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How changing strings effects your recordings...
by Derek Dawson
We all know that the occasional string change is common routine for most guitarists and bassists. But just how much of a difference the new strings makes can be difficult to measure. Sure, we can string up our guitar and hear an apparent improvement in tone, but it's hard to compare the sonic differences with the old strings with them being in the trash can.
When recording in the studio or at home, we all want to squeeze the best possible sound out of our instruments, and often times reach for new strings. Or sometimes we get finished recording our guitar and bass tracks only to wonder how much better the recording would have turned out if we had put new strings on first. So how does a set of fresh strings translate into the sound you're recording?
I've put together some samples to help give a better understanding of what kind of a difference changing strings can make on a recorded sound. This (semi) scientific side-by-side test uses the same instrument, amp, settings, microphone, placement, cabling, and signal chain on a before and after test of a string change on a Fender squier bass. These samples will show a large contrast between old and new strings, as this old bass had strings that were several years old. Newer strings will likely exhibit less of a noticeable difference, but these samples will give us a good idea.
There are three different simple rock bass riffs all recorded both before and after the string change for variety. The signal chain which remained the same throughout consisted of:
Instrument: Fender squier Bass | New strings: D'Addario Nickel Round Wounds played with a pick
Amplifier: Hughes and Kettner Doutone on overdrive channel into Ampeg SVT-610HLF cabinet (4 ohm)
Signal Chain: Royer R-121 > Vintech 473 > Apogee Rosetta 800 > ProTools > level matched
Old Strings:
Bassline 1
Bassline 2
Bassline 3
New Strings:
Bassline 1
Bassline 2
Bassline 3
While everyone can come to their own conclusion as to the perceived difference in the before and after tones, we are hearing a lot more harmonic content and overtones in the new strings (as is expected). I think the new strings would obviously help the bass cut through the mix better in this style of music.
As an audio engineer, it is important to understand
what effect each change we make will have on the sound that we capture. If we don't know the exact difference that changing strings will make on our recordings, then we are just guessing when we go to reach for them while trying to achieve a particular sound. Changing instruments or mics or amps will surely have an effect on the recording, and now we have something concrete to show what changing strings will sound like, at least in this particular situation. Thanks for listening!
Derek Dawson is the chief engineer at Static Studio, a recording and production facility in San Diego, California. He also authors the Static Newsletter, a periodical studio guide for musicians. Derek can be reached at derek@staticstudio.net.
How changing strings effects your recordings...
by Derek Dawson
We all know that the occasional string change is common routine for most guitarists and bassists. But just how much of a difference the new strings makes can be difficult to measure. Sure, we can string up our guitar and hear an apparent improvement in tone, but it's hard to compare the sonic differences with the old strings with them being in the trash can.
When recording in the studio or at home, we all want to squeeze the best possible sound out of our instruments, and often times reach for new strings. Or sometimes we get finished recording our guitar and bass tracks only to wonder how much better the recording would have turned out if we had put new strings on first. So how does a set of fresh strings translate into the sound you're recording?
I've put together some samples to help give a better understanding of what kind of a difference changing strings can make on a recorded sound. This (semi) scientific side-by-side test uses the same instrument, amp, settings, microphone, placement, cabling, and signal chain on a before and after test of a string change on a Fender squier bass. These samples will show a large contrast between old and new strings, as this old bass had strings that were several years old. Newer strings will likely exhibit less of a noticeable difference, but these samples will give us a good idea.
There are three different simple rock bass riffs all recorded both before and after the string change for variety. The signal chain which remained the same throughout consisted of:
Instrument: Fender squier Bass | New strings: D'Addario Nickel Round Wounds played with a pick
Amplifier: Hughes and Kettner Doutone on overdrive channel into Ampeg SVT-610HLF cabinet (4 ohm)
Signal Chain: Royer R-121 > Vintech 473 > Apogee Rosetta 800 > ProTools > level matched
Old Strings:
Bassline 1
Bassline 2
Bassline 3
New Strings:
Bassline 1
Bassline 2
Bassline 3
While everyone can come to their own conclusion as to the perceived difference in the before and after tones, we are hearing a lot more harmonic content and overtones in the new strings (as is expected). I think the new strings would obviously help the bass cut through the mix better in this style of music.
As an audio engineer, it is important to understand
what effect each change we make will have on the sound that we capture. If we don't know the exact difference that changing strings will make on our recordings, then we are just guessing when we go to reach for them while trying to achieve a particular sound. Changing instruments or mics or amps will surely have an effect on the recording, and now we have something concrete to show what changing strings will sound like, at least in this particular situation. Thanks for listening!
Derek Dawson is the chief engineer at Static Studio, a recording and production facility in San Diego, California. He also authors the Static Newsletter, a periodical studio guide for musicians. Derek can be reached at derek@staticstudio.net.