Amp mic'ing has never been more fun!

Nerds,


I realize that I may be speaking to a select few of you out there, but how many times have you recorded tracks through your guitar amp and thought to yourself:

"Man, I need help finding a more unique guitar tone, and this copy of Nickleback's Guide to Recording Great Collective Soul-Inspired Guitar Tracks just isn't cuttin' it."

Well, to those select few I say try messin' with the mic'ing.

I know for me, a lot of times I get carried away with types of guitars, amps, speaker configurations, celebrity endorsements and effects, that I can completely overlook the importance mic'ing has on the recorded sound itself...(duh, I know). So fear not, Space Junk is delving into the world of AMP MIC'ING!
Last week Jon Armstrong and I decided to spend a day working on the ambience that one can achieve when properly mic'ing an amp. Jon had just gotten back from a Jet concert and wanted some REVERB for a change! I don't blame him. Granted we probably could have just turned up that little dial on the ol' Twin that says "Reverb" and just recorded that...but that wouldn't have been nearly as much fun nor as interesting, would it? So enough of my writings...I know you want to see the video.

Some quick specs:
-Fender Twin Reverb reissue
-Fender Jazzmaster
-Sennheiser 835 dynamic mic (close mic'd toward the center of the speaker cone
-Rode NT-1A condenser mic (moved to various places for desired effect)

In the video, the audio from the guitar is panned with the Sennheiser on the Right and the Rode on the Left.

Enjoy.





NOTE: It's pretty crazy how much bigger you can get a clean guitar to sound just by putting some space between the mic and the amp! But like Reading Rainbow, don't just take my word for it...(doaw doaw doaw) DIY.

cutawaycurator

Road Trip: The Quest for Silver Tone

Nerds,

Last weekend Space Junk right-hand-man and audiophile, Jon Armstrong and I took a little road trip to Carlinville, IL to pick up Jon's recent acquisition: the 1965 Silvertone Twin Twelve 1484.

If you are familiar with this amp, you know that it's quite a find. If you don't know about this amp (I didn't), this is the amp that has been made famous again by Jack White (The White Strips, Raconteurs, and whatever). It is known for its super unique break up, yet distinctive "American" tone. Jon and I were eager to hear for ourselves! So while at Carlinville's Doc Parker's music store, we really put this Silvertone through its paces...and this thing ROARS!

Check it out!

Needless to say, Jon has some major plans for this amp, so stay tuned.

As always, great work, Jon!

cutawaycurator

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ALEX!

Today is the birthday of SPACE JUNK friend and local bass ripper Alex Hammond. If you know Alex then you already know that he's probably the nicest dude you have ever met or ever will meet. If you don't know Alex, don't be surprised if you meet him on a plane, at a Starbucks (while he dances to GummiBar in his head, waiting for his chai), or really any major metropolitan area - seriously, I can't tell you how many stories I've heard of someone I know meeting the "A-Man" somehow in Michigan, New York, Colorado, Iowa, Germany, and California, just to name a few. What can I say? He's everywhere. But aside from his overall nicety and supposed omnipresence, the dude is an amazing musician. You should hear him play the bass, guitar, drums, whatever he can get his hands on. The dude is just talented. Not to mention, he has probably the most unique collection of gear in the tri-state area...so expect to hear from Alex in future SPACE JUNK happenings.

Happy birthday, the A-Man.

cutawaycurator

EMAILS!

Space Junk answers your emails...so write us!

EMAIL SPACE JUNK

cutaway curator

One Man, One Mic

The background tracks were done via computer composing software. The drums and bass were recorded as you see it here, with a Shure Beta58.


DIY!,


Stay Tuned,
cutawaycurator

For Your Knowing - A Public Service Announcement

Space Junk is proud to bring you the following Public Service Announcement.

cutawaycurator

Write "The Junk"

Nerds,

Questions, Comments, Just bored?

We here at Space Junk want to hear from you!

Every week we will answer your emails!

So write us!

EMAIL SPACE JUNK

photo by: Michael Worful

Weekend Recording Session

Nerds,

Some photos from a weekend recording session. That's all for now.

CutawayCurator

A True Companion

Nerds,

About a month ago I was in Kansas City and I went to a thrift store called "2nd Chance" or "2nd Wind" or something about second whatever. Anyway, I found this awesome little organ. An Orcoa Companion Organ made in Italy. All the keys worked and it came in a really cool case. I had to have it! So I spent $50 on it and brought it home. Here are some photos and video of it (with HQ audio).

Start being jealous.

cutaway curator