Recording acoustic guitar

[lonestarparis]

Every time I hear a professional recording I get frustrated! How do they make an acoustic guitar sound so beautiful and yet so compact??
When I record an acoustic guitar it sounds o.k. but no more than that. So I usually end up with two tracks panned hard left and right. I'm getting so bored with that.
Do they use a special type of mike or a clever EQ tric?
Thanks
Peter

[kestral]

Have you tried recording with two mics? One mic like a SM57 pointing a little away from the soundhole and another mic (a large diaphragm condenser) as an "ambient mic"?

[lonestarparis]

I used only the large condenser. Thanks for your suggestion.

[where02190]

A pair of AKG C-414B-ULS in omni mode, about 18-24" from the guitar, one pointing at the 12th fret at about a 30 degree inward angle, and slightly upangle, the other pointing at the bridge, same 30 degree inward angle, vertically centered midway between the botom fo the bridge and the bottom of the body. Roll off both mics at 150hz, pan hard l/r.
Run it through some decent pres (my preference is a pair of HHB Radius 10 pres into a pair of Distressors at 2:1 medium fast attack, medium release on the low, fast on the hi mic, about 2-3db of max reduction.).
If you have good player, guitar and room, you can't miss.

[lonestarparis]

Kestral,
Today I tried your suggestion. It's a major improvement and saves me a lot of time. Thanks.

Where02190,
You're talking real money here.. No doubt, it will sound spectacular, but I can't spend that much at the moment. Thanks anyway.

(Is this double miking also useful for recording electric guitar?)

[where02190]

You can rent a pair of 414's for about 460/day.

I foten double mic electric guitars, using a combinations of Rode NTK's, Sennheiser e609's and 57's. I like ot mic essentially the same spot, where the surround meets the cone. One mic gives me thickness, the other definition. I fine tune the time alignment when mixing. While not necessary, if you have the mics and the tracks, it can make for a very phat sound.

[lonestarparis]

Where02190
Thanks for the input. You sure know a lot about these things and it's great that you're willing to share your experience. I couldn't help noticing: you have 8035 posts to your name. You're a member of this forum since July 2001. That's an average of more than 5 posts a day..!!??
You should write a book about these things and make a fortune. I'd be the first to buy a copy.

[where02190]

I'll let ya knwo when it's finished....maybe I should jsut print and publish my posts?

[lonestarparis]

I have one more question for you, if you don't mind.
On many pro recordings the leadvocals sound so very bright. Is that the type of mike they're using or a tric with fx / eq?

[where02190]

Both.