Recording Electric Guitar - Eliminating Feedback

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wesimel
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Recording Electric Guitar - Eliminating Feedback

Post by wesimel » Tue Jul 07, 2009 11:04 pm

would you guys help me out with a track i'm working on?

i've got an eletric guitar that i'm micing up close with a SM57, and about 4 feet away with a LDC. I've got it pretty drowned in reverb, thanks to my wonderful Electro Harmonix Holy Grail pedal.

Problem is, it's getting some pretty dominating feedback around 1k. I've bounced two different files, one with and one without a pretty sharp eq curve around 1k on both tracks. can you guys take a listen? here are the tracks:

1. without eq - http://www.geocities.com/wesdawg200/feedback.mp3
2. with eq - http://www.geocities.com/wesdawg200/eq.mp3

I'd appreciate it greatly, I don't really have great contacts.

p.s. anybody know how to embed links in tapeop forum posts?

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matthewinphilly
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Post by matthewinphilly » Wed Jul 08, 2009 5:24 am

wesimel:

I have no idea how to eliminate feedback, but I can say that through my macbook speakers, both of these files sounded pretty lovely to me. Maybe if I listened through nice headphones I hear a bad feedback sound? I just thought I'd put that out there--that there's some awesome vibe on both the non-EQed and the EQed version and maybe nothing needs to change...

nice work!
mp

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decocco
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Post by decocco » Wed Jul 08, 2009 8:56 am

It sounds pretty rad to me. I prefer the track with no EQ.

When you drench a guitar in reverb, things can get a little wacky and feedback-y. Some reverbs will really bloom and create a bit of a feedback sound. To me, it just sounds like a guitar with tons of reverb.

I think you've got a really nice guitar tone happening, and I would just accept it for what it is......... or........... turn down the reverb a little.

You could always try a different reverb pedal or a spring reverb. However, I think the Holy Grail is a very nice little reverb.
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vvv
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Post by vvv » Wed Jul 08, 2009 2:35 pm

I do hear it ringing at about 1K.

I like it.

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kingtoad
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Post by kingtoad » Wed Jul 08, 2009 3:25 pm

I prefer the un EQ'd track as well. It's a really nice guitar sound.

UnlikeKurt
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Post by UnlikeKurt » Wed Jul 08, 2009 6:14 pm

+1 on the un-eq'd version.

bottom line is which do you prefer? And if that little drone bothers you enough and the EQ isn't doing it for you, how does it sound in the room? If the same, cut some upper mids on the amp, move the mic, etc. Try things until it sounds like you want it to sound.

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ott0bot
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Post by ott0bot » Wed Jul 08, 2009 6:40 pm

Sounds cool to me even with the feedback. I like like the non-eq track a bit better too just because it sounds really airy and open.

To eliminate feedback I usually follow a few steps.

How loud is the amp? turn down if possible and turn up the preamps.

How close are you to the amp? Back up, use some gobos or put it in the other room.

What kind of guitar are you using? Hollow bodies tend to give more feedback especailly when in close proximity to the amp.

Turn down the effects. Reverb and overdrives tend to add to the feedback and off just backng of the effects a little witll reduce the added noise.

Hope this helps....but I always say go with your gut. Shut your eyes and give it a few listens on a couple different sources, if it works for the song then its the right sound. IF not, then try something new.
Last edited by ott0bot on Wed Jul 08, 2009 9:38 pm, edited 1 time in total.

MoreSpaceEcho
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Post by MoreSpaceEcho » Wed Jul 08, 2009 7:15 pm

i like the non eq'd one too.

RefD
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Post by RefD » Wed Jul 08, 2009 8:58 pm

non-EQed one is really nice.

i'm hearing a little resonance around the freq you mentioned, but that's pretty much par for the course with a cranked reverb.

the EQed one sounds like the guitar is coming down a cardboard tube, not good.
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shakestheclown
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Post by shakestheclown » Thu Jul 09, 2009 4:50 am

Packing blankets will probably help you more than eq or amp settings.

I'm guessing the problem is with your room... not your rig.

*cisko*
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Post by *cisko* » Thu Jul 09, 2009 12:38 pm

I love the fact that the feedback is there, it gives it a certain floatiness to the whole thing, anyone agree?

RefD
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Post by RefD » Thu Jul 09, 2009 1:03 pm

*cisko* wrote:I love the fact that the feedback is there, it gives it a certain floatiness to the whole thing, anyone agree?
totally agree.
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