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Author Topic: Q: "THAT" modern guitar sound  (Read 20623 times)

daxliniere

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Q: "THAT" modern guitar sound
« on: May 21, 2008, 10:56:04 PM »

Hey guys,

There is a particular guitar sound that's been very popular for quite a while now.
It's typical with pop-punk/emo/hard rock bands.
One example is the track "The Window" - http://www.purevolume.com/themissioninmotion or http://www.myspace.com/themissioninmotion

In all the recordings I've done, I've never gotten that exact sound which makes me wonder, "Am I doing something 'wrong' or is it just the musician's choice of guitar amp?"

Any suggestions greatly appreciated. Thanks!
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Dax Liniere

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jimmyjazz

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Re: Q: "THAT" modern guitar sound
« Reply #1 on: May 21, 2008, 11:21:25 PM »

You're from Sydney, they're from Sydney.  Why don't you ask them, or their engineer?  

(I have a sneaking suspicion you ARE their engineer.)
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rankus

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Re: Q: "THAT" modern guitar sound
« Reply #2 on: May 22, 2008, 02:54:55 PM »


I would suspect that they are using Mesa amps and Re-Amping several layers for that rhythm gtr. sound... Perhaps re-amping through a few different amps for tonal variety as well.

The style of playing is a lot to do with it as well as the "one finger chords" and "octave chords" the kids are fond of these days.

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daxliniere

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Re: Q: "THAT" modern guitar sound
« Reply #3 on: May 24, 2008, 12:02:29 AM »

Hey Jimmy, good inference, but no, I'm not their engineer.

As for asking, I figured, as a competing business, their engineer is unlikely to give me any tips.

But hey, who knows, I guess I should ask! Smile


Rankus, thanks for your suggestions too. I had Mesa on my mind too, but couldn't seem to find any photos of them playing live, etc.
Not to say that they necessarily owned the amps they used on the recording.
As for musical style/chord choice, good suggestion!
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Dax Liniere

PUZZLE FACTORY
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p: +61 412 599 533
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j.hall

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Re: Q: "THAT" modern guitar sound
« Reply #4 on: May 24, 2008, 04:17:00 PM »

i avoid the mesa rectifier series in the studio.  i prefer old marshalls, fenders, matchless, vox.

then again, i don't work on "modern rock" sounding records.....
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ALLCAPS

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Re: Q: "THAT" modern guitar sound
« Reply #5 on: May 24, 2008, 04:38:24 PM »

what's your general M.O.?

try quad-tracking the rhythm tracks with less gain than you think you need(I am assuming you don't). Make sure you can still hear the pick hitting the strings.

I like 5150's, triple xxx's and marshalls (usually a combo of those), through a mesa oversized for "that sound". I hate the flab on the low end of the recto's, though you can reduce the "woof" with a multiband compressor at mixdown.
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Firefly

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Re: Q: "THAT" modern guitar sound
« Reply #6 on: May 24, 2008, 04:45:33 PM »

I would be over happy if someone could give a definitive answer to this question!

This is kinda one of my personal holy grails. Anyway, my best approximation so far is a humbucker GTR into MESA or MESA/Marshall (or amp sims as the case might be) with a scooped eq setting (Moderate bass depending on rhythm or lead, hardly any mids and lots of tops. Also bucketloads of gain if not using a high gain amp like a mesa) and lots of layering/doubling. I feel like i'm getting close but never really get the cigar. I don't know if its down to my equipment - using pretty decent sims and modelling amplifiers but well they're still sims - or if i don't have the layering right or something.
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daxliniere

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Re: Q: "THAT" modern guitar sound
« Reply #7 on: May 24, 2008, 08:38:20 PM »

Hi Firefly,
I posted my question here too and got some good responses.
You might like to check that out:
http://www.3daudioinc.com/3db/showthread.php?t=13915

@Damage,
"If quad-tracking, lower the gain" - I love it! Great idea, I will DEFINITELY be trying that on my next session of "THAT" ilk. Smile
*hi-5!*
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Dax Liniere

PUZZLE FACTORY
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p: +61 412 599 533
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j.hall

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Re: Q: "THAT" modern guitar sound
« Reply #8 on: May 24, 2008, 09:32:10 PM »

lower gain in the studio is a must.  don't mistake that for hardly any gain.  i just find myself turning the gain knob down till the tone cleans up, then going halfway back (as a rule of thumb, it differs all the time)


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ALLCAPS

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Re: Q: "THAT" modern guitar sound
« Reply #9 on: May 24, 2008, 10:18:17 PM »

I'd never run a rectos gain past noon unless it was for solos.
Also I forgot, get that cab pumping. You want it LOUD
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grantis

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Re: Q: "THAT" modern guitar sound
« Reply #10 on: May 25, 2008, 12:21:52 PM »

I think a big part of achieving super "modern" or "gainy-sounding" guitars is getting the most gain possible while maintaining attack and pick noise.  

If you gain up the amp with a bunch of preamp gain, the result is completely choked-off attack and really ratty high end.  I know this was already posted, but I'll reiterate it...you want it LOUD.  This is specifically to gain up the power section of the amp, (not the preamp section), and to make the cab work like it was designed to.

I wouldn't limit yourself to a specific brand-name.  I've used Mesa's for really cool clean and semi-gritty "non-modern" sounding guitars and Vox's for really cool gainy "modern" sounds.  If the shoe fits.........
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scottoliphant

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Re: Q: "THAT" modern guitar sound
« Reply #11 on: May 26, 2008, 05:25:33 PM »

surely, the guitar may play a role in the tone as well. maybe not if it's all amp sim'd or whatever the folks recording this stuff are doing these days.

ALLCAPS

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Re: Q: "THAT" modern guitar sound
« Reply #12 on: May 26, 2008, 05:56:48 PM »

scottoliphant wrote on Mon, 26 May 2008 16:25

surely, the guitar may play a role in the tone as well. maybe not if it's all amp sim'd or whatever the folks recording this stuff are doing these days.


absolutely, Les Pauls or a good LP copy (PRS)

everybody here has to play my old goldtop or go home, unless they have something meatier,which rarely happens.
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ALLCAPS

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Re: Q: "THAT" modern guitar sound
« Reply #13 on: May 26, 2008, 06:02:02 PM »

Just like that sweet one in the middle, nice place Scott.
http://www.ohmrecordingfacility.com/wp-content/gallery/guitars/small-042.jpg
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Chris Ilett

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Re: Q: "THAT" modern guitar sound
« Reply #14 on: May 26, 2008, 06:36:10 PM »

I've yet to find a guitar meatier than my custom, but course it could happen.

No, actually it couldn't!  Although put that through a fender cybertwin (ugh) and it sounds the same as an encore.
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