Running a guitar through an amp first?

[smokeyozzy]

Okay, yes, i'll get this out of the way first, i am a screamingly new idiot on this forum, so i apologize for that in advance.

Alright, anyway, i'm not greatly experienced in either process, but i was wondering whether its best to run an electric guitar or bass through an amp before a mixer and then an interface, or if the amp is not needed. I know its a simple question, but i can't find the answer anywhere and i've been wondering for awhile.

I ask because i've got band practice Sunday with one of the bands i manage and i wanted to get a little bit of experimentation in with my new interface. I've heard people talk about both processes, so which one's best/preferred?

 

[Farview]

With guitars, you tend to get the best results by micing the amp. Direct guitar, for most genre's, sounds like crap. Direct from the line output of an amp isn't much better because the speakers are a big part of the guitar sound.

With bass, it's a tossup. I normally take a direct signal and mic a cabinet.

 

[darrin_h2000]

It depends on if you have the amp you want to track with...if you dont the modelers are better...if you are happy with you sound then you should stick with that.

 

[smokeyozzy]

Alright, thanks so much!
Are there any types of mics you would recommend?

 

[darrin_h2000]

With bass, it's a tossup. I normally take a direct signal and mic a cabinet.

Only about 5% of the time does an actual bass amp get involved in a session...bass amps have pretty much gone by with use of tape.

 

[darrin_h2000]

Alright, thanks so much!
Are there any types of mics you would recommend?

SM57...if you have the means...Senn md421

 

[Farview]

Only about 5% of the time does an actual bass amp get involved in a session...bass amps have pretty much gone by with use of tape.

It's more like 80% of the time around here. I even have an SVT sitting around here just for that purpose. It probably has more to do with the genre of music you tend to deal with.