Good Acoustic Guitar Recording References

[Doug]

I'd like to educate my ears by listening critically to what is
considered very well recorded/mixed acoustic guitar - preferably
fingerstyle steel string. I am in the process of trying to become
proficient at home recording my guitar and I think I'm getting there
but I'd like to compare my mixes to what others feel are exceptional
recordings.

I apologize if this has been posted before - I searched but couldn't
find relevant threads.

thanks,
Doug

[Paul Stamler]

"Doug" > wrote in message
oups.com...
> I'd like to educate my ears by listening critically to what is
> considered very well recorded/mixed acoustic guitar - preferably
> fingerstyle steel string. I am in the process of trying to become
> proficient at home recording my guitar and I think I'm getting there
> but I'd like to compare my mixes to what others feel are exceptional
> recordings.

Try listening to recordings by John Renbourn ("The Lady and the Unicorn")
and Joel Mabus ("Flatpick and Clawhammer" or any of his guitar-instrumental
recordings). Renbourn's recordings are on Shanachie; Mabus's on his own
Fossil label.

Peace,
Paul

[Fletch]

On Feb 1, 11:46 am, "Doug" > wrote:
> I'd like to educate my ears by listening critically to what is
> considered very well recorded/mixed acoustic guitar - preferably
> fingerstyle steel string. I am in the process of trying to become
> proficient at home recording my guitar and I think I'm getting there
> but I'd like to compare my mixes to what others feel are exceptional
> recordings.
>
> I apologize if this has been posted before - I searched but couldn't
> find relevant threads.
>
> thanks,
> Doug


"6 & 12 String Guitar" by Leo Kottke is a good one.

Early Cat Stevens has a pretty pronounced sound for acoustics, but
still sounds great.

John Fahey, some good stuff from the '70's early '80's.

--Fletch

[Richard Kuschel]

On Feb 1, 12:46 pm, "Doug" > wrote:
> I'd like to educate my ears by listening critically to what is
> considered very well recorded/mixed acoustic guitar - preferably
> fingerstyle steel string. I am in the process of trying to become
> proficient at home recording my guitar and I think I'm getting there
> but I'd like to compare my mixes to what others feel are exceptional
> recordings.
>
> I apologize if this has been posted before - I searched but couldn't
> find relevant threads.
>
> thanks,
> Doug

Tone Poems by
David Grisman and Tony Rice Is a very well recorded and clean
representation of many acoustic guitars and mandolins.

Recording was close miked using Neumann KM85 for low end on guitar,
U89 for high end and a pair of KM84's for mandolin,mixed through an
MCI jh416 console and recorded directly to a fostex E22 at 30 IPS.
The only addition to the sound was from Lexicon processing (Reverb )
No EQ, compression or other tonal enhancement.

[Julian]

On 1 Feb 2007 11:46:59 -0800, "Doug" > wrote:

>I'd like to educate my ears by listening critically to what is
>considered very well recorded/mixed acoustic guitar - preferably
>fingerstyle steel string.

Rick Ruskin who sometimes posts here knows how record acoustic guitar
pretty darn well although he's probably too modest to reply to you as
such.

http://liondogmusic.com/

Julian

[Fran Guidry]

On Feb 1, 11:46 am, "Doug" > wrote:
> I'd like to educate my ears by listening critically to what is
> considered very well recorded/mixed acoustic guitar - preferably
> fingerstyle steel string. I am in the process of trying to become
> proficient at home recording my guitar and I think I'm getting there
> but I'd like to compare my mixes to what others feel are exceptional
> recordings.
>
> I apologize if this has been posted before - I searched but couldn't
> find relevant threads.
>
> thanks,
> Doug

As a home recording nut who has felt his Guitar Acquisition Syndrome
shift painfully to Microphone Acquisition Syndrome, let me warn you of
the perils of home recording. There are hundreds of desperately
appealing microphones, preamps, a/d converters, external sound
processors, plugins, monitor speakers, even stands, shock mounts, room
treatments, chairs, and tables to lust over. It can be a very
dangerous path to travel. If you look around, you'll see that there
are lots of really inexpensive studios in almost every nook and cranny
these days, loaded with amazing equipment. It's kind of cruel, but you
can take advantage of someone else's addiction instead of succumbing
to your own.

OK, you're going to ignore my warning, I would do the same thing. Let
me address your question - the problem is that it's totally
subjective. I mean, it's art, after all. So there is no standard, as
far as I know. Michael Hedges used tons of processing. David Grisman
uses almost none. Many great recordings are drenched in reverb, many
others are dry as the desert. Rather than ask our ideas of well mixed
recordings, you are stuck with following your own reactions. Pick out
a couple of examples that move you, that convey emotion that resonates
with you, and chase that sound.

Oh, yeah, and budget plenty for room treatment. Google for Ethan
Winer.

Fran
http://www.kaleponi.com
Home recording blog at http://www.fxguidry.com/pblog

[[email protected]]

On Feb 2, 12:10 am, Julian > wrote:
> On 1 Feb 2007 11:46:59 -0800, "Doug" > wrote:
>
> >I'd like to educate my ears by listening critically to what is
> >considered very well recorded/mixed acoustic guitar - preferably
> >fingerstyle steel string.
>
> Rick Ruskin who sometimes posts here knows how record acoustic guitar
> pretty darn well although he's probably too modest to reply to you as
> such.
>
> http://liondogmusic.com/
>
> Julian

I'll second the recommendations for Rick Ruskin's recordings. An
example of both great recordings and great playing. Everyone should
have at least one of his albums in their reference collection.

bobs

Bob Smith
BS Studios
we organize chaos
http://www.bsstudios.com

[Doug]

On Feb 2, 12:47 pm, "Fran Guidry" > wrote:
> On Feb 1, 11:46 am, "Doug" > wrote:
>
> > I'd like to educate my ears by listening critically to what is
> > considered very well recorded/mixed acoustic guitar - preferably
> > fingerstyle steel string. I am in the process of trying to become
> > proficient at home recording my guitar and I think I'm getting there
> > but I'd like to compare my mixes to what others feel are exceptional
> > recordings.
>
> > I apologize if this has been posted before - I searched but couldn't
> > find relevant threads.
>
> > thanks,
> > Doug
>
> As a home recording nut who has felt his Guitar Acquisition Syndrome
> shift painfully to Microphone Acquisition Syndrome, let me warn you of
> the perils of home recording. There are hundreds of desperately
> appealing microphones, preamps, a/d converters, external sound
> processors, plugins, monitor speakers, even stands, shock mounts, room
> treatments, chairs, and tables to lust over. It can be a very
> dangerous path to travel. If you look around, you'll see that there
> are lots of really inexpensive studios in almost every nook and cranny
> these days, loaded with amazing equipment. It's kind of cruel, but you
> can take advantage of someone else's addiction instead of succumbing
> to your own.
>
> OK, you're going to ignore my warning, I would do the same thing. Let
> me address your question - the problem is that it's totally
> subjective. I mean, it's art, after all. So there is no standard, as
> far as I know. Michael Hedges used tons of processing. David Grisman
> uses almost none. Many great recordings are drenched in reverb, many
> others are dry as the desert. Rather than ask our ideas of well mixed
> recordings, you are stuck with following your own reactions. Pick out
> a couple of examples that move you, that convey emotion that resonates
> with you, and chase that sound.
>
> Oh, yeah, and budget plenty for room treatment. Google for Ethan
> Winer.
>
> Franhttp://www.kaleponi.com
> Home recording blog athttp://www.fxguidry.com/pblog

I hear you. I'm on the brink but I'm not going to fall in. I
swear...
Well, I'll stop when I get the matched pair of Josephsons. Oh yeah
and the RNP. And maybe the RNC to go along with it. And I don't have
near field monitors yet. But when I get that stuff, that'll be it - I
mean it.
Actually - that was a good post and a wake up call. The stuff that I
have (a Yamaha GO46, a LineAudio CM3 and a AT3035) is prolly good
enough for the limits of my guitar playing talent.

[Doug]

On Feb 2, 1:22 pm, wrote:
> On Feb 2, 12:10 am, Julian > wrote:
>
> > On 1 Feb 2007 11:46:59 -0800, "Doug" > wrote:
>
> > >I'd like to educate my ears by listening critically to what is
> > >considered very well recorded/mixed acoustic guitar - preferably
> > >fingerstyle steel string.
>
> > Rick Ruskin who sometimes posts here knows how record acoustic guitar
> > pretty darn well although he's probably too modest to reply to you as
> > such.
>
> >http://liondogmusic.com/
>
> > Julian
>
> I'll second the recommendations for Rick Ruskin's recordings. An
> example of both great recordings and great playing. Everyone should
> have at least one of his albums in their reference collection.
>
> bobs
>
> Bob Smith
> BS Studios
> we organize chaoshttp://www.bsstudios.com

Have to agree - just bought "In the Beginning" from iTunes -
excellent!
"Ode to Billy's Hoe" is an awesome song. Great name too.
thanks for the suggestions.

[Gerry]

On Feb 2, 6:46 am, "Doug" > wrote:
> I'd like to educate my ears by listening critically to what is
> considered very well recorded/mixed acoustic guitar - preferably
> fingerstyle steel string. I am in the process of trying to become
> proficient at home recording my guitar and I think I'm getting there
> but I'd like to compare my mixes to what others feel are exceptional
> recordings.
>
> I apologize if this has been posted before - I searched but couldn't
> find relevant threads.
>
> thanks,
> Doug


I consider Todd Hallawell's Before My Time as one of the benchmarks.
More information at http://www.toddhallawell.com/bmt.htm

[Ty Ford]

On Fri, 2 Feb 2007 13:22:33 -0500, wrote
(in article . com>

There's an MP3 called "Look Ma, I'm Flyin'" on my site

http://tinyurl.com/ykye4x

See if that floats you boat.

Regards,

Ty



--Audio Equipment Reviews Audio Production Services
Acting and Voiceover Demos http://www.tyford.com
Guitar player?:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4RZJ9MptZmU

[Doug]

On Feb 3, 9:26 am, Ty Ford > wrote:
> On Fri, 2 Feb 2007 13:22:33 -0500, wrote
> (in article . com>
>
> There's an MP3 called "Look Ma, I'm Flyin'" on my site
>
> http://tinyurl.com/ykye4x
>
> See if that floats you boat.
>
> Regards,
>
> Ty
>
> --Audio Equipment Reviews Audio Production Services
> Acting and Voiceover Demoshttp://www.tyford.com
> Guitar player?:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4RZJ9MptZmU

Beautiful piece of music, Ty - very nicely recorded. Now there's a
reference piece.

[Julian]

On 2 Feb 2007 13:24:24 -0800, "Doug" > wrote:

>> On Feb 2, 12:10 am, Julian > wrote:
>> > Rick Ruskin who sometimes posts here knows how record acoustic guitar
>> > pretty darn well although he's probably too modest to reply to you as
>> > such.
>>
>> >http://liondogmusic.com/
>>
>> > Julian
>Have to agree - just bought "In the Beginning" from iTunes -
>excellent!
>"Ode to Billy's Hoe" is an awesome song. Great name too.
>thanks for the suggestions.

Don't forget to follow up John Renbourn too as Paul suggested. Some
very nicely recorded stuff there.

John Fahey has been recommended too and his playing is certainly a
keystone but some of the early recordings weren't note worthy for
audio quality. His album "America" was especially well recorded IMO
however.

Julian

[[email protected]]

> I'd like to educate my ears by listening critically to what is
> considered very well recorded/mixed acoustic guitar - preferably
> fingerstyle steel string. I am in the process of trying

Rhichard Thompson "You? Me? Us? (nude)

[Doug]

On Feb 1, 2:46 pm, "Doug" > wrote:
> I'd like to educate my ears by listening critically to what is
> considered very well recorded/mixed acoustic guitar - preferably
> fingerstyle steel string. I am in the process of trying to become
> proficient at home recording my guitar and I think I'm getting there
> but I'd like to compare my mixes to what others feel are exceptional
> recordings.
>
> I apologize if this has been posted before - I searched but couldn't
> find relevant threads.
>
> thanks,
> Doug

I want to thank everyone who responded - I have been sampling most of
the guitarists that have been mentioned. A great by-product of the
thread is learning about guitarists I hadn't known. I've got lots to
learn but what Frans says rings true "Pick out a couple of examples
that move you, that convey emotion that resonates with you, and chase
that sound. "

Oh - and lots of bass traps for the room...

-DOug

[[email protected]]

Not new and not finger-style, but I love the sound Bill Wolf got on
Tony Rice's guitar on all the old David Grisman stuff and the early
Tony Rice albums. In more recent years (and mostly finger-picked)
I've loved the sound Tommy Emmanuel gets on his "Only", "Endless Road"
and "The Mystery" albums. I just heard an album w/ Lawrence Juber and
someone eolse that also has stellar acoustic guitar sounds.


On Feb 1, 2:46 pm, "Doug" > wrote:
> I'd like to educate my ears by listening critically to what is
> considered very well recorded/mixed acoustic guitar - preferably
> fingerstyle steel string. I am in the process of trying to become
> proficient at home recording my guitar and I think I'm getting there
> but I'd like to compare my mixes to what others feel are exceptional
> recordings.
>
> I apologize if this has been posted before - I searched but couldn't
> find relevant threads.
>
> thanks,
> Doug

[[email protected]]

On Feb 3, 6:26 am, Ty Ford > wrote:
> On Fri, 2 Feb 2007 13:22:33 -0500, wrote
> (in article . com>
>
> There's an MP3 called "Look Ma, I'm Flyin'" on my site
>
> http://tinyurl.com/ykye4x
>
> See if that floats you boat.
>
> Regards,
>
> Ty
>
> --Audio Equipment Reviews Audio Production Services
> Acting and Voiceover Demoshttp://www.tyford.com
> Guitar player?:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4RZJ9MptZmU

Very nice, Ty. The emotion has been captured well. As far as I'm
concerned, that's what it's all about.

bobs

Bob Smith
BS Studios
we organize chaos
http://www.bsstudios.com