Splawn clip - Fredman method

SoSomething

SoSomething

Member
Jun 15, 2005
45
0
6
behind my guitar
www.myspace.com
OK, I tried out the Studio Fredman guitar cab micing method that is described in "The Clayman Sound" thread - unfortunately I didn't have a lot of time to work with it so all I have at the moment is one super-simplistic tough-guy riff.

I used my SG Junior for this, played through my Splawn Pro Mod on OD2 through a Splawn 4x12 cab. No OD or anything else was used - this is guitar straight into amplifier. The cab has Eminence Governers and Man O' Wars in an "X" pattern, and I only mic'd one of the Man O' Wars using two 57s to keep things simple. I recorded each mic to it's own track and overdubbed once, panning each "pair" hard left and hard right respectively. Like was mentioned in the other thread, I found that the 57 aimed straight at the dust cap was better for the "main" sound, and the off-axis mic needed only to be mixed in sparingly for some extra thump.

There is virtually no EQ on this track - I just pulled all the guitar frequencies below 80hz out and left it alone. I added a tiny but of compression to the mixdown to help bring it up to a decent level and that is all. The drums are fake as hell and there is no bass. Oh yeah, and something weird happens at around 0:22 that I can't explain - maybe you'll hear it. Dunno.

I think it resulted in a pretty decent raw sound. A little tweaking could probably turn it into a monstrous sound. What do you think of the tone and the amp? (since I don't see any other Splawn users around here yet)

Thanks - without further ado: Splawn Clip 1

.









.
 
Sounds like one of the mics dropped out or moved or something. You hear it change again towards the end.

I liked the tone OK. I think I like purely on axis tones, though. The Fredman thing is cool I guess, but it sounds too scooped to my ears.

But, I've been slowly getting some Splawn GAS. Too bad I'll never be able to afford one.

Do you like that cab? I've never got into Eminence speakers.

BTW, I post on IMN as well.
 
mh....needs more treble imho. other than that i guess it might work quite well in a mix, lotsa smooth mids
 
hmm. to me it really sounds like there are some phase problems going on there... the other mic definately starts moving at 00:22 and at this point the sound seems to get more phasey or less phasey...

when i bought my 1st recording gear I did tons of guitar recording with different mic setups and very often I got a sound a lot like yours when recording with 2 mics... kinda boxy, honky... which really started bothering me. after that I tried tracking 4 times with the same setup except with only 1 mic ...like andy usually does... the sound was waaaay different and better.

I figured out it was because of phase problems. Couldn't check it from the waveform because the old logic 5.1.3 that used, the close zoom fuction in that is useless.

it would be interesting to hear the sample with just the 57 aimed straight at the dust cap on both sides.
 
nuclearass said:
hmm. to me it really sounds like there are some phase problems going on there... the other mic definately starts moving at 00:22 and at this point the sound seems to get more phasey or less phasey...

when i bought my 1st recording gear I did tons of guitar recording with different mic setups and very often I got a sound a lot like yours when recording with 2 mics... kinda boxy, honky... which really started bothering me. after that I tried tracking 4 times with the same setup except with only 1 mic ...like andy usually does... the sound was waaaay different and better.

I figured out it was because of phase problems. Couldn't check it from the waveform because the old logic 5.1.3 that used, the close zoom fuction in that is useless.

it would be interesting to hear the sample with just the 57 aimed straight at the dust cap on both sides.
Click to expand...


I agree.
 
Thanks for the replies. The mic doesn't move because the riff actually loops for the second time at 0:22 - I think my mixing software just took a crap on it during mixdown for some reason. I only looped it that long so you guys would be able to get a good feel for the sound without having to re-play the clip over and over.

The cab is real nice - it's a straight cab and the blend of speakers is really cool. I've been informed that it's constructed very similarly to the Bogner Uber cabinets. I wouldn't know for sure though, having never used an Uber cab. The Eminence Red Coat designs are US-made speakers designed to basically copy the classic Celestion designs, and they work pretty well for me. Oh and Nathan - I've seen your posts on IMN - I usually agree with what you have to say on there.

Andy - any word on which Splawn model (or mod) you'll be using on that session? I'm very interested in any impressions/tips you may have after working with one in a pro studio setting.
 
nwright said:
What Splawn has the most gain? Or, rather, which one would be a good choice for someone who really likes their 6505+ in terms of gain and tone, but wants maybe a bit more thickness?
Click to expand...

Pro Mod. Period.

The Quick Rod is basically the same amp, but it's running on EL34s instead of KT88s. AFAIK the preamp is voiced the same. The KT88s give the amp more low-end and thickness and a measurable increase in headroom. If you don't need a clean tone, there's the Pro Stock and if you only want a 50-watter there's the Competition, though that amp has somewhat less gain on tap.

Also, if you decide to get one, make sure it's biased for and running on the JJ's KT88s - they're quite a bit more reliable (and better-sounding, IMO) than the Sovteks.

I've owned 5150s and Mesas (even a Road King) and when I finally got my Splawn I settled down and am happy. I'm not saying it's better than this amp or that, but it's the be-all end-all for me.
 
its a crap name tho, the amount of times I have to say Splawn when talking about it. That aside, it sounded killer when Rich was playing through it the other night, I'll have some more details on it next week.
 
Andy Sneap said:
its a crap name tho, the amount of times I have to say Splawn when talking about it. That aside, it sounded killer when Rich was playing through it the other night, I'll have some more details on it next week.
Click to expand...

Scott can't help it, man! At least there's no question of how to pronounce it when you see it written down. :grin:

Looking forward to next week's details.
 
OK - here is the same clip but with the off-axis mics removed from the mix. The levels may be slightly different but that's only because I may have used different compression settings in mixdown.

Thoughts? Better? Worse? I think I probably had the amp set for a slightly darker tone than I would use were I to try to record something for real - this whole excercise is really intended more to 1 - give you all an idea of the general tonality of this amp and 2 - for me to get some tips on micing up and recording loud tube amps.

So now - the new clip, per request: Splawn Clip 2
 
I actually like the second one better.....Why.....cuz it is present and clear. You can get those lower frequencies you think you are missing by Eqing the Bass guitar, or making the Bass guitar thicker. :rock:
 
Much thanks! I'm quite happy with the sound of this amp - it also does the less-gainy rock thing really well, and complex chords ring through with total clarity.

Strangely enough, I owned a 5150 for about a year and was never really happy with it. No matter how much bass I dialed in or how high I set the mids, it always sounded brittle to me. I never got the kind of tones out of it that I've heard many people on this forum achieve through their clips (which sound fantastic) though I did try. I never thought of running an OD pedal in front of it, though, which may have had something to do with it.

The Splawn (which is as easy to say as it is to spell for a yank like me :) ) agrees with my guitars and style of playing much better. So much so that I basically consider it "my" sound and no longer GAS for other amps.

I'll record a much longer, more comprehensive clip in the next week or so for more feedback - this forum is a great resource.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

ElektricEyez
vintange 30 cab comparisons thread
Replies
2
Views
777
Andy Sneap
ElektricEyez
E
reneisgod
Cradle Of Filth tone using impulses
Replies
3
Views
1K
Andy Sneap
cobhc
C
JakeAC5253
NCD: Splawn 4x12 New Cab Day. Clips inside!
Replies
24
Views
2K
Backline
JakeAC5253
J
ShredHeadJHJ
Anyone here have experience with Splawn amps/guitars???
Replies
5
Views
663
Musicians Discussion
ShredHeadJHJ
S
RevoltStudios
Mesa OS dislike?
Replies
7
Views
1K
Backline
Rex Rocker
R
Top Bottom