I absolutely love your determination on the quest for tone! It's fascinating watching all your science experiments and very inspirational. Thanks for everything Johan.
Every video you upload is always useful and a precious service to the electric guitar maniacs out there.. And here! Keep up the great work and fun! Cheers from Italy
Will be recording soon and already put together a heavily Johan-Segeborn-inspired recording technics!! One of the best videos ever!! Thanks for showing off the guitars and recording notes at the end!!
Wow, that's an unbelievably complex video I doubt anyone else than you could make, Johan! Kudos 👏 That could be gow many - 4 or 5 separate videos? 😁 All your cool guitars, puckups and then the recording stuff. As you say, the 40-50 cm distance seems to be optimal. Have a great day! 👍
Man those SG’s just sound so great here. SG’s can feel really awkward to play sometimes, like if I breath on it or lean an inch forward it will go out of tune. But sound wise? They’re just prefect for that crunchy hard rock stuff you were playing in the first part. Great video as always, Johan!
Glad to see you are explaining how pickup position relative to the bridge is very important. I do as you do with setting the pickups low. Have you adjusted screw poles yet, like a mini EQ pedal? I'll set neck humbuckers in a Strat stagger and the bridge I rotate so the screw poles are on the neck side bobbin and raise them level to each other 3/16ths inch for a very good ACDC/EVH/P90 chunky noiseless tone. All my HH guitars have the bridge pickups rotated and poles raised this way now. Better than a pickup swap.
Hi! I’ve done a video on how raising the poles makes it sound a bit more single coil like but your idea to rotate the bridge pickup so you can enhance the side furthest from the bridge is a great idea that I’m gonna try!
Hi Johan! Thanks for this video! I saw that a couple of your humbucker equipped guitars had no metal covers on the bridge humbuckers, a bit like what Jimmy Page did on his Les Paul. I started to experiment that with two of my friends that also play humbucker equipped guitars. We also tested the contrary which is to keep the cover on the bridge humbucker and remove the cover on the neck humbucker. After testing and listening to the guitars LIVE and our recordings we agreed that what was best to our ears was to keep the cover on the bridge humbucker and remove the cover on the neck humbucker. Tha cover of the bridge humbucker tames the high frequencies a bit and the neck humbucker without a cover is more dinamic, more lively with more presence. Just my two cents! ;-)
Random thoughts: Between your playing and all the guitars used, the tone is always spectacular! I 'think' you are most at 'home' with your R9 or '73 custom LP - but... I can tell from other videos that you derive a certain inspiration and pleasure from the Tele. Also, I really love the warm but also raunch of the SG special w/ P-90's Historically, my favorite all-around guitar for playing comfort and tone is a Strat, though it's not as good to my ears as compared to the other guitars demonstrated here.. I play an R9 and early 1990's '52 Tele as well. Love them all. Tele for country, soul and even some warm jazz on the neck. The LP, for rock of course lol - that rich sound and sustain............ unbeatable. Figure 8 @ 44 cm has an early Who vibe! 👍
@ I’ve noticed that although they are low output, P90 SGs have a special ‘grunt’ to them that no other guitar I’ve played has. Can’t think of another word for it.
I have a dimarzio 59 paf in my natural strat. Pafs in the bridge sound great in a strat. Different scale lenght so it sound slightly different than a les paul. But basically your natural strat With two strandburg boden single coils and dimarzio paf in the bridge. Its a perfect guitar for modernized vintage sounds. I have a first act that looks like your nordin guitar called a garagemaster. Great guitar. No buzz, low action, great alnico 5 pickups. Love that guitar
That video was pure pleasure! Thanks Johan. The 2 LPs sounded fantastic. But...the real bombshell was tucked away in the top corner when you said moved stings from 10 to 8s! Why was that and how did it go? For me string gauge is directly associated with fret size (and as I like jumbo stainless steel frets I can often use 10s).
Thanks Eddie! I’ve had some problems with nerves in my hands so I wanted to make playing as effortless as possible. At first I thought 08s were completely wiggly and unstable but after getting used to it, it feels like the default way strings should behave. And I think the tone of 08s is a bit better balanced between the frequencies. Cheers!
In 2013 Gibson were using the underwound custombuckers for the custom shop SG . The regular output Custombucker are already pretty bright . Also Gibson have a few variations on the low wind Custombuckers and the standard Custombuckers have more windings on the slug coil but on the low wind Custombucker E which is what was used in 2013 for the Sg reissues and between this the very low output and the bridge pickup being so close to the bridge you end up with a very harsh and thin bridge pickup .
You can basically devide in the H and S camp, as expected in those camps the individual guitars sound very similar, just a bit of a different output lvl I'd say. Shows again how much more important the amp, speakers and mic choice and placement are to the tone. I liked the Nordin the most though.
Just food for though, but sometimes I'm amazed how much room I hear in say a 57 at 3cm on one speaker on a 4x12, and how different it is with a packing blanket over the mic and cab. Then trying the same thing micing a 1x12 cab. Basically the room having a massive impact on the sound even at close distances.
Seeing the Neve, I wanted to share a basic tip. Try to rely on 220hz for guitars. 220hz isn't the most loved frequency, but guitars and snares usually carry those very well in a mix. I don't know for sure how the neve shelf looks but it lifts guitar fatness in a great way I find. Good engineering is much about fullness and stuff like finding that a bass guitar might want a tight little cut near 180 to sound cleaner, and not a wide and deep cut between 220 and 500hz, and then letting guitars carry those ~220 instead, and maybe cutting 350hz on those, is really where the secret lies to keeping things full yet clean enough sounding. Obviously, the rules change for every other situation, and in recording, the engineer is already often mixing and finding the EQ with the mic positioning so all the EQ moves might have been done, and that's why it's so hard to be in the elite category of engineering. But these videos are helpful steps along the way!
Thanks, I’m glad to hear that. The 50-300Hz is indeed that challenge and the only real way to make it sound big. I’ll try the 220hz next time and see how it fits my bass and kick
Love the video as always! You should look at Dave Stephens video series called "the Les Paul that isn't". He goes over all of the details of burst tone. I've implemented his recommendations in all of my Gibson style guitars and they made such a huge difference. Gone is all of the muddiness and harsh treble. They sound much more musical now.
I'm trying my SG std with a 2x10" cab and the good tone here comes at 40.5 cm, also using a sm 57, the math wasn't exact for me 😅 (IMHO), I'm looking for answers in physics and acoustics. I'll work 💪🏻😄
I personally preferred between 30-40cm for all the mic configurations, that seemed to be where the sound opened up without becoming too nasally. Always thought your recordings sounded great though!
You need to get to a high quality explorer maybe even 2 . 1 korina Model and a Mahagony model or you could call it a 58 style explorer and a 76 style .. The explorer is my 2nd favorite guitar . The sound is so think and fat but also very clear at the same time . Maybe not the most open sounding guitar due to the huge mids but they but the top end is suprisigly big with a good bit of openess but thick heavy fairly compressed heavy tones are what those guitars do best but are also great for blues and classic rock . The Explorer is a highly versatile guitar . The explorer is my favorite neck pickup clean tone . Perfect blend of creamy warmth and clarity . The Burstbucker 2 and 3 set sound fantastic in an explorer .
Very interesting video! I'm a little shocked to learn that you use Ernie Ball strings in 8-38 gauge. I use Ernie Ball strings as well, but in 10-46 gauge. I feel that Erine Ball strings sound the most organic and "stringy", even though they don't last as long as some other brands (for me). The shocking part is the very light gauge you use because your guitars sound so thick. For me, lighter strings don't give me enough "meatiness" both in sound and feel. Regarding microphone distance from on 4x12, I preferred the 40cm distance. To my ears, it sounded consistently the best and the most balanced across all microphone types.
@@JohanSegeborn Makes sense. In the 80's I used 9-42's with a lower action height and a much lighter pick attack. Since then, my action has come up and my pick attack is a lot heavier. All those factors go hand in hand.
Question for you, Johan. Your knowledge of Celestions compelled me to ask you so I hope you don’t mind a lengthy inquiry. I just got a 1986 Marshall JCM 900 1960A lead cab yesterday. I have a pair of vintage/original 55hz Blackback speakers (one being professionally re-coned by a certified Celestion professional after my thumb went through the front of the speaker). The 4x12 itself has the original GT12-75 speakers installed with the Mono:Stereo input jacks. I was wondering what your opinion might be of installing the 55hz 8ohm speakers into the 4x12 and whether or not the tone itself would be worth the effort. I primarily use gain based heads such as a VX Kraken 50w, an EL34 EVH 5150 50 watt and occasionally would be using a Revv G20 though that usually stays with my recording rig. Guitars used are: Suhr Alt-T, Ernie Ball Cutlass, Ibanez RG550 and a Chapman Ghost Fret 7 Pro with very hot Seymour Duncan Sentient Nazguls. Thank you!! P.S. I tried going to your site but the web admin page said the site was down.
The main sound differences result from the type of pickup and their position. Overdrive and Distorion add basically overtones to the sound. That's why all guitars sound the same with alot of it.
Hi johan. Great guitar collection. I've just started to use 8-38 ernie ball and they sound great! surprised how full and powerful they sound and full of life. Plus my hands aren't as strong as they use to be. whats your reason on using 8s
Thanks Jonny! Glad to hear it. I’m trying spare my hands as well. That was the main reason but I also think they sound more balanced over the frequencies.
@@JohanSegeborn yeah, i totally agree. i always find higher gauge strings sound very dull! and lifeless. maybe some people may disagree. but yeah i,m sticking with these they sound great on my strat. Anyways always a pleasure to watch and chat. 👍
VERRY interrestink video! Re far miking a 2X12 speaker, I have a V2X12 that is 1/2 a slant quad box. WHAT would be the best distance etc to mic that? I've rec it before both close & far, like 1m back & it was ok but not great! AM I just better OFF just far miking it as if it were a 1X12? Cheers! (& beers!) 🍺
Hi! It’s the same as for the slanted 4x12 - 46 cm. But it’s of course a matter of preference. Many close miking techniques works better for more modern styles of hard rock
He's sold out and done 30 seconds of clean !! ............ Am i the only person who turns my bridge humbucker 180 degrees so its not too bright ? i always thought if the poles were further away it would work.
Will be recording soon and already put together a heavily Johan-Segeborn-inspired recording technics!! One of the best videos ever!! Thanks for showing off the guitars and recording notes at the end!!
Johan you are an inspiration. I have learned so much from your channel. Keep rocking brother.
Need to see more of the SG special
Yeah, that can be arranged!
I absolutely love your determination on the quest for tone! It's fascinating watching all your science experiments and very inspirational. Thanks for everything Johan.
Thanks Paddy, I’m glad to hear that!
Every video you upload is always useful and a precious service to the electric guitar maniacs out there.. And here! Keep up the great work and fun! Cheers from Italy
Thanks, makes my day to hear that!
Will be recording soon and already put together a heavily Johan-Segeborn-inspired recording technics!! One of the best videos ever!! Thanks for showing off the guitars and recording notes at the end!!
Loved this. They all sound pretty amazing in your hands! That 73 Custom though ❤
Thanks man, great to hear that. Love your videos!
Great guitar collection! In terms of sound, good amp + any guitar = good sound, but a good guitar without a good amp is not the same equation, Cheers!
Thanks! That’s where it’s at indeed. Cheers
Wow, that's an unbelievably complex video I doubt anyone else than you could make, Johan! Kudos 👏 That could be gow many - 4 or 5 separate videos? 😁 All your cool guitars, puckups and then the recording stuff. As you say, the 40-50 cm distance seems to be optimal. Have a great day! 👍
Man those SG’s just sound so great here. SG’s can feel really awkward to play sometimes, like if I breath on it or lean an inch forward it will go out of tune. But sound wise? They’re just prefect for that crunchy hard rock stuff you were playing in the first part. Great video as always, Johan!
Thanks Kevin! Yeah tuning stability is a huge factor I forgot to mention.
Glad to see you are explaining how pickup position relative to the bridge is very important. I do as you do with setting the pickups low. Have you adjusted screw poles yet, like a mini EQ pedal? I'll set neck humbuckers in a Strat stagger and the bridge I rotate so the screw poles are on the neck side bobbin and raise them level to each other 3/16ths inch for a very good ACDC/EVH/P90 chunky noiseless tone. All my HH guitars have the bridge pickups rotated and poles raised this way now. Better than a pickup swap.
Hi! I’ve done a video on how raising the poles makes it sound a bit more single coil like but your idea to rotate the bridge pickup so you can enhance the side furthest from the bridge is a great idea that I’m gonna try!
@@JohanSegeborn Please make a video about these experiments! Especially compared to your pole raising video!
I liked the 31 cm and 54 cm distances the most, and the close distances the least. As always, thanks for all the great work you do. 👍
Thanks!
Hi Johan! Thanks for this video! I saw that a couple of your humbucker equipped guitars had no metal covers on the bridge humbuckers, a bit like what Jimmy Page did on his Les Paul. I started to experiment that with two of my friends that also play humbucker equipped guitars. We also tested the contrary which is to keep the cover on the bridge humbucker and remove the cover on the neck humbucker. After testing and listening to the guitars LIVE and our recordings we agreed that what was best to our ears was to keep the cover on the bridge humbucker and remove the cover on the neck humbucker. Tha cover of the bridge humbucker tames the high frequencies a bit and the neck humbucker without a cover is more dinamic, more lively with more presence. Just my two cents! ;-)
Great video Johan!
Thanks, glad you liked it!
Gotta love those Dimarzio super distortions. It is really close to being a perfect pickup at least for rock and metal.
Yeah it’s my favourite too.
I’m really liking the tone from your 2013 SG and 08 Les Paul. I tend to like more upper mid natured guitars.
Thanks, glad to hear it!
Random thoughts: Between your playing and all the guitars used, the tone is always spectacular! I 'think' you are most at 'home' with your R9 or '73 custom LP - but... I can tell from other videos that you derive a certain inspiration and pleasure from the Tele. Also, I really love the warm but also raunch of the SG special w/ P-90's Historically, my favorite all-around guitar for playing comfort and tone is a Strat, though it's not as good to my ears as compared to the other guitars demonstrated here.. I play an R9 and early 1990's '52 Tele as well. Love them all. Tele for country, soul and even some warm jazz on the neck. The LP, for rock of course lol - that rich sound and sustain............ unbeatable.
Figure 8 @ 44 cm has an early Who vibe! 👍
Thanks! That’s kind of you! Nice to hear about the Who vibe!
Your R9 has sounded great with every pickup you had in it but so far my favorite has been when you had The T Top in the bridge
Interesting, I loved the detail and electrical sound of the T top in the R9 but it didn’t have enough growl to stay in there
Awesone collection!
I'll take the LP, batwing SG, & Tele
Thanks! :-)
Hell yeah Johan Ive been waiting for this video! You had some sweet guitars!
Thanks man!
Lets go !!!!! 🤟🤟🤟🤟
Cheers!
❤❤❤ Great work Johan !
Thanks, glad to hear it! ❤️
SG Special every time👍. Besides the wonderful P90s, the fairly wide fretboard is a joy.
Yeah classic guitar. Mine has a narrower fretboard unfortunately though
@ I’ve noticed that although they are low output, P90 SGs have a special ‘grunt’ to them that no other guitar I’ve played has. Can’t think of another word for it.
Great video!
If you replace the Schallers on the Special with some kluson reproductions, the neck heavyness will be solved. I've been there too 😆
Thanks for the tips!
I have a dimarzio 59 paf in my natural strat. Pafs in the bridge sound great in a strat. Different scale lenght so it sound slightly different than a les paul.
But basically your natural strat
With two strandburg boden single coils and dimarzio paf in the bridge. Its a perfect guitar for modernized vintage sounds.
I have a first act that looks like your nordin guitar called a garagemaster. Great guitar. No buzz, low action, great alnico 5 pickups. Love that guitar
Cool! Yeah I have often contemplated trying an SD in the Strat as well
Hi, Johan!
I like all guitars. But I am more a Stratocaster guy. See you! Great video!❤
S.
Thanks man! ❤️
Fantastiskt bra video.
Tack så mycket! ❤
Tackar Gott att höra! ❤️
That video was pure pleasure! Thanks Johan. The 2 LPs sounded fantastic. But...the real bombshell was tucked away in the top corner when you said moved stings from 10 to 8s! Why was that and how did it go? For me string gauge is directly associated with fret size (and as I like jumbo stainless steel frets I can often use 10s).
Thanks Eddie! I’ve had some problems with nerves in my hands so I wanted to make playing as effortless as possible. At first I thought 08s were completely wiggly and unstable but after getting used to it, it feels like the default way strings should behave. And I think the tone of 08s is a bit better balanced between the frequencies. Cheers!
Hello from California. It's 9 in the morning, monday. I got Veterans Day off!
Hi David! Have a nice day!
Great video!
Thanks Ian!
In 2013 Gibson were using the underwound custombuckers for the custom shop SG . The regular output Custombucker are already pretty bright . Also Gibson have a few variations on the low wind Custombuckers and the standard Custombuckers have more windings on the slug coil but on the low wind Custombucker E which is what was used in 2013 for the Sg reissues and between this the very low output and the bridge pickup being so close to the bridge you end up with a very harsh and thin bridge pickup .
Thanks, very interesting feedback
You can basically devide in the H and S camp, as expected in those camps the individual guitars sound very similar, just a bit of a different output lvl I'd say. Shows again how much more important the amp, speakers and mic choice and placement are to the tone. I liked the Nordin the most though.
Yeah the differences are subtle
Just food for though, but sometimes I'm amazed how much room I hear in say a 57 at 3cm on one speaker on a 4x12, and how different it is with a packing blanket over the mic and cab. Then trying the same thing micing a 1x12 cab. Basically the room having a massive impact on the sound even at close distances.
Yeah that’s a good point. One should always do experiments to figure out what factor that contributes with what. It’s often not what one expects
My Favorite has always been your Les Paul Custom Johan then your Flying V . Just my Opinion, Your Custom just nails that early Ace Frehley sound!
Thanks Ricky, great to hear that!
Seeing the Neve, I wanted to share a basic tip. Try to rely on 220hz for guitars. 220hz isn't the most loved frequency, but guitars and snares usually carry those very well in a mix. I don't know for sure how the neve shelf looks but it lifts guitar fatness in a great way I find. Good engineering is much about fullness and stuff like finding that a bass guitar might want a tight little cut near 180 to sound cleaner, and not a wide and deep cut between 220 and 500hz, and then letting guitars carry those ~220 instead, and maybe cutting 350hz on those, is really where the secret lies to keeping things full yet clean enough sounding. Obviously, the rules change for every other situation, and in recording, the engineer is already often mixing and finding the EQ with the mic positioning so all the EQ moves might have been done, and that's why it's so hard to be in the elite category of engineering. But these videos are helpful steps along the way!
Thanks, I’m glad to hear that. The 50-300Hz is indeed that challenge and the only real way to make it sound big. I’ll try the 220hz next time and see how it fits my bass and kick
The one with six strings sounded pretty good.
Love the video as always! You should look at Dave Stephens video series called "the Les Paul that isn't". He goes over all of the details of burst tone. I've implemented his recommendations in all of my Gibson style guitars and they made such a huge difference. Gone is all of the muddiness and harsh treble. They sound much more musical now.
I'm trying my SG std with a 2x10" cab and the good tone here comes at 40.5 cm, also using a sm 57, the math wasn't exact for me 😅 (IMHO), I'm looking for answers in physics and acoustics. I'll work 💪🏻😄
Cool! Yeah that distance sounds about right
I personally preferred between 30-40cm for all the mic configurations, that seemed to be where the sound opened up without becoming too nasally. Always thought your recordings sounded great though!
Thanks Alec!
You need to get to a high quality explorer maybe even 2 . 1 korina Model and a Mahagony model or you could call it a 58 style explorer and a 76 style ..
The explorer is my 2nd favorite guitar . The sound is so think and fat but also very clear at the same time . Maybe not the most open sounding guitar due to the huge mids but they but the top end is suprisigly big with a good bit of openess but thick heavy fairly compressed heavy tones are what those guitars do best but are also great for blues and classic rock . The Explorer is a highly versatile guitar .
The explorer is my favorite neck pickup clean tone . Perfect blend of creamy warmth and clarity .
The Burstbucker 2 and 3 set sound fantastic in an explorer .
Yeah those do indeed have a beautiful low end
Very interesting video! I'm a little shocked to learn that you use Ernie Ball strings in 8-38 gauge. I use Ernie Ball strings as well, but in 10-46 gauge. I feel that Erine Ball strings sound the most organic and "stringy", even though they don't last as long as some other brands (for me). The shocking part is the very light gauge you use because your guitars sound so thick. For me, lighter strings don't give me enough "meatiness" both in sound and feel. Regarding microphone distance from on 4x12, I preferred the 40cm distance. To my ears, it sounded consistently the best and the most balanced across all microphone types.
Thanks Mark! The 08 require a much lighter pick attack to not sound thin. It took a while to get used to that.
@@JohanSegeborn Makes sense. In the 80's I used 9-42's with a lower action height and a much lighter pick attack. Since then, my action has come up and my pick attack is a lot heavier. All those factors go hand in hand.
Johan.. Where were the RIckenbackers or Gretches? No Jangle?
Great show btw. I really loved that Telecaster.
Thanks! I had an amazing 12 string Country Gentleman that I regrettably sold.
Question for you, Johan. Your knowledge of Celestions compelled me to ask you so I hope you don’t mind a lengthy inquiry. I just got a 1986 Marshall JCM 900 1960A lead cab yesterday. I have a pair of vintage/original 55hz Blackback speakers (one being professionally re-coned by a certified Celestion professional after my thumb went through the front of the speaker). The 4x12 itself has the original GT12-75 speakers installed with the Mono:Stereo input jacks. I was wondering what your opinion might be of installing the 55hz 8ohm speakers into the 4x12 and whether or not the tone itself would be worth the effort. I primarily use gain based heads such as a VX Kraken 50w, an EL34 EVH 5150 50 watt and occasionally would be using a Revv G20 though that usually stays with my recording rig. Guitars used are: Suhr Alt-T, Ernie Ball Cutlass, Ibanez RG550 and a Chapman Ghost Fret 7 Pro with very hot Seymour Duncan Sentient Nazguls. Thank you!!
P.S. I tried going to your site but the web admin page said the site was down.
The main sound differences result from the type of pickup and their position. Overdrive and Distorion add basically overtones to the sound. That's why all guitars sound the same with alot of it.
Yeah we did some measurements on that in the video
Great stuff as always! Do you keep your strat trem decked or floating?
Thanks! it’s floating but very stiff
Hi johan. Great guitar collection. I've just started to use 8-38 ernie ball and they sound great! surprised how full and powerful they sound and full of life. Plus my hands aren't as strong as they use to be. whats your reason on using 8s
Thanks Jonny! Glad to hear it. I’m trying spare my hands as well. That was the main reason but I also think they sound more balanced over the frequencies.
@@JohanSegeborn yeah, i totally agree. i always find higher gauge strings sound very dull! and lifeless. maybe some people may disagree. but yeah i,m sticking with these they sound great on my strat. Anyways always a pleasure to watch and chat. 👍
VERRY interrestink video!
Re far miking a 2X12 speaker, I have a V2X12 that is 1/2 a slant quad box.
WHAT would be the best distance etc to mic that?
I've rec it before both close & far, like 1m back & it was ok but not great!
AM I just better OFF just far miking it as if it were a 1X12?
Cheers!
(& beers!)
🍺
Thanks man! The distance I’m using for slanted 4x12 is calculated for 2x12 since I’m only miking the bottom two, so 40-50 cm. Cheers!
Wow you're actually commenting something constructive instead of dropping an unfunny remark? A welcome change, please keep this up
@@JohanSegeborn No, you misread, my 2X12 is a VERTICAL slant!
So both speakers are at different angles!
@@ileutur6863 Huh?
Move along!
🤡
Hey Johan. What do you think is the best recording distance for a vertical slanted 2x12“ cab?
Hi! It’s the same as for the slanted 4x12 - 46 cm. But it’s of course a matter of preference. Many close miking techniques works better for more modern styles of hard rock
He's sold out and done 30 seconds of clean !! ............ Am i the only person who turns my bridge humbucker 180 degrees so its not too bright ? i always thought if the poles were further away it would work.
Regardless of the mic used, to my ear the close-up didn't sound that good. Moving away from the speaker seemed better.
Will be recording soon and already put together a heavily Johan-Segeborn-inspired recording technics!! One of the best videos ever!! Thanks for showing off the guitars and recording notes at the end!!
Thanks Oscar! Makes my day to hear that. Happy recording!