Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum
Forum Ringside => Guitars, Amps and Effects => Topic started by: willo on May 17, 2006, 11:26:37 AM
-
The balancing act!
I was just wondering if any of you guys have some advice for me, cos a few of you have been around :wink: ! Well, basically, it's about gear choice. I've got a JCM800 but I'm basically set on replacing it because I haven't found it adaptable enough for me.
My problem is that, musically, I don't know what I am! I'm sure quite a few of you have faced this problem - I play noisy jam music in my band for which I want a really good clean tone with headroom. However, I would kill to join a cool-rock band, in which case I'll be needing crunch. And in my room I like to play along with records by Tool and Vai from time to time - so that's high gain.
So I'm looking from advice from people who've faced a similar split personality...not on particular bits of gear, but more on how it is that you work out what it is that you do, and therefore what it is that you need! I like what I'm doing in my band these days, but I'm not naive enough to think that it's going to be the band that I'm in forever :?
-
Well I always liked the idea of having an amp with a good crunch tone, like your JCM800, then rolling back guitar volume for cleans and using boosters for higher gain stuff.. I guess its just personal preference..
-
I'm sure you will find a lot of sympathy for that dilema on this forum, I know that I have the same problem. I can veer wildly from playing squeaky clean country (Johnny Cash and Gram Parsons) to big overdriven Neil Young, to more modern sounding stuff (Muse, Smashing Pumpkins, Radiohead) at the drop of a hat, and I still haven't found the right piece of kit to let me do all of it...
I guess sooner or later someone is going to chirp up and say the Matamp 1224, which does look like it can do most things with relative ease. I intend to play one myself when I visit the Matamp factory in June so I'll report back :)
*Rahnooo*
-
Yeah, I've been talking to Hayden (HJM) about the 1224, but he expressed that it doesn't have so much clean headroom which might be a problem.
It's just so confusing...how you see yourself and your music directly affects what you purchase...and you don't want to put all your eggs in one basket (sorry for the cliche) in case all of a sudden, your band breaks up, the musical landscape changes and so on.
-
This is probably why modellers are so common actually.. people want everything I guess. If I wanted lots of different sounds I'd probably get a modelling floor unit such as a Pod XT or the Vox Tonelab then an Atomic cab to make it more authentic sounding.
-
how much cash have you got?
-
how much cash have you got?
at the moment, I reckon I've got about £900 saved up, plus I'm hoping to earn about £1500-2000 over the summer through work, without having much outgoing costs (rent is paid up already for the summer). But it's not so much money or the specific equipment that I'm looking for here you know? It's more like, how do you actually come to the answer of defining yourself as a musician? What are the solutions? It makes my head hurt... :?
-
Pod XT live floor unit into a valve power amp and 2 speaker cabs
then you can be clean , overdriven or super high gain
-
how do you actually come to the answer of defining yourself as a musician?
You get old and grumpy. Then someone asks you to join their band and you think, "Ah, hell, I'm not playing that kinda music any more!" Then you can cross that style off your list. ;)
Finding yourself as a musician just comes with time, I guess. I have had a fairly distinctive style for years now, but it still evolves when I hear new music and I get new ideas. I really don't wanna become one of those old blues/rock/metal/whatever players whose sound never changes and who sits around saying "Ain't no one who can play like me", when the truth is that they're so deeply embedded in their own musical rut that they're oblivious to anything else.
I recommend that you keep playing and play a lot on your own, without any input from others. Just explore the sounds you can make with a guitar without being influenced for a while. I think that is a good way to develop your own style and sound. A good exercise is to take a really boring song and make it interesting. Then do it again ten times with the same song--all in one night. Every version has to be a bit different and catchy. And do it more by feel and less by thinking about it.
-
A new fender Supersonic. Fender's website has some clips. It sounds very promising.
-
So I'm looking from advice from people who've faced a similar split personality...not on particular bits of gear, but more on how it is that you work out what it is that you do, and therefore what it is that you need! I like what I'm doing in my band these days, but I'm not naive enough to think that it's going to be the band that I'm in forever :?
Sounds very familiar. In fact it's not a case of "faced", more "still facing". You'd have thought I'd have sussed it by my age, eg. ;)
I never know one week or the next whether I want to be in Metallica, Poison, Marillion, The Beatles or possibly New Model Army, or Anti-Nowhere League... or... etc. ;)
That said, I think I'm finally getting somewhere with my gear where I can flit between all these styles reasonably well. It's taken a while though.
I've found that the Marshall JMP1 in conjunction with a 9100 power amp is great sounding, and pretty flexible. And now I've thrown in a decent FX unit (TC Electronics G-Major) I've added even more flexibility (early days with this bit of kit though).
Muttley
-
Sometimes you don't know until it finds you...
I was looking for a band, saw an advert needing an Angus Young, now I'm Angus. Since then I've found out that my style is very Angus (bluesy, lots of vibrato) and I don't have to concentrate on his style, just the notes.
I bought an SG (had to be done!) and have discovered the rock tone and playability (60's style, wide thin neck) I've always been looking for.
I needed a backup amp and I found a Laney Klipp cheap in a local music shop. I bought that and was so impressed I recently bought a Laney GH50L and my Marshall JTM60 is being sold tomorrow to a guy from work.
In the space of 6 weeks I've learnt that I can do a mean Angus impersonation, SGs are my guitar and I love Laney's more than Marshalls. Up until then, I played a whole bunch of different guitars though a Marshall.
My advice? Don't worry too much about it - just enjoy what you're doing and try loads of different gear!
-
I had the same dilema too. I used to use amps that had a really good distortion but not alot of headroom because i used to constantly play metal. then my tastes changed and i wanted all different kinds of tones and heads never really got me what i wanted (except for the Mesa Mark IV but i can't afford one). Preamps and power amps have been a god send. I have no real desire to go out looking for new amps any more because i've got it all with my rack set up now.
£900 is a pretty good lump of money for a new set up and looking around on ebay might help you find what you're looking for and be left with a bit of change.
-
at the moment, I reckon I've got about £900 saved up, plus I'm hoping to earn about £1500-2000 over the summer through work, without having much outgoing costs (rent is paid up already for the summer). But it's not so much money or the specific equipment that I'm looking for here you know? It's more like, how do you actually come to the answer of defining yourself as a musician? What are the solutions? It makes my head hurt... :?
how much of that would you be willing to spend on an amp? I mean, i can recommend amps that'll pretty much cover any tone under the sun (more or less), but you have to pay for them. Alternatively, you could buy several mid-priced amps that each do one tone very well. Or, as feline says, you could go with a modeller 'til you make up your mind...
Unfortunately, it sometimes (actually, probably make this often, lol) takes until you actually fork over the cash for an amp to discover that you actually don't use the tones that you paid a lot of extra cash for...
:lol:
-
Well, I'll spend whatever for an amp (well, not a dumble, but you know, within reason - i.e. amp and cab under 1500, tops) if it's going to do what I want. I see it as an investment, if its perfect its better to get it now than buy stopgaps only to buy the damn thing in the end.
Not going back to modelling, been there and it was OK but I was glad to move away.
It's not really about gear (this thread), it's more about how you come to - if you come to - ever find one singular image of what you are as a musician?
-
It's not really about gear (this thread), it's more about how you come to - if you come to - ever find one singular image of what you are as a musician?
I used to think about weather i wanted to play rock or blues or metal or whatever. now i just play everything i like the sound of; you don't need any other 'image' as a musician other than yourself. Take influence from your heros, use and devellop their techniques and through that your own style. I find a good way to devellop your style is to just play a guitar you like into an amp of any description on any setting, and just limit yourself to this instrument, this setting, this sound and see what yu can do with it...
One singular image just isn't necessary unless you are pretty damn narrow-minded IMO.
-
It's not really about gear (this thread), it's more about how you come to - if you come to - ever find one singular image of what you are as a musician?
I used to think about weather i wanted to play rock or blues or metal or whatever. now i just play everything i like the sound of; you don't need any other 'image' as a musician other than yourself. Take influence from your heros, use and devellop their techniques and through that your own style. I find a good way to devellop your style is to just play a guitar you like into an amp of any description on any setting, and just limit yourself to this instrument, this setting, this sound and see what yu can do with it...
One singular image just isn't necessary unless you are pretty damn narrow-minded IMO.
True, but that's not quite what I mean. I'm not looking for a singular image, because lord knows I haven't got one...hell, I don't even have an 'image' in the first place. What I'm wondering is whether or not there is ever a time in your life when everything that your are musically, and as a person, is distilled into one moment, one song, one band whatever. Or do most people spend their lives playing in a number of bands simulataneously to satisfy the various facets of themself?
I mean, I have my own style right now that I think sounds like me...sure, you can hear my influences in it, but fundamentally I think it is me and it is natural to me, it always comes out. But, of course, depending on the situation it has to be somewhat tempered....I can play a 7 minute improvisation if I'm playing in my main band, with dissonance, odd FX, rhythmic displacement and all that kind of thing...but for all that, sometimes I just want to bash out a Ramones song, you know? So, there is a tension in me, and I think we all feel it. I'm wondering if this tension ever releases? Do people just get less interested in various types of music and therefore exclude them out of a lack of interest, or do people just return to their roots and accept that they'll always be a rocker and never a brilliant jazzer (for instance)? Or does the tension never end, and people play multiple projects for their multiple interests?
(if you see what I mean)
It's a bit of a headache...
-
I think I see what you mean. I play and listen to most kinds of music these days, but unfortunately I'm yet to find a band that combines funk/country/blues/jazz/rock/stoner metal/reggae into one listenable bunch of songs.....so at the end of the day I think if you like a wide range of stuff you've got to accept that one band isn't going to totally satisfy you.
In the same way I think it would be difficult to totally release all the 'tension' many of us feel in just one song. I came pretty close when covering an Incubus song some time ago, but that was mainly cos we jammed about with it and took turns laying down jazzy lines over the main chord vamp, as well as rocking out (and playing it how it actually goes!) on other parts.
At home this 'tension' thing is part of what makes me play every day....I don't think it's a bad thing to have as a musician!
-
At home this 'tension' thing is part of what makes me play every day....I don't think it's a bad thing to have as a musician!
I'd agree with this. I think that for most of us the really good music comes from the tension, trying to push in other directions within the constraints of a particular style. I know that the best moments with my new band have been when I've been writing songs in one style while being influenced by others.
Musical tension can be a very good thing :)
*Rahnooo*
-
Well, I'll spend whatever for an amp (well, not a dumble, but you know, within reason - i.e. amp and cab under 1500, tops) if it's going to do what I want. I see it as an investment, if its perfect its better to get it now than buy stopgaps only to buy the damn thing in the end.
Not going back to modelling, been there and it was OK but I was glad to move away.
It's not really about gear (this thread), it's more about how you come to - if you come to - ever find one singular image of what you are as a musician?
ah.
do you still want recommendations for amps? cos i just play a bit of everything depending on my mood, so i'm no help with the philosophical questions, lol...
:drink:
-
I'm in a similiar boat. At various times I may be found playing acoustic, blues, rock, metal, prog...
I have four amps to handle all my various guitar sounds... well one's really a practice amp but I could use it with a PA system or to record with and it sounds good enough for that ;)
What don't you like about the JCM 800? Want more gain? Get it modded with a 4th 12AX7 added... Lee Jackson style ;)
-
What don't you like about the JCM 800? Want more gain? Get it modded with a 4th 12AX7 added... Lee Jackson style ;)
...or jsut go for an overdrive pedal? S'wat i'm doing with mine :lol:
-
well i like playing basically everything... and my band does it all...
i mean... we've got a Spanish song, a few funk numbers, a jazzy-rock kinda one, a classic rock kinda thing, then some almost-metal Drop D heavy stuff... we do everything and anything we feel like doing... its great... havin said that... we have only JUST got a singer... and we're having to hone in on one particular style more and more now... so i may soon find myself in your position...
but im with the guys above that said it was a good thing... i think in an odd way being restricted makes you more creative (or at least it does that to me)...
but i think deep down, im into rock... and thats it... sure, sometimes i play all kinds of stuff; and its great... but hard-rock is what im really into... i just know it- i can feel it... dunno why its just something i KNOW... dunno if its the same for everyone... and in time this may change... but i definately have a favourite style... even if i do A LOT of other random stuff...
what im trying to say is... i dont think its a good thing to try and strictly categorise yourself as a musician, but if you do see yourself as a particular kind of musician/guitarist... then its not a bad thing to play other stuff and muck around... its like these STUPID GAY sub-categories of music styles i always wine on about when people mention them... 'pseudo-post-emo-punk-grunge-hair metal..."
SHUT UP!!!!
i dont think you CAN categorise yourself as a muscian really... its just not really possible... unless maybe your talking specifically about songs and actual pieces of music you have written that are ALL in certain style, but even then its difficult....
its probably a good thing to have diversity at this stage in your 'career'/musical life... im in 2 bands at the mo (classic rock, metal,) and almost a third (acoustic)... maybe when im older and ive developed my musical preferences, ill only be in one band, ill know exactly what i want... maybe not... maybe ill ALWAYS be in multiple bands to cater for my tastes... either way... i dont care, what will happen will happen and whether that means 5 bands or one band or me on my own i dont mind... the great thing about music is there are no rules... you dont have to follow any guidelines as to what you should do with your music... its up to you and whatever you feel is right, you should do.... i mean, in a couple of years, you may not want to play any heavy music in a band... sure at home you might play some random metal, even jam some heavy stuff with mates, but you may not want to take it any further... you may find that you love jazz and want to progress with others in that department... who cares? i dont think thats something we should worry about...
anyway, sorry i kinda digressed there, please tell me if ive missed the point completely haha
-
do you still want recommendations for amps?
Yeah, sure fire away :D
What don't you like about the JCM 800? Want more gain? Get it modded with a 4th 12AX7 added... Lee Jackson style ;)
Well, I usually use a fuzz for my solos anyway, so it's not so much that. It's just, I dunno, the JCM800 has one damn good tone, and that's about it. It is a great tone, but sometimes I would like to be able to go a little cleaner at volume, than it lets me. Re: the overdrive, yup done that with the Analogman SD1/808 (Tubescreamer) mod, it's nice.
Sambo - I think your post...that kind of rambling, god-knows-what-I'm-talking-about half page digression, and then coming to the conclusion, who cares about the future? Let's just live it now...well, that is basically exactly the same conclusion I came to, and in the same manner too! :D
-
Well, I usually use a fuzz for my solos anyway, so it's not so much that. It's just, I dunno, the JCM800 has one damn good tone, and that's about it. It is a great tone, but sometimes I would like to be able to go a little cleaner at volume, than it lets me. Re: the overdrive, yup done that with the Analogman SD1/808 (Tubescreamer) mod, it's nice.
Sambo - I think your post...that kind of rambling, god-knows-what-I'm-talking-about half page digression, and then coming to the conclusion, who cares about the future? Let's just live it now...well, that is basically exactly the same conclusion I came to, and in the same manner too! :D
:D :D
-
Yeah, sure fire away :D
what type of tones are you after again?
:lol:
-
ever find one singular image of what you are as a musician?
I know what it is in my head, and I'm always working towards acheiving it in my playing, compositions and the gear I own. The only problem with that is, that it makes it very hard being in a band as you restrict yourself considerably if you try and stick to it, unless you can find some quality musicians to play with that understand it, and quality musicians that are available seem to be few and far between. Hence me not being in a band right now...