1. Make sure the amp chassis/cabinet/speaker are tight.
2. Make sure the tubes are good.
3 Make sure the connecting cables are good (board and instrument/amp).
4. Make sure the guitar strings are new.
5. Make sure the guitar intonation is still correct.
6. Mic placement is key. Spend time getting the sound you want. Suggestions, for standard SM57:
- Start 1-2" from the grill.
- Mic pointing straight into the speaker.
- Mic 1/2 the distance between the outside of the dustcap and the outside of the full speaker cone.
- Move around from there.
7. Use a bit less OD/Distortion than live - will be cleaner/punchier (less chainsaw) in the mix.
8. **Might turn the cut up just a touch more than usual - sometimes helps with clarity. Or, if the tone's too buzzy/aggressive, try rolling the cut down a little more than usual.
Again, work to get the right tone before going to tape. Remember, garbage in = garbage out.