Fixing harsh guitars

[MaurysMusic]

Hi guys. I've been recording my band's demo and now some songs are at/near the mixing stage. I may resort to re-recording some rhythm guitars, to tame some harshness with alternative mic placement. In the meantime I've compressed and EQ'd them best I can on headphones and small speakers (I won't be connected to my bigger monitors for a week or so).

I'd love to hear your constructive criticism if you could let me know what you think of the guitars in particular. Any comments about the rest of the recording are welcomed, but at this time, I'm most curious if the guitars sound ok, still too brittle, or have I gone and covered them with a blanket? Thanks!

[KevWind]

I don't hear anything too awful harsh
My only suggestion ( listening on tracking HP's on my laptop ) is maybe pull the left guitar volume down a few db, to sit a bit more balanced.
I will check again later on my studio monitors

[midwinter]

Are both of those the same (strat?) guitar? If so, are they using different pickups?

I'm asking because I kept wondering whether a little more midrange EQ "bite" from of one of them would help differentiate the two parts a little—but at this point it's all just personal taste.

[runamuck]

I'm listening right now on Sony 7506s which are headphones with an exaggerated high end. The guitars don't sound harsh even on these.

[Bowie]

They're not particularly harsh but the mix is all guitar and the vocals take a back seat. I'd either change the arrangement so that one guitar starts playing a different part when the vocals hit, or at least bring their levels down so they're not competing with the vocal.

[rockabilly69]

Originally Posted by Bowie

They're not particularly harsh but the mix is all guitar and the vocals take a back seat. I'd either change the arrangement so that one guitar starts playing a different part when the vocals hit, or at least bring their levels down so they're not competing with the vocal.

I agree with this 100%

[Bob Womack]

To my ears that is a pretty good mix if you are shooting for a young audience. A little more thump on the kick, perhaps. The old guys may have a little trouble breaking the voice out of the guitars but really, that's a fairly typical youth mix. If you want to hear a mix that old ears want to hear, listen to David Gilmour's two latest albums. Once when I put them on, my younger son (in his 20s) wandered by and listened and I asked him what he thought. He said he liked Gilmour's voice better with age on it but he felt it was pretty far out in front of the mix. I (in my 50s) was thinking it was a nice mix. Learning moment.

Your guitars are fine, not harsh or dark, right on the money, actually kind of tasty, in fact. Gibson SG?

At least that's my perspective while listening to it on the studio monitors here at work, and we just re-tuned the system.


(Right side Urei 813B/C with the covers off)


Bob

[MaurysMusic]

Thank you all, for the advice. L is a Reverend Warhawk with medium output humbuckers into a Mesa/Boogie TA-30. R is a 76 Strat middle pup into a Mesa/Boogie Express 5:50, and this was the one I did the most work to. Heavy compression & a healthy cut around 3k.

All your points will be noted and I don't know what audience this is for, but the bandmates ages range from 46-56.

[Bob Womack]

That mix is so last month.



Bob

[MaurysMusic]

Originally Posted by Bob Womack

That mix is so last month.



Bob

........Lol

[MikeBmusic]

Note: if you hear a mix as 'harsh' but others don't, look at how you are listening to the mix. Small speakers are typically not going to have any low end ability, and your headphones may be exaggerating those 'harsh' frequencies.

[rick-slo]

Sounds fine to me also.

[MaurysMusic]

Thanks, guys.