Help! My tone is always fuzzy

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Member Since: Jan 17, 2008

Hey, I just bought my-self a Shure SM-57 and ART pre amp and am damn dissapointed with it(i'll probably send it back.)

It's just that when I mic my amp on distortion channel, the low-end riff's and stuff come out really fuzzy tone-wise. I mean sure my amp is gritty, but the tone really sucks.

Am i doing something wrong? Mic placement(right in the middle placed on a book up close lol)? How high should I set input/output levels on preamp? Help please

EDIT: Well I realized by tweaking with an EQ that it's the stuff around 200HZ AND LOWER MOSTLY that's causing this bad tone. If i completely cut the low frencuencies, it sounds pretty decent - but I'm a metal fan that liked that low end.

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Pinnipedal Czar (: 3=
Member
Since: Apr 11, 2004


Feb 22, 2008 11:06 pm

The mic you're using is fine... preamp is ok as well . Mic placement/enviornment may very well be the issue . Try puting it more towards the edge of the cone... an inch or two in from the edge . Also, you're onto it with the 200HZ cut... mud-city, also try rolling off everything below 80HZ . Another thing that will help get you closer to that 'kick *** metal sound', is the layering of those tracks . Try doubling the recorded track, eq/pan it slightly differently . There are alot of variables, so be patient, avoid frustration, and explore them all . You're on the right track .

Member
Since: Jan 17, 2008


Feb 23, 2008 11:23 am

Yea I've been messing around and I got a nu-metal tone, but that's not really what Im after. I dialed my Gain down a bit and worked around the EQ. My main problem I think is that I'm not cranking my amp up enough and relying on the preamp too much to amplify the sound.

Good thing is though, I get an awesome lead tone out of it.

Czar of Turd Polish
Member
Since: Jun 20, 2006


Feb 23, 2008 01:12 pm

Too much gain out of the ART will definitely fuzz up electric guitar. It was ok for certain things but I sold mine. I had much better luck with the behringer tube pre.

I am not a crook's head
Member
Since: Mar 14, 2003


Feb 23, 2008 04:27 pm

Do some searching in the forums here. This is one of the most often covered subjects that comes up around here, so there is a lot of material here in the forums where everybody has put in their 2 cents worth of opinions and techniques for recording electric guitar.

Here's a good one:
www.homerecordingconnecti...11329&frm=1

Keep looking around and you'll find literally thousands of words posted on this subject in these forums.

Member
Since: Jan 17, 2008


Feb 23, 2008 06:26 pm

Yea, I've been looking around and I don't thik it's exactly what I mean. Here's what I mean:

I found a sound on soundclick by someone that has the same problem as me(unless he's doing it intentionally). I'm getting the same low-end tone like this even though my amp on it's own sounds different.

www.soundclick.com/bands/...;songID=5962018

Maybe that'll help?

EDIT: And I heard that you need less distortion on your amp, but that just doesn't give me as much distortion as I need

Eat Spam before it eats YOU!!!
Member
Since: May 11, 2002


Feb 23, 2008 10:05 pm

couple thoughts

1. bass is accentuated by proximity... you have to pull the mic away to reduce base... aka if it sounds good where your head is then thats where you need to put the mic. end of story.

2. what does the amps and guitars EQ curve look like?


Member
Since: Jan 17, 2008


Feb 24, 2008 09:59 am

To that...

1. I never really stuck my ear right up to the amp or anywhere even close to it and it sounds good from far so I don't think the mic would even pick up a good tone.
2. Guitar EQ:
All the way to the treble side
AMP EQ:
Bass - 5
Mid - 7
Treble - 7

But I've been tweaking the EQ without much improvement.

I am not a crook's head
Member
Since: Mar 14, 2003


Feb 24, 2008 01:13 pm

Quote:
I never really stuck my ear right up to the amp or anywhere even close to it and it sounds good from far so I don't think the mic would even pick up a good tone.


Well thats the thing. An amp sounds different right up next to the grille (which is where your mic should go) than it does out in the room where your ears are. Listen to your amp from where your microphone is going to be listening because good tone in the studio is a different beast than good tone on stage/rehearsal. You've found your performance tone, now your quest is for good studio tone.

What kind of guitar rig do you have? What brands/models of guitar, pedals, amp, etc. do you have?

Member
Since: Jan 17, 2008


Feb 24, 2008 06:46 pm

Godin freeway classic guitar
Boss SD-1
Boss ME-6
Peavey Valveking 112

Not much, but it gets the job done.

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