Author Topic: Guitar sounds good by itself, rubbish in band.. (Read 21489 times)

_tom_ · « **on:** May 23, 2006, 12:02:43 AM »

Had band practise today and was so disappointed with my tone I just want to sell EVERYTHING and start again :(

My setup is:

Epiphone LP Custom with Mules - Korg Dt10 tuner - keeley rat - marshall guvnor plus - Fender HRDx with hotplate.

I really like the sound by itself but as soon as I play with other people it seems to sound thin and hollow. The cleans are especially horrible. I dont know what to do really. I have tried the basics like mid all the way up, less gain etc but its still cr@p. I'm seriously considering saving up for a Laney GH50L after hearing Twinfans clip, and using my HRDx speaker as a cab till I can afford a proper cab. Any advice for getting the best out of my current setup would be great though.

Cheers

screamingdaisy · « **Reply #1 on:** May 23, 2006, 12:33:22 AM »

Try running it into a 4x12....should thicken things up a bit.

Or better yet, get rid of the Hot Rod Deluxe.

IMO.

_tom_ · « **Reply #2 on:** May 23, 2006, 12:38:19 AM »

Yeah. I just dont think I can, because my dad bought it for me, and I think he'll be all "upset" that I dont want it or something, and I just feel like a spoilt brat :lol:

willo · « **Reply #3 on:** May 23, 2006, 12:40:29 AM »

Yeah, it's a tough one isn't it?

I remember posting on here awhile back, saying how I didn't like the JCM800 tone much in my room. People replied saying 'just try it in a band', so I got a band and viola, much better.

However, unfortunately, I have no idea what to do with your stuff! If it really bothers you in the band, you could always rent an amp for an hour or two from the studio (if you're rehearsing in one)

_tom_ · « **Reply #4 on:** May 23, 2006, 12:42:27 AM »

Yeah I could ask.. but then thats more money spent on stuff that isnt my own amp :P They have a JCM900 halfstack there that I really want to play sometime just to see what its like, but apparently they dont like people touching their stuff which is fair enough.

I think the fenders problem could be that its just too bassy and not really cutting for rock and may blend in too much with the bassist, and the single 1x12 doesnt help I guess.. Times like this I wish I had a job so I could get stuff alot easier!

Dakine · « **Reply #5 on:** May 23, 2006, 12:45:45 AM »

NOT a long term solution, but, what about a cheap modellor? If you can try one with the amp you have, just to see if they gel together?
Just a thought for time being.

_tom_ · « **Reply #6 on:** May 23, 2006, 12:47:24 AM »

Quote from: Dakine

NOT a long term solution, but, what about a cheap modellor? If you can try one with the amp you have, just to see if they gel together?
Just a thought for time being.

Yeah I tried that, I have a Behringer V-Amp 2, but this sounded pretty cr@p aswell through the poweramp of the Fender, yet sounds really good for recording :(

Dakine · « **Reply #7 on:** May 23, 2006, 12:49:31 AM »

damn, sorry bro.
Sounds like diff. amp is the ticket but if ya Dad bought it for ya :( Know how that is. My Dad is, well his cancer is spreading. Suffice to say 10 days I am UK bound!
Good luck, maybe a pedal like the Big D, but it aint cheap.
Darn, this is a tough one Tom man!

_tom_ · « **Reply #8 on:** May 23, 2006, 12:52:59 AM »

Yeah, I want to keep the amp really... because its still a nice amp and if I sold it I know I'd probably just regret it, and it sounds great for nice cleans with my strat. I was gonna get a new drive pedal but thats just more money taken away from the amp fund I guess. Really need to find a job somewhere :?

screamingdaisy · « **Reply #9 on:** May 23, 2006, 01:04:09 AM »

Quote from: _tom_

I was gonna get a new drive pedal but thats just more money taken away from the amp fund I guess. Really need to find a job somewhere :?

Tubescreamers are a great match for a Strat into Fender setup (see: SRV), and the mid boost will help your amp cut more than it is with the Rat or Guv'.

If you want a low price TubeScreamer option (the TS9 is somewhat pricey) check out the DigiTech Bad Monkey.

_tom_ · « **Reply #10 on:** May 23, 2006, 01:05:31 AM »

Well I had a TS7 and if thats anything to judge Tubescreamers by I hated it, so muddy and was really bland and dry sounding.

screamingdaisy · « **Reply #11 on:** May 23, 2006, 01:07:06 AM »

Quote from: _tom_

Well I had a TS7 and if thats anything to judge Tubescreamers by I hated it, so muddy and was really bland and dry sounding.

Don't judge the TS9 by the TS7 (IMO).

I typed this above, but I don't think I got the edit in before you read it....

.....but if you want a cheap TubeScreamer, check out the DigiTech Bad Monkey.

_tom_ · « **Reply #12 on:** May 23, 2006, 01:09:27 AM »

Ah right, I read that the TS7 and TS9 are very similar though. I might try a BM if I can get one cheap on ebay then.

Dakine · « **Reply #13 on:** May 23, 2006, 01:17:39 AM »

Darn, Guitar Centre was blowing em out for $29 here :(

screamingdaisy · « **Reply #14 on:** May 23, 2006, 01:20:24 AM »

Quote from: _tom_

Well I had a TS7 and if thats anything to judge Tubescreamers by I hated it, so muddy and was really bland and dry sounding.

On a side note, did you use it with a solid state amp? When I was younger (and dumber) I bought a TS9 thinking it'd make my solid state sound like a tube amp. I was seriously dissapointed, I seem to remember it sounding muddy and bland.

Then, when I bought my first tube amp I tried it again and it seriously screamed. Bright, articulate, and the mid bump made my amp sound loud.