The two most valuable tools in any pro recording persons tool
box...His ears!

I've done that a lot. The results we "Sounds like crap." "Sounds like
crap." "Sounds like crap." "Still sounds like crap." "Oh yeah, that too."
"Okay, now that sounds like unusable crap..." etc.

However, I have had some success tweaking and experimenting with standard
set-ups.

If there's a thousand ways to record something, chances are only three or
four are going to sound really good. It's nice to not have to try all the
other 996 first. Thus, the wonderful invention of shared knowledge.


And then there's the most important tool that's flat out missing from
the tool box - the apprenticeship.

Amen.

Lacking good apprenticeship opportunities in my area, here's the book on
mic technique I've found the most helpful so far:

"The Microphone Book"
John Eargle
Focal Press
ISBN 0-240-80445-7


-- "If you want to make a record, you've got to break a few mics."