Tone Help Please - How can I improve this...

[bubbahotep2k3]

Hey guys,

I play metal and for years I have struggled to get good guitar tone on my home recordings. I have a 90 second mp3 sample of my current tone and I would be grateful for a critique (especially any suggestions for improvement).

Also to make it more fun I am not going to say if it is amp modeling or real tubes, or if it was recorded through microphones or direct. I'd be interested in how you think it was recorded and what it lacks compared to professional heavy metal cds.

I know I have a long way to go and a lot to learn. Thanks so much for you help.

You can download the 90 second mp3 here (and please excuse the sloppy playing):

http://www.twophilosophers.com/ToneTest.mp3

Take care,
Bubba

[DankStar]

Re: Tone Help Please - How can I improve this...

sounds to me like some type of direct method - similar to the lepou stuff I've heard - very up front/in-your-face. but I like it! no complaints here (sorry I can't be more help in fine tuning).

whoah - I just googled lepou to check the spelling and I see there's mac versions now - didn't know that!! woo hoo, I got some testing to do...

[RobSoundtrack]

Re: Tone Help Please - How can I improve this...

Yes agreed, direct sounding but quite good still.
Gonna listen a few more times.

[bubbahotep2k3]

Re: Tone Help Please - How can I improve this...

Thanks guys. Yes it was recorded direct.

I was worried you might fight it harsh sounding in the higher frequencies, but apparently it is ok. Other comments are welcome....

[Chickenwings]

Re: Tone Help Please - How can I improve this...

back the mic off a bit. That is, if you used a mic...it sounds like the mic is right on the speaker.
Try this (if you are actually using a real amp and not direct)
turn up the gain on your mic to max and turn up the amp to max. Turn your guitar off.
Using headphones, move the mic around near the speaker. You will hear hiss at various frequncies. Start at the middle and work out till you hear the noise drop appreciably. Thats the sweet spot. Lock the mic on its stand, then draw it straight back maybe 1-2 feet. Take off your headphones, and reset your amp and mic gain levels so you dont go over 0db.
Also use a ribbon or condenser mic about where your head normally is when you are playing.
All this will give you a much fuller sound, that is less kinda "maxxed" and compressed. It will give you a sound that is much more like what you hear when you are playing when you mix in a little of the ribbon mic to the the close mic sound.

If what you are doing is a direct thing, then perhaps its time for a real amp/mic comnination.


edit: lol - ok so you went direct!- i just read your last post....well.....try this anyway.