marshall and no one is looking down their nose at you.

I was just playin