Guitars too crisp and crunchy

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AndyMan

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Hi All


I have been told "Man I dig your crispy guitar sound" and quite frankly and getting tired of it. Basic info: Bugera 333XL, Lopoline cab with Celestions, SM58, Focusrite Scarlett Solo, Reaper. I was going to play around with mic placement but the cab is in another room and Im not really in the mood to run back and forth. I guess if I have to but was wonder what y'all might think?

Thanks


Andy
 
A common thing is that the amount of gain/distortion/overdrive that sounds good to your ear is too much when recording.

Moving the mic toward the edge of the cone can help take the edginess down.

A low pass filter might help.
 
Who is that singing on "I'll be better in the mornin"? Dig that singing voice, style, tone!! Would love to have that.

There are some good ideas and starting points there. You should keep developing those.

Yeah.... regarding guitar tone.... it's way too harsh and crunchy for my tastes. Over-the-top saturation. Maybe it's just a matter of taste - but I would back that off. Quite a bit. You'd do better with something a little closer to a "brown sound" kind of thing, imo. You know.... plenty of "pushed" tube break-up - but more organic.

Just my opinion - let's see what others have to say.
 
PorterhouseMusic said:
Who is that singing on "I'll be better in the mornin"? Dig that singing voice, style, tone!! Would love to have that.

There are some good ideas and starting points there. You should keep developing those.

Just my opinion - let's see what others have to say.
Click to expand...
Ditto. The opening progression and vocal reminded me of The Cranberries' Go All The Way.
 
AndyMan said:
Hi All


I have been told "Man I dig your crispy guitar sound" and quite frankly and getting tired of it. Basic info: Bugera 333XL, Lopoline cab with Celestions, SM58, Focusrite Scarlett Solo, Reaper. I was going to play around with mic placement but the cab is in another room and Im not really in the mood to run back and forth. I guess if I have to but was wonder what y'all might think?

Thanks


Andy
Click to expand...
Use the tone control on your guitar.
 
Too much gain, too much treble. Sounds harsh and fizzy. Possibly the guitar pickups need to be lowered some. Many raise the pickups to get more gain out of them but you’ll lose articulation.

Only listened to the first tune, and I’m in agreement with the Freddie vibe on the vocals.
 
AndyMan said:
Hi All


I have been told "Man I dig your crispy guitar sound" and quite frankly and getting tired of it. Basic info: Bugera 333XL, Lopoline cab with Celestions, SM58, Focusrite Scarlett Solo, Reaper. I was going to play around with mic placement but the cab is in another room and Im not really in the mood to run back and forth. I guess if I have to but was wonder what y'all might think?

Thanks


Andy
Click to expand...
The tune I listened to, Blick Fang, I didn’t think the guitars sounded too crunchy. It does sound like there is a lot mid range buildup in the over all mix though.
 
I don't think the guitar sound is bad at all. A little EQ but not much more than that. The real problem I hear is that:
1. Guitar is too loud in the mix, especially during vocal bits.
2. The bass and kick need mids removed, low end added, and raised in the mix.
3. I think I heard a second guitar in at least one song but it was hard to tell because it sounded too much like the main guitar.
 
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RFR said:
Too much gain, too much treble. Sounds harsh and fizzy
Click to expand...
While having dallied with the postmaster's wife I'm a fine one to talk, I have to agree with this.
Perhaps my biggest problem though, is that it sounded generic like a thousand things I've heard before and too much of.
 
AndyMan said:
Hi All


I have been told "Man I dig your crispy guitar sound" and quite frankly and getting tired of it. Basic info: Bugera 333XL, Lopoline cab with Celestions, SM58, Focusrite Scarlett Solo, Reaper. I was going to play around with mic placement but the cab is in another room and Im not really in the mood to run back and forth. I guess if I have to but was wonder what y'all might think?
Click to expand...
I like the guitars as recorded - but your mix as whole is very mid forward - I would put a Multi-Compressor and a Dynamic EQ on the Mix Bus and tamp it - I would also back the distortion down on all the guitars - and are the drums programed or a player or combo? - The Drum parts should move to push the beat - as it is now they are dragging a bit - I don’t know if you think it a compliment but your guitars are very reminiscent of 38 Special - and on the Tune - 'll be better in the morning (Feat. Kara Hesse)’ - they have a Randy Rhoads vibe.
 
Thanks for all your input guys. I'm going to try a few different things. One of them foremost is Mic placement. also going to mess around with trouble and presence and post EQ. thank you
 
Could it be cleaned up some? Sure. I'd think just some tweaking of the tone knobs on the amp would help in that regard. Or back off on the pickup to take some of the harshness out. Mic placement as well. My experience has been trial and error to find the sweet spot in these matters. If that means running back and forth to do so, that's what you have to do at times. The guitar tone isn't hateful. I think it works in the context of these songs but if you're looking for something different, then work to find something different. Take a look at how EVH evolved his sound when he went a different direction with the songs. He probably said he was tired of it too. That and Roth. Lol!
 
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