Double-tracking rhythm guitar without making it sound blurry

Double-tracked guitars sound wide because the performances differ slightly, not because one take is copied and delayed. The challenge is keeping those differences musical. Tight starts, stops and chord releases matter more than matching every pick movement perfectly.

I record separate performances, use less gain than expected, and edit only distractions that pull attention away from the song. If both tracks are heavily saturated, small timing differences turn into a wash. Arrangement also matters: two identical full-range parts can crowd vocals and snare even when played accurately.

What helps you keep doubled parts powerful but clear?