The electric guitar revolutionized music in the 1930s and enjoys a permanent residence at the core of popular music. It’s the most definitive component of rock ‘n roll music in history. The electric guitar is the instrument you want to perfect in the mix. A-T’s here with the tips you need to do exactly that, for whatever sound you’re seeking.

Basic Tips for Electric Guitar Recording

1.         Classic Rock ‘n Roll Sound To achieve the classic rock ‘n roll sound, you’ll want to use a dynamic instrument microphone, like the  ATM650 hypercardioidmic. Aiming the mic toward the center of the speaker will emphasize the high-end.Aiming the mic toward the edge of the speaker will provide a darker, more low-end focused sound.

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2.         Clean Tones Use a large condenser, like an AE3000 cardioid mic, to capture the depth and brilliance of the full-range sound. To identify the position of the speaker, use a flashlight against the grill cloth. Follow the same rules as above to position the mic. If the amp volume is too loud, back the microphone away slightly to avoid overloading the mic.

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3.         Vintage Sound with Edge To capturevintage sound with a little edge, we use an AT4047/SV cardioid condenser microphone pulled a little ways back from the amp. The space in this position adds dimension to your sound. 

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 Recording an electric guitar is project-specific:every amp has its own unique character, and so does every guitar. Play with these configurations, lightly altering distance and position, until you find the sound you’re looking for. If you’re miking a cabinet with more than one speaker, do a test with your mic on each of the individual speakers to find the one that sounds best. The sweet spot is an intuitive thing. You’ll know when you’ve got it. Check out the full video of these techniques below:

Keep checking the A-T blog for more updates, including our tips for a multi-mic electric guitar recording setup!