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ELECTRIC GUITAR
For a balanced sound with plenty of sparkling
high end, position the Spark SL microphone
head facing the guitar neck, right where the
neck joins the body (usually around the 12th–14th
frets). For starters, keep the mic as close to the guitar as
possible and tilt the capsule (microphone head) toward the
soundhole to capture a blend of low-end and pick sound.
If you need more low-end sound, move the microphone
closer to the soundhole. For more high-end detail, move the
Spark SL farther from the guitar, either at the same neck
position, or above the instrument up by the guitarists head.
To make your acoustic guitar recordings sound thick, rich,
and luxurious, try double tracking, a process of recording
the same part twice (or even more times), on separate
tracks. Experiment with panning the different tracks to
different sides of the mix to find a sound that’s just right for
your artistic needs. Engage the high-pass filter as necessary
to make sure low frequency and subsonic rumble don’t
compromise the headroom of your guitar track.
ACOUSTIC GUITAR
To create a clean recorded
electric guitar, such as those used
in genres like country and jazz,
position the Spark SL capsule in
the center of the speaker cone to capture
more highs, or move the capsule toward
the edge of the cone for a fuller sound with
more low-end frequencies. For overdriven
or distorted tones, used in genres such as
rock or metal, place the Spark SL close to
the amplifier and move the mic toward the
outer edge of the cone. Engage the high-pass
filter and/or -20dB pad as necessary. Or, for
a more lively sound, back the Spark SL away
from the amp a foot or more to add in a little
room sound (room sound is the inherent
reverberation you get from the room, which
adds liveliness) and soften the extreme high-
end frequencies.
