Acoustic stuff
Posted: 05 Dec 2023, 17:53
I mentioned I was after getting close to Bruces rhythm guitar sound that he achieves on the recordings of Apache etc, so I bought another J200, this time the latest offering from Epiphone with a solid sitka spruce top with solid (not plywood) maple back and sides, exactly as the spec of the Gibson I once owned. I sold it for a few reasons, firstly I didn't manage to record that same sound that The Everly Brothers and Bruce got back in the day on those iconic records. I got close, but for me not close enough. Also my J200 was a natural finish and I really wanted a sunburst, but the natural ones were temporarily on offer for £1999 in 2003 at The Academy Of Sound and the rosewood ones were still £3000, so it was a compromise. Fast forward twenty years and I got the exact spec that I wanted for £789 - albeit the Epiphone variant. I can tell you with confidence that having gigged it, the guitar sounds terrific and does not disappoint. in fact, it sounds as good as my Gibson did. The guitar is equipped with Fishman Sonitone electronics so It can be plugged into an amplifier or PA. My choice of amplifier to go with it however, wasn't quite as successful, as I used to have the AER Compact 60 and this time opted for the new competitor from the same manufacturer, the Di Capo 75.
It arrived today from Peach Guitars and it took me ten minutes to realise that it didn't do what I was expecting and sounded very ordinary, whichever of my acoustic guitars I tried, be it Martin, Gibson, Gretsch the Epihone J200, Vintage Gordon Giltrap, none of them pleased me as much as when plugged through my Dynacord desk into our PA. I guess I'm spoiled.
So it arrived at 12.15 and was packed and labelled for return and at the FedEx pick up point by 2pm.
I'm going to try some mic techniques to try and nail this sound of Bruce's. My guess is there were multiple microphones involved along with some Hi & Low Pass filters and Parametric EQs galore with compressors & limiters and I intend to find them and use them on my recordings. I know I'm always meddling and trying stuff but what else do you do to keep out of trouble ? Watch this space.
It arrived today from Peach Guitars and it took me ten minutes to realise that it didn't do what I was expecting and sounded very ordinary, whichever of my acoustic guitars I tried, be it Martin, Gibson, Gretsch the Epihone J200, Vintage Gordon Giltrap, none of them pleased me as much as when plugged through my Dynacord desk into our PA. I guess I'm spoiled.
So it arrived at 12.15 and was packed and labelled for return and at the FedEx pick up point by 2pm.
I'm going to try some mic techniques to try and nail this sound of Bruce's. My guess is there were multiple microphones involved along with some Hi & Low Pass filters and Parametric EQs galore with compressors & limiters and I intend to find them and use them on my recordings. I know I'm always meddling and trying stuff but what else do you do to keep out of trouble ? Watch this space.