Home › Forums › Discuss Your Gear › My Alvarez, weird thing
- This topic has 20 replies, 7 voices, and was last updated 4 years, 3 months ago by Billy.
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December 10, 2019 at 1:14 am #153610
Hi all,
I have an Alvarez AG75CE, which is a grand auditorium shape and solid cedar top.
I really enjoy its sound when I play, but not when I record myself. Recently I did the November 2019 challenge with it and its sound is unpleasant to my ears, dull and cheap.It’s an affordable guitar but feels really good, very loud and each string has a different quality, and I really enjoy the sound when I play.
I would like to plug it in the next time I make a video and see what it sounds like when picked up, but it’s anyways weird.
I’ll be happy to hear your opinion, guys. Thanks!Israel
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December 10, 2019 at 1:25 am #153613
Hi all,
I have an Alvarez AG75CE, which is a grand auditorium shape and solid cedar top.
I really enjoy its sound when I play, but not when I record myself. Recently I did the November 2019 challenge with it and its sound is unpleasant to my ears, dull and cheap.It’s an affordable guitar but feels really good, very loud and each string has a different quality, and I really enjoy the sound when I play.
I would like to plug it in the next time I make a video and see what it sounds like when picked up, but it’s anyways weird.
I’ll be happy to hear your opinion, guys. Thanks!Hi, If it sounds good to your ears can you place the microphone near to where your ears are? when recording studio engineers move the mic around until they get a (Recorded) sound which they like?
I Started out With Nothing & I've Still got most of it left. (Seasick Steve)
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December 10, 2019 at 1:38 am #153616
Thanks, jiffy, I need to try that.
Israel
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December 10, 2019 at 10:59 am #153692
Totally depends on how you are recording. The absolute best is, recording into a DAW. (Digital Audio Workstation) With that, you can “fine tune” the audio using “plugins”, for EQ, compression, etc.
It becomes a challenge if you want video versions, though. What I do, is record the audio into a DAW and at the same time record the video. The challenge is syncing the audio to the video, which is done in a video editor. I first process the audio recorded in the DAW, then add that as an audio track in the video editor. This way, I know that audio will be correctly processed. The challenge is lining the audio up to the video. Which is why you may have seen movie producers use that black and white “clapper” board of the scene, ya know, were there call out “action”. That “spike” in the audio can be used to align the video with the audio. All of these techniques are searchable on the internet.
Don't practice till you get it right, practice till you can't get it wrong.
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December 10, 2019 at 1:33 pm #153712
Thank you for the detailed explanation. I have some idea of what you’re talking about regarding syncing the audio. I will need to try this probably.
Israel
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December 10, 2019 at 4:20 pm #153717
Hi Israel
I owned an AG75 and for the money they are a great guitar. I had bought it as a project and after I repaired it, I gave it to my nephew who plays it on a regular basis. His Dad said that it keeps up with some of the Taylor and Martin that he’s jamming with. Not bad for a guitar that top has 2 repaired cracks in it
According to the Alvarez website, it has a LR Baggs pickup system and LR Baggs is top quality.
I’m curious – did it ever sound good when plugged in? It could be that the saddle piece isn’t seated against the ribbon under that is the pickup. Next time that you change strings, gently pull the saddle out and see if the ribbon looks like its in place.
Keith
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December 11, 2019 at 1:43 am #153752
I plugged it only once to see if it works, but never recorded it that way. I certainly need to do that. Thanks!
Israel
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December 10, 2019 at 5:11 pm #153721
If it’s sounding dull acoustically when not amp’d up then possibly some new strings might solve your issue?.
..Billy..
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December 11, 2019 at 1:46 am #153753
I’m embarrassed to say, but I’ve never replaced the strings. I replaced strings on my classic guitar when they broke, but on the acoustic they never did. 2 packs of strings are on the way. One of the acoustic and one for the classic. Thanks!
Israel
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December 10, 2019 at 6:17 pm #153729
I have an Alvarez similar to yours, and it sounds great when I plug it into my laptop, like this:
guitar > Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 > laptop (DAW = Logic Pro X). It sounds equally great if I mic the guitar using a condenser mic (dynamic mics don’t work well), then run that through the Scarlett and into my laptop. For me, the mic picks up the high tones better, and the pickup emphasizes the bass tones better. For that reason, for this challenge, I recorded the two inputs simlutaneously. Plus it gives a nice stereo effect. What fun!
Sunjamr Steve
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December 11, 2019 at 1:50 am #153754
I’m glad to know that my Alvarez is a descent guitar, and also that many don’t just use the phone for recording, so it’s a thing with recording in general, not just my guitar.
I watched your challenge and enjoyed your playing. And the sound was indeed very good. Thanks for your help.Israel
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December 11, 2019 at 3:29 pm #153780
I’m glad to know that my Alvarez is a descent guitar, and also that many don’t just use the phone for recording, so it’s a thing with recording in general, not just my guitar.
I watched your challenge and enjoyed your playing. And the sound was indeed very good. Thanks for your help.The Alvarez Artist series are some of best intermediate guitars on the market. I played the Jumbo model and was really surprised with quality and overall tone for $500
Your AG75CE is a really good model to learn on until you feel that you might want to upgrade to a higher end guitar.
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December 11, 2019 at 7:09 pm #153786
Israel, I compare all my acoustics over the years,, The Martin guitars are the best imho.. anyway, mic or DAW whatever I read here is likely better means to record for internet showplays for any guitar..
try experimenting with new strings 12s or 13s for that acoustic
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December 12, 2019 at 12:49 am #153790
Thanks John,
New strings is the first thing I try.Israel
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December 13, 2019 at 2:54 pm #153889
Thanks John,
New strings is the first thing I try.Israel
You may be aware of this but in addition to what John mentioned about heavier gauges, you will find that the formulations of different companies affect the tone of your guitar differently. Since most string sets are $5-$7 with free shipping, I tried many different brands and formulations and finally found that La Bella Phosphor Bronze sound best on my Breedlove. I just ordered strings and I’m going to try a set of Dean Markley’s Vintage Bronze 85/15 on it next just to see if they may be better. I used those Dean Markley strings years ago so I thought it would be good to give them another try.
Heavier gauges, while being a little more of a challenge to play, sometimes will give more volume. I had a Washburn archtop that I used D’Addario Chrome Flats 11’s on, sounded OK but when I went to 12’s, it was like a completely different guitar. The heavier strings caused the top to vibrate much more and the guitar really came alive.
Keith
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December 14, 2019 at 11:33 am #153926
Thanks a lot, Keith. I wasn’t aware of how much the strings are important, I use the same strings for over 3 years now..
I just received the new strings I ordered, 12-54 Ernie Ball Paradigm Phosphor Bronze, and I need to try them.
If there is a significant change, I’ll just have to replace strings more often, and as you suggest, try out different kinds.
BTW, I just had a peek at your profile, I also have a Blackstar ID core 20 🙂Israel
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December 14, 2019 at 11:27 am #153923
…
Israel
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December 14, 2019 at 4:15 pm #153943
BTW, I just had a peek at your profile, I also have a Blackstar ID core 20 🙂
I think that Blackstar are like Alvarez guitars: a great value for the money. I was so impressed with the ID Core 20 that I bought an ID Series 260. Like the Core 20, the ID260 is full stereo and that stereo effect is addictive!!
The ID Series amps have been replaced by the Silverline series – both amps emulate 6 different output tubes and they sound very very close to a tube amp. I had been playing a Blackstar Artist 15 tube amp for several weeks so I decided to try the 260 – I was so impressed – again – that I’m selling the Artist 15Blackstar is a very innovative company, if I were going to upgrade beyond Blackstar, I would go with a Mesa Boogie. However, Blackstar is all that I need right now
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December 14, 2019 at 5:46 pm #153947
Gibson’s acoustic strings to my ear have the best body, sadly they don’t last long,(about a week tops) don’t know if it’s to do with their coatings or lack of coatings, imho while I think they give the best results on an acoustic guitar, if you are not gigging and changing their strings after every gig they are not a practical option cost wise, D’Addario strings on the other hand are a tad brighter but will last a home player at least 2 months, buy bulk sets of strings, a packet of 5 will work out easier on the pocket than buying one packet at a time.
..Billy..
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December 15, 2019 at 12:58 am #153966
Thanks for the information, Billy.
I just replaced the strings with Ernie Ball 12-54, I didn’t record myself yet, but to my ear everything has changed, especially the low 3 strings now sound metal and alive.
The G and B strings have a bell quality which is a good surprise, but the high E string doesn’t sound anything special, perhaps I just need to get used to it.My guitar came originally with DAddario gauge 11, and they lasted over 3 years, mostly finger picking, sometimes strumming. The high E and B strings were ringing out, but the rest of the strings pretty dull.
With the new strings the guitar sound is really good, but maybe I need a new DAddario just for the hight E. Well, time and experiments will tell. I’m not in a hurry.
Israel
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December 15, 2019 at 2:15 am #153968
3 years from a set of strings, geez man no wonder the poor thing was sounding dull..hahahaha
..Billy..
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