Unusual acoustic micing question

[notCardio]

Usually, everyone is trying to mic their acoustic guitar so that it doesn't sound too 'boomy'. All of the acoustics that are comfortable for me to play all sound sort of 'thin' and 'plastic-y'. Is there a mic that anyone has found to make 'thin' sounding acoustics sound 'fuller' without getting muddy or boomy? Or even any particular eq tricks along that line?

Thanks

 

[chessrock]

The Marshall v67 has a way of making my accoustic guitars sound really boomy. I wind up cutting most of the boominess, but hey, if that's the sound you like then I guess one man's trash is another man's treasure. Other than that, might I suggest the Waves' Max Bass plugin (part of the Waves Native Gold Package for Macs and PC's) if DAW is your thing, that is.

 

[notCardio]

Well, I really don't want 'boomy', just 'fuller'. I don't want an artificial sounding bottom added to it. Are you saying that what would be boomy on a regular full-sounding guitar might turn out to make a thin-sounding guitar fuller? I already thought of that, but I didn't want to take the chance and buy a guitar on the hopes that that would work. I just thought maybe somebody had already run into this problem and found a way around it.

Anybody?

 

[Tom Hicks]

With my V67 I mic near the 10th fret to thin out the sound.Try your mic right on the soundhole about a foot out.
Tom

 

[AlphaDingo]

v67 micing

I recorded my guitar with the mic pointed between the 12th fret and where the neck joins the soundhole. just move the mic around until you get the sound you want. For example, I recorded my classical with the mic pointed at the bottow left corner of the body. Sounds great. Mess around with it. find what you like.

 

[TexRoadkill]

Just out of curiousity what mic are you currently using and what type of music? Have you recorded your guitar and used it in a mix? You might be surprised that your thin sounding guitar actually fits really well in the mix. If you're not using a good mic that 'thin' sound might just be a dull mic.

 

[Tom Hicks]

Good point Tex
If the guitar is all by itself except for perhaps vox,that is one thing.But for it to sit in a mix well is another matter.I find I almost always roll off the bass below about 125 Hz on guitars so that they don't compete with bass,kick,snare and lower vox range where it all gets so muddy.
Tom

 

[notCardio]

Alright, here's the story...

My old acoustic that I love the sound of has gotten beyond the point of repair, therefor I need a new guitar. Due to a shoulder condition I've developed, combined with the fact that it's been a long time since I've played much acoustic, the only acoustics that I find comfortable enough to play for now have relatively thin and/or small bodies. Most of these tend to sound fairly thin compared to a standard dreadnought or jumbo.I can't afford a Martin 000 or a Taylor, but I don't want a guitar that's going to sound like plastic (like a Stratacoustic or Telecoustic do) when recorded. Most of what I want an acoustic for is stuff where the guitar is very prominant, if not solo. Think early James Taylor. I was just hoping that someone here had run across the situation where they were asked to record an acoustic that sounded thin naturally, and had stumbled on a trick to make it sound fuller without getting boomy.

The sound I really love, but I don't expect to achieve, is the intro to the Black Crowe's "She Talks To Angels". That's what I consider full but not boomy.

Anyway, thanks for trying.

And be sure to listen to Stuckatwork's song in his C1 thread. I would be happy with a sound like that, but he's starting off with a better guitar than I'll end up with.

 

[Monty Cadenhead]

Change the strings, if you haven't tried that.

Also, try the mike-over-the-shoulder trick. On my 00, most of the bass is going up and back, rather than projecting forward.

You know you can buy a Martin OM-21 for about $900-$1000 used. That's a lot of guitar for the money.

Monty

 

[TexRoadkill]

If you are looking for a smaller lighter guitar check out the Taylor Big Baby. It has a great sound and costs less than $300. Slap a decent condensor on that baby and it should sound great.

You can get a full tone by doubling the parts and using the right amount of reverb and delay. It's more involved than simple EQ but not all that hard.

BTW most full sized D's are way to boomy when recorded naturally. Usuall a lot of bass cut is necessary so dont worry too much about a thin sound. A good guitar, mic and room will sound great and possibly better if the guitar is physically smaller.

 

[notCardio]

A Taylor under $300?

Thanks Tex! I'll check that out ASAP!

 

[Fab4ever]

Hey, I'm glad to hear mention of the intro to "She Talks to Angels." I think that's some of the best-sounding acoustic guitar I've heard... Anyone know anything about that recording?

Interesting that you call that "full." To me it sounds bright and immediate...

Fab

 

[TexRoadkill]

What would you guys consider good acoustic guitar reference recordings?

I love Johnny Cash's "Solitary Man" album.
Anything by Tbone Burnett
Goo Goo Dolls for a polished pop/rock sound.

 

[gordone]

Lyle Lovett's Joshua Judges Ruth. Great engineering on this by George Massenburg. Listen to the guitar on "She's already made up her mind".

What would you guys consider good acoustic guitar reference recordings?

I love Johnny Cash's "Solitary Man" album.
Anything by Tbone Burnett
Goo Goo Dolls for a polished pop/rock sound.

 

[notCardio]

Fab,

To me, bright is part of sounding full. It sounds like new strings. Now, if you rolled off much more of the bass, it would still be bright, but also thin sounding. Those are my descriptive attempts, anyway.

Sorry guys (and gals- I use the term genericly). I didn't mean for this to turn into another "How do you mic an acoustic" thread. I had what I thought was a very specific and unique question. Thanks for all the replies.

And Tex - I'm looking for someone who has the Big Baby in stock so that I can try it out - thanks again! I'm also looking for an Ibanez Artwood AW100CE like Stuckatwork used, to see if it's comfortable. Now if I just had his voice..