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Author Topic: Tone Crisis  (Read 3306 times)

MrBump

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Tone Crisis
« on: May 21, 2011, 10:48:03 AM »
I feel that I'm at a musical crossroads.

Had a rehearsal with Fallen Poets on Thursday, and nothing was sounding right to me.  Up to now, a slightly crunchy Telecaster has been completely right - but we're playing new material, and it's just not feeling right any more.

The thing is, I'm not sure what WILL sound right.

I can't even think of any reference tones that will work with the band any more.  We were jamming around a new song, and my "red" channel sound was like something off Slippery When Wet - completely inappropriate, but I just couldn't find the RIGHT sound.  Clean didn't work - crunchy wasn't quite right, and distorted was like 80's metal.

Really not sure what the problem is.

I think that one of the issues is that I don't really have a "core" sound.  I tend to change my tone all the time, and maybe I just get confused by it all.

Maybe I just need to get a really great guitar, a single channel amp and plug n play..?

Yours,

Confused from Essex...
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_tom_

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Re: Tone Crisis
« Reply #1 on: May 21, 2011, 10:57:05 AM »
Sounds like you need a Marshall/similar single channel beast :P

Surely you can tweak the Orange to sound less 80s and more of a vintagey lower gain tone?
« Last Edit: May 21, 2011, 10:59:11 AM by _tom_ »
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Matt77

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Re: Tone Crisis
« Reply #2 on: May 21, 2011, 11:16:03 AM »
Dr Z Remedy?
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Philly Q

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Re: Tone Crisis
« Reply #3 on: May 21, 2011, 11:16:54 AM »
I don't know much about your music.... and (as everyone has realised by know) I know bugger all about amps.

But as I was reading the post I was thinking "simple, old-fashioned, single channel amp".  You certainly don't want Bon Jovi sounds!

I don't know whether that means Fender, Marshall, Vox or whatever though.
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dave_mc

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Re: Tone Crisis
« Reply #4 on: May 21, 2011, 11:46:34 AM »
wut? 80s metal is always appropriate!

seriously, though... what amp are you using? i mean i'm guessing a more vintage-sounding amp might sound less 80s metal, but certainly earlier 80s metal was using things like plexis and the like (maybe modded), so maybe it's just the way you're dialling it in?
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MrBump

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Re: Tone Crisis
« Reply #5 on: May 21, 2011, 04:55:14 PM »
It's not even about the Bon Jovi thing...  it's more that I don't really know what I want to sound like.

The Orange in my avatar isn't really an amp that I use - my main amp is my Egnater Renegade, and it's perfectly versatile - I suspect I can get MOST sounds out of it, but I'm mot really sure what sounds I want.

I'm getting a little fed up with the Tele sound...  I've buggered up my Yam SG, so maybe I need to get that fixed and try more of a Mules based tone.  I also have a Charvel strat with a Trilogy Suite in them, which I'm REALLY not getting on with... maybe I need to swap them out for a more vintage strat set... I quite like strat tones - not sure if it's a Fallen Poets tone, but maybe it's my tone...

The single channel amp thing - my Eggy needed new valves, so I was forced to play through my RAT modified Little Giant - and my word, what a TONE!  It was amazing, really great.  Big and round, and because it's only a single EL84/6L6, it's great to crank up the volume. 

So I guess it's not really a crisis of tone, more a crisis of me - I haven't really found a sound that's 'me', and I flit between cleans/crunches/high gain, never really being satisfied by any of them.

I don't know.
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Johnny Mac

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Re: Tone Crisis
« Reply #6 on: May 21, 2011, 05:54:57 PM »
I think we need to hear a demo of the new song.
Your strat would be more versatile with some Irish Tours. They can do loads of sounds.
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MrBump

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Re: Tone Crisis
« Reply #7 on: May 21, 2011, 07:38:45 PM »
Quote from: Johnny Mac on May 21, 2011, 05:54:57 PM

Your strat would be more versatile with some Irish Tours. They can do loads of sounds.


Yeah, that's what I'm thinking - just had a massive blast with the strat through my Rat head, and it was awesome! 

I reckon the Trilogy pups will be heading towards seconds out, and the Rat might actually might graduate to gigging status...

Always fancied a set of ITs...
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Kiichi

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Re: Tone Crisis
« Reply #8 on: May 22, 2011, 04:02:30 PM »
I constantly have the problem you have as well. Somedays I think I finally found it, but the perfect tone just hasnīt been there yet. Oftne close, somethings have been great for certain songs, but I am still roaming in search for my tone.

Have you tried a nice fuzz pedal? I got one recently and it got me some sounds I was missing, especially in that light distortion area. I use mine for when I play things like Blink 182 for example (itīs rare, but it happens). Also great for solo stuff...Hendrix used fuzz for a reason.
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ToneMonkey

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Re: Tone Crisis
« Reply #9 on: May 24, 2011, 02:16:05 PM »
Quote from: Philly Q on May 21, 2011, 11:16:54 AM
I don't know much about your music.... and (as everyone has realised by know) I know bugger all about amps.

I'll start by quoting Philly as I'm in the same boat as him  :D

You can borrow my Vox AD30VT for a while if you like, it's sitting in my porch doing naff all.  That's got some nice models that could point you in the direction you'd like.  It might be too late, but I'll next be driving down the M11 in October.
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MrBump

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Re: Tone Crisis
« Reply #10 on: May 25, 2011, 08:10:57 PM »
It's official - I'm a strat-man!

I've been beating the ol' Charvel with Trilogy Suite for a few days - into a low watt EL84/6L6 amp, with a TS clone and a Crunch Box.  When I first got the Trilogies, I played with them for a bit, then put the guitar away - I could appreciate them, but they were never really me.

However, I'm getting to like them... still a little too hot and thick for my tastes, but with the right amp settings, they're really great, and more importantly, they suit the style of music that me and the band are playing right now.

Rehearsal tomorrow nice - gonna play the Charvel through the Rat head and see what happens... 

Strat + Single Channel Tube Amp = NICE!
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HTH AMPS

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Re: Tone Crisis
« Reply #11 on: May 25, 2011, 09:34:45 PM »
I find that a single channel JCM800 (2203) does pretty much everything you could want if you play indie, rock, punk or metal (maybe not the really extreme stuff) - just ride the guitar's volume and add a few pedals.  My own 'HTH AMPS' head I use for my covers band is based around that kind of amp and I cover lots of tonal ground with it.
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Telerocker

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Re: Tone Crisis
« Reply #12 on: May 26, 2011, 01:46:35 AM »
Played my neck-IT and splitted Crawler/IT tonight with a lot of gain. They handle that very well and don't loose punch even with massive gain. Great pickups.
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Alex

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Re: Tone Crisis
« Reply #13 on: May 26, 2011, 09:42:25 PM »
I found that sometimes it's just the day... your ears just don't like what they hear and it affects your play and feel somewhat. It's mostly psychoacoustics and happens the most in rehearsals, I always felt.

In those instances I always used to ask our bass player of his opinion. Sometimes your fellow musicians ears can be very helpful in finding "that" sound. So I would suggest to ask the other people in your band what they think of this or that sound.
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Telerocker

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Re: Tone Crisis
« Reply #14 on: May 26, 2011, 09:57:30 PM »
+1. I gig alot and the hall or club we're playing can make a huge difference in soundperception. On stage it sometimes sounds not completely right, but trough the PA great. Your position in front of the amp or a step sidewards makes a difference too. Sometimes dramatically.
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