High end guitar through AMP modeler?

[Cuzzin Chizzy]

I was thinking about getting a high quality guitar for recording to improve my tone however I will be running it through an amp modeler as my recording setup and living arrangements do not jive with cranking up and putting a mic on an amp.

Would it be worth buying a high quality guitar in this case?

My guess is yes because the sounds source would be better, but it would be better to get some opinions by people who have done something similar than to just shell out a bunch of money on something that I'm not quite sure on.

[Bill@WelcomeHome]

I have a couple of amp sims, a couple of digital floor boxes with cab emulation, and a couple of high quality and vintage amps.

All of my guitars are either vintage or high quality.

Nothing is as good as the boutique amps. With a vintage guitar/boutique amp/boutique effects, the tone and touch shine through. Everything else is like throwing a carpet over the tone.

Amp sims are not all alike, and I'm no expert in them. I use them when I need to. I would not want to own a crummy guitar, I am spoiled.

So if I were you I'd buy the guitar just because.

[tonedimension]

Just my two-cents as a guitar player. Don't buy the instrument with the sole expectation that it will improve your guitar tones. If you want the guitar and you actually connect with the instrument on some level then get it. The amp sims won't kill your creativity. To the contrary, they should give you some extra creative fuel. If you have some killer stuff that cries out for real amps, then hire someone like Michael Wagener to reamp (or RealAmp as Michael calls it) your tracks. He has many killer amps and mic's as well as a proper room to crank up the volume (if that's what is called for). He also knows a thing or two about recording guitar.

Just another opinion on amp sims. I think that amp sims, when they are done well, can sit in a mix just fine. Sometimes they may not be perfect, but then again boutique or vintage don't always sit right. With an amp sim you have the option of tweaking the track after it's recorded. The physical amp, or even a POD-type external device, do not offer the same flexibility. Finding great tones is finding great tones. Whether it's an amp sim or boutique/vintage physical amplifier, dialing in a great tone for the song is the thing.

I'm pretty sure that was more than two-cents...

Good luck!

[scro_tum]

I have several 'high quality' guitars and I play them through both an amp sim and a mesa tube amp. Both have their benefits. With the amp sim I can record at much lower volume levels, and easily record in stereo. Also I can program my midi foot controller to do all sorts of cool effects. Recording w/ the tube amp is a little more involved, however, I have found that, generally, tracks recorded this way are much easier to fit into a mix. You will never stop looking for better tone; a new guitar isn't going to change that. I have six of them, and my tone only improves/has improved when I am playing ALOT (hours per day).

[lord preset]

Regardless of whether you use sims or real amps, the more overdriven and processed the guitar is the less the underlying tone of the guitar matters to the end result. If you are going for mostly clean to slightly overdriven tones with few effects then a better guitar will shine through. On a side note I have found that some guitars just don't do well with amp sims. I have a Gretsch with TV Jones PUs that I love live but it sounds horrendously bad through every sim I have tried. Not sure why that is but I've given up trying to make it work and just use it with real amps.

[steverino]

Don't forget Impulse Responses... some of the free ones out there are pretty good...

[Plugin]

Why not? You've answered your own question. Your sound is only as good as the source, be it the guitar or you!

[rogerdodger]

hi end coffee dripped through toilet paper.

[traumerei1838]

Yes.

I like my metal. I'm an ESP kinda guy.

My roommate has a ******** nice Gibson L4.

They sound totally different through the amp sims, and the L4 in particular sounds AMAZING. We can nail ANY motown, Jackson 5, jazz, blues with his L4 through Apogee mini me into Softube amp room.

And yeah of course I can do any metal leads with the ESP

This is a joke I whipped up but check out the gtr solo. Softube amp room.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=oeO9tXbtji0

[Bassmec]

Originally Posted by Plugin

Why not? You've answered your own question. Your sound is only as good as the source, be it the guitar or you!

Not sure quite how artificial this guitard software gets these days, does it help
if its Wii compatible?.
[IMG]******//techcityinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/logitech-wireless-guitar-controller.jpg[/IMG]

[kittonian]

While nothing will substitute for a great amp, a great guitar, and a great guitar player in an amazing room, you can certainly get some pretty awesome guitar sounds from amp sims these days, especially Avid's Eleven plugin.

There are quite a few times when I'm doing pre-production with an artist that I'll use my REDDI into either my 1073 or Pacifica running the Eleven TDM plugin and get amazing sounds. In fact, there are a lot of times where those recordings end up being used in the final mix.

I will say that having a great guitar (Fender, Les Paul, etc.) and a great player definitely makes a big difference, as does the front end (DI, preamp, converter, etc.). I've had plenty of experiences with people using low end gear on the front end, where amp sims sounded terrible. Use a great front end and those same amp sims sound amazing.

[popmann]

Well, I have no use for amp sims...BUT...a better guitar always sounds better. Is it diminished returns to buy a Custom Shop Strat to plug into a modeller. Yes. But, better is better. Even if it is like the coffee analogy above--that's still better than Folgers through the toilet paper.

[Arichlsss]

^ true but take off the toilet paper and drink folders........ verses Starbucks through toilet paper.

Cheaper guitar with tube amp will win out for me every time if you've got a sm 57. Then you could use stereo effects in GR or eleven.

Note: the guitar must stay in tune and have good intonation though. If your dealing with this get another guitar first.

Good cheap amps

Epiphone Jr. (especially w/ mercury mod) 150$ with mod 400$

Fender hot rod deluxe 300

[mintytowel]

I have tons of cool amps and vintage guitars/basses. I prefer a real amp in general, but I have a $225 Ibanez Art Core that for some reason records absolutely amazing. I have no idea if I just got lucky, or if they all sound so good. I consistently choose it over some of the guitars I have they make my friends totally jealous.

I say look around for something that makes the way you play sound real good, try a bunch of different guitars. A buddy of mine with a super high end PRS chose the Ibanez over his guitar as well. He came intro my studio bragging about how good his guitar sounded and then left tail between his legs that a $225 guitar destroyed his sonically. As a matter of fact his guitar didnt make any of the recordings. All of my guitars worked better in the tracks than his.

By no means am I saying go out and buy this cheap guitar, because a lot of people seem to hate them. Just showing that its not just all about spending money.

As far as amp sims, the Ibanez also eats my near mint 1969 Gold Top Les Paul with P90's for lunch when playing thru the sims in waves or eleven......Go figure!

[bogosort]

Save your money. I think you'll be disappointed with the difference in tone between a $2000 electric guitar and a $200 one going into an amp sim. The playability difference will be huge, but the tone out of an amp sim won't be night and day.

More cost efficient would be to get better pickups for your cheap guitar.

[popmann]

Cheaper guitar with tube amp will win out for me every time if you've got a sm 57.

Don't disagree with that. FWIW. Except the 57 part...yuck...but, still better...

Yeah, I don't know about buying the guitar JUST for the tonal improvement...I mean, I guess I'm also a guitar player, right--I'd rather play a better axe though, you know-anything. Better intonation...feel...less "weird" frequencies from the PUs...and, then you could take it and play it through an amp at the gig, right? I just--a good player should be able to appreciate a good axe...F recording quality...I mean...if you're buying a guitar JUST for better guitar tones on record, you're gonna be disappointed.

[guitarz]

Just buy a Suhr Modern and never think of another guitar again!

[ambienttales]

My experience with Guitar>direct to amp (or with stomp box's prior to amp and also using effects loop

and using a Atomic Reactor 18 watt 1x10 Tube Slave amp
(with a Amp modeler in the"dock" of this set up
a Line 6 PodXt, Vox Tone Lab (desk top unit)

The tube slave amp (with 12AX7 and EL6's) ?
and amp modlere really gets rid of the 'digital" or amp modeler sound (imo) and was worth the purchase
Putting a Amp Modeler in front of a amp (tube or solid state) will color the amps sound and it will sound muddy
unless using only effects

I also useGuitar> stomp boxes>in to Atomic Reactor with which ever unit in and it a good sound

I am not a pro not even close
Best Guitar I have bought used a Gibson Blueshawk
followed by a Epiphone Elitist 57' Goldtop MIJ with (?Gibson Parts) but sounds great, have a Line6 Variax 500
a PRS SE Tremonti (platinum color) *should have sold that and cashed out during Gibson's first win and prices soared as PRS could not make them and used prices almost doubled new cost (on occasion)

I like Electro-Harmonix Effects and a Seymour Duncan Shape Shifter and a Boss SL-20 Slicer pedal wise
like to use a MIDI keyboard as well
just my two cents or 3
peace