Could I get some feedback on the sound/recording quality of this? Thanks.

[Jim Soloway]

Just trying some new methods.

[AllanAllen]

Crisp like a classical guitar, smooth like an electric. Really nice sound, as always. I’m surprised it’s a Mustang.

[Jim Soloway]

Crisp like a classical guitar, smooth like an electric. Really nice sound, as always. I’m surprised it’s a Mustang.

Thanks. There's not really much of the Mustang left. It still has the body, the bridge and the control plate and it's still a 24" scale length but it has a new custom neck (wider and flatter with bigger frets), a Fralin hum cancelling P90 (and no bridge pickup), new shielding, wiring, pick guard, pots and tuners and it's strung with Daddario Chrome flat wounds. The big thing for me is the scale length. At this age, my reach and strength is no where close to what it once was but with this guitar I can still get around really well.

[nevershouldhavesoldit]

Sweet, clear and clean, my friend!

[Jim Soloway]

Sweet, clear and clean, my friend!

Thanks. I kind of like it.

[vintagelove]

Just trying some new methods.

Very pleasant sound, not overwhelming in any register. Warm but clear. Also, it sounds like you 'overcame' one thing that many times is questionable in your clips, that is overwhelming bass. This was very good in that regard. My only complaint is noise, that could be helped a few ways depending on the setup.

[StefanoGhirardo]

Very sweet and clean. The harmonics stand out very well. For my taste, I would prefer slightly less bass, even if it is less evident than in your other recordings. The noise doesn't seem excessive to me, given that you chose not to cut the harmonics and the presence (and it seems like the right choice).

[GuyBoden]

Well played.

Clean and clear. Plenty of sustain in the notes.

Sparkling is a term I associate with the sound of your recordings.

Bass is well EQed or it's the pickup.

Your fingerstyle picking with nails gives a nice bright clear tone.

Is that dropped tuning?

[Jim Soloway]

Well played.

Clean and clear. Plenty of sustain in the notes.

Sparkling is a term I associate with the sound of your recordings.

Bass is well EQed or it's the pickup.

Your fingerstyle picking with nails gives a nice bright clear tone.

Is that dropped tuning?

Thanks and no, it's standard pitch.

[enalnitram]

It's really lovely playing, and a good sounding guitar. But I must agree with vintagelove about the noise. The hum was distracting for me, throughout. And at 44 onwards, with it bare, you can hear it, front and center. Ouch. Is there a fluorescent light in this room? Does turning the guitar 90 degrees help?

[markesquire]

As always I really like your playing, but personally, the sound wasn't my favorite compared to other clips you've posted. It's hard to explain sonics, but it seemed almost like a completely neutral direct-recording sound, rather than (what at least I have come to hear as) a guitar-amp-and-speaker sound. I think a big part of that might be what someone else described as an especially "crisp" almost "classical guitar" high end, which I heard as almost like piezo but on an electric.

Of course, it's all taste, and I think it depends on your application and what you prefer that day. If you record direct often, I would be interested to hear that Mustang through one of the current favorites for Fender modeling, like the UAFX Dream, TC Electronic Combo Deluxe, etc., which might provide a plug-and-play amp/cab/reverb tone without the paralyzing options in other multi-effects units.

Also, when I hear you play, I'm often reminded of this guitarist with a similar light touch and preference for solid-bodies. He plays and records exclusively with champs (both tweed and BF), and I think it records really well:

I only play a telecaster into a champ these days, and while I think direct recording seems easier, it opens me up to endless tinkering, so I might just get one of those hand-held all in one Tascam recorders to avoid gear and technical headaches from mic'ing and recording and getting a good analog-digital-conversion, hoping to get a similar sound like that guitarist.

[Jim Soloway]

Thanks for all the input. I switched guitars, changed the recording methods and changed the mix method and came up with this.

[markesquire]

I much preferred the second version! To me, it sounds warmer and more amp-like. What were the respective recording and mix methods? I suspect that the different guitars accounted for some change, but to me, the amp/recording sound was the biggest difference. Also, no buzz at all in the second recording.

[Jim Soloway]

I much preferred the second version! To me, it sounds warmer and more amp-like. What were the respective recording and mix methods? I suspect that the different guitars accounted for some change, but to me, the amp/recording sound was the biggest difference. Also, no buzz at all in the second recording.

Big difference from the guitars. The Ibanez is a bit brighter, and generates a more complete frequency range. It's also just a quieter instrument. That recording is also a bit brighter just because it was done on Wednesday evening. I know that sounds silly but I have a weekly gig on Fridays so I file my nails on Thursday so they'll be the right length for the gig. By the end of the day Wednesday when I recorded this one, my nails had just reached the point where the nails dominate the mix of nail and flesh and that adds a bit of brightness and adds a bit of a click to the attack.

The Mustang is a very low output guitar so I was recording it with an Art tube preamp. That means it was a line level signal going into the interface. That allows me to record at a moderate input level setting on the interface (A UA Volt 2). The Ibanez was recorded without the preamp, going straight into the interface with the input set to instrument level.

All recording and mixing is done using Reaper as the DAW.

Both guitars go though a two stage process with a recording file and a stereo mastering file.

The EQ for both is done in the recording file. There is a High Pass Filter set to about 150 and a narrow dip at both 380 and 1000. The Ibanez also has a gently sloping high shelf at 1000.

The reverb on the Mustang is added in the mastering file using Tal Reverb 2 and Convology by Impulse to create a room effect. The reverb on the Ibanez is added in the recording file using the same effects.

The "amp" that you're hearing on the Ibanez is TPA-1, a plugin power amp sim VST by Ignite Amps set to the KT88 option followed by the Pulse IR loader running a Fender Deluxe speaker IR by Jay Mitchell. There are no amp plugins on the Mustang, so this is indeed a big difference,

The final step is the Loudmax 64 by Thomas Mundt in the mastering file for both recordings. It is described as "LoudMax is a Look-Ahead Brickwall Loudness Maximizer Plugin with a clean transparent sound. It is designed to retain the original character of the music as much as possible even at high compression levels". The threshold is set to -6 on both recordings.

[Jim Soloway]

I prefer the sound and vibe of the first/Mustang recording. The tones are warmer and has more of a “vintage” sound. The playing is great on both, smooth like butter. I just prefer the darker tones of the first recording.

Thanks. The Mustang has two other advantages. One: it is MUCH more comfortable to play and two: I have had many more hours playing it. It's the guitar that I gig with and I think my touch is better with it as a result. The Ibanez still takes a bit more effort.

[deacon Mark]

It is ok but bit on the highs and chiming sound that I find just a bit off. I want to hear some bottom end that is more bottom end if that make sense. Not critical of the playing just the sound from a full perspective.

[GuyBoden]

I've always thought that you have your own sound, a sparkling sound to my ears, which has been the sound of most of your recording.

In my opinion, as we get older, play the most comfortable guitar you have, this helps enormously.

[nevershouldhavesoldit]

There is a High Pass Filter set to about 150

That explains what I perceive as a midrange bump above slightly recessed bass. You don’t specify the slope on that filter. But even if it’s only 1st order, you’re down 6 dB by 75. This is significant attenuation on your bottom 2 strings.

I’ve been surprised at the suggestions that your tone is bass heavy because I just don’t hear that.

[mr. beaumont]

Through my phone, the Ibanez is much rounder-edged and warmer. The Mustang sounds very bright, but the balance between the strings is better.

[vintagelove]

Thanks for all the input. I switched guitars, changed the recording methods and changed the mix method and came up with this.

That sounds good,