taxman Posted January 28, 2009 Share Posted January 28, 2009 This is my set up. Epiphone Casino VOX AC30 Delay pedal EQ pedal Overdrive/Distortion pedal It bothers me a bit. What bothers me is that I have a very nice guitar and a very nice amp, yet I have to make use of pedals. When I use the Casino with the VOX, the sound on the neck pickup (especially when the amp is overdriven) is muffled. I use the EQ pedal to clean up the tone to what I like. (I should add, when I use my Strat in the VOX, the pedals are not needed at all.) My question is how do you feel when you use pedals? Do you feel that they are a shortcut that is artificial? Do you feel ripped off that a $75 stomp box must be bought to improve your top gear? Do you feel the true sound of guitar into amp is compromised? Shouldn't we live in a world where pedals are not needed!?! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
generation zero Posted January 28, 2009 Share Posted January 28, 2009 I will soon be running a $2200 guitar through $4000 worth of amp and speakers. Let it be known that I won't even turn it on without that $99 sonic stomp in the effects loop. Pedals aren't cheating, they're coloring. Sure, my Gibson LP traditional will sound great plugged straight into the front of my Mesa, but if a hundred dollar stompbox can make it sound twice as good, I'd be a fool not to use it just on principle alone. About 90 percent of your favorite guitar tones from your favorite albums over the last 40 years were recorded using various guitars and amps, both cheap and top of the line, with a string of effect pedals between them. If you want to feel better about it, step up from the Boss workhorses to some nice boutique pedals, but either way, don't be ashamed of using pedals to achieve your tone. That plastic lunchbox of a pedalboard, however... That thing has to go, LOL! Get yourself a nice roadworthy pedalboard that looks a bit more professional, and give your kids that one to keep their legos in. That is, assuming that you play out with your rig. If it's mainly for home use, the boss pedal case is perfectly fine. They just don't look very professional on stage, is all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steven Lister Posted January 28, 2009 Share Posted January 28, 2009 My question is how do you feel when you use pedals? Do you feel that they are a shortcut that is artificial? Do you feel ripped off that a $75 stomp box must be bought to improve your top gear? Do you feel the true sound of guitar into amp is compromised? Shouldn't we live in a world where pedals are not needed!?! I feel great (with or w/o pedals). Good music is like good food...' date=' base ingredients are necessary but it's the spices and chef's talent that make it great. What I do wish is that all stomp boxes were $75 or less. LOL I regularly use only 3 (reverb, compressor, overdrive) but they cost 4 times what I paid for my VJr./cab. The components to make all of them probably cost less than $50. That's the rip-off. Hit every BLUE NOTE baaaby..., I'm going to play on:-" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarxBros Posted January 28, 2009 Share Posted January 28, 2009 There's a lot of REALLY bad stomp boxes, whas and such out there that will kill your tone, even when off they don't bypass...so you need to be careful. I have all original issues (some I've modded) of the MXR Phase 90, Fuzzface, Dunlop wah, Boss OD1, as well as a really old tube Guild tape loop Copycat "echoplex". The OD1 is my main overdrive and the other boxes rarely get used. The Guld tape loop actually makes a nice tube overdrive, but it really lobs off the top end so it's mainly good for woman tone only. An original Tubescreamer can be a thing of beauty too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taxman Posted January 28, 2009 Author Share Posted January 28, 2009 Thanks for the encouargement....and the laughs: I will soon be running a $2200 guitar through $4000 worth of amp and speakers. Let it be known that I won't even turn it on without that $99 sonic stomp in the effects loop And that black plastic "lunchbox" to hold my three pedals is perfect for me. I'm a home player. Holds three pedals -- that's three more than I wanted! Can't escape the feeling that everytime I step on a stompbox I feel as if I am cheating on my amp and guitar. Your words here are making sense and helpful. Thanks for the replies. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. Rock Posted January 28, 2009 Share Posted January 28, 2009 The most important thing is the tone you hear, no matter the guitar, amp or pedal you use. Try this: use your GE-7 as a booster. Let the EQ flat but the volume to max. You will get a nice overdrive then turn on the distortion when you need it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taxman Posted January 28, 2009 Author Share Posted January 28, 2009 Try this: use your GE-7 as a booster. Let the EQ flat but the volume to max. You will get a nice overdrive then turn on the distortion when you need it. Sounds interesting. I'll give that a go. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lostindesert Posted January 29, 2009 Share Posted January 29, 2009 Vox AC30, cable (no pedals) in Casino, muffled sound on neck pickup. I would suggest a pickup upgrade, maybe Seymour Duncans or GFS if you're on a budget. Peter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taxman Posted January 29, 2009 Author Share Posted January 29, 2009 Try this: use your GE-7 as a booster. Let the EQ flat but the volume to max. You will get a nice overdrive then turn on the distortion when you need it. I just tried that and can't believe the sounds I got. UNREAL!!!! This VOX was rocking like twenty Marshall stacks. I'm still in shock over what your little suggestion did. I thought what I had was just a simple EQ pedal to clean up a muddy sound, bring up some mids, raise the treble, etc... But by simply raising the output level on the little box I was experiencing a fantastic overdriven sound. There is nothing in the owner's manual to suggest that this was possible. My Casino on the neck pickup still sounds a bit dull, but your little trick (and upping the treble a bit) gave me a sound that I am more than happy with. It was amazing how I was suddenly in the world of Hendrix distortion...without a distortion pedal! Thanks a ton. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taxman Posted January 29, 2009 Author Share Posted January 29, 2009 Vox AC30' date=' cable (no pedals) in Casino, muffled sound on neck pickup.I would suggest a pickup upgrade, [/quote'] I hear what you are saying, but it isn't that because my Casino in the neck pickup position when plugged into my Fender Princeton amp sounds perfect. It is just something odd how the amp and that pickup on the Casino are just oil and water. They ain't mixing. I had always heard that guitar and amps can be tempermental towards each other. I found out this is the case. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lostindesert Posted January 29, 2009 Share Posted January 29, 2009 I hear what you are saying' date=' but it isn't that because my Casino in the neck pickup position when plugged into my Fender Princeton amp sounds perfect. It is just something odd how the amp and that pickup on the Casino are just oil and water. They ain't mixing. I had always heard that guitar and amps can be tempermental towards each other. I found out this is the case. [/quote'] BeatleNut you're right about amps and guitars. My Epiphone Lucille sounds very dark on my Vox AC15. Plug Lucille in a Fender amp like a Twin Reverb and it sounds way mucho better, especially clean. Peter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taxman Posted January 29, 2009 Author Share Posted January 29, 2009 BeatleNut you're right about amps and guitars. My Epiphone Lucille sounds very dark on my Vox AC15. Plug Lucille in a Fender amp like a Twin Reverb and it sounds way mucho better' date=' especially clean. [/quote'] Thanks for that. You made me feel better knowing that, yup, some guitars and amps are finicky towards each other. I was thinking, damn, amp is screwed up, pickup is screwed up; but a part of me was thinking maybe it really is just a case of the two not mixing right (especially since she plays fine in a different amp). Hearing about how your guitar and amp don't exactly jell together makes me think that stuff really does happen and my situation might be a case of that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. Rock Posted January 29, 2009 Share Posted January 29, 2009 I just tried that and can't believe the sounds I got. UNREAL!!!! This VOX was rocking like twenty Marshall stacks. I'm still in shock over what your little suggestion did. I thought what I had was just a simple EQ pedal to clean up a muddy sound' date=' bring up some mids, raise the treble, etc... But by simply raising the output level on the little box I was experiencing a fantastic overdriven sound. There is nothing in the owner's manual to suggest that this was possible. My Casino on the neck pickup still sounds a bit dull, but your little trick (and upping the treble a bit) gave me a sound that I am more than happy with. It was amazing how I was suddenly in the world of Hendrix distortion...without a distortion pedal! Thanks a ton. [/quote'] I'm pleased to make you happy! I boost my signal all the time with a tube amp. It takes me 15 years to discover this secret! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lostindesert Posted January 29, 2009 Share Posted January 29, 2009 I use the comp/cut function on my Fulltone Full-Drive 2 to improve the sound quality on the Fender Champion 600 i've got as a home practice amp. Comp/cut is a clean boost and setting the tone/precense knob at the max give me a great sound even with my Epiphone Lucille. A Electro-Harmonix Holy Grail is used for the reverb i need. The overdrive/boost settings on the Fulltone work also very well on the little Champion. Peter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rafaelh Posted January 30, 2009 Share Posted January 30, 2009 It takes me 15 years to discover this secret! 15 years!?! Good God Doc ..where ya been? If you have a second EQ and room on your board bracket your ODs and Distortions...LOL..another great secret you wont have to wait 15 years for I hope You can also slap one in the FX loop too...great for tweaking a stubborn amp. BTW...did I mentioned I just love them EQ pedals. IMO they are the most overlooked stomp boxes out there. BeatleNut I don't know what Princeton you have, but my Casino can be a bit stubborn through mine also....mine's a non reverb BTW. So like Pete I use the Holy Grail for reverb, and my EQ to take some of the mid a bit out. Casino, or P-90s rather, I find to be a bit high with the mids. Boost the Eq and back off one the guitar volume and you should be singing...at least that works for me anyways. EDIT//Duh...just read where you say it's perfect through your Princeton. Never mind...sorry](*,) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lostindesert Posted January 30, 2009 Share Posted January 30, 2009 Hey Raf, long time no see. I use the FM Mode (flat mids) on the Fulltone to loose some midrange. How do you like the Holy Grail? Peter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rafaelh Posted January 30, 2009 Share Posted January 30, 2009 Yeah...I've been kind of tied up. Good to see you and the rest of the guys are still doing fine and around. Anyhow I love it...or works for what I need anyways. I normally use it just with my Princeton, no verb on it. But plugged into my Twin, Red Knob, the other day and heck I think I might just run it with it also...sounded great! I still have noise problems with it when trying to share power with other pedals..l..daisy chain them. I don't use batteries BTW. Anyhow it's all good and quite plugged all alone into it's supllied power supply......just more caca on my board I really don't need though, but what the hey....the thing sound so good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lostindesert Posted January 30, 2009 Share Posted January 30, 2009 Raf about the noise.....mine came with a 9V DC/500mA adaptor and a warning not to use other adaptors (even those made by Electro-Harmonix). I also own a BABY power suply 9V DC/280mA with 5 outlets. As you can see the Holy Grail needs 500mA so i can't use it with the BABY which only delivers 280mA. Peter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
generation zero Posted January 30, 2009 Share Posted January 30, 2009 I like my sonic maximizer pedal... It's great on the Mesa, but the Mesa sounds fine without it too. The Peavey Windsor, however... Unbelievable how much of a difference it makes on that amp! I'm still not exactly sure what goes on inside that little box, but whatever it does, it does a great job of maximizing my sonics, so it is aptly named, LOL! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lostindesert Posted January 30, 2009 Share Posted January 30, 2009 I like my sonic maximizer pedal... It's great on the Mesa' date=' but the Mesa sounds fine without it too. The Peavey Windsor, however... Unbelievable how much of a difference it makes on that amp! I'm still not exactly sure what goes on inside that little box, but whatever it does, it does a great job of maximizing my sonics, so it is aptly named, LOL! [/quote'] What does the Sonic Maximizer do to improve the sound? Peter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rafaelh Posted January 30, 2009 Share Posted January 30, 2009 Raf about the noise.....mine came with a 9V DC/500mA adaptor and a warning not to use other adaptors (even those made by Electro-Harmonix). I also own a BABY power suply 9V DC/280mA with 5 outlets. As you can see the Holy Grail needs 500mA so i can't use it with the BABY which only delivers 280mA. Peter That's the power supply I use with it too Pete. I never new about the warning until know though...thanks. LOL...maybe I should read instructions once in a while. As far as the BBE, and I've never used one. But I've heard tell that it's like lifting a blanket from your amp. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
generation zero Posted January 30, 2009 Share Posted January 30, 2009 As far as the BBE' date=' and I've never used one. But I've heard tell that it's like lifting a blanket from your amp.[/quote'] That's a really good way to describe it... Supposedly, what it does is correct a natural phase discrepancy between the low frequencies and the high frequencies. Apparently in an un-"maximized" signal, the lows and highs get separated due to frequency issues, and they hit your ears milliseconds apart, causing a perceived "muddiness" to the ears. The BBE separates and realigns these frequencies, so everything hits at once, making everything much clearer. The trick is not to overcompensate... If you decide to try one, start with both knobs at about 12 o'clock, and adjust gradually to taste. If it's working properly, you won't even feel like you hear it, until you turn it back off. Then the effect is apparent. It's really a great pedal, I can't speak highly enough about it. I'm probably going to try to find a deal on the two channel rackmount one, so I can run both my amps with one at the same time. Or, I may just grab another pedal one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lostindesert Posted January 30, 2009 Share Posted January 30, 2009 generation zero.....thanks for the info, sounds interesting. Peter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie brown Posted January 30, 2009 Share Posted January 30, 2009 Best "Casino" sound I ever had, was straight into a Fender Deluxe Reverb! No pedals, at all! Awesome tone, and plenty of Sustain! Into a Twin Reverb would be (basically) the same, only louder! You do need to stuff something inside the Casino, to keep the top and back from vibrating at different frequencies, and feeding back, but it's an amazing tonal experience. With an EQ pedal, it may be even better? CB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Summerisle Posted January 30, 2009 Share Posted January 30, 2009 I own precisely 2 pedals! An electro-harmonix Holy Grail because the reverb on my Vox AD30VT is crap: And a Boss RC-2 Loop Station. An amazing little practice tool: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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