How to get that massive HUM guitar sound

Rimshot Report - How to get that massive HUM guitar sound.

A deep dive into who HUM are and the gear needed to achieve their tone from their 4 studio albums.

1. Who are HUM? 

HUM are my personal favourite band. Coming from Champaign, Illinois, HUM are most well known in the hardcore genre for their heavy but dreamy guitar melodies. and an expansive, almost space-like atmosphere that they create in their songs. The most notable lineup of HUM included: Matt Talbott, the frontman and guitar player; Tim Lash, also on guitar; Jeff Dempsey on bass; and Bryan St. Pere on drums. The band gained wider recognition from their 1995 album, "You'd Prefer An Astronaut", which is my personal favourite album, as well as their most beloved track amongst most fans "Stars" 

What i think makes HUM stick out from most bands is the contrast between their weight and the atmosphere they are able to create. On one hand, the guitars are downtuned, heavy and distorted, but on the other hand, their melodies remain clear and emotional rather than simply playing loud riffs. I believe that this combination helped to make HUM one of the most influential reference points for listeners of alternative rock and shoegaze music.

You'd Prefer An Astronaut - HUM (1995)

2. What makes the HUM guitar tone so distinctive?

The secret to HUM's sound is not distortion alone. Producer of You'd Prefer An Astronaut, Keith Cleversley, described the sessions as an attempt to achieve the fattest guitar sound possible by downtuning guitars, using lush chords, saturated guitar tracks, as well as carefully chosen microphones. 

3 elements I would say are crucial to HUM's sound are:

1. Thick distortion: as I have previously mentioned, HUM have a thick distortion but can still keep each note clear

2. Layered guitar parts: HUM layer the same parts in multiple takes over each other to create a more powerful sound rather than relying on just one track to cover everything

3. Melodic chord voicings: HUM use very open-sounding chords that allow for the distortion to breathe, which is crucial to creating that dreamy sound they are known for.

3. The gear behind the sound.

HUM performing live in the 90s (reddit)

Arguably the most exciting part about not just HUM's sound but all bands' sound is going down the rabbit hole of researching what gear they used on each track and each album.

From recording session accounts as well as photos, we can see that both guitarists favoured Hiwatt and Orange amplifiers as well as Gibson Les Paul guitars. Matt Talbott was known to use a Mesa Boogie head through an Orange cabinet, and seen below is a photo of Matt's pedalboard he used on tour with the band

Matt Talbott Live Pedalboard (source unknown)

This, to me, is just proof that you do not need to break the bank to achieve a sound as powerful and emotional as HUM.

Here is what each piece of gear contributed towards HUM's sound.

Guitar: Gibson Les Paul, one of the most instantly recognisable guitars, they are known for that warm and thick sound from their humbucker pickups. This helped to create that distinct distorted sound effectively for HUM

Amplifiers: Hiwatt amps, known primarily for their powerful and clear response, were used widely amongst alternative rock and hardcore bands throughout the 90s.

Orange amps are also one of the most notorious amp brands and were used by bands everyone knows, such as Black sabbath and Led Zeppelin; this goes to show that the sound that can come from an Orange amp is incredibly versatile.

Pedals: Boss DF2 distortion. This was Matt's defining distortion pedal that was used to achieve that massive wall of sound

MXR Phaser 100: This was used to create those deep, swelling sounds as well as phasing sounds, most notably on songs like "I'd Like Your Hair Long".

Digitech PDS 1002 digital delay pedal: This was used to create those echoey, space-like tones on mostly every song on "You'd Prefer An Astronaut"

All of this equipment is important to creating the same HUM tone; however, it is only part of the equation. HUM's recordings demonstrate how the combination of performance, arrangement and production can make even the most simple guitar parts sound enormous.

4. How to create the HUM tone on your own rig.

You don't necessarily need expensive vintage equipment to get a close enough sound to HUM. On your own amplifier at home, there are a few simple things you can adjust to get closer to what feels right.

First of all, HUM are very well known for the vast majority of their songs being in drop D tuning. just simply tune your low E string down a full step to D, and you are halfway there. This offers a heavier low note but keeps the same chord shapes available. Drop D is used in most songs in HUM's discography, including my favourite track "I Hate It Too"

Step 2: get a good distortion tone. I would recommend putting the gain knob to around "3 o'clock" so there is enough distortion to get a good wall of sound but not enough that it drowns out your higher notes, creating a muddy mix.

Step 3: if you can, try layering your recordings. If u record at home, play the same rhythm part twice as seperate performances and pan them left and right. avoid simply copying one take onto another track. HUM are infamous for triple tracking guitars with multiple different microphone signals. 

5. The importance of recording and production.

One of the biggest lessons from HUM's sound is that a massive guitar tone isn't created by pedals alone. As stated previously , Cleversley used multiple microphones, large speakers cabinet as well as saturated tape recording, while balancing all of the different guitar tracks.

Focusrite Scarlett Solo Gen 4

All of this may sound daunting to someone who just records at home, but you can also create this sound using an audio interface such as a Focusrite Scarlett and GarageBand. 

Record two takes and make sure they are distinct from each other, pan one left and one right, mix, and use EQ to remove unwanted frequencies and noise rather than just boost everything.

The overall aim is clarity with heaviness. Each guitar should contribute to the overall sound without masking everything else.

6. Final thoughts.

HUM's guitar sound is brilliant. They serve as an example of how alternative rock can combine aggression with atmosphere. Their use of drop tunings, lush chords, layered performances and carefully considered recording techniques creates a sound that is both enormous and melodic.

for guitarists at home who are trying to recreate it, the best approach is to start with a suitable amp tone, use drop D tuning, and learn how to layer parts effectively. Expensive gear can be attractive to those looking to get that sound, but it cannot replace playing and arrangement

Ultimately, the goal isn't to copy every detail of HUM's rig. It's to understand why their sound works and use those ideas to develop your own

References

1: Cleversley K. (2013). Hum guitar sounds? Playground Studio. https://playgroundstudio.com/studio-secrets/hum-guitar-sounds/

2: Equipboard. HUM - You'd Prefer An Astronaut: Gear & Equipment Used on the Album https://equipboard.com/albums/hum-you-d-prefer-an-astronaut

3: Equipboard. Matt Talbott - Gear and Equipment. https://equipboard.com/pros/matt-talbott