The New Tone Thread

  • Thread starter Thread starter Telegram Sam
  • Start date Start date
miroslav said:
So tonight I was trying out some cleaner settings on a few of my amps...and decided to record some clips of each trial.
I used the same guitar, a reissue Hagstrom Super Swede, which has a coil split switch. I recorded each amp/channel with the split coil and with it at full humbucker setting. I used the neck pickup for all.
Also used the same mic (AKG D1000E) for each clip, and positioned it in about the same spot for each amp/speaker...off center about 2", kinda midway between the center and edge of the speaker.

I can give specific amp settings for each if anyone wants them...but it may not mean anything to anyone unless they have the same amp(s).

Here's the clips...as I said, I was going more for a cleaner sound, though there's a touch of breakup on some of the clips. I also normalized each of the clips so that their levels were as close as possible.
The Chubster 40 has two channels, and I tried to set them so they were similar/balanced, but so you can still hear the different voicing of each.
With the Hammerhead, there are several tone voicing options, I just picked one that I liked for these clips.
The Rt. 66 is a basic Treble/Bass/Volume amp...so I set all three in the same position.

I played the same few chords for each clip, that way it would be easier to compare them (sorry for a few sloppy strums...my hand got tired holding the same chords over and over.

Split Coil clips
Rivera Chubster 40 - Channel 01
Rivera Chubster 40 - Channel 02
Carr Hammerhead
Dr. Z Rt. 66

Humbucker Clips
Rivera Chubster 40 - Channel 01
Rivera Chubster 40 - Channel 02
Carr Hammerhead
Dr. Z Rt. 66

I may the same thing with some OD settings on each amp when I get a chance.
Click to expand...

Nice clips Miro, that was a lot of work.
How do you like the Dr. Z?
I think you would like a Fender amp,
what are you wanting squeaky cleans for?
 
Telegram Sam said:
Nice.
This is great for comparing my modeler to the real thing.
Nice selections, well played!



What was the name of the band?
That's pretty cool.

So that brings up another question I have:
Do you always try to get as close to your final tone as possible when you are recording it?

For example, if I am doing a a swamp guitar part,
do I mix the reverb in at the beginning and record it, or do you add the reverb later in the mix?
Click to expand...

The name of that band was Felony. It was a fun time.

For recording, I try to get as close to the tone as I can so I don't have to EQ later, but sometimes it's inevitable. Like my guitar player friend that comes over for "lunch jams" (his office is less than a block from my house) once every two weeks or so...he writes some cool instrumental parts, but plays his strat through my Marshall and messes with the knobs until it ends up thin and screechy. Then I have to EQ after the fact. With my guitar tracks I do it differently. I posted a rough board mix in the Mp3 clinic, but here is a link. I'm playing drums and doing the recording/mixing duties. David S song2 take2 by Seeker of Rock on SoundCloud - Create, record and share your sounds for free I think I'm going to have him double the guitar parts, and maybe with my LP.

I always do my reverbs through aux. sends/returns, so always after the fact for me.
 
Telegram Sam said:
Here are some tones I'm working on.
I've had ideas for several songs bouncing around in my head for a while,
which is why I started recording again.
This one is in three parts, I've finished this scratchpad of the guitars
and now if I am going to do it, it is going to be a lot of effort.
Click to expand...


I'm hearing all kinds of good potential there.
Do it with some classic Glam Rock flavors - Marc Boland meats Bowie...with a touch of phsychadelic Beatles flavor. :)

Seeker of Rock said:
Here are a few I posted a few weeks ago. They don't quite capture what I'm hearing in the room so I'm going to experiment, maybe with a ribbon mic, maybe a room condenser mixed with the 57.
Click to expand...

Solid rock sounding guitars. Captures that AC/DC sound...but I also hear some Ian Hunter in there. :drunk:

minerman said:
Here's a clip I did today, nothing special, just a guitar, bass & drums....might be another one to turn into a song eventually......SoundClick artist: Minerman's Mix Check Page - page with MP3 music downloads
Click to expand...


Nice bed for a solid rock tune....add some vocals and some ripping leads. :cool:

Has a aweet Bad Company vibe....
 
So tonight I was trying out some OD tones...and also came up with some scratch track ideas for a song.

Sorry for the drum loop, but this was all done on the spur of the moment.
I did the Rhythm Guitar, Bass and Lead Guitar all as single passes...so it's a bit rough, and there are some clams in there...but I think I can do something with this to turn it into a formal song.
Also want to refine the lead tone a little more, but I think I have it going in the right direction.

This was done with a reissue Hagstrom Swede using the bridge PU. I put some late '70s vintage DiMarzio Super Distortion pickups in it.
The amp is my Carr Hammerhead & 112 cab w/Jensen CK12.
For the lead the volume was up at about 3:00-4:00 and the Master about about 8:00-9:00...so the preamp section had plenty of gain.
I used the #2 Impact position (4 is brightest) and the #3 Grip position (4 is full-on meatiest) on the tone voicing section.
For the rhythm guitar, I used the same setup except that I had the volume at around 7:00-8:00 and the Master at like 12:00.

Recorded with an AKG D1000E into a Langevin DVC.
The bass was recorded DI into the DVC.

It's about 6 minutes long, so I did the MP3 at 192Kbs to keep the size down.
The first half I did the lead with just guitar/amp...then the second half I kicked in some wah tones (Ernie Ball Wah).
This is a rough submix off the tape deck and board, and right into the DAW for this clip.

Damnation Alley (tentative title)
 
Miro: Sounds pretty good man, reminds me of the Rolling Stones, just a little more on the heavy side. Could be worked into a song pretty easily, maybe add some more parts (bridge, chorus, etc....).....No need to apologize for drum loops man, I always use MIDI for my drums. The last clip I posted was Abbey Road drums' sounds triggered by Jamstix 3. Cool program that's great, but it's complicated, & can be frustrating at times because I'm still learning it......I'd say someone like Greg could make Jamstix sound really, really good with all his technical knowledge.......

Seeker: Thanks for the listen & comments....The reason I didn't mention the chain before, is I wanted to see if Greg or Lt. Bob had listened, & could tell what I used....

It's not my amp, it's an ampsim that I spent about 20-30 minutes tweaking trying to make it sound real......so, the chain for the guitar sound on the last clip was:

Ibanez RG350DX > Komplete Audio 6 interface > vst ampsim.....
 
miroslav said:
I think I can do something with this to turn it into a formal song.
Click to expand...

I knew I would like the sound of the Carr dirtied up. The song has a '70s vibe to it, which I personally love as far as music styles go. So the drums are digital, or analog sampled and looped? Dig the wah, too. It fits the vibe of the song.
 
minerman said:
It's not my amp, it's an ampsim that I spent about 20-30 minutes tweaking trying to make it sound real......so, the chain for the guitar sound on the last clip was:

Ibanez RG350DX > Komplete Audio 6 interface > vst ampsim.....
Click to expand...


Ah-ha...so that's how you got it so clean in the chain. :)
 
Seeker of Rock said:
David S song2 take2 by Seeker of Rock on SoundCloud - Create, record and share your sounds for free

How are the drums sounding on this? I'm happy with the tuning and worked hard to get it, but let me know if there are things you would suggest in the micing/sound or tunings. I think the mix from the OH's is still a little hot and has a lot of high freq's, especially on the cymbal crashes.
Click to expand...

I can't listen right now. If I don't come back to this by tonight or tomorrow, shoot me a PM to remind me.
 
Seeker of Rock said:
David S song2 take2 by Seeker of Rock on SoundCloud - Create, record and share your sounds for free

How are the drums sounding on this? I'm happy with the tuning and worked hard to get it, but let me know if there are things you would suggest in the micing/sound or tunings. I think the mix from the OH's is still a little hot and has a lot of high freq's, especially on the cymbal crashes.
Click to expand...

Yeah I'm not crazy about the drums. The snare is kind of flubby. I'd say tune it tighter. Since it's already recorded, you might be able to tighten it up with EQ and compression. But ultimately I think a better tuning is needed on the snare and maybe better mic placement. The toms sound pretty good. The overheads are pretty thin and sizzly. Not much spread to them as well. Kick seems okay, but it could be louder and have a little more thump.
 
Oh and I listened to all of the tones. They all sound pretty good to me. I especially liked Seeker's 800 tones, but that's like one of my favorite amps of all time, so I'm biased.

Miro your stuff was pretty good. I liked all of your clean clips, especially in single coil mode. I wasn't crazy about the overdriven stuff, but I think it was pretty good for what you were using it for.

Sam, your clip was a little bright and harsh to me. Not terrible, but pretty ear piercing.

Minerman, your modeller clip was really good.
 
Greg_L said:
Yeah I'm not crazy about the drums. The snare is kind of flubby. I'd say tune it tighter.
Click to expand...

I worked on the snare some more last night and compressed a little more. I'll move the kick up in the mix. Overheads I'm still not happy with either. I EQ'd the highs during tracking (accidentally...forgot to turn off the 'engage EQ' button before hitting record) and that may be the hyped highs. I'll get to work tweaking them. Thanks for the pointers and the listen, man.
 
Greg_L said:
Miro your stuff was pretty good. I liked all of your clean clips, especially in single coil mode. I wasn't crazy about the overdriven stuff, but I think it was pretty good for what you were using it for.
Click to expand...


Thanks.

Yeah...I tend to focus on how the tone will fit in context of a song/mix...rather than by itself.
I have yet to work up some more overdriven tones with my other amps....so I should have more flavors in the near future. That was just one flavor of the Carr Hammerhead...but it does a bunch more.
 
Seeker of Rock said:
I knew I would like the sound of the Carr dirtied up. The song has a '70s vibe to it, which I personally love as far as music styles go. So the drums are digital, or analog sampled and looped? Dig the wah, too. It fits the vibe of the song.
Click to expand...

That's some pretty cool Southern Rock Seeker.
 
Greg_L said:
Sam, your clip was a little bright and harsh to me. Not terrible, but pretty ear piercing.
Click to expand...

Thanks Greg, knowing that my clips can be a bit harsh in the high end is going to be an invaluable help to my overall mixing.
 
Holy screeching brightness batman! That's pretty ear piercingly brittle. Try it with a better speaker or an actual cab.
 
Greg_L said:
Holy screeching brightness batman! That's pretty ear piercingly brittle. Try it with a better speaker or an actual cab.
Click to expand...

yeah, I don't like that at all ....... way too shrill. I'm not sure I'm sold on those Bugera's ..... I could be convinced maybe but so far I find them a little thin.
I used a small one for a few gigs ..... it was ummmmm ....meh. Servicable but not inspiring.
 
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