Here's my dilemma

leche · #1 09-05-2011, 12:42 AM

So in a couple of weeks we are going in to get recorded, and were going to be dropping some money on it. The problem is one of our guitarists amps is terrible, one of the $300 Marshall half stack deals or something like that. solid state, always making terrible noises, never eq'd right. But he also plays a les paul custom (that's not the problem, but i feel like thats a cardinal sin in guitar world) There's not really a knowledge of how to get good guitar tones it seems, i feel like i'm the only one that realizes that mid scoop doesn't make his guitar sound heavy, just bad.

Anyway, I guess the short of it is, how do I go by telling him that he can't use the amp he has for the recording? I have an amp he can use, but then i feel like i just look like i want him to use my gear, or i'm telling him my gear is cooler etc... Especially coming from the bass player 'who doesn't even play guitar.' How can I do this without being a jerk?

Jazz Ad · #2 09-05-2011, 12:46 AM

Telling a guitarist you don't like his tone? That's hard.
It's about as easy as telling him that his wife is ugly, but you don't have to sleep with his wife so you don't have to.

ModulusQ5-122 · #3 09-05-2011, 12:52 AM

I dont have a problem telling my guitarist that I dont like his sound in the studio. I have done it plenty of times before. If you want a good sounding project you all have to be honest with each other. He uses very high end boutique amps, pedals and guitars but if it doesnt work for the song or project, it just doesnt work, simple as that. Good luck breaking the news to him.

leche · #4 09-05-2011, 12:59 AM

No easy way around it? That's what I figured. At least i have the backing of the band for this.

jay tay · #5 09-05-2011, 01:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leche

I have an amp he can use, but then i feel like i just look like i want him to use my gear, or i'm telling him my gear is cooler etc... Especially coming from the bass player 'who doesn't even play guitar.' How can I do this without being a jerk?

In my opinion, You clearly are telling him these things, from your other comments about his gear you clearly don't like it, and prefer your own equipment.

You need to talk to the rest of the band. If they are onside, and also have a problem with the guys tone, then you have a good standing for a tone "intervention".

However if no one else has a problem with it, the the chances are your the one with he problem...

I once had a similar problem with a guitarists sound, one day while out drinking with the drummer, he raised the issue, when I agreed, We phoned up the other band members, and all (well apart from the singer, but he came onside as he could see everyone else had a problem) agreed that we needed a quiet word, with the guitarist.

Next band meeting, the drummer subtly (well as subtle as a drummer can be) mentioned the problem, we all chipped in with suggestions, and the solution was everyone changing their EQ settings, as a way of compromise, and general band democracy.

fingerbun · #6 09-05-2011, 01:26 AM

Do you have a producer for the recording? If so it's their job to share the good news.

walterw · #7 09-05-2011, 02:03 AM

maybe insist on (or sneak in without guitard knowing) a dry direct guitar track at the same time, so it can be later reamped through a good guitar amp.

NOT · #8 09-05-2011, 02:07 AM

Mess with his eq settings when he is not paying attention.

whorockserock · #9 09-05-2011, 06:43 AM

Honesty is always the best policy. You and your bandmates can get together and discuss the situation with him and see what he thinks about it. Make sure to establish what kind of sound the band as a whole is looking for. There are ways of saying things in a positive way and not being a jerk. i.e. My guitardist comes up with new riffs all the time, when the drummer and I don't particularly like one, we will say "The riff is good, but we know you are capable of writing something better than that, how about trying this?" and it always works out. WalterW had a good suggestion also, recording a dry guitar track the effects could be played with later on, my only worry there is producing your recorded sound live. I think it's important you discuss this before you spend the money to record, you don't want to have any regrets later on. Sorry for the novel. Good luck.

matt descending · #10 09-05-2011, 12:31 PM

Tell him that big amps are for the stage and that little amps are for the studio. Also, get a direct out so you can do cool stuff in the mix. Then just use the direct and model an old fender combo.

funkinbottom · #11 09-05-2011, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by walterw

maybe insist on (or sneak in without guitard knowing) a dry direct guitar track at the same time, so it can be later reamped through a good guitar amp.

Definitely this. Taking a clean direct signal for future tweaking/re-amp/modeling is the best rout. When we record, we always get a dry direct signal as well as close mic gtr amps. Sometimes down the road in mixing you realize the guitar tone (or any inst. tone) just isn't working, so it's nice to have that clean direct signal to work with. Of course we always take bass and keys direct. Have the engineer say he want's the clean tone for effects later on. Also, have your guitarist with good tone take a direct signal so bad tone guitarist doesn't feel singled out.

**colcifer** · #12 09-05-2011, 12:51 PM

Step one: Record direct, telling him you'll use his amp later.

Step two: Reamp with a silverface Princeton and an off axis 57 (if available).

Step three: Enjoy your awesome guitar sound while the guitard enjoys his ignorance.

Munjibunga · #13 09-06-2011, 01:19 AM

Track him both through his miked amp and direct to the board. Then post-process the direcct track for any amp and effects you want, and discard the live track.

Sorta like above, but slightly more devious.

Sartori · #14 09-06-2011, 03:43 AM

What's so bad about using a Les Paul Custom?

Stilettoprefer · #15 09-06-2011, 10:22 AM

Les Paul customs are good guitars.... Well good as les Pauls can get I guess haha (tele guy here). The rhythm guitarist in my band uses one and it sounds great through his marshal 4X10 cab and off brand tube head. The other guitarist uses a les Paul knockoff and a cheap amp and sounds good if I mess with his EQ before he shows up to practice.

Muttleybass · #16 09-06-2011, 10:37 AM

I would probably start off by asking him how he feels about his sound. When he asks why, I would say something like, "Well, I'm just not sure it's as good as it could be."

Don't attack him, but I think getting it out in the open is the best thing. I think you should do it with the rest of the band there and get their take on it. If everyone else feels his tone is fine, then you might have to suck it up.