Tags: music guitar

A thinner pick (0.73mm) flexes on the string during the attack, absorbing some transient energy and reducing the initial high-frequency snap before the note reaches the pickup. A thicker pick (1.5mm) is more rigid, transferring the pick’s edge directly into the string with less give, resulting in a sharper, more percussive attack with more high-frequency content at the point of contact.

The brightness you hear with the 0.73mm isn’t due to the pick adding brightness; it’s because the 1.5mm normally removes some of that top-end snap by flexing. Removing the thick pick eliminates that natural low-pass effect.

Guitar: Fender Telecaster MIJ, neck pickup, Master Volume ~9, Master Tone ~9 Amp: Fender Blues Jr III (real amp, miked — no Zoom amp/cab sim used) Zoom: G3Xn, Firmware 2.20, Patch cell 106, Patch name “Princeton” Goal: Warm, articulate Princeton Reverb-style clean tone with shimmer trem and spring reverb

Signal Chain

Guitar → RackComp → RC Boost → Tremolo → FD Spring → Zoom output → Blues Jr input → mic

Note: guitar Volume/Tone currently near max (_9/9) rather than rolled back. Brighter/more aggressive than original plan — if tone feels too bright or aggressive once recorded, roll Tone back to 6-7 as first adjustment.

Block 1 — RackComp (DYNAMICS)

• THRSH: 25
• Ratio: 3
• ATTCK: 5
• VOL: 100 (unity/pass-through — not a boost like RC Boost’s Volume)

Block 2 — RC Boost (DRIVE)

• Gain: 15
• Bass: 50
• Treble: 55
• VOL: 65 (adjusted down from 100/max after A/B testing — 100 was a noticeable level jump, not a subtle push)

Block 3 — Tremolo (MODULATION)

• Wave: TUBE
• Depth: 35
• Rate: 30
• VOL: 100

Block 4 — FD Spring (REVERB) — sole reverb source (Option A)

• Active: ON
• Color: 1
• Lo: 55
• Hi: 45
• Mix: 30

Decision: FD Spring is the sole meaningful reverb source. Blues Jr’s physical Reverb dial has no true zero (range is 1–12), so it stays at its physical minimum (1) — this contributes a negligible touch of onboard spring underneath and is not treated as problematic stacking.

Block 5 — Rhythm (RHYTHM AND LOOPER) — practice aid, not part of the recorded tone

• Active: ON (intentional — metronome for practice)
• Pattern: Metro4 4/4
• Volume: 4
• Reminder: disable or mute before any actual take — this is a metronome click, not a tone-shaping effect, and isn’t meant to bleed into the final recording

Amp Settings — Blues Jr III (dials 1–12, no true zero)

• Volume: 4.5
• Fat: OFF
• Treble: 5.5
• Bass: 4.5
• Middle: 5.0
• Master: 4.5
• Reverb: 1 (physical minimum — FD Spring on the Zoom is the sole meaningful reverb source, see Block 4)

Mic Setup — Blue Yeti (on stock desktop stand, floor placement)

• Mode: Cardioid
• Orientation: logo side of mesh grille facing the amp (this is the capsule’s listening face — confirmed correct)
• Distance: 4–5 inches from grille
• Position: base shifted slightly to the right of the amp’s centerline (creates true off-axis angle, since the stock stand doesn’t swivel sideways)
• Tilt: forward, toward the amp — this aims the capsule up to cone height (compensating for the stand sitting lower than the speaker on the floor)
• Gain: set using the loudest tremolo peak, target -12 to -6 dB, no clipping

Notes: - Forward tilt = vertical aim adjustment (reaches cone height), not the off-axis angle - Sideways base offset = true off-axis angle (softens pick attack/harshness) - Both adjustments are used together in this floor setup since the stand can’t swivel independently

Test Pass

• Turn OFF/mute Rhythm (metronome) block before recording an actual take
• Record 15–20 seconds of comping/chords
• RC Boost check: at Volume 65, should feel like a mild lift, not an obvious pedal jump. Adjust down further (55–60) if still too pushed.
• Reverb check: FD Spring is the sole meaningful reverb source (amp Reverb sits at its physical minimum of 1) — confirm the overall reverb amount feels right, not doubled
• Tremolo check: TUBE wave should feel smoother/rounder than a standard triangle wave trem
• Compression check: RackComp should be felt as sustain/evenness, not obvious pumping
• Guitar tone check: Volume/Tone near max (_9/9) — if the result feels too bright/aggressive, roll Tone back to 6–7 first
• Overall: does the amp feel like it’s “working” a little (natural compression) rather than stiff/clean?
• If still too clean/stiff: raise Master first, before touching EQ