Best Way To Test Your Tone?

[pjrake]

so i was at the studio last night and we usually practice standing, but was a bit tire so decided to sit down. as i'm sitting next to my cab (4x12 MESA standard), i noticed that the sound (or tone) was a bit harsh, and it was really bothering me!

however, when i stood up, it sounded fine.

my question is, what's the best way to tweak your sound in the studio: standing kinda away from the amp, or sitting down next to the cab? don't know why, but this got me a bit worried. i figured since the cabs are mostly mic'd during gigs, the sound of the amp is probably the same as me sitting next to it?

am i freakin out? LOL

-PJ

 

[LTE]

I always have my combo on the ground, and when playing, I'm always standing. It should be different sounding, especially when standing right in front of the speaker. It will have a lot more treble, harshness and less low end.

I tweak my settings so that it sounds the best when im standing around the amp, not right in front of it.

 

[Heritage Softail]

Great songs on your site. Consitently good tone. FWIW, I would not get wrapped around the axle on worrying about your tone tweaking. It sounds good, varies a bit with technique, has a unified feel across the tracks while the songs still sound different enough to be fresh. Nicely done.

You guys ever get comparisons with Lacuna Coil? Some slight similarities. Worth a listen if you have not.

 

[pjrake]

It should be different sounding, especially when standing right in front of the speaker. It will have a lot more treble, harshness and less low end. I tweak my settings so that it sounds the best when im standing around the amp, not right in front of it.

thanks! good to hear LOL

-PJ

 

[pjrake]

Great songs on your site. Consitently good tone. FWIW, I would not get wrapped around the axle on worrying about your tone tweaking. It sounds good, varies a bit with technique, has a unified feel across the tracks while the songs still sound different enough to be fresh. Nicely done.

You guys ever get comparisons with Lacuna Coil? Some slight similarities. Worth a listen if you have not.

Thanks!

we basically get all the female fronted rock band comparisons, from Evanescence, to Lacuna Coil. We even got compared to No Doubt once :shock:

-PJ

 

[tonefreak25]

Actually you guys reminded me of an up to date Baby Animals!! But very original, and I really dig your stuff and your tone sounds really good. But being guitarists we are always doing the ...."would it be even better if" game. New fan for sure.

Great songs on your site. Consitently good tone. FWIW, I would not get wrapped around the axle on worrying about your tone tweaking. It sounds good, varies a bit with technique, has a unified feel across the tracks while the songs still sound different enough to be fresh. Nicely done.

You guys ever get comparisons with Lacuna Coil? Some slight similarities. Worth a listen if you have not.

Thanks!

we basically get all the female fronted rock band comparisons, from Evanescence, to Lacuna Coil. We even got compared to No Doubt once :shock:

-PJ

 

[gonzo]

BEAM BLOCKERS

 

[pjrake]

Actually you guys reminded me of an up to date Baby Animals!!

that's a first, but i'll take it! great singer. thanks for the props!

-PJ

 

[pjrake]

BEAM BLOCKERS

:lol:

i thought it was a band at first and checked out YouTube, until i saw what it was.

interesting concept; one that would benefit me i'm sure. the question now is, is it something i wanna mess around with my cab?

-PJ

 

[espexp]

Instead of beam blockers I used a piece of clear lexan from Home Depot and velcroed it to the outside of my speaker grill. I used a 6" hole saw and centered it on the speaker. I did this to both of my 1 x 12 cabs and love the results. No more ice picky highs, it really smooths it out even when sitting in front of the speaker.

 

[Heritage Softail]

Instead of beam blockers I used a piece of clear lexan from Home Depot and velcroed it to the outside of my speaker grill. I used a 6" hole saw and centered it on the speaker. I did this to both of my 1 x 12 cabs and love the results. No more ice picky highs, it really smooths it out even when sitting in front of the speaker.

Interesting idea. I have tweed/creme colored grille cloth. I could get that reddish pink glass poly. Two big pink dots on the front of the two 12" speaker rings.... It would look like nipples...

Finally sighted, the most rare amp... A Mesa ****ie :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[tonefreak25]

Instead of beam blockers I used a piece of clear lexan from Home Depot and velcroed it to the outside of my speaker grill. I used a 6" hole saw and centered it on the speaker. I did this to both of my 1 x 12 cabs and love the results. No more ice picky highs, it really smooths it out even when sitting in front of the speaker.

Interesting idea. I have tweed/creme colored grille cloth. I could get that reddish pink glass poly. Two big pink dots on the front of the two 12" speaker rings.... It would look like nipples...

Finally sighted, the most rare amp... A Mesa ****ie :lol: :lol: :lol:

Nice one!!(or nice pair??) LOL. :lol:

 

[espexp]

That's funny stuff! But it really does work.

 

[pjrake]

was back at the studio and decided to stand kinda far apart from the amp, and the farther i got from the cab, the harsher it sounded. however, the closer i got, the better it sounded (standing up of course!).

anyway, i'm thinking about those beam blockers and found this online:

http://accessories.musiciansfriend.com/product/Weber-Speakers-Beam-Blocker-High-Frequency-Diffuser-?sku=660007

the only thing i'm a bit scared of is messing around with my MESA cab. i have the rectifier standard slant 4x12.

my question is, has anyone done this before, and was it easy? also, when recording, or micing the amp on stage, does it affect the placements of the mic?

-PJ

 

[RectoStudioGuy]

I've always been a fan of elevating the cab a bit and then standing a bit off. But of course it truly depends on how you're recording and what your desired sound is. And yes those bean blockers really help break up some of the brittle highs that pop in every now and again.

 

[espexp]

If you want to see how they work without messing with your cab just cut some 6" round cardboard and tape them to the speaker grille. Beam blockers are made of heavy paper (like speaker cones) and are just deflecting the highs to disperse them like the lows and mids. Any solid material will do the same thing. That's why I used lexan.

 

[gonzo]

the material used in the beam blockers actually absorb some of the sound, not only deflect it.

 

[espexp]

All solid objects reflect and absorb sound waves. Rough surfaces like acoustical ceiling panels absorb more while smooth surfaces like glass reflect more.

 

[Markedman]

You really should get the cabinet off the ground, your knees and ankles can only hear so much. At least tilt the speaker towards your head a little. A 4 X 12 speaker cabinet won't sound the same at 5' as it does at 20', so when you mic it up close you need to determine which speaker sounds the best and mic that one.