Quality Budget Gear Ep. 02: Instruments
Since we’re on a budget, we need to make sure we’re getting the most out of the gear we already have.
There is huge bang for your buck here. Getting the sounds exactly right, coming from the source, always works best!
A cheaper guitar that has a great fresh setup, perfect action, intonation, electrics, and new strings can sound comparable to a much more expensive instrument that’s been tossed into the back of a van with no case.
Keep those instruments in tip top shape! As much as possible, but certainly when it’s recording time!
Exactly what you should do depends on the exact instrument we’re talking about, but here are some basics:
fresh strings, perhaps broken in just a bit.
A great setup by a trusted local. Ask around for the best techs and pay a little extra for them. Guitar Center is not a reliable resource for instrument setups.
Fresh drum heads, freshly tuned, and new sticks.
You want steady intonation on string instruments that doesn’t drift. Tune strings often.
You want your guitar action to be nice and responsive, but no string buzz. The exact action you’ll like is often a matter of personal preference.
Amps should be making the noises you want them to make, and nothing else.
Instrument cables should be free of shorts, buzzes, and in good working order. Keep a spare cable in your case b/c they always break at inconvenient times.
Use a case please! Even a soft case will keep things from getting knocked around and throwing your setup off.
Instrument electronics should be in good working order, again only making the noises you want.
Some exceptions:
If there is some sort of innate junky character to a junky instrument you want to capture. An old tuba, or a honky tonk piano, for example.
Cleaner sounds do not always = better sounds. But, generally, predictable and/or intentional noise tends to work best.
Random static and buzzes creeping in will fit certain styles, for sure, but can also get in the way in some situations.
How you approach noise can (and sometimes should) differ between your studio recordings and live shows.
