With the myriad of equipment to choose from when plugging in your guitar, it wouldn't hurt to get some advice on how to achieve that certain guitar tone you envision for your music. Based on the impressive production I've heard on recordings done with Justin Mullinix of Generator Sound Studios in Atlanta, I asked him if he would offer up some tips on this matter. As the protege of acclaimed record producer Billy Hume, Mullinix has developed a keen ear and extensive technical skill throughout his time as a producer and musician. His first statement regarding great guitar tones is that the source is the player. "You can have all the gear in the world, but without a player who really knows how to control his/her instrument, you got nothin'," he says.

Mullinix acknowledges the guitar as the second link in the chain. "For a noisy high end and a crisp crunch and attack, you might want to go with the Fender Stratocaster," he says. "It's a classic guitar used by the likes of Jimi Hendrix, Eric Johnson and Green Day among countless others. Maybe you want a darker, heavier sound. In this case, a Gibson Les Paul might work for you. With a thick full tone, this guitar works great in (but is not limited to) hard rock music. Joe Perry is famous for using one on almost every Aerosmith song and Slash from Guns 'n' Roses can certainly be seen playing one. Sometimes though, you just want a clean mid-range sound. I use the Fender Telecaster for this. While very popular among current indie rock bands for its punchy sound, it has been a staple in country music for decades."

As you might imagine, your amplifier will also influence the type of sound you produce. Mullinix reveals that he will almost always use a tube amp in his recordings. "But really nothing is off the table if it sounds good," he says. His recommendations start with a Fender Blues DeVille or Twin Reverb amp, which he cites as very versatile. "I have used them on anything from punk rock to female pop music," he says, adding, "Stratocasters are amazing with these amps." Mullinix also gets great results using Orange amps, affirming that "they have a natural compression on them that can sound amazing and with a nice crunchy distortion, the Orange amp can be perfect for specific situations. The Telecaster/Orange duo is very popular."

Microphones play a part in the type of sound coming from your amp and Mullinix asserts that the Shure SM57 is a must have. He emphasizes, "No two SM57s are the same. [Hume] still labels every one he has and if it works well with a specific amp. So, stock up on those." Mic placement is also a factor and Mullinix describes his tactic, "I close-mic the speaker anywhere from one to six inches away, moving the SM57 towards the center of the cone if I want a brighter tone or toward the edge of the cone if I want it to be fatter and warmer." The key is to experiment, since there is no set way to do this. He suggests trying out different placements to see what works best with your setup. If you're working with an amp that has an open back, he advises, "put a Sennheiser 421 in the back to catch some low tones to mix in along with the more top-end tones you get from the SM57."

"Remember that your ear is the most important part," says Mullinix. "Try different combinations of gear and mic placements until you find something you like or something that fits the song."

Generator Sound Studios // 141 New St. // Decatur, GA 30033 // www.myspace.com/jb7000 // 404-454-1994