Signature tone or change it up?

Former Rogues

Former Rogues

Sep 22, 2016
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Oslo
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#1
I've been playing, gigging and recording in a groove metal/modern metal band for over a year now. Some of my musician friends, strangers at gigs and even the mixing engineer we work with (sound production student at NOROFF in Oslo) have been complimenting my tone. I don't think I do anything special, other than EQ my rig around the other guitarists, but I guess you could say I have found a 'signature' tone over the last year.

We are going back into the 'studio' to track more songs we have already written and I wanted to here opinions. What do we all think about sticking to a 'signature tone' versus changing things up and keeping tones fresh?

Also, I would appreciate comments/opinions/suggestions on my current tone, and whether I should stick with it or not.

Sound samples:




My current gear and setup:
Schecter Stargazer 5 in drop C > TC Hypergravity Comp in multiband mode > assortment of dirt pedals with parallel dry signal > Two Notes CAB 18" IR > Reverb/delay > MXR 10 band EQ

My dirt pedals:
- Empress Multidrive a) Overdrive b)Fuzz/Distortion in low pass/high pass setting
- B3K clone pedal
- DOD Boneshaker (for the really heavy stuff)

We record in a few places, tracking guitars/bass at home, vocals at a film studio, and drums where we can (the drummer also does some sample replacement).

What about you? Have you found your signature tone or do you like to have something new?
 
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#2
Digging the vibe. Cool.
IMO, your tone fits the song/genre. Maybe bump up the low end like +0.5 or 1 even during mixdown. Nothing crazy, just a tad.
With few exceptions, I think a "signature" tone should be the standard. A recording sets the stage for playing live to a point.
I would look at FX/changing EQs as a way to enhance/shape the "signature" tone. It's "you" but with a dash of spice.
Again, digging the song.
 
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#4
Turbo Sparky said:
Digging the vibe. Cool.
IMO, your tone fits the song/genre. Maybe bump up the low end like +0.5 or 1 even during mixdown. Nothing crazy, just a tad.
With few exceptions, I think a "signature" tone should be the standard. A recording sets the stage for playing live to a point.
I would look at FX/changing EQs as a way to enhance/shape the "signature" tone. It's "you" but with a dash of spice.
Again, digging the song.
Click to expand...
Funny you mention bumping the volume in final mix down. I've always been telling our mixer to lower me by about 1dB in the mixing stage. I think we have different monitor responses; at least very different listening environments. Since my bass sound really emphasizes the low range to add girth to the guitars, I feel it can easily dominate the mix if set too loud. That was the problem with our very first single, Slaves to the Ecosphere.

In that song, we were rushed and didn't do as good a job with the recording process and mix down. At least we learned a lot, but that song is BASS HEAVY.

Also a good idea about using something else to flavour the tone (ie, another EQ pedal). For now, I have an active bass and do use the bass/treble pots a lot within and between songs when playing live.

@bass40hz Nothing wrong with processing. My whole rig uses the Boss ES-8, and I have a ton of digital pedals for the weird effects. Our guitarist is a Kemper user, so he and I are always dialling in bizarre, ambient and noise sounds for our songs as well. Glad you found your tone after so much searching.
 
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#5
Former Rogues said:
Funny you mention bumping the volume in final mix down. I've always been telling our mixer to lower me by about 1dB in the mixing stage. I think we have different monitor responses; at least very different listening environments. Since my bass sound really emphasizes the low range to add girth to the guitars, I feel it can easily dominate the mix if set too loud. That was the problem with our very first single, Slaves to the Ecosphere.

In that song, we were rushed and didn't do as good a job with the recording process and mix down. At least we learned a lot, but that song is BASS HEAVY.

Also a good idea about using something else to flavour the tone (ie, another EQ pedal). For now, I have an active bass and do use the bass/treble pots a lot within and between songs when playing live.

@bass40hz Nothing wrong with processing. My whole rig uses the Boss ES-8, and I have a ton of digital pedals for the weird effects. Our guitarist is a Kemper user, so he and I are always dialling in bizarre, ambient and noise sounds for our songs as well. Glad you found your tone after so much searching.
Click to expand...
Noted. Laptops don't have the best speakers LOL. Definitely not studio monitors. A flange here, a little delay there, some dirt a bit...just a spice, a pinch. IMO you're on it. Good Luck!
 
#7
I'm not a metal fan so don't listen to a lot of it but can honestly say that this is the first time I have heard the bass properly. Stick with the sound you have

I listened through a moderate amp and speakers (2+1 system) hooked up to my laptop and also think that the bass could do to be a little higher in the mix.
 
#8
bassbrad said:
I am in agreement your collective tone is part of the creation of your band and should not be changed for the recording. That said I always advise recording dry tracks along with processed tracks.
Click to expand...
99% of the time I take a DI signal out from my tuner just as a backup. Completely raw bass signal, however I am yet to use it. It is always wise to have for blending or plugins afterwards but I try to live by 'get it right at the source.'
You can't polish a turd and call it gold. So my hope is the mix engineer never needs to spend hours getting me in the mix, if I get the tone right the first time.
 
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#9
delta7fred said:
I'm not a metal fan so don't listen to a lot of it but can honestly say that this is the first time I have heard the bass properly. Stick with the sound you have

I listened through a moderate amp and speakers (2+1 system) hooked up to my laptop and also think that the bass could do to be a little higher in the mix.
Click to expand...
Thanks delta7fred.
Maybe I am self conscious about dominating the mix, especially when we have a lot happening in some of the songs. But I will keep it in mind to have by bass mixed a bit louder on the next tracks. Seems like a fair few people, both here and in my music circle, have been saying the same thing.
 
#12
I quite like it, I'd suggest you need to be higher in the mix - I need to concetrate to hear you.

It's a good tone, if you're home recording you might have opportunities to experiment with tone options.

If I was doing what you're doing, I'd be really happy with that tone though.
 
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#14
Former Rogues said:
99% of the time I take a DI signal out from my tuner just as a backup. Completely raw bass signal, however I am yet to use it. It is always wise to have for blending or plugins afterwards but I try to live by 'get it right at the source.'
You can't polish a turd and call it gold. So my hope is the mix engineer never needs to spend hours getting me in the mix, if I get the tone right the first time.
Click to expand...
Absolutely, it's that 1 time you don't follow normal practice that you miss the jewel in the rough of lightning striking that stirs eternal regret, dontcha know.
 
#15
Playing originals I don't think it's a good mindset to have a signature tone that you never intend to change from one album to the next. I think part of the approach to recording a new album is to have a blank slate and be able to find your current voice, your current musical expression that you didn't have before and won't have in the future. I'm not saying your tone has to change but you should be open minded to changing it.
 
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#17
Former Rogues said:
What do we all think about sticking to a 'signature tone' versus changing things up and keeping tones fresh?
Click to expand...
I kind of like the idea of slightly altering a "signature tone" from album to album. Or some other arbitrary time period. Look at Rush albums. You still heard Ged's signature tone in there even if it was altered by what basses he was using on a given album. Jazz sounded different from Ricks which were different from Steinbergers which were different from the Wals. But it was still his signature in there somewhere every time.

In the end, whatever tone you think serves the songs best.
 
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#18
Hi, first of all, congratulations, I really enjoyed listening to your music.

I like your tone very much. Powerful, bottom end solid, but very articulate and you can hear all the notes perfectly, great playing, man!

I never listen to this genre, so I don't have much to compare to, but when I listen to bands like yours, the bass always seems to be as to low in the mix and a little muffled. Not in your case! I agree with @Turbo Sparky when he says you could up the volume a bit in A Sky Full of Splinters. But I also agree with you when you say Slaves to the Ecosphere is bass heavy (but it was powerful, ahah!).

So, I listened to the others tunes and the one where I liked the bass tone and mix the most was Docta Ignorantia. Awesome bass playing, great technique, and the right amount of volume. I would go with your signature tone, like in this tune.
 
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