What "sound" do you like

[parulid]

Ok, I'll play.

There's a number of ways to respond to the original post. I don't know much about reverb, and there are many different "sounds" that I really like. Long ago I stopped wishing or hoping that other folks would enjoy the same music as me or certainly not in the same way or at the same moment. That said, I'll focus on one example of a guitar/recording sound that I like, and why.

Lately I've been enjoying the sound of Slaid Cleaves' old beat up Gibson.
https://youtu.be/kbn4NJyifkA

My abilities are modest and I've struggled over the years to stick with my playing. I tend to do the same stuff again and again when I pick it up. I struggle to play songs all the way thru, and I play too much all by myself. What gives me a little hope is that I've noticed I appreciate fairly simple music just as much as very fancy/difficult playing. I mean I still enjoy complex stuff by really good players too, but thankfully it isn't all I like nor the most important thing. Singing and vocal harmonies are a big part of what I like to hear... and thankfully, I'm not a bad singer, which again offers hope for my own playing! If I can sing something, the singing adds to it and helps compensate for my modest playing. Singing can still be hard; I need to find a key suited to my voice (capo is my friend!) but singing and then keeping a steady relaxed rhythm (so important!), well it gets me over a "threshold" where I begin to get more satisfaction. Anyway Slaid Cleaves is an inspiration in that regard. His playing is not fancy but he writes good songs and sings so well and has such nice steady right hand technique, I really enjoy some of his stuff. ...AND I can imitate what he does, never as good as he is but maybe eventually well enough to enjoy it a lot.

The Youtube example above is the first song my Slaid I learned to do from start to finish, and it was fun because it was the first time I used a partial 5 string capo like that. Also I like the way the recording captures the sound of that great old beat up Gibson he always plays (belonged to his father so he tells).

Dave

[BoneDigger]

I like the guitar tones on Daylight by Watchhouse (formerly Mandolin Orange).

https://youtu.be/bRmzMIH3Gj0

Also a big fan of the acoustic tone in Stone Walls by Three Tall Pines.

https://youtu.be/inyuiEgdEgA

[parulid]

Yes I like Mandolin Orange/Watchhouse too. They are like an "old comfortable pair of shoes"...

Dave

[b1j]

Originally Posted by KevWind

Just some personal observations ::

With the exception of an anechoic chamber ,, anything played or recorded inside, is going to have some amount of at least room reverb , for better or worse.

The only place where is "no reverb" is outside in the middle of pretty big flat grass field

Kev, you’ve got me thinking now. How big a field is big enough? Serious question. I might like to try this.

[KevWind]

Originally Posted by b1j

Kev, you’ve got me thinking now. How big a field is big enough? Serious question. I might like to try this.

I don't have or know an exact measurement just have to try it. But someplace where the sound is not going to be bouncing off a nearby wall or building I assume . You will probably be able to tell because compared to playing indoors, it will likely sound relatively dry and one dimensional

[Brent Hutto]

Wind is the big bugaboo when it comes to using the Great Outdoors as a recording studio. There was a guy named Eltjo Hasselhoff used to post here (or maybe I saw it some other online place) who did a fingerstyle guitar album entirely recorded in a big field quite a ways from his house. But he had to be extremely patient to catch a few minutes here and there with absolutely not a breath of wind stirring.

I have the album and it's pretty gorgeous stuff. Not sure that's as much from recording in the field as it is his playing but it sure worked out nicely, all in all.

[tsmith28]

Originally Posted by parulid

If I can sing something, the singing adds to it and helps compensate for my modest playing. Singing can still be hard; I need to find a key suited to my voice (capo is my friend!) but singing and then keeping a steady relaxed rhythm (so important!), well it gets me over a "threshold" where I begin to get more satisfaction.

Amen to that! I'm in the same boat...my guitar skills are modest and my singing voice is passable at best, but when you put the two together it results in some decent music. ;-)

[b1j]

Originally Posted by Brent Hutto

Wind is the big bugaboo when it comes to using the Great Outdoors as a recording studio. There was a guy named Eltjo Hasselhoff used to post here (or maybe I saw it some other online place) who did a fingerstyle guitar album entirely recorded in a big field quite a ways from his house. But he had to be extremely patient to catch a few minutes here and there with absolutely not a breath of wind stirring.

I have the album and it's pretty gorgeous stuff. Not sure that's as much from recording in the field as it is his playing but it sure worked out nicely, all in all.

My SDCs have removable wind caps, so maybe that will help. I don’t know when I’ll have the time to try this, but it’s on my list!