Goo Goo Dolls acoustic guitar sound

[MichaelT]

I know there's probably been different guitars/mics/pres/techniques involved with their acoustic guitar sounds over the years. It seems every time I think about the ideal acoustic guitar sound for my tastes I keep coming back to their stuff. I'm talking mostly about what I love in their strumming sound, but all suggestions are welcome. I think my main curiosity would be the mic(s) used if anyone happens to know.

So if you happen to know exactly what they used, or know what you used when you ended up getting an acoustic guitar sound just like theirs, I'd love to know! Thanks for any suggestions

-Mike

BTW, their song "Black Balloon" is a good example of what I'm after, along with "Name" and "Give a Little Bit."

[bpatural]

A lot of their vibe is using funky open tunings.
-brian

[Rogervandeberg]

I also think that most of the sound comes from the unusual tunings. But maybe you can also layer with a 12-string acoustic for getting the vibe.

[Dot]

You could use any number of mics/pres/studios and it would still come out the same. John Rzeznik playing acoustic guitar is the "technique" they use to get that sound.

[elambo]

Yes, it is primarily the tunings, and the fact that it's probably stacked a few times to thicken the sound.

The Goo Goo Dolls now have an amazing guitarist, Greg Suran, who is the 4th person you see in the documentary video they did in Alaska this past year. Greg is a monster player - one of the best - and has a great all around ear for music. He has a lot to do with what you're hearing on Give A Little Bit and the new album. I've recorded Greg many times and I can tell you that the mic has very little to do with it. He'd sound great if you record him with your laptop microphone.

As for the other tunes you mentioned - much of it is the open tunings, and the fact that they tend to use very good engineers.

Also, the guitars might have something to do with the sound - they favor Gibsons, but Guilds pop up a lot also (Greg has a great sounding D55).

[TML]

wow...I thought it might be that rzezsnik was a boy toy who couldn't sing or play to save his life .....so he happen'd on the open tuning thing.....glad to hear they are legitimate with a great team of session players...
tim

[shack jonz]

Originally Posted by TML

wow...I thought it might be that rzezsnik was a boy toy who couldn't sing or play to save his life .....so he happen'd on the open tuning thing.....glad to hear they are legitimate with a great team of session players...
tim

I was waiting for a response like this...so predictable. Please let us hear the jems you've been churning out.

[rsolinski]

I love the Goo Goo Dolls ..good catchy tunes!... but I hate their sound..too modern rock crunchy-mid rangey..the acoutic guitars seem thin to me..but to each his own. Of course I say that about alot of stuff I hear..I guess I am just getin old...

[desol]

Originally Posted by shack jonz

I was waiting for a response like this...so predictable. Please let us hear the jems you've been churning out.

lol.

[eyesore]

Originally Posted by Dot

You could use any number of mics/pres/studios and it would still come out the same. John Rzeznik playing acoustic guitar is the "technique" they use to get that sound.

Originally Posted by elambo

He'd sound great if you record him with your laptop microphone.

Prove it!!

We hear this bullcrap constantly, but I've never heard a recording to give any credibility to it. Take your built-in laptop mic and record a whole song with it and show the world how 'good players' can transcend the laws of physics. Maybe y'all elite engineers won't be able to hear the difference, but I guarantee the public will be able to, right down to a small child.

Stop insulting our intelligence.

Thank you.

[thethrillfactor]

Originally Posted by MichaelT

-Mike

BTW, their song "Black Balloon" is a good example of what I'm after"

Three letters...JJP.

[TML]

"I was waiting for a response like this...so predictable. Please let us hear the jems you've been churning out."

I saw them live.... before Bon Jovi ...stripped down maybe 98...he didn't sing well or have any feel....I've heard this from countless other people as well.
Tim

ps. I like some of their tunes. Too bad it seems they've run out of gas and are covering songs by bands that ran out of gas..........ie...Smashmouth.

[MichaelT]

Originally Posted by thethrillfactor

Three letters...JJP.

Thanks for the responses guys! It makes sense to me that JJP would have something to do with it, as he also mixed some Switchfoot songs that have a similar acoustic sound (so much so I almost mentioned one in my first post). I'm not saying this sound is my ideal sound for every single acoustic guitar track I do, but I tend to write songs that cater to it a lot in my mind.

-Mike

[sleep over jack]

i hear a lot of similarity between the goo's guitar sounds and dashboard confessional's. most of it is the open tunings they both use. but i'm wondering if there's any direct mixed in w/ the goo's sound like there is w/ dashboard...

[DeeDrive]

In regards to the open tuning thing, I think it's the guitar player's goal to only have to use 1 finger at time while playing his songs. You'd think he lost 4 fingers in the war or something.

[Oats]

i like the sound too-- but there are alot of great acoustic sounds out there. i also feel that the technique has alot to do with it-- but i don't think u can just record on anything. i got a good sound on a record recently by micing where the neck and body are joined with a ldc angled a little toward the sound hole and CLOSE-- like 1-2" from the fret board. hard to play that way without bumping the mic-- but it sounds good-- esp since i was using a takamine. i like gibson acoustics better-- very rock n roll. oh the mic i used is a custom ldc tube mic made by a guy in nashville goin thru a neve 1272-- apogee-- DAW.

[AcousTronic]

Originally Posted by eyesore

Prove it!!

We hear this bullcrap constantly, but I've never heard a recording to give any credibility to it. Take your built-in laptop mic and record a whole song with it and show the world how 'good players' can transcend the laws of physics. Maybe y'all elite engineers won't be able to hear the difference, but I guarantee the public will be able to, right down to a small child.

Stop insulting our intelligence.

Thank you.

Chill man... He was just making a point, not to be taken literal.

Of course you need top notch mic and pre, a good room, a well made/balanced instrument, and an engineer that can bring out the best of the sound... But if you have a shit player, odds are it's gonna sound like shit.

[Alexi]

Originally Posted by eyesore

Prove it!!

We hear this bullcrap constantly, but I've never heard a recording to give any credibility to it. Take your built-in laptop mic and record a whole song with it and show the world how 'good players' can transcend the laws of physics. Maybe y'all elite engineers won't be able to hear the difference, but I guarantee the public will be able to, right down to a small child.

Stop insulting our intelligence.

Thank you.

wtf man chill out...

[sleep over jack]

Originally Posted by DeeDrive

In regards to the open tuning thing, I think it's the guitar player's goal to only have to use 1 finger at time while playing his songs. You'd think he lost 4 fingers in the war or something.

actually, it's for chord voicing. apparently rzeznik is much further ahead on guitar than you are. fuuck

[TML]

If he was that far ahead of us on guitar he would have played the right chords on "wish you were here" during the 911 benefit!!

[DeeDrive]

Originally Posted by sleep over jack

actually, it's for chord voicing. apparently rzeznik is much further ahead on guitar than you are. fuuck

Thanks for the wonderful info. Yes, we all know that the Goo Goo Dolls would be out on the street if every song didn't have a billion suspended chords in it. I was just saying that if you played any of his songs, i.e. name, slide...it's mostly moving one finger around on the fretboard. Real brilliant. But I guess know-it-all dumb****s like you are impressed by that. Stop making an ass of yourself. fuuck fuuck fuuck

[six_wax]

silly me, I read all the way through this thinking I might learn something about producing acoustic guitar tracks...

[TML]

"silly me, I read all the way through this thinking I might learn something about producing acoustic guitar tracks...
Today 07:09 PM "



you did...make sure the singers a boy toy....and the studio has auto tune...done deal....
Tim

[jonnyclueless]

Originally Posted by six_wax

silly me, I read all the way through this thinking I might learn something about producing acoustic guitar tracks...

The secret is in finding the right amps and pedals. Also when recording acoustics, avoid those fancy floyd rose tremelos.

[rewt_]

Originally Posted by eyesore

Prove it!!

We hear this bullcrap constantly, but I've never heard a recording to give any credibility to it. Take your built-in laptop mic and record a whole song with it and show the world how 'good players' can transcend the laws of physics. Maybe y'all elite engineers won't be able to hear the difference, but I guarantee the public will be able to, right down to a small child.

Stop insulting our intelligence.

Thank you.

amen.. would you all stfu already?

[tomwehrle]

Originally Posted by TML

I saw them live.... before Bon Jovi ...stripped down maybe 98...he didn't sing well or have any feel....I've heard this from countless other people as well.
Tim

Wow, one of my two all time best concerts I've ever been to is a Goo Goo Dolls show back in the summer of like 00 I'm guessing...my fav was an acousitc show by Michael W Smith around 1994 I think, I dont think I'll see a better show then that.

[bobwarren]

Originally Posted by six_wax

silly me, I read all the way through this thinking I might learn something about producing acoustic guitar tracks...

Well, you learned you could make a lucrative career out of playing open chords with a marginal voice and have it produce harsh criticism.

[velvetgeorge]

I snapped a few pics of John and Brad's gear last week. John just bought one of my amps.

The acoustic chain is all Chandler stuff. Awesome. It's sounded great.

Great show too. The FOH sound was terrific. I could tell when the delay setting on guitar changed. Even with 3 ele guitars playing on stage.

pics here:

MetroAmp :: View topic - John Rzeznik's gear



george

[Schmacko]

Originally Posted by velvetgeorge

I snapped a few pics of John and Brad's gear last week. John just bought one of my amps.

The acoustic chain is all Chandler stuff. Awesome. It's sounded great.

Great show too. The FOH sound was terrific. I could tell when the delay setting on guitar changed. Even with 3 ele guitars playing on stage.

pics here:

MetroAmp :: View topic - John Rzeznik's gear



george

There aren't any pic's in that thread :(

[velvetgeorge]

Sorry about that. I always forget that you have to log in to view pics on my forum. I'll try to post them here later tonight.


EDIT: I changed permissions so anyone can see pics and download files.


george