How much unplugged tone?

[srblue5]

When you record or gig with an electric, how much of the guitar's unplugged sound do you like as part of your overall sound? Do you set the amp loud so that you can't hear the guitar's "acoustic"/unplugged tone at all or do you like a little of the unplugged tone bleeding in?

Many years ago, I had an Epiphone hollowbody that I eventually sold partly because I didn't like that I'd always hear the "acoustic" sound over top the amplified sound (and turning up the amp loud enough to mask that "acoustic" sound would lead to feedback issues). There was a buzzy, almost plastic quality to it that I didn't like.

Recently, I've done a couple of low-volume cocktail hour gigs with either my Tele or Epi Casino and ZT Lunchbox amp and actually enjoyed hearing the "unplugged" sound of the electric guitar floating over top of the amplified sound (if that makes sense). I'm tempted to start adding that to my recorded tones...there's almost a homey coffeehouse vibe it adds.

 

[Boreas]

You may be the only one hearing it. Really depends on your setup.

 

[mandoloony]

Zero.

It drives me nuts when people do demos of electric guitars/amps/pedals and you can hear the acoustic sound in the mix because the mic is right next to the guitar.

 

[Frontier9]

I agree with mandoloony. That sound drives me absolutely loony-tunes.
There is at least one relatively popular song in which the mic-ed acoustic sound of an electric guitar was mixed in with the electrified signal. Don't remember which one it was but I remember some guy on Reddit, a fan of the band, got butt hurt when I expressed my opinion - similar to what I wrote above. Took it way too personal... that won't happen here. correct?

 

[srblue5]

Zero.

It drives me nuts when people do demos of electric guitars/amps/pedals and you can hear the acoustic sound in the mix because the mic is right next to the guitar.

Yeah, true. I'm not fond of YouTube demo videos where the guitar/amp are poorly mic'd. In those cases, I want to get as accurate a sense of the guitar's and/or amp's sound as possible.

Do you still feel that way about your own sound or when you're playing? I used to not like any "acoustic" sound in the mix but lately I seem to be digging it. Maybe it would drive me insane if I was hearing it all the time, though.

 

[srblue5]

There is at least one relatively popular song in which the mic-ed acoustic sound of an electric guitar was mixed in with the electrified signal. Don't remember which one it was but I remember some guy on Reddit, a fan of the band, got butt hurt when I expressed my opinion - similar to what I wrote above. Took it way too personal... that won't happen here. correct?

Can't guarantee it won't happen here...

I certainly wouldn't care or take it personally. I have plenty of opinions (some controversial) about some classic/popular tones myself.

 

[mandoloony]

Do you still feel that way about your own sound or when you're playing?

Yes. People rave about micing electric guitars and blending in the results on a recording. I tried it - once. Same terrible sound and amateurish quality as those Youtube demos.

 

[Killing Floor]

I just got a Dogman Microphone, a small mic that outputs to your pedals or amp or recording apparatus. It’s actually cool to process the unplugged sound of an electric. It’s a little different. I’m trying to figure it out.

 

[drmordo]

Zero.

It drives me nuts when people do demos of electric guitars/amps/pedals and you can hear the acoustic sound in the mix because the mic is right next to the guitar.

I agree with mandoloony. That sound drives me absolutely loony-tunes.
There is at least one relatively popular song in which the mic-ed acoustic sound of an electric guitar was mixed in with the electrified signal. Don't remember which one it was but I remember some guy on Reddit, a fan of the band, got butt hurt when I expressed my opinion - similar to what I wrote above. Took it way too personal... that won't happen here. correct?

Completely agree. Any recording/vid where I can hear the acoustic qualities of an electric guitar is very poorly recorded IMO.

I have gigged several times with a Epiphone Casino, but at no point could I hear the acoustics of the guitar over the amp. It would feedback if I let it, but it was easily controllable and not a problem at all.

 

[Controller]

Are you referring to the scraping and scratching sound of the pick on the strings? If so, not a fan.

 

[Dismalhead]

I've had a couple of semi-hollows and I like the acoustic sounds up close, but I doubt anyone else can hear them over an amp.

 

[mexicanyella]

.

 

[srblue5]

I've been trying to think of a good recorded example of what I mean (without going through my own recordings, which are probably best left unheard after the cocktail hour is over).

I don't like hearing pick scrapes, fret buzz, etc. per se (especially on my own recordings) but I like more of a slight, almost inaudible acoustic-ish overtone.

After much searching, I think these two songs are closest to what I mean by the "unplugged/acoustic tone" over top of the electric/amplified sound:


(Especially the opening guitar)



I'm kind of digging that electric-with-slight-unplugged/acoustic-overtone sound, but it is admittedly a little lo-fi and maybe sounds poorly-recorded to some. Individual mileage varies, I guess, one man's treasure is another man's trash, etc.

 

[drewg]

Completely agree. Any recording/vid where I can hear the acoustic qualities of an electric guitar is very poorly recorded IMO.

I have gigged several times with a Epiphone Casino, but at no point could I hear the acoustics of the guitar over the amp. It would feedback if I let it, but it was easily controllable and not a problem at all.

Interesting. I’ve never recorded a semi-hollowbody guitar, but I must be missing something… What’s the point of having a hollow or semi hollow electric if you can’t hear the acoustic sound through the electric signal? Does a hollow body, gasp, affect electric tone? (Contrary to the wood-affecting-tone naysayers?)

I briefly had a ‘97 Guild Starfire 4. They were pretty hot sounding pups and I didn’t perceive much acoustic tone, though I thought I could in a ‘62 Starfire I tried.

 

[Jakedog]

If I can hear the acoustic sound of my electric guitar on stage, and that’s the volume level for the venue, then I’m playin a place that really shouldn’t have live music, and should focus their elsewhere. And I won’t play there again.

And I’m a guy who does almost 100% of his home practice on an un-amplified electric.

 

[mfguitar]

I never practice at home plugged in and I do understand that sound. Live, we are always loud enough that it is not an issue. I could possibly see where it would fit in a recording situation but not for me.

 

[Peegoo]

@srblue5

Get yourself a guitar that has mag pickups and a piezo pickup. You can blend those tones to your heart's delight.

Does a piezo sound exactly like an acoustic guitar? No--but it's close enough to do the job of adding acoustic sparkle and pop without having to stay glued to a microphone.

The Taylor T5 is a good choice.



For less money, a really good one is the PRS SE Hollowbody II Piezo.

 

[drmordo]

Interesting. I’ve never recorded a semi-hollowbody guitar, but I must be missing something… What’s the point of having a hollow or semi hollow electric if you can’t hear the acoustic sound through the electric signal? Does a hollow body, gasp, affect electric tone? (Contrary to the wood-affecting-tone naysayers?)

I briefly had a ‘97 Guild Starfire 4. They were pretty hot sounding pups and I didn’t perceive much acoustic tone, though I thought I could in a ‘62 Starfire I tried.

There is a difference between hearing the acoustic sound of a plugged-in guitar and the effect of a hollow body guitar on amplified tone.

IMO semis sound the exact same as a solid body.

Full hollow bodies have a very different sound from a solid or semi. They are very midrangy and resonant, and they will feedback at high gain or high volume levels.

That said, you never would hear the unamplified acoustic sound of my Casino on-stage, it's too quiet to be heard over my amp.

 

[drewg]

I reread your post about 10 times, and I think I understand the difference. I wonder now about Guild Starfire iv’s, Gibson 335 and even Thinline telecasters. I would think their semi-hollow body would have some effect on amplified tone (or maybe it’s just the pickups and I’m falling for appearance). But I’m very intrigued by your point that a full hollow body does amplify tone substantially more. I’ve always wanted a vintage Guild Starfire iv, but maybe a Starfire ii (hollow) would be more to my liking, because I gravitate toward acoustic tone. And your Casino sounds intriguing.