@ChristThePhoneFurther you better switch to the bridge pickup and use the tone pot to tame the high-end
Even more fuel to the fire... The same recording pulled off with no hassle on my AC10 with pedals. Compare and take notes. What do you notice?
Disclaimer: In no way do I mean disrespect to FAS or AX8. I am merely comparing the two for recording purposes of a track I'm working on.
@HabumanWhy the difference in the recordings? Didn't you tried to get them sounding similar? The first is louder, fuller. The second is buried in reverb, delay.
What are you hearing that you want critique on?
@ChristThePhoneActually I'm proposing to use position 5 for the rock part. Edge played it on a Tele with the bridge pickup only. The sound you achieve through your pedals has way less high end than your AX8 preset. That's why you hear more noise caused by your frettung hand. Have you tried playing this song in a full band context ? Adding bass is not going to reduce the noise, only reducing treble / présence will do. However it will also cause your sound to no longer cut through the mix in a full band context. Recorded guitar sounds tend to sound lifeless on their own but begin to shine in a mix. That's why you should play with a backing track and then compare.
@TSJMajestyI can't really recommend anything specific to the sounds as far as the gear goes. Sure, some tweaks could possibly improve the sound, but I hear some timing issues, that if tightened up, I believe would go a long way toward making the whole thing sound better.
But I don't want to overstep here, and post any specific tips, unless you're interested. But since you did use the word 'critique' in the title, I did write some thoughts I had, but then I thought I'd better ask you first before posting them. But I think they would contribute to improving how the song sounds.
Yeah the screechy string noises come from sliding power chords. But I didn't get them on the AC10. If you notice the string noises ONLY happen on the AX8 during the "power chord" sections of the song.I'd double-check tuning and intonation. Make sure your pressure on the strings is even (not too hard). Listen to the last chord in particular.
It may be a different input EQ. I'd try some string slickener - fast fret etc.Yeah the screechy string noises come from sliding power chords. But I didn't get them on the AC10. If you notice the string noises ONLY happen on the AX8 during the "power chord" sections of the song.
@ChristThePhone
Aha! Yeah I can try re-recording in position 5. The noise level will be brutal as I'm using a strat and don't have noiseless pickups. I will try but I seriously doubt that will solve it.
Also I'm not in a band and let me explain why I don't perform with backing tracks anymore. It's because the next 20 songs I record over the upcoming few years will be part of my solo performance series being played at local gigs here in Toronto and I am not going to play them to BT. I want the people to hear the guitar as that is my instrument. I'm not being hired as a guitarist in a band but rather a solo performer. So even if the solo sound is lifeless on its own its ok as I don't think I can legally play with BT and make a living. Playing cover music without BT doesn't require anything more than a basic $250 yearly license to play unlimited U2 here in Canada. But using Backing Tracks that's another copyright issue on its own.