5150 cab = bad recorded tone?

[GuitarMaestro]

I am currently trying to get a 5150 cab to record well. I used a SM57 in MANY different positions and a E609 as well as 3 different amps (5150, Mesa Rectifier, Marshall) and cannot get a usable recorded sound out of it. I could simply use a v30 loaded cab, but I love the 5150 cab's sound in the room and see it as a kind of challenge to capture that sound on tape. The recorded sound however is buzzy, unfocused and unclean and gets lost in the mix.
Did somebody here succeed in getting a good recorded sound out of this cab? Any ideas? Samples?

 

[Genius Gone Insane]

You want to give us a sample?

 

[Ermz]

You mean the one with the Sheffield speakers? I was under the impression that it was generally just bad, unrecordable and harsh to listen to in the room.

 

[ApolloSpeed]

Solution:

take out two of the sheffields....... and then.....

two V30's in an X Pattern in your 5150 cab.

the end.

:Smokin:

 

[Wolfeman]

Solution:

take out two of the sheffields....... and then.....

two V30's in an X Pattern in your 5150 cab.

the end.

:Smokin:

Damn right.....

 

[Death Is Certain]

5150 cabs don't sound the best for recording, but in person they sound very nice.

 

[Disconnekt]

I think a cab's sound at close range and low volume is a pretty good indicator of how it will record... when you blast a 5150 cab, it does indeed sound pretty good in the room, but invariably, the recorded tone from that cab at any volume is more on par with what it sounds like with the master on 1 or less and your ear right in front of the speaker. V30s, Greenbacks, or even T75s will produce much better results.

 

[KeithRT99]

according to andy, wages of sin was through the 5150 cab, and that album sounded killer

 

[TheStoryteller]

according to andy, wages of sin was through the 5150 cab, and that album sounded killer

I thought it was an ENGL cab?

 

[Kazrog]

5150 cabs can sound good, it's just a bit more work to get them to behave.

 

[kev]

If Iron Maiden recorded through them, im sure there is no problem

 

[cobrahead1030]

i had one for years, and it always sounded decent...didn't suck, but never sounded great either

i actually sold my first 5150 thinking it sounded bad, not realizing that the cab was the problem

a while back we tried doing some recording thru my other guitarist's 5150 cab, with his xxl head, my old dual recto, and my (2nd) 5150 and it was just blah...my splawn and marshall cabs instantly made every amp sound MUCH better

 

[Soundlurker]

I had similar trouble with my amp, though we're talking about a crappy 10 inch 30 watt Jensen speaker. The amp sounded decent in the room but when you are close to the speaker there's a terrible 4-5khz fuzz and hardly any lows. I did manage to record an acceptable sound by placing the SM57 so that it is 45 degrees towards the ground.

The amp I have is a low-class one but can its otherwise decent tone become more usable if I change the speaker? And what would be a good choice for a small amp? (yeah I know - to be replaced by a new amp...haven't got the money, unfortunately)

 

[GuitarMaestro]

Thanks for your answers. As you probably noticed this was my first post here after lurking for some time and absorbing all the great info you can find on this board. Anyway this only proves what I expected: great forum.

Back on topic:
I know very well how good V30's sound and how well they record. I am no beginner at this stuff....As I wrote I am more interested in knowing what other people's results with 5150 cabs are. I like the sound of the cab in the room very much and would like to find a way to get that sound on tape. If you have good sounding 5150 cab recordings please post them. I'll definately post some clips if I succeed in getting a great sound with it.

@Disconnekt:
Interesting idea. I think your definately right as I always find that the volume makes no big difference in what you get on tape when close micing. As long as you have got the tube amp load enough to actually sound right which simply is not the case if it is below 1 or something like that. I like your Nordström/Clayman sound clip alot btw.

If Iron Maiden recorded through them, im sure there is no problem

On which album? If you are talking about the Dance of Death album I think it sounds quite bad, especially the guitar sounds. I NEVER would have thought it was recorded by a pro if I didn't knew better. I was especially dissapointed because I like the cavemans other stuff alot and expected it to sound at least as good as Brave new world.

according to andy, wages of sin was through the 5150 cab, and that album sounded killer

Are you sure?

P.s.: Does anyone know if EVH ever recorded with the 5150 cabs? I heard a rumor that he always had celestions in his 5150 cabs....

 

[Gnash]

I bought a 5150 cab at a pawn shop once. I had the dude take all the screws off the back to see if it was the real Mccoy! To my suprize, it was loaded with vintage 30s! Fuck it! I don't want sheffields anyway! I jewed the dude down to $250 on it, crying about the missing sheffields! Maybe it was Eddies!

 

[Disconnekt]

I bought a 5150 cab at a pawn shop once. I had the dude take all the screws off the back to see if it was the real Mccoy! To my suprize, it was loaded with vintage 30s! Fuck it! I don't want sheffields anyway! I jewed the dude down to $250 on it, crying about the missing sheffields! Maybe it was Eddies!

You lucky bastard! Man, the speakers alone are worth a whole lot more than what you paid, not to mention the cab itself! I wish I could find deals like that, but all the Lynchburg pawn shops know their shit, and they charge appropriate prices for musical gear.

 

[Disconnekt]

@Disconnekt:
Interesting idea. I think your definately right as I always find that the volume makes no big difference in what you get on tape when close micing. As long as you have got the tube amp load enough to actually sound right which simply is not the case if it is below 1 or something like that. I like your Nordström/Clayman sound clip alot btw.

Thanks, glad you liked it! That was actually recorded at 1 or less. Can't remember the exact setting, but it definitely wasn't any louder than 1, as there were other people in the house when I recorded it. I've tried the same mic technique with the same amp settings at louder volumes, and the recorded tone I get is basically the same (although the amp does sound better in the room when I'm playing due to projecting more).

 

[kev]

I bought a 5150 cab at a pawn shop once. I had the dude take all the screws off the back to see if it was the real Mccoy! To my suprize, it was loaded with vintage 30s! Fuck it! I don't want sheffields anyway! I jewed the dude down to $250 on it, crying about the missing sheffields! Maybe it was Eddies!

You are a lucky bastard indeed man!

On which album? If you are talking about the Dance of Death album I think it sounds quite bad, especially the guitar sounds. I NEVER would have thought it was recorded by a pro if I didn't knew better. I was especially dissapointed because I like the cavemans other stuff alot and expected it to sound at least as good as Brave new world.

Guitar Maestro, well... I agree dance of death seems slightly muddy And certainly not as good as bnw. But at the end of the day, if that guitar cab was used on a pro album and sold millions of records there is no problem imo

Thanks, glad you liked it! That was actually recorded at 1 or less. Can't remember the exact setting, but it definitely wasn't any louder than 1, as there were other people in the house when I recorded it. I've tried the same mic technique with the same amp settings at louder volumes, and the recorded tone I get is basically the same (although the amp does sound better in the room when I'm playing due to projecting more).

You know thats one of the best clips ive ever heard on the forum

 

[Gnash]

Man, I don't have that cab anymore. I sold it to a real good friend though, and he uses it, exclusively, every day! I think he's the lucky fucker in the end! Gotta help your friends out! Funny, he has a Marshall head with Peavey cab (really a Marshall), I have a Peavey head with Marshall cabs!

 

[kev]

Man, I don't have that cab anymore. I sold it to a real good friend though, and he uses it, exclusively, every day! I think he's the lucky fucker in the end! Gotta help your friends out! Funny, he has a Marshall head with Peavey cab (really a Marshall), I have a Peavey head with Marshall cabs!

so 1960? what speakers?