Recording Classical Guitar

While it's not "classical guitar" per se, if you check out the Narada and Windham Hill labels, they both have extensive catalogues that feature loads of guitar players doing the solo thing.  My personal fav... Doyle Dykes!  This guy started out young as a guitarist with Grampa Jones on the Grand Ole Opry!  He is unbelieveable!!  

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YES!!!  Doyle Dykes is the man!  I mean, anyone who has their own signature model Taylor...

His song "On the Wings of Morning" from the Sounds of Wood and Steel CD (Taylor Guitars) is the most inspiring (and humbling) solo guitar piece I have ever heard.  "Jazz in the Box" has somewhat the same effect.  All can say is WOW!

Josh

Sounds of Wood and Steel CD (Taylor Guitars)  

I've got one of those, but it's must not be the same one.  The Dykes song on mine is "Nothings Too Good For a Friend".  It also has some other monster players on there.  (Stevie Stevens... that's right of Billy Idol/Def Leopard fame) doing a serious classical piece called Sadhanna.  And.. let us not forget Michael Hedges, who I had the good pleasure to meet in Virginia in 85.  Rest his soul!!  

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Oops, yeah, that's the first CD.  I meant to say Sounds of Wood and Steel 2.

The first one was quite amazing as well!

I've been trying to talk SWMBO into buying me his instructional videos for some time now... maybe it will sink in eventually!

Josh

I've trying to talk SWMBO into buying me his instructional videos for some time now...

If your into that sort of thing (and style), you owe it to yourself to investigate Tuck Andress.  He actually started out as a funk guitarist and moved on to a Jazz duo called "Tuck and Patti" (with his wife Patti Cathcart).  They are amazing and he is truely one of the most proficient players I've ever heard in my life!  FWIW, they have about 6 or 7 CD's out and he painsakingly DOESN'T do any overdubs.  That's right everything is a one-off!  Once you hear him, you can appreciate/understand how phenominal he really is!  

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I will definitely look into that.  Sounds awesome!  Especially since I am a funk guitar fan as well!

Josh

I like Shure SM81's on most acoustic guitars, and with a classical guitar, I'd certainly be miking from a little farther out than what you would think normal ... I'd have nothing closer than maybe 24", and depending on the room add a teeny weeny bit of a top notch reverb.  I'd be looking a whole sound, and wouldn't think much about stereo micing ... I may use a couple of mics but there wouldn't be a lot of panning going on.

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Alright Voodoo,

On your recommendation, I just purchased a couple of Oktava MK012's.  (WOOOHOOOO!)  I have a couple of large diaphragm condensers that I think will work as well, but I didn't yet own any small diaphragms.  When this is over, assuming I make enough money on the project (I should), I'm going to buy a Studio Projects C1.

What preamp(s) do you guys recommend?  What brand of mic and/or instrument cables do you guys prefer?

Thanks everyone!

Josh

[using]

Well Josh, I hope you enjoy them like I do mine!  However, it wasn't a recommendation..  In your initial post, you stated..... "I was just wondering if any of you guys have any tips about what mics you like to use, mic placement, EQ, Reverb, or anything else that might be useful."  That's what I'm using.  The only reason I make this comment is because someone (over on the Synt forum) asked a similiar question.   I mentioned liking the Oktava 219's and considered them a great "bang for the buck" product.  They went out and got some and experienced a troubling hum.  I genuinely felt bad for them, but I personally didn't experience the same thing.  That is why I'm kinda hesitant to "outright" recommend equipment purchases.  Sure.. I'll always throw out what I LIKE and use.  I do think you'll like the 012's... MINE rock!!!  

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Sure.  I completely understand.  I love my MXL 2001, but I'm sure there are better mics out there.  Mine just fits what I'm doing.

I'm sure these 012s are gonna be great!  If nothing else, having multiple patterns to choose from will sure be nice!

Josh

Like I said... I love mine and I've done all sorts of things with them.  Besides the acoustic guitar, I've recorded an Alto sax, mandolin and 3 singers, singing backup (using 2 in an X/Y configuration).  I'll eventually get around to some other sources.

The Soundblaster Live! card has some DSP settings which include a reverb
(I forgot which one) that is great for classical guitar.  If you can get a hold
of one, I would take an impulse, pass it through that reverb setting and
produce a convolution file.

If you could remind me of the names of the Live! reverb presets, I could
tell you which one it is.  It is the one with reverb length of 4321 ms.

Good Lord - someone has finally found a use for a SoundBlaster  

Good Lord - someone has finally found a use for a SoundBlaster  

...besides a doorstop!

   

"Auditorium" has 4.32 decay.  Damn, there goes my forum cred again.

- Unsigned