recording pick sound

[JTC111]

i'm 99% sure this is a different sound than the one JTC111 is looking for.

go listen to Bob Seger's "Night Moves". that's what i think of when i hear "i want more pick sound when strumming".

....to get that sound, do what Harvey suggests in his first paragraph.


cheers,
wade

PS--if i were to give that sound to most bluegrass guys i know, i wouldn't be doing much bluegrass anymore.

I guess I should've given some references for the sound I was trying to describe. The sound is fairly prominent on early Cat Stevens albums. Some songs that have it more prominent are Bitterblue, Peace Train, Can't Keep It In, and Oh Very Young.

A more recent song would be Thank You by Dido. The sound I'm decribing is especially present on the right channel.

 

[D28Flatpickr]

Bluegrasser here.

I usually try to get rid of pick noise!

that is the reason for the super thick picks that and tone. keep in mind there different types of pick noise. there is the flapping sound of a thin pick - like playing cards in bicycle spokes- and then there is a scraping sound of a worn out pick or unpolished pick dragging across the strings. and then there is the sound of a thick pick sliding nicely off of the strings. i think the last one is what u r looking for. almost a faint sound of glass tink tink tink tink just under the notes being played.

look for real tortoise shell picks remember is illegal to sell purchase new turtle picks in US. Red Bear pick company make picks out of natural materials that are VERY close if not better in feel and tone than turtle picks.

if synthetic inexpensive picks look for extra heavy in shinny plastic materials and file a bevel on the edges and make sure you polish out the file scratches with 800 grit paper or finer

then mike close to the bridge but not too close to the sound hole

 

[Daisy]

You actually "want" more pick?

Use a Marshall mxl-603, or a similar brighter-sounding small diaphragm condenser, and point it somewhere around the 12th fret (as others have mentioned).