Muy Blues Version 2. Looking for tone comments again

[Jim Soloway]

I recorded this again this morning using an entirely different approach. The music hasn't changed much, which was intentional since the purpose of this exercise is to try to zero in on a good recorded sound for my 7 string. I really appreciated the input on the first version and all comments and criticisms are certainly welcome again.

After all the feedback on version one, I was trying to accomplish 2 things: get a more natural sound and tighten up the bass. Thanks in advance for the input.

 

[erichenryus]

first of all, i love this shit! i am a recovering joepassaholic so you just may have triggered a fresh binge for me.....

i missed v1 but this sounds very full, especially in the bass. i don't know if you'd want quite that much depth if you have a bass player (which would sound excellent imo) but solo it sounds great. almost sounds like the very low bass notes are being played on a different instrument...maybe that's the point? they just kind of jump out.

 

[A1A2]

I don't understand why someone would one-star this song.

This is amazing playing and awsome guitar sound. I can definitely hear some bass walking the scales, but might be a little tricky alone with your guitar tho. Anyways, watch the clippings, I guess. Other wise, this is one of the best playing I havce heard here!!

AL

 

[Jim Soloway]

Thanks guys. I'm really just trying to get my recorded tone together as I try to get productive with my Tascam. I've actually just recorded a third version. If your interested, here's a link.

 

[mixmkr]

I liked both versions. Listening on headphones, I might 'guess' that your bass might be a little on the heavy side...but the rest of the tone of the guitar is pretty sweet. Not bad playing either. I think the reverb is just right. I'd be interested in hearing something with accompiament from you. What kind of guitar setup do you use....gtr?, etc....

 

[mixmkr]

oh yeah...regarding your bass sound...I think the 3rd version might have been the best, but it was also the thinnest sounding to me also. You might try some creative compression to "tighten" up your bass end, and give it more punch. ...slow attack time, let the percussive nature of the note thru...medium ratio... Just like you might do on a bass guitar.

 

[Jim Soloway]

I liked both versions. Listening on headphones, I might 'guess' that your bass might be a little on the heavy side...but the rest of the tone of the guitar is pretty sweet. Not bad playing either. I think the reverb is just right. I'd be interested in hearing something with accompiament from you. What kind of guitar setup do you use....gtr?, etc....

The guitar is a 7 string Schecter USA custom shop Sunset 7 with the low string tuned to a low A. It's going through a 7 band EQ pedal and then to a Carvin Stagemate amp. The reverb is from the digital effects in the Stagemate. I'm running the line out on the Stagemate directly to the input on a Tascam 788.

Most of what I do is guitar and vocals. Here's a sample from my CD. It was produced in a commercial studio and it's basically the tone I'm trying to get back to on my home system.

 

[mixmkr]

well, I would say your EQ balance is very close then...if not a little bass shy then. I can hear the better reverb too. ...and I want to say some aritifacts of some pumping compression too. I think it sounds like you got the ears and talant to do as well, if not better, if you were to ask the blind man (me!)

 

[pglewis]

I think muy4 is the best mix. For my taste, as a solo piece, I'd cut a few dB around 150Hz (to pull out a little mud and tighten up the bottom) and boost a bit at 12kHz(ish) to add some air. The cut at 150Hz might open some room in the mix for a little more bottom... say 60-75Hz.

I'm really big on speakers pushing air, so I'd probably record a mic'ed amp track in addition to the direct track. It gives more options for the mix, if you can spare the track.

Anyway, solid consistent playing man. Is that all fingers or are you playing that hybrid pick and fingers style?

 

[Jim Soloway]

I think muy4 is the best mix. For my taste, as a solo piece, I'd cut a few dB around 150Hz (to pull out a little mud and tighten up the bottom) and boost a bit at 12kHz(ish) to add some air. The cut at 150Hz might open some room in the mix for a little more bottom... say 60-75Hz.

I'm really big on speakers pushing air, so I'd probably record a mic'ed amp track in addition to the direct track. It gives more options for the mix, if you can spare the track.

Anyway, solid consistent playing man. Is that all fingers or are you playing that hybrid pick and fingers style?

Thanks for the tips. In the end, it's just my guitar and voice, so I can always spare a track. And it's strictly fingers, using all five .

 

[David]

Go cat go! I love this kind of playing...can't do it, but love it. Nice tone ya got going on. Great stuff.

 

[pglewis]

In that case, if you have a couple of decent mics and preamp channels, why not 3 tracks? 1 direct; one mic with the amp speaker mic'ed close; and one room mic some distance from the amp. You might decide you still prefer the direct sound on it's own after all that, but it can be fun to experiment with mic positions and blending the different sounds in the mix. It's more textures on the palette.

All tone aside, I love that playing style. I'm another one who thought there was a seperate bass track when I heard your original version. Get a kick drum and attach some high-hats to your knees and you've got the one man band thing goin' on. Can you play keys with your nose?

 

[Jim Soloway]

In that case, if you have a couple of decent mics and preamp channels, why not 3 tracks? 1 direct; one mic with the amp speaker mic'ed close; and one room mic some distance from the amp. You might decide you still prefer the direct sound on it's own after all that, but it can be fun to experiment with mic positions and blending the different sounds in the mix. It's more textures on the palette.

All tone aside, I love that playing style. I'm another one who thought there was a seperate bass track when I heard your original version. Get a kick drum and attach some high-hats to your knees and you've got the one man band thing goin' on. Can you play keys with your nose?

LOL. I can't even play keyboards with my hands. I think that's why I play guitar this way, because I'm hopeless as a keyboard player but I wanted to sound like a piano. George Van Eps, who basically invented the 7 string, used to call it a "lap piano" and that's the approach I've always tried to take.

As for the double mics, I was thinking about exactly that after your last post and I'll probably try that next week after my new vocal mic arrives. Hopefully I'll have something complete with vocals to post by the end of next week.

 

[participant]

Cool stuff You're a talented guitarist... would like to get into more of THIS type of jazz, myself... with the brush-style drums and stand-up bass... Very smooth... Liked it.


Chad