scooped mids question...
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Binnerscot
Well-known member
Re: scooped mids question...
It depends on the amp. Scooping the mids can sound very good when the amp has heavy low mids or is a dark sounding amp. Lowering the mids and then reducing the low end brings out definition of a different flavor. Marshall-esque amps sound very different than a Mesa when you scoop the mids, because the midrange between the two amps is very different as is the low end. Its just a matter of taste and getting a sound that does what you want.
I scoop as appropriate to my mood at that moment.
It depends on the amp. Scooping the mids can sound very good when the amp has heavy low mids or is a dark sounding amp. Lowering the mids and then reducing the low end brings out definition of a different flavor. Marshall-esque amps sound very different than a Mesa when you scoop the mids, because the midrange between the two amps is very different as is the low end. Its just a matter of taste and getting a sound that does what you want.
I scoop as appropriate to my mood at that moment.
greendy123
New member
Re: scooped mids question...
For me I think scooping mids gives a more metal tone, basically it sounds like there is more gain enough though gain knob has not changed.
For me I think scooping mids gives a more metal tone, basically it sounds like there is more gain enough though gain knob has not changed.
Animal
Well-known member
Re: scooped mids question...
I think both extremes can sound stupid. Pulling the mids completely out can sound like a hollow bag filled with bumble bees and cranking mids to 10 can sound like you're playing through a speaker cabinet made of cardboard. You can loose thickness, depth or definition either way. It's really dependent on the gear being used though to what extent those extremities will occur.
I think the case of a newbie pulling out all the mids entirely is an attempt to sound like they're playing through a cranked full-stack and create the illusion of "depth" when in reality they're playing through a solid-state 8" combo. I was certainly guilty of it back in the day with my peavey rage 158. Over the years, the mids have increased, and the bass and treble has been pulled back.
I think both extremes can sound stupid. Pulling the mids completely out can sound like a hollow bag filled with bumble bees and cranking mids to 10 can sound like you're playing through a speaker cabinet made of cardboard. You can loose thickness, depth or definition either way. It's really dependent on the gear being used though to what extent those extremities will occur.
I think the case of a newbie pulling out all the mids entirely is an attempt to sound like they're playing through a cranked full-stack and create the illusion of "depth" when in reality they're playing through a solid-state 8" combo. I was certainly guilty of it back in the day with my peavey rage 158. Over the years, the mids have increased, and the bass and treble has been pulled back.
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i love everyone
New member
Re: scooped mids question...
speaking of getting lost in the mix, a friend of mine was wondering why he couldn't hear his 100-watt tube amp at shows. you pretty much couldn't hear it unless he was playing by himself. of course he had the mids on 0 and the bass and treble on 10.
speaking of getting lost in the mix, a friend of mine was wondering why he couldn't hear his 100-watt tube amp at shows. you pretty much couldn't hear it unless he was playing by himself. of course he had the mids on 0 and the bass and treble on 10.
guitfiddle
firstlessonologist
Re: scooped mids question...
Tell him to half the bass and cut the treble some and go to at least to four on the mids dial, and he'll be heard in the parking lot.
Tell him to half the bass and cut the treble some and go to at least to four on the mids dial, and he'll be heard in the parking lot.
Robert Delahunt
Showmasterologist
Re: scooped mids question...
The only scooped mids on a humbucker I've ever heard was a Jazz in an agathis (yuck!) body guitar. I have a '59 in my Showmaster (basswood body) and it's not scooped at all to my ears.
The only scooped mids on a humbucker I've ever heard was a Jazz in an agathis (yuck!) body guitar. I have a '59 in my Showmaster (basswood body) and it's not scooped at all to my ears.
bungalowbill
Luckybastidologist
Re: scooped mids question...
I have an old green board Junior that I have done the Bill M tonestack mod on and it didn't have the effect of scooping the mids. The Mod opened the amp up a bit and made it sound a little more organic, to my ears at least.
I play classic rock, blues, country and use an old school tone with plenty of mids.
I have an old green board Junior that I have done the Bill M tonestack mod on and it didn't have the effect of scooping the mids. The Mod opened the amp up a bit and made it sound a little more organic, to my ears at least.
I play classic rock, blues, country and use an old school tone with plenty of mids.
H
heymcz
Guest
Re: scooped mids question...
I think we also need to consider how much the mids are scooped and where. I like a slight dip in the mids, say that a Custom gives, my Maxon SD9 also does this. I think it sounds very natural. On the other hand, as Hames said, if you scoop too much out, it sounds hollow. Too many "middy" mids sound boxy. I like upper-mids and lower-mids.
Some pickups with a slight dip in the mids (Custom) sound better to me than pickups that are hollow ('59n) or mid-bloated (Custom Custom). As both guitars and vocals are midrange instruments, you need a slight dip to allow the singer to cut through when mixing. So I often end up cutting a small hole in the mids anyway. You have to experiment, but I get good results cutting at 1.7Khz, it doesn't seem to change the sound of the guitar that much. A narrow-bandwith cut, mind you, but it's enough to let the vocals show through. That means I can crank the guitars louder in the mix and keep up intelligibility in the vocals.
I think we also need to consider how much the mids are scooped and where. I like a slight dip in the mids, say that a Custom gives, my Maxon SD9 also does this. I think it sounds very natural. On the other hand, as Hames said, if you scoop too much out, it sounds hollow. Too many "middy" mids sound boxy. I like upper-mids and lower-mids.
Some pickups with a slight dip in the mids (Custom) sound better to me than pickups that are hollow ('59n) or mid-bloated (Custom Custom). As both guitars and vocals are midrange instruments, you need a slight dip to allow the singer to cut through when mixing. So I often end up cutting a small hole in the mids anyway. You have to experiment, but I get good results cutting at 1.7Khz, it doesn't seem to change the sound of the guitar that much. A narrow-bandwith cut, mind you, but it's enough to let the vocals show through. That means I can crank the guitars louder in the mix and keep up intelligibility in the vocals.
ratherdashing
Kablamminator
Re: scooped mids question...
It depends what you're going for. I like a bit of a mid dip (scoop seems a bit strong) for rhythm parts. It makes the tone sound tighter and more transparent in the mix, and ensures the guitar won't overpower the vocals very much. For leads, I'll bump the mids back up for exactly the opposite reason: it makes the guitar stand out in the mix.
It depends what you're going for. I like a bit of a mid dip (scoop seems a bit strong) for rhythm parts. It makes the tone sound tighter and more transparent in the mix, and ensures the guitar won't overpower the vocals very much. For leads, I'll bump the mids back up for exactly the opposite reason: it makes the guitar stand out in the mix.
baritone
New member
Re: scooped mids question...
Emphasizing some frequencies or scooping out some frequencies can be done, as long as the EQ is not stretchet too much. I constantly mess with my EQs, but I still try to keep the settings subtle, since at any extreme setting, the sound becomes thin.
Emphasizing some frequencies or scooping out some frequencies can be done, as long as the EQ is not stretchet too much. I constantly mess with my EQs, but I still try to keep the settings subtle, since at any extreme setting, the sound becomes thin.
Iron Horse
New member
Re: scooped mids question...
For modern rock/metal tones, I like to scoop them a little, or should I say back them down to something like BMT 7,5/6/7
For modern rock/metal tones, I like to scoop them a little, or should I say back them down to something like BMT 7,5/6/7
Iron Horse
New member
Re: scooped mids question...
Yeah, with clean tones it works well too.
Yeah, with clean tones it works well too.
