High mids vs low mids...

[CountFunkula]

Me and my band's other guitarist both need new amps. We figured that we would have a lot less problems if they complimented each other in the mix. I've always wanted an Orange Rockerverb (low mids), and the other guitarist wants something like a Matchless DC30 or Chieftain (high mids). That would probably be a killer combo. With the majority of what we play, I play rhythm, and he plays his complimentary riff/melody over mine. However, I also play 99% of the solos. Can a low-mid oriented amp still cut over a high-mid oriented amp for solos? Maybe an EQ pedal or two would help?

[_tom_]

Yeah an EQ pedal in the loop will work fine, I've never had problems cutting for leads!

[Telerocker]

Or something like the MXR microamp in the loop.

[Sancho]

Another vote for a boost in the loop.
Careful though, a little volume goes a long way in the loop! Start off with everything turned down and dial up gently.

[Sancho]

But, to answer your actual question...
Different sounding amps will make a difference. Different sounding guitars will even make a difference.
In my last band, both me and the other guitar player ran Les Pauls into Marshalls for years. Getting leads to cut through was not evident!
Then he started using a Strat more, and suddenly it became a lot easier. Even easier when he used his Fender Hot Rod Deluxe.
So yes, if you guys use distinctly different guitar tones, you'll find it a lot easier to both be heard.

[BigB]

Can a low-mid oriented amp still cut over a high-mid oriented amp for solos? Maybe an EQ pedal or two would help?

The point is mainly to make sure the guitars frequency ranges don't overlap too much - and you seem to be on the way to fix this. wrt/ the "low-mid" cutting over "hi-mid" stuff, there are known examples of lead player having a fuller, darker, more low-mids oriented tone than the rythm player - the Clash would come to mind, with Strummer playing a Tele on a Music Man amp (fairly bright / hid-mid oriented tones) and Mick Jones playing a LP on a Mesa (warmer, fuller tone).

[Roobubba]

We've been focussing on this a lot in the past year, making sure that I don't overlap too much with the bass and vice versa. Really makes the mix a LOT wider when you're only a 3-piece backline, especially when we share so much of the same pitch range.

[CountFunkula]

But, to answer your actual question...
Different sounding amps will make a difference. Different sounding guitars will even make a difference.
In my last band, both me and the other guitar player ran Les Pauls into Marshalls for years. Getting leads to cut through was not evident!
Then he started using a Strat more, and suddenly it became a lot easier. Even easier when he used his Fender Hot Rod Deluxe.
So yes, if you guys use distinctly different guitar tones, you'll find it a lot easier to both be heard.

Well that makes sense with a Les Paul and Strat, but are Teles and Strats different enough? Tele is going into the Rockerverb and Strat into the Matchless.

[Sancho]

I do believe that a Tele and a Strat, even if they by no means sound identical, will basically take the same place in the sonic spectrum.
That's where the EQ in the loop comes into play

[CountFunkula]

Sorry for all the questions, but what about the pickups? I plan to have a pretty overwound Tele set, and a vintage wound set in the Strat. Would that help? There's only one way to find out, but I figure it wouldn't hurt to ask your opinion.

[Telerocker]

That would depend on the amps and how you set the eq too. In my former rockband we were playing rock somewhere between Kravitz and Muse. The other guitarist played an Ibanez RG620 into a JCM900, I played a Tele into an Orange Rockerverb. That worked out fine. The tele brought in the chime, the Ibbie the (lower) midroar.

[BigB]

Well that makes sense with a Les Paul and Strat, but are Teles and Strats different enough? Tele is going into the Rockerverb and Strat into the Matchless.

Are SG and LP different enough ? That's what we have in my band (SG in a HRDx plugged in a Marshall 1965A, LP in Peavey Classic 30 - sorry we are on cheap amps :lol:), and well, it takes some attention to get a good mix but it works. It's mostly a matter of being careful with EQs than anything else. But to answer your question, yes, you may have a use for an EQ pedal to help cutting thru when necessary.

[hunter]

Low mid will always cut less than high mid, that's the nature of it, but you could compensate for example by using less gain.

Regarding second master volume: Just gotta be careful that the loop can take pedals (instrument level) and is not just designed for line level units. If fine with pedals in general, an EQ / boost or a volume pedal would all be fine. In doubt I would always test beforehand or order the pedal where you have a good return policy.

[Alex]

Low mid will always cut less than high mid, that's the nature of it, but you could compensate for example by using less gain.

Regarding second master volume: Just gotta be careful that the loop can take pedals (instrument level) and is not just designed for line level units. If fine with pedals in general, an EQ / boost or a volume pedal would all be fine. In doubt I would always test beforehand or order the pedal where you have a good return policy.

My experience as well. Those nasty nasal mids (=upper mids) that sound like rubbish on their own are your best bet with getting through the mix. Worse, in my experience one amp voiced more like that can overpower the other one too much. Then you have to do what Hunter says, lower gain, which, frankly, often translates to less fun.

I would recommend you get some EQ pedals first and test some EQ curves through the amps you have at the moment to see what difference it would make.

Also, from my experience, the guitarists worst enemy is the keyboard player!  They can ruin the entire mix with their big sound walls. :shock:

[Telerocker]

Also, from my experience, the guitarists worst enemy is the keyboard player!  They can ruin the entire mix with their big sound walls. :shock:

I will send this quote to my pianist/keyboardplayer.  :lol: