Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum
Forum Ringside => Guitars, Amps and Effects => Topic started by: downrodeo on June 09, 2006, 03:25:49 AM
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I'm trying to get a little more saturation for my lead tone. I really like my nailbombs a ton, but I feel like they could be a little more fluid for alternate picking runs. It could be due to my amp, a Marshall DSL 100, which I also like alot (I know it's not the best, but with an EQ, it sounds very good). I was thinking of getting an OD pedal or something like a clean boost to add that extra bite and gain to the amp. I was also looking into a THD hotplate. They look like a good investment, but I only have $300 to work with, so getting both units are out of the question.
THANKS GUYS!
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Well if you turn the MV up, is that the sound you want? If not, a hotplate wont help you...
If you never got that thing retubed and properly biased, get some SED "Winged C" EL34s and 4 12AX7s, ElectroHarmonix for good mids and gain and JJs for their smooth character, and take it to a tech. Those things are biased quite cold from the factory, so a new set of tubes set to proper spec will improve your tone quite a bit.
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IMO FWIW:
To get that seriously saturated tone from any valve amp, you need to crank the volume to drive the output valves into distortion. The only sensible way of doing this is to use a HotPlate or other attenuator(especially with 50/100w amps).
Power Valve distortion rules.
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I always like a compressor pedal for lead work, specifically an MXR Dynacomp. Set the sensitivity to zero and the output to max for a very nice lead tone (imo).
You might also have success with an EQ pedal too so you can zero in on the right tone while boosting the signal too.
:twisted:
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It depends on the tone you want really, and there are several avenues you can follow.
A hotplate will help, but only if you like the tone the high volume gives you from the amp. The plate will keep the tone, but lessen the volume, and I don't think this is a route for you.
I always thought that a distirtion pedal in front of a distorted amp was just a mess, so my advice is to stay away from overdrive/distortion pedals, and just stay with an overdrive in that route, but in some cases it just pushes the gain and leaves the amp a little sterile. This may be a beeter altrnative in my opinion.
An eq pedal can rob tone if it is not tweaked right, and if it doesn't have enough tweak ability, but some have too much tweak ability and they suck too. :lol: They are nice, but can be a double-edged sword as well.
My advice would be to try out a few OD pedals and a few EQ pedals in tandem. That way you can drive the gain as needed, and tweak out the highs, lows, and mids with the EQ as you use them. Also you save a little cash to boot. :wink: Just my thoughts for you here.
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I always like a compressor pedal for lead work, specifically an MXR Dynacomp. Set the sensitivity to zero and the output to max for a very nice lead tone (imo).
I have an EQ, but not a compressor...are compressors really worth the price? And what's the best compressor? I also have a daisy chain to supply power to my pedals but all my spots have been taken up. If I get a new pedal I'm either going to have to buy another adapter or use batteries :? which is not so great. Thanks guys.
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If I use a compressor in my loop, will I want to turn it off and on or would I simply leave it on?
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Compressor in the loop is a bad thing. Should be between amp and guitar. Gain effects before amp, man.
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Ummm...okay. Well, in that case, should it stay on all the time? I really am not sure whether it will sound good enough for cleans and rythm along with my leads.
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Now I'm looking at a BBE Sonic Maximizer pedal. It looks like something that would be a worthwhile investment!
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the BBE wont give u anymore gain just improve your tone, if you want just that tad more gain for fluid leads and stuff, just raise your pickups a bit more turn the amp up a bit, try picking harder.. before changing anything.
if none of that gives you the sound, try a compressor it will make everything a bit more touch sensative.. which is probably what your after with more gain.
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I use the Keeley modded Ibanez Tubescreamer for a little boost for leads. Tim uses the Keeley modded Boss SD-1 for the same thing. It helps get the endless sustain thing going. The secert is just dialing in the eq, level boost, and added gain you want for leads.
Check this site out.
http://www.robertkeeley.com/home.php
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I'm trying to get a little more saturation for my lead tone. I really like my nailbombs a ton, but I feel like they could be a little more fluid for alternate picking runs.
Sounds like you need a Tubescreamer.
It'll give you a slight compression that smooths out legatto runs and helps notes sustain longer. It also has a slight mid hump that'll help solos cut, and you can dial it in so that you have a bit more gain if you choose.
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Personally I like the Fulltone Fulldrive II, excellent pedal. The 10th Anni Mosfet edition in particular improves the tonal options still further.
Best thing though is try as many as you can, ideally with your amp and guitar, that way you can hear how they all interact and choose the pedal that's right for your setup.
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For compressors, I like the sound of the Barber tone press. there are some clips on www.musictoyz.com . I have a similar prob/desire to get a little extra with a Rivera Knucklehead. Tried a Fulltone OCD (overdrive) and it soundd nice. I might get a hotplate or weber mass one day, though. I bought a cheap Danelectro($15) Metal pedal to try this, and barely put any gain and NO treble, and it gave me a nice edge. It colors your tone quite a bit, though, but I did wind up playing old Sabbath and Maiden all night, whenI first plugged it in. I figured $15 , what the heck. Still searching for the bombtone, though.
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For compressors, I like the sound of the Barber tone press. there are some clips on www.musictoyz.com . I have a similar prob/desire to get a little extra with a Rivera Knucklehead. Tried a Fulltone OCD (overdrive) and it soundd nice. I might get a hotplate or weber mass one day, though. I bought a cheap Danelectro($15) Metal pedal to try this, and barely put any gain and NO treble, and it gave me a nice edge. It colors your tone quite a bit, though, but I did wind up playing old Sabbath and Maiden all night, whenI first plugged it in. I figured $15 , what the heck. Still searching for the bombtone, though.
IMHO, there is no better compressor.
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TRUE DAT!
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I'm trying to get a little more saturation for my lead tone. I really like my nailbombs a ton, but I feel like they could be a little more fluid for alternate picking runs.
Sounds like you need a Tubescreamer.
It'll give you a slight compression that smooths out legatto runs and helps notes sustain longer. It also has a slight mid hump that'll help solos cut, and you can dial it in so that you have a bit more gain if you choose.
Definitely!!
Didnt quite seem to get what i wanted from my amp when i got it from the shop. Thought about getting it retubed, i reconsidered a TS, and it had just that little extra i needed. Now im waiting for one of my tubes to blow, then ill change them, hoping for an ever better sound. Meanwhile im thinking about getting an okko diablo or try something similar.
You got my vote for a tubescreamer.
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Any suggestions???
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Any suggestions???
For an overdrive pedal?
I use an ibanez tubescreamer, works great, where you can really crank the amp to the good spot. Its not as noisy either. I use it in front of a genz benz diablo 100W fitted with EL34`s, quite similar to a marshall, just WAY better.
My bandmate uses a boss overdrive, not sure if it is an OD-3 or a SD-1, in front of his marshall DSL100. The pedal is VERY noisy, that can be the amp, but it hums madly and the feedback.... its horrible ..... He plays through a LP studio (stock pups) and always complaines about how loud I am compared to him, he he. That might just be the pickups, or the EQ settings on the amps. But I think it might be the difference on the pedals.
I would go for an ibanez tubescreamer, where you get more clarity and less hum.
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i'm tempted with a Keeley Tubescreamer to boost my Screamer for lead stuff\ultra gain riffage.
Have the money... just currently avoiding the keeley website ARGH GAS
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The major problem about getting an overdrive pedal is that I only have one amp, one effects loop, and actually like switching off the distortion once in a while, so I can't exactly live it on the entire time I'm playing. It's rather frustrating. But, is there a solution to this?
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just stomp it off? ;)
Overdrive \ boost pedal gos between guitar and amp, not in the loop..
remember an overdrive pedal can be used with the level up and gain down to 'clean boost' a signal.. or if it has some EQ dials it can be used to EQ slightly aswell.
Maybe by a Boss EQ and cheaper pedal like an SD-1 / Bad Monkey (meant to be great).. stick yer EQ in the loop and pedal up front?
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You can make some A/B contraption, but that would cost alot to either make, get made or buy it from pieces. But it should be possible.
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I'm very, very skeptical at this point...
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How's the Zakk Wylde overdrive? I need a distortion pedal for gigs where I'm going to play some classic rock and I'm going to use it in conjunction with a Fender combo. It's decent for Jazz and that's what I'll be playing mostly for gigs, but I need a good distortion/overdrive box for the classic rock covers we'll be doing as well. Thanks guys.