Which FX for enhancing guitar in classical music context

[ThinMan]

Hi, I’m new here, and I’d love to have your advice on the following. Yesterday, we made a plan to perform a classical guitar concerto (with orchestra), but instead of a conventional acoustic classical guitar with a microphone in front of it, we want to use a high-end Paradis guitar, which is a nylon string solidbody with six individual string pickups. The aim is to have beautiful sound and great balance with the orchestra. As amplification I will use two Bose pillars, in stereo, enabling me to slightly pan my individual strings. I will also mix in a bit of the internal mic, for some extra realism. OK. Now this is where I ask for your advice. I’m looking for a way to enhance and integrate the clean sound of the guitar, while remaining compatible with the sound of classical instruments. I want, so to say, to apply a little ‘make up’ to my sound, like a woman who looks great with just a few touches of this or that. My sound must seem natural, as even a slight chorusy wobble would disqualify it as a ‘classical’ sound. So what would you do, using what gear?

Thanks, Paul

[brock]

I’d think any answers here will depend on how you’re mixing down the 6 outs + mic before they arrive at the Bose pair.  “Classical” + “natural” + “no chorusy wobble”  reads to me as reverb enhancement.  I don’t know that anything else would meet all of the qualifications.  If you want octaves, any kind of wobble might be unsatisfactory.

Since this is the Stompbox forum, I’d suggest the H90, parallel (insert) routing, perhaps with ‘dual’ DualVerbs loaded up.  That should give you a nice stereo mix spread with EQ options.  Insert or Dual Routing selection-dependent on your mixdown process.  If you’re using MIDI, even more possibilities.  But I’d at least consider an expression pedal for dynamics.

[ThinMan]

Thanks Brock. Reverb enhancement. Expression pedal for dynamics, great idea. What do you think about ‘detune’? I’ve been watching the Micropitch tutorials om YT. Sounds like chorus without wobble.

[brock]

ThinMan wrote:

… What do you think about ‘detune’? I’ve been watching the Micropitch tutorials om YT. Sounds like chorus without wobble.

You’re going to want a light application for classical, I believe.  Say, 1c to 10 cents at the most, especially if it’s (+ & -).  Much more, and it’ll sound like you’re strings are out of tune.  Added to reverb accentuates it even further.

If you’re considering pitch-shifting, it can be subtly mixed in.  Octaves up or down, or some added emphasis on the harmonic series.  I do like a bit of detune on the upper octaves, with a complementary spread of both detuning and panning.  It gets big when any other effects are panned wider or narrower.

Personally, I think pitch shifters might be a good fit.  You can selectively mix in octaves per-string & pan position.  I guess dedicated delays might also work, but I’d start with the pre-delay parameters found in most reverbs.

[Dirtykeys]

2026…. I’m still baffled.

why people play instruments.. have to ask “what goes with…?” Or get to “play out” and know nothing!!??

 

Reminds of this “shredder” I knew. Could play some solos. Yet… NO idea what notes or chord names were.

 

we’re doomed.

[brock]

I took @ThinMan to be an accomplished musician with live experience in a more traditional setting.  One trying out something new, using a non-traditional instrument setup, and looking for input on how others might have approached that.  The inquiries being directly related to an effects unit that falls squarely under the realm of this forum.  I can’t imagine a more appropriate approach to take.

[Author]

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