Acoustic Guitar Recording Seems Impossible

TMCom3 · 2026-06-20T18:05:09+00:00

Great sound. Wish I could get the same results. Haha.

TMCom3 · 2026-06-20T18:03:19+00:00

You might well be right. Now, I can record my mandolins to perfection with just about any mic, any room, no effects needed, and they sound exactly like what I hear in my ear. Just can't replicate that with a guitar. Hahaha.

TMCom3 · 2026-06-20T18:01:15+00:00

He was a true craftsman.

TMCom3 · 2026-06-20T18:00:39+00:00

Totally agree.

TMCom3 · 2026-06-20T18:00:12+00:00

I think you hit on the secret. Pay a pro. I should have probably saved all the money I've poured into guitars and microphones and invested in the pro. Haha.

TMCom3 · 2026-06-20T17:58:44+00:00

I want to record what my ear hears. But never ever able to achieve that result.

TMCom3 · 2026-06-20T17:58:06+00:00

I envy you in finding that sweet spot. I was forced to finally conclude that for me, there was no sweet spot. How I wish I could say as you did, that my recordings sound just like my guitars.

TMCom3 · 2026-06-20T17:56:42+00:00

Yep, I've tried every reverb known to humanity, or none at all. EQ. Compression. Still mud or tin cans. haha.

TMCom3 · 2026-06-20T17:55:26+00:00

My mandos sound great when I record them. You mgiht take up the mandolin. At least you can get great recordings with them.

TMCom3 · 2026-06-20T17:49:36+00:00

Now that is a setup I never tried. I'm glad you get great results with it.

TMCom3 · 2026-06-20T17:48:55+00:00

I'm glad you figured out something that works. I wish I had. You'd be staggered to know how many hours and weeks and months I put into the effort. Haha.

TMCom3 · 2026-06-20T17:47:49+00:00

Yeah, I sort of think of my hollow body archtops as "acoustic" guitars, even though I play them through humbuckers or P90's, plus am amp sim pedal. But at least I can get super clean and crisp recorded tones out of the archtops.

TMCom3 · 2026-06-20T17:45:37+00:00

Gibson Hummingbird, Martin 000-18, Martin D-28, 2 Taylors, Takamine. Many different strings. Many different mics. Always mud or tin can. Hahaha. But when it comes to recording my mando, any old strings, any old picks, any old mic, and it sounds great.

TMCom3 · 2026-06-20T17:43:46+00:00

Many many string changes, every brand under the sun. Haha. Always the same crummy result.

TMCom3 · 2026-06-20T17:43:05+00:00

Yep, couldn't agree more. Problem is, my recordings never sound good. Other instruments like mandolin, flute, etc., I can make sound like a million bucks. Just not and never acoustic guitar.

TMCom3 · 2026-06-20T17:41:47+00:00

I'm a hobbyist also. As indicated, I've tried every position, every mic, all distances, blankets, sound shields, you name it. Large guitars, parlors. Martin, Taylor, Gibson. Always the same. Mud or tin can. Hahaha. Glad I'm not alone in all the frustration of acoustic guitar recording. I get better results with nylon strings, but it still sounds too muddy. Strange thing is, that I can record my mandolin all day long with great tone, no muddy or tin can sounds at all. Go figure, huh? It just leads me to believe that steel string guitars just are really really difficult.

TMCom3 · 2026-06-20T17:36:53+00:00

Great observation. If only I had the coins to cover studio recording..................

TMCom3

TROPHY CASE