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rhythm guitar from “skinny love” by bon iver | ToneDB

skinny love

bon iver

rhythm guitar

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Tone Profile

A warm and intimate acoustic guitar sound, characterized by its soft attack, detailed mid-range, and a gentle, slightly compressed dynamic that provides a sense of closeness and vulnerability.

Gear

Gibson Acoustic Guitarinstrument
Reverb$2199Sweetwater
Neumann U87microphone
ReverbSweetwater
LA-2Acompressor
ReverbSweetwater

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The Story

Bon Iver's 'Skinny Love' was recorded at Justin Vernon's remote cabin (April Base) in northwestern Wisconsin as part of his self-recorded For Emma, Forever Ago album. Vernon used minimal equipment during these winter cabin sessions, recording the acoustic guitar with close-miking techniques to capture the intimate, detailed sound that became characteristic of the album. The warm, compressed quality comes from both the recording approach and gentle processing applied during the self-produced mixing process.

Production Credits

Producer: Justin Vernon

Engineer: Sean Carey

Recorded at: April Base Studios, Fall Creek, Wisconsin

Signal Chain

Instrument: Gibson Acoustic Guitar

Microphone: Neumann U87

Recreation Tips

  • Start with a high-quality acoustic guitar with warm tonal characteristics.
  • Experiment with microphone placement, focusing on capturing both the body and neck of the guitar.
  • Use a condenser microphone with a smooth frequency response, such as a Neumann U87 or similar.
  • Apply gentle compression to control dynamics and add sustain.
  • Consider using a touch of EQ to subtly enhance the guitar's natural warmth and clarity.

Original Gear

  • Gibson Acoustic Guitar(guitar)
  • Neumann U87(mic)
  • LA-2A(compressor)

Substitutions & Recommendations

Audio-Technica AT4040$300-$350

Alternative to: Neumann U87 condenser microphone

Large diaphragm condenser with warm character and detailed midrange response perfect for intimate acoustic recording

ReverbSweetwater
Taylor 814ce$4000-$4500

Alternative to: Gibson Acoustic Guitar

Premium acoustic with balanced tone and clear articulation that works well for fingerpicked indie folk styles

ReverbSweetwater
Waves CLA-2A Plugin$30-$50

Alternative to: LA-2A style compression

Optical compressor emulation that provides the gentle, musical compression characteristic of this warm acoustic tone

ReverbSweetwater
Yamaha FG830$200-$250

Alternative to: Gibson Acoustic Guitar

Budget-friendly dreadnought with solid spruce top that delivers warm, full-bodied tone suitable for fingerpicking

ReverbSweetwater
Rode Procaster$800-$900

Alternative to: Neumann U87 condenser microphone

Large diaphragm condenser with smooth frequency response and low noise floor ideal for detailed acoustic guitar capture

ReverbSweetwater

Sources

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