Double-tracking CLEAN electric guitar questions

[jgro002]

Hi there,

 

I'm recording some mellow, half-time rock songs, all based around clean picked guitar.

 

The songs are very stripped back so I'm thinking I want to double-track the main parts and then pan them left and right.

 

My main question is this: If I've got a clean guitar panned left and a clean guitar panned right playing EXACTLY the same part is it best if they have the exact same sound (same guitar into same amp + same effects), or should I vary the tone between the two guitars?

 

It seems like it might be best to vary the tone, but then I think if I start changing effects chains between the two guitars or using a different amp etc that one of the guitars may end up sounding more dominant and therefore make the mix sound unbalanced.

 

Any input is much appreciated.

 

Cheers,

Jeremy.

[Chimpotle]

LIke most things, its a matter of taste. An easy way to experiment is record the one track with your chosen amp, then bounce the audio to a new track and experiment with other amps till you find one you feels compliments the first. If you want the two tracks playing the exact same part, you can leave it at that. For me, i prefer to do two takes - i like the variations in dynamics and timing. I feel it makes a more lush image.

 

I'm assuming here that you're using amp modeling from logic or likewise. If so, the above shouldn't take much time at all. If you're using an actual amp, the above wouldnt really apply. You could also you different guitars, or different pick-up and tone settings on the guitar.

[jgro002]

Hi Chimpotle,

 

Thanks for the reply.

 

I have access to a good selection of amps as well as modelers, so I can use either.

 

In my experimenting with different tones, I've found that I am LOVING the sound of the Roland JC-120 for the main parts in these tracks. Overall I think the JC-120 is a bit 'sterile' for my tastes...but...once you kick in the stereo chorus I just love the sound. I think it could be hard to find another tone to compliment the JC-120 tho because it's just sooo clean.

 

But I think I need to do some experimenting as you say.

 

Does anyone else have any tried and true methods that they could share?

 

Cheers,

Jeremy.

[Chimpotle]

Yep - jc120's are about as clean as you can get. Its solid state, so you may want to consider using another solid state amp. If you have a fender or vox solid state amp available, you could try that. If not, the fender twin has a great clean channel, but you will get tube "coloring".

 

You said you want to double track, so maybe try different mics or mic positions in relation to the cone if you are finding yourself set on the jazz chorus.

 

And of course, if you are laying the part twice, you may get enough natural variation in the performances to make itsound really lively.

 

One question though - are you planning to employ the stereo chorus on each track (assuming you track 2 JC's? If so, that may really be over kill, since the double tracking of the same part effectively creates a stereo chorus. to which i was suggest micing each cone on the JC and capturing a stereo image that way.

 

Hope there is something of use in there

 

At any rate, the holidays are wrapping up so im sure you'll get some more responses to your question on international hangover day/

[jgro002]

Hi Chimpotle,

 

Yeah it really is the stereo chorus that 'makes the sound' of the JC-120 for me so I'd definitely be aiming to capture that. So in your post above are you suggesting just a single guitar played through the JC-120 (not double-tracked) but miced in stereo?

 

I do have access to a vintage Fender twin as well - that definitely is a nice amp so I might have more of a play around with that as an alternative.

 

Since making the first post, I have come to the conclusion that using the same amp left and right and just changing things slightly (such as using different mics or moving mics slightly as you suggest) will produce a better sound than having two different amps left and right.

 

Cheers

Jeremy.

[jgro002]

Ok,

 

I've 'found' one good tone (actually stolen from The Police as reported by Stewart Copeland in an interview I stumbled across):

 

Record one guitar thru the JC-120 (with the chorus) and miced with one mic on each speaker, panned hard left and right. Then play another take thru the same amp, but this time reverse the panning of the mics. Doing two takes like this and then reversing the panning means you end up with an unaffected and a chorused signal both left and right.

 

I just did a mock-up of it in Amplitube and it sounds very rich. Of course it might be too '80s' for some, but I'm digging it

 

Thanks for your suggestions Chimpotle, much appreciated. Time to go celebrate New Years now!

 

Cheers,

Jeremy.

[Chimpotle]

I had an inkling you were looking for a police sound. Glad you found something you like.

 

And by the by, the 80's is slathered all over all kinds of music these days. I was wondering why my ears kept pricking up everytime i hear 80's tunes these days (ABC, The Fixx, , the Pretenders, you name it). Then it dawns on me - i'm hearing cheap knock offs daily. And the original stuff is just so well recorded. It really shows when contrasted with the current crapola.