I'm a guitar tone chaser by nature.  I've been searching for my "holy grail" guitar tone for many years.  My live tone is now very close to what I hear in my "minds ear."  I'm happy with my live tone.  Now, the trick is to get that tone recorded.
 
I've got a half way decent collection of mics that I can use to record my tone.
 
Mics:  2 SM57's
Senn e609
Senn e906
Senn 421
Heil PR30
Royer 121 ribbon
Senn 421.
 
I've tried every imaginable combination of the above mics.  I've gotten the best results by using a Senn 421 on one speaker of my 4x12 cab and a SM57 on another speaker in the same cab.  The mics are positioned identically about an inch and a half away from the grill and aimed directly at the point where the dust cap meets the speaker cone.
 
I generally like the recorded tone I'm getting, however, I struggle to get a good thick mid-mid tone.  There's plenty of bass (I use a hi-pass at 85) and there's plenty of highs.  There just doesn't seem to be enough of the mid "vocal" frequencies.  It's almost as if I've scooped out the mids at the amp, but, that's not the case.  I have plenty of mids coming from the live rig...it sounds great in the room.  I just can't seem to get that great sound on "tape."
 
Of course, I've moved the mics all around and have tried countless different positions...close, but no cigar.
 
Any tips would be greatly appreciated.

This months SOS contains an interview with the guy who recorded the latest Van Halen album - check it out, there's some good tips in there.

i use a palmer pdi-09.

i've posted a bunch about it in the past, a quick search should work....

i've been micing tube amps and cabinets since about 1978

amiller


I'm a guitar tone chaser by nature.  I've been searching for my "holy grail" guitar tone for many years.  My live tone is now very close to what I hear in my "minds ear."  I'm happy with my live tone.  Now, the trick is to get that tone recorded.
       

That sums it up nicely. It took you years to nail down that tone..... now it will take you some time experimenting with mics, positions, distances, and all sorts of neat things to get that sound into the DAW like you hear it in your minds ear. 




I don't think anyone is every really happy with their recorded sound....I know I'm not..... but we can get pretty good results with some effort. 

batsbrew


i use a palmer pdi-09.

i've posted a bunch about it in the past, a quick search should work....

i've been micing tube amps and cabinets since about 1978

First...thanks so much for your input.
 
My current recorded tone is just "OK," but it sounds much better than the attempts I've made with my pdi-09.  The thing is, I've come along way toward getting "my" tone and getting it recorded...BUT...it just isn't there yet.  For me, the pdi-09 is a step in the wrong direction.
 
Again, thanks for the input.

Bristol_Jonesey


This months SOS contains an interview with the guy who recorded the latest Van Halen album - check it out, there's some good tips in there.

Cool...I'll check it out, although, I've heard Ed sound better in the past.  Of course, the tone on the new CD could be exactly what he wanted.  If that's the case then the recordist/engineer did his job.  Either way, I'm always open for new ideas and I'll give it a read.

amiller-

what is your rig?

and

what kind of tone are you looking for?

examples?
clips?

batsbrew


amiller-

what is your rig?

and

what kind of tone are you looking for?

examples?
clips?

 
My current recording rig and recording signal path is as follows: LP -> Suhr Koko Boost ->  MESA Lonestar -> Marshall 4x12 cab loaded with two Greenbacks and two Alnico Golds -> SM57 and Senn 421 on the Golds (of course) -> MOTU MKII -> Sonar.
 
BUT...let's not get side tracked here.  I really like the live sound that I'm getting.  My rig sounds great to me live.  It's the recorded tone that's lacking a bit.

yep.
my guess is, you base your 'sound' on how it arrives in your ear in a good sounding room.

question:

if you get down on your knees, right in front of your cabinet, and put your ear about a foot away from the speaker, is that your sound?

because that's what the mic is hearing.

Putting a close microphone near the centre of the speaker ie dust cap meeting cone will always produce a different sound compared to putting mic right near edge of speaker cone ie where cone and surrounding edge suspension meet. Also try angling the mic looking down the slope of the cone as well.

The sound is always a little harder (mids) and more brittle dead centre as compared to the edge sound which can be a bit warmer and fatter. Try it and see. Also the tip of the flame for a guitar sound is not necessarily right at the speaker at all but some distance out front of the cab. If it's the only part you are recording at the time you have the luxury of experimenting with that and the best sound may be out front. Try different distances from cab to see what you get also.