for those who seriously record acoustic guitar

[dmoss74]

you may or may not be aware of this, but i just discovered it myself, even after years of recording.

recently, i was having a lot of issues in the 300hz to 500hz in a few acoustic tracks. there were times when i could hear a certain (for lack of a better term) phase shifting going on in those frequencies, especially on my larger body guitars.

i tried all sorts of mic positions, mic combinations, room movement, etc, to no avail. it wasn't always there, but it was there enough to bug the crap out of me.

well (and thanks to a guy on my daw forum) i discovered it was being caused by my arm touching the top of the guitar, and more precisely, how when it moved (even minimally) either laterally, or up on down on the top, i was getting a "wah" effect, that the mics were picking up.

i had never even really noticed (for decades) how much that little contact with the top can alter the overall tone of the guitar. but now i do, and i'm taking steps to mitigate it (for recording).

i just ordered a non-adhesive type arm rest that i'll be employing during tracking.

i'm glad the mystery has been solved. i was literally pulling my hair out over it.

[rick-slo]

Perhaps in your case, and if attention to that improves your recordings, then great. The recordings I have made have varied in the sound obtained. That has been secondary to a number of factors other than arm position.

[dmoss74]

Originally Posted by rick-slo

Perhaps in your case, and if attention to that improves your recordings, then great. The recordings I have made have varied in the sound obtained. That has been secondary to a number of factors other than arm position.

well, in the grand scheme of things, it is rather small. i was just pointing out a sonic anomaly i had just discovered. even after years of recording acoustic guitars.

[Joseph Hanna]

Originally Posted by dmoss74

well, in the grand scheme of things, it is rather small. i was just pointing out a sonic anomaly i had just discovered. even after years of recording acoustic guitars.

I know a couple of the 1st call acoustic guys in Nashville both use that John Pearse thingy. I think it's more an over-tone solution than it is a better sounding guitar device. Sorta like the guys that dampen a string above the nut when overtones creep up. Those guys have got acoustic guitar playing in front of a mic down to a well distilled science. I guess if was recording in those rooms (and I was that good) I'd be splitting hairs as well.

There again it's a relatively inexpensive solution. The problem of course with identifying small sonic anomalies is you can't un-hear them. They continue to show up now that you brain has made the connection. I see a John Pearce armrest in your near future

[dmoss74]

Originally Posted by Joseph Hanna

There again it's a relatively inexpensive solution. The problem of course with identifying small sonic anomalies is you can't un-hear them. They continue to show up now that you brain has made the connection. I see a John Pearce armrest in your near future

i found a non-adhesive one. the pearse ones are not what i was looking for.

[Thomas Rein]

I have not tried this armrest but some of my customers have. They rave about them. I like the non-invasive and reversible installation.

https://www.stringsbymail.com/andrea...tar-11771.html

[dmoss74]

Originally Posted by Thomas Rein

I have not tried this armrest but some of my customers have. They rave about them. I like the non-invasive and reversible installation.

https://www.stringsbymail.com/andrea...tar-11771.html

i saw that one, and was considering it. but for now, i'm just going to try this one.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Leather-Guit...gAAOSwRH5XK1xc

it's only $25.00, and since i'll only be using it for recording, that should suffice.

[runamuck]

Originally Posted by dmoss74

i saw that one, and was considering it. but for now, i'm just going to try this one.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Leather-Guit...gAAOSwRH5XK1xc

it's only $25.00, and since i'll only be using it for recording, that should suffice.

I don't see how that will help the issue you described in your first post. It doesn't seem to reduce weight or damping from your arm onto the soundboard. It appears that the only thing it does do is protect the finish - maybe.

[dmoss74]

Originally Posted by runamuck

I don't see how that will help the issue you described in your first post. It doesn't seem to reduce weight or damping from your arm onto the soundboard. It appears that the only thing it does do is protect the finish - maybe.

if you scroll through the photos, you'll see that not only does it not contact the top, it also keeps your arm from coming into contact with the top.

but i just realized something. it has suction cups to keep it in place, and i have a nitro finished guitar. oops...houston, we may have a problem.

[runamuck]

Originally Posted by dmoss74

if you scroll through the photos, you'll see that not only does it not contact the top, it also keeps your arm from coming into contact with the top.

but i just realized something. it has suction cups to keep it in place, and i have a nitro finished guitar. oops...houston, we may have a problem.

Yeah, you're right.

And I also read that it can be used without the suction cups.

If you get it, I'd be interested in what you think.

[dmoss74]

Originally Posted by runamuck

Yeah, you're right.

And I also read that it can be used without the suction cups.

If you get it, I'd be interested in what you think.

yeah, i should be good without the suction cups. i'll just be sitting still. i'll let you know. it's supposed to be here tomorrow.

[dmoss74]

well, i got the rest today. it does about 80% of what i need. the problem is, it's only double stitched leather, so the weight of my arm forces the leather to push down against the top...which is what i'm trying to avoid.

oh well, i guess i'll have to get the able one. i was hoping not to go out of pocket that much, for a recording only thing, but i'll have to.

the one i got would certainly protect from sweat, and is a little more comfortable than laying your arm on the side/top seam, but it does come in contact with the top.

[rick-slo]

Originally Posted by dmoss74

well, i got the rest today. it does about 80% of what i need. the problem is, it's only double stitched leather, so the weight of my arm forces the leather to push down against the top...which is what i'm trying to avoid.

oh well, i guess i'll have to get the able one. i was hoping not to go out of pocket that much, for a recording only thing, but i'll have to.

the one i got would certainly protect from sweat, and is a little more comfortable than laying your arm on the side/top seam, but it does come in contact with the top.

That is exactly what I thought looking at the photo and I was going to comment earlier, but their website says it prevents the arm from doing that very thing. Hope the purchase is refundable.

[dmoss74]

Originally Posted by rick-slo

That is exactly what I thought looking at the photo and I was going to comment earlier, but their website says it prevents the arm from doing that very thing. Hope the purchase is refundable.

actually, it was operator error. it works. i just had to re-position it a little. the one i ordered was the large. it was a little too big for my slope, but since i have a slope and a dread, i went with that size. i just shifted the entire piece back up against the top, and it works fine with the slope. with the dread, it's a perfect fit.

the slope's depth is 4 5/8", and the dread is 4 7/8" (more or less).

the other one i linked would obviously be more stable, but this does indeed work. it's like getting a whole new guitar. not really, but i like it, and it eliminates that wah effect for recording.

[runamuck]

Originally Posted by dmoss74

... i like it, and it eliminates that wah effect for recording.

So, it's doing what you were hoping it would, right?

Any downside?