I have been on a wild tone ride lately, actually probably for the past 7 years, ever since I bought my first boogie, I have been looking for answers to my tone dilemma. Now, the end to the long journey seems close at hand. Many of the things that I have always heard are right. Tubes are better, analog is better. they are all right. Really, at the most elementary level, Keith Richards was right when he said.. "it is the right guitar with the right amp". That might not sound like much, but it really is true, there are some guitars that sound better in some amps, and some that don't. Marshalls and Gibsons, especially Les Pauls with humbuckers sound good. it is no accident that so many players have chosen that combination. But the real secret I have learned is that tone is about compression. The guitar being an unusual lead instrument in that in order to sustain a note, it needs some sort of manipulation of the note.. hence.. compression.. or as it is more commonly called.. distortion, overdrive, or fuzz. What it took me awhile to learn was that compression also comes from effects. Effects are suppose to add to the original signal, but they also compress the signal, that's why they all have input and output level controls. And that's why analog effects are so much nicer than digital effects. The slight amount of compression added by an analog effect is smoother and more pleasing to the ear than a digital effect, especially when combined with distortion. Speaking of distortion, you can have pre-amp compression/distortion or power amp compression/distortion. Pre-amp compression is fine and dandy, and has probably be more researched by more amplifier builders than any other amplifier function. And because of this, we have had many fine accomplishments in amplifier technology when it comes to pre-amp compression. One thing I eventually learned is that power tube compression has a very nice tone to it. So the secret is to concentrate on smaller amps. 20 to 40 watts is fine. If you have to play a bigger place, mic it. If you buy a bigger amp, like a 100 marshall, simply pull the two inside tubes to bring it down to 50 watts. If you want to go a step further, substitute THD Yellowjackets power for the tubes, which will bring down the power amp volume even more and allow for power tube compression. So you could use a classic 100 watt plexi at 20 or so watts.. Personally I don't bother with combos any more, I realize the real fun is with heads and cabs. Of course, the matching cab that goes with the head probably sounds the best. But there is so much variety out there, and it really boils down to a weight issue. A nice 2X12 cab is usually easier to haul than a average size 1X12 combo. And most heads lighter than most combos. Plus, most good combos are usually available in head format. And there are so many great heads.. fender dual showmans, marshall plexis, rivera rake, vht pittbulls, the list goes on and on. The journey will continue, but this is the basis for tone happiness. think compression. Keep on the journey tone junkies. Don't believe what I say.. see for yourself!!!
Best secrets: o Put an eq pedal before preamp distortion - such as before amp's input. You can also use an overdrive pedal that has tone controls, before the amp's preamp distortion. o Turn guitar's volume control down to 5-7 for more treble. o Use a power attenuator, such as the Hot Plate or Power Brake.
The first thing every guitarist should do is run out an buy an EQ pedal and a power attenuator (Hot Plate is unsurpassed). See Amptone.com.
> I have been on a wild tone ride lately, actually probably for the past 7 > years, ever since I bought my first boogie, I have been looking for answers > to my tone dilemma. Now, the end to the long journey seems close at hand. > Many of the things that I have always heard are right. Tubes are better, > analog is better. they are all right. Really, at the most elementary level, > Keith Richards was right when he said.. "it is the right guitar with the > right amp". That might not sound like much, but it really is true, there > are some guitars that sound better in some amps, and some that don't. > Marshalls and Gibsons, especially Les Pauls with humbuckers sound good. it > is no accident that so many players have chosen that combination. > But the real secret I have learned is that tone is about compression. > The guitar being an unusual lead instrument in that in order to sustain a > note, it needs some sort of manipulation of the note.. hence.. compression.. > or as it is more commonly called.. distortion, overdrive, or fuzz. What it > took me awhile to learn was that compression also comes from effects. > Effects are suppose to add to the original signal, but they also compress > the signal, that's why they all have input and output level controls. And > that's why analog effects are so much nicer than digital effects. The > slight amount of compression added by an analog effect is smoother and more > pleasing to the ear than a digital effect, especially when combined with > distortion. > Speaking of distortion, you can have pre-amp compression/distortion or power > amp compression/distortion. Pre-amp compression is fine and dandy, and has > probably be more researched by more amplifier builders than any other > amplifier function. And because of this, we have had many fine > accomplishments in amplifier technology when it comes to pre-amp > compression. One thing I eventually learned is that power tube compression > has a very nice tone to it. So the secret is to concentrate on smaller > amps. 20 to 40 watts is fine. If you have to play a bigger place, mic it. > If you buy a bigger amp, like a 100 marshall, simply pull the two inside > tubes to bring it down to 50 watts. If you want to go a step further, > substitute THD Yellowjackets power for the tubes, which will bring down the > power amp volume even more and allow for power tube compression. So you > could use a classic 100 watt plexi at 20 or so watts.. > Personally I don't bother with combos any more, I realize the real fun > is with heads and cabs. Of course, the matching cab that goes with the head > probably sounds the best. But there is so much variety out there, and it > really boils down to a weight issue. A nice 2X12 cab is usually easier to > haul than a average size 1X12 combo. And most heads lighter than most > combos. Plus, most good combos are usually available in head format. And > there are so many great heads.. fender dual showmans, marshall plexis, > rivera rake, vht pittbulls, the list goes on and on. > The journey will continue, but this is the basis for tone happiness. > think compression. Keep on the journey tone junkies. Don't believe what I > say.. see for yourself!!!
I recommend that everyone have an EQ and Hot Plate available, for flexibility of Tone and volume. Having this gear on hand expands the range of combinations of Tone and SPL available. Having an EQ and Hot Plate available does not narrow your Tone down to one sound; it expands the range of sounds and the volumes at which you get those sounds. I take it for granted you have multiple guitars, tube amps, and overdrive/distortion pedals. The main thing missing from such a collection, if the goal is to get more Tones and more volume levels, is EQ and power attenuation.
The gear I listed is not sufficient for getting a Van Halen sound. For that, given that you have a tube amp and perhaps a distortion pedal, you would need to buy 3 eq's, a power attenuator, and a final amp for use as a linear power amp. You would need to use the attenuator as a dummy load.
I do not suggest that everyone always play through an EQ and Hot Plate -- but everyone should definitely try these out, at least on a trial basis. Especially if someone has tried a variety of gear and is frustrated, they should definitely try EQ and power attenuation before getting involved in building up a huge collection and spending a lot of energy on mods.
> >The first thing every guitarist should do is run out an buy an EQ pedal and > >a power attenuator (Hot Plate is unsurpassed). See Amptone.com.
> That would assume that "every guitarist" wants to sound like you, or EVH > or whomever. I assure you that is NOT the case.
> Some of the best tones I've ever heard comes from plugging straight in, with no > outboard crap whatsoever.
Many people try plugging straight into the amp and are very dissatisfied with the result, when an EQ and Hot Plate would fix the problem. People should consider an EQ and power attenuator to be basic gear, like buying a distortion pedal. These are not as nearly as common in music stores and discussions as they should be, given how powerful these auxiliary components are.
To complement a typical solid-state beginner's amp, I would recommend buying an EQ pedal (for pre-distortion EQ control) before buying a distortion pedal. People still treat the Hot Plate as an exotic, unusual device. They still talk about the "secret" of pre-distortion EQ. That should change. Pre-distortion EQ and power attenuators should be as common as distortion pedals, because they can open up a wider range of basic amp Tones than adding a distortion pedal usually does.
The goal I address is to expand the range of basic amp Tone and at a wider range of SPL's -- to get a wider range of sounds out of a standard amp. Adding a distortion or overdrive pedal is comparatively unnatural -- it's adding a lot of processing. EQ and power attenuation are more like assisting the amp to do what it does, with added range. It's more like opening up the voicing range of the amp itself rather than adding processing.
> I take it for >granted you have multiple guitars, tube amps, and overdrive/distortion >pedals.
Yes and no. Multiple guitars and tube amps, yes. I have one buzz pedal, a modified reissue TS9, which I almost never use. I pick the amp for the size of the gig, and am happy with the tone that it gives. Being a blues player, I don't need a bunch of different tones like a top-40 cover band or a modern thrash band.
*You can guess what to remove from my email address to get rid of the spam block.*
>JOHN! Did you really write that? Are you mellowing in your old age?
>I'm........................mortified.8^)
Yes, Roy, I did. The original poster was making sweeping, all encompassing statements that were absurd. He seems to assume everyone wants cranked rock-metal tone, which certainly is not true. I for one do not want to sound like those generic toned Mesa wankers I see on MTV as I channel surf. I like an amp that gives one excellent tone. Hence, my remark, implying that what may work well for him may not be the ideal solution for everyone.
Say, did you leave LA and move back east again? Oh, BTW, I still think GT's hype is bull...
J.
*You can guess what to remove from my email address to get rid of the spam block.*
Sounds like good basic advice, Michael. I buy it. I don't see how this arrangement could possible lock one into any specific sound. I have the hotplate, now what do you suggest for an EQ pedal? I have used a Carvin Quad X for years (which I'm well aware some would consider a POS, but I don't), and that thing has tons of very effective EQ. But you seem to be suggesting a somewhat different setup, and I'm not using the Carvin much anymore. Are you saying guitar into EQ into whatever else? Recommendations?
Tom
"Michael Hoffman" <gl...@blort.com> wrote in message
> I recommend that everyone have an EQ and Hot Plate available, for > flexibility of Tone and volume. Having this gear on hand expands the range > of combinations of Tone and SPL available. Having an EQ and Hot Plate > available does not narrow your Tone down to one sound; it expands the range > of sounds and the volumes at which you get those sounds. I take it for > granted you have multiple guitars, tube amps, and overdrive/distortion > pedals. The main thing missing from such a collection, if the goal is to > get more Tones and more volume levels, is EQ and power attenuation.
> The gear I listed is not sufficient for getting a Van Halen sound. For > that, given that you have a tube amp and perhaps a distortion pedal, you > would need to buy 3 eq's, a power attenuator, and a final amp for use as a > linear power amp. You would need to use the attenuator as a dummy load.
> I do not suggest that everyone always play through an EQ and Hot Plate -- > but everyone should definitely try these out, at least on a trial basis. > Especially if someone has tried a variety of gear and is frustrated, they > should definitely try EQ and power attenuation before getting involved in > building up a huge collection and spending a lot of energy on mods.
> > >The first thing every guitarist should do is run out an buy an EQ pedal > and > > >a power attenuator (Hot Plate is unsurpassed). See Amptone.com.
> > That would assume that "every guitarist" wants to sound like you, or EVH > > or whomever. I assure you that is NOT the case.
> > Some of the best tones I've ever heard comes from plugging straight in, > with no > > outboard crap whatsoever.
> Many people try plugging straight into the amp and are very dissatisfied > with the result, when an EQ and Hot Plate would fix the problem. People > should consider an EQ and power attenuator to be basic gear, like buying a > distortion pedal. These are not as nearly as common in music stores and > discussions as they should be, given how powerful these auxiliary components > are.
> To complement a typical solid-state beginner's amp, I would recommend buying > an EQ pedal (for pre-distortion EQ control) before buying a distortion > pedal. People still treat the Hot Plate as an exotic, unusual device. They > still talk about the "secret" of pre-distortion EQ. That should change. > Pre-distortion EQ and power attenuators should be as common as distortion > pedals, because they can open up a wider range of basic amp Tones than > adding a distortion pedal usually does.
> The goal I address is to expand the range of basic amp Tone and at a wider > range of SPL's -- to get a wider range of sounds out of a standard amp. > Adding a distortion or overdrive pedal is comparatively unnatural -- it's > adding a lot of processing. EQ and power attenuation are more like > assisting the amp to do what it does, with added range. It's more like > opening up the voicing range of the amp itself rather than adding > processing.
"> >JOHN! Did you really write that? Are you mellowing in your old age?
> >I'm........................mortified.8^)
> Yes, Roy, I did. The original poster was making sweeping, all encompassing > statements that were absurd. He seems to assume everyone wants cranked > rock-metal tone, which certainly is not true.
Wull, uh, that IS my tone......... . I for one do not want to sound
> like those generic toned Mesa wankers I see on MTV as I channel surf. I like > an amp that gives one excellent tone. Hence, my remark, implying that what may > work well for him may not be the ideal solution for everyone.
> Say, did you leave LA and move back east again? Oh, BTW, I still think GT's > hype is bull...
> J.
To each his own....................8^)
Yeah, man, I took a rep job in Atlanta, but first I parked myself back in Gainesville, FL, to do some amp work. Trying to get up at 6:30 AM to drive somewhere in traffic to call on some butthead who has a bad attitude got old IMMEDIATELY. When you have your own shop, YOU are in control of what goes on, I had all the answers my customers would ask, all of a sudden I am calling on strangers and THEY are behind the counter, I am still trying to assimilate all of this info about the products I was repping (Alesis, QSC, AKG, Denon Pro), I thought, "Man, I already know my business, why am I putting myself through this and trying to learn another bunch of product info AGAIN?!" So I gave notice and re-opened my biz here in Gainesville. I miss my little place in LA, but I don't miss looking over my shoulder every minute.
>Best secrets: >o Put an eq pedal before preamp distortion - such as before amp's input. >You can also use an overdrive pedal that has tone controls, before the amp's >preamp distortion. >o Turn guitar's volume control down to 5-7 for more treble.
How exactly is that supposed to work? On most guitars the treble rolls off when you turn the volume down unless you have a treble bypass cap connected from the hot connection to the wiper of the volume control. matt
Funny........If this is your "holy grail" sound, why dont BB King, Albert King and Peter Green use this setup??......Guess they are just ignorant fucks that dont know all these cool eq and stomp box tricks that the enlightened ones in here do.........Maybe some day these folks, living and dead, will learn how to get a good tone....
Guys I have an Rocktek Eq, and Rocktek Phaser. Can all of you, give me your opinion's about both of these pedals. Quality, and reliablity etc. anyone ever used these, anything would be nice.
> Guys I have an Rocktek Eq, and Rocktek Phaser. Can all of you, give me your > opinion's about both of these pedals. Quality, and reliablity etc. anyone > ever used these, anything would be nice. > Rich Koerner wrote in message <3AC92027.A3738...@timeelect.com>...
> >Censored Boards Suck wrote:
> >> >The first thing every guitarist should do is run out an buy an EQ pedal > and > >> >a power attenuator (Hot Plate is unsurpassed). See Amptone.com.
> >> LOL. That would assume that "every guitarist" wants to sound like you, > or EVH > >> or whomever. I assure you that is NOT the case.
> >> Some of the best tones I've ever heard comes from plugging straight in, > with no > >> outboard crap whatsoever.
> >Agreed!!!!!!
> >Finding an amp of current production that can do it all bare ass, is a > >BITCH!!!!!!
Actually, I prefer to not use any effects most of the time I play. I only use effects when doing covers that had then in the original recording.
I do own an old Clyde Mc Coy, fuzzface, and a few Mu Trons.
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