charlie brown Posted May 6, 2009 Share Posted May 6, 2009 What prompted this, is a situation that I'm amusingly observing with a friend of mine, who is a pretty fair guitarist, and doesn't have a shy bone, in his body. BUT... he cannot leave his "tone" alone! He had a really great sound, once upon a time (not long ago), and when he just sticks with that, it's quite awesome sounding. BUT, he seems to think he has to try (and often buy) every "New" floor processor, that comes along, looking for the "holy grail" of tone! (I KNOW he knows better, but still he does it!...LOL!) I keep telling him (as do all the rest of his musician friends, and some that aren't musicians) that his tone/sound is best with his original gear set-up. Maybe it's just ME...being my ever conservative self? ;>) CB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clarkuss Posted May 6, 2009 Share Posted May 6, 2009 Like a Golfer and his Putter? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IntelligentAl Posted May 6, 2009 Share Posted May 6, 2009 I am guilty of constantly changing my sound. Maybe it's because I use a modelling amp, but even when I find a tone I really like, I can't help but change a few settings here and there. Alas, I usually end up losing the sound I liked in the first place and wind up back at square one... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clarkuss Posted May 6, 2009 Share Posted May 6, 2009 I'm very simplistic - plug in and play. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swoop Posted May 6, 2009 Share Posted May 6, 2009 I recently bought a couple of Danelectro pedals, a Cool Cat drive and Cool Cat Fuzz. I used them a couple of times, and whilst they're quite good, I decided to sell them again. I've decided I have no use for pedals, or at least a lot of pedals. I like to keep things simple. I plug the guitar straight into the amp, with no effects apart from what I can muster from the amp controls, which is overdrive and reverb. And I love that sound. I wasn't looking for the holy grail of sound when buying pedals or anything, but more experimenting with what I could do with the sound. As yet I've achieved nothing I like. For me it's always been more about playing guitar than having a lot of effects. I like the physicality and kind of manual labour feel I get when I play guitar. Lots of effects and what not seems to take that away I think. I know a lot of guitarists are quite specific and finite about what their gear does. I'm no different. When it comes to pedals, if it doesn't meet all my requirements, then it's no good. It has to be simple, easy and coherant to use, and achieve the sounds I like. I don't like big complicated digital processors and what not. Like I said, I love the manualness of playing guitar, it feels like I'm crafting something. So I'd much rather have analog effects. I suppose it stems from my love of things 'oldschool'. I firmly believe I was born in the wrong era! One pedal I would like to try though is the ElectroHarmonix Big Muff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timandbob Posted May 6, 2009 Share Posted May 6, 2009 I don't quite understand the "quest for tone through pedals". I only have pedals only to bring out my guitar when I am doing a solo. Otherwise I use the overdrive on the amp. On my acoustic, I have a gain pedal, and on my Dot I use a pedal for the Roland Cube to switch channels (for solos). I bought an EQ pedal a while ago, but I have not really used it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clarkuss Posted May 6, 2009 Share Posted May 6, 2009 I'm the same. I basically play my Casino clean in the amp with the bridge pick up at about 6-7 and flick to the neck pickup for solos. I also find this takes a bit of the 'edge' off the trebly casino sound and more rounded vintage rythm wheras the solos take advantage of the full round neck pickup at full volume and can get a bit nice and gainy for anything a big rockier. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie brown Posted May 6, 2009 Author Share Posted May 6, 2009 Yeah, this is where I am, basically. I don't use pedals to GET tone, but to augment the volume or add a specific "flavor" (for lack of a better term) to the tone I already have/love. I remember, not long ago, using my Casino into a Deluxe Reverb, and that was IT! No pedals at all (save the switches that came with it, for Reverb and Tremelo). WOW!! Amazing sound! It's interesting too, that I don't use pedals as much with my Semi's as I do with the solid bodies. Not sure why, really...except that the Semi's have a rounder and warmer tone/sustain, naturally...so, I don't seem to need that "added"....if THAT makes any sense? LOL! CB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freak show Posted May 7, 2009 Share Posted May 7, 2009 Like a Golfer and his Putter? Exactly! Some dudes are always buying the newest clubs' date=' hoping for a revelation, instead of concentrating on their technique. I don't think I've ever heard of anyone becoming a better player through any "new and improved" club, but it never stops some people from trying. I wonder if the Gibson Darkfire will make me sound better??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brianh Posted May 7, 2009 Share Posted May 7, 2009 When I was gigging, I ditched all my stomp pedals and bought a Strat w/ a FLoyd Rose, a Roland GP-8 and a rack-mount Scholz Rockman rig looped together and mixed into a solid state stereo amp with a couple of JBL PA-type 12" speakers. I was constantly fiddling with sounds and had so many presets that it was a chore just to remember which ones to stomp on for different songs (not to mention keeping the %$#@ Floyd in tune, chords, lead parts, lyrics, stage patter, etc.). The only good thing about it was being able to get multiple tonal effects at low stage volumes. Now, nothing gives me more pleasure than taking an Epi Genesis (with fixed bridge) and plugging it directly into a tube amp and cranking it up until the Voodoo 'Chile feedback starts. (This one goes to 11...) I still have the rack mount rig and my son is fascinated with it, but I rarely use it. There's no setting on any stomp box, rack processor or built-in DSP that I've heard that comes close to good ol’ vacuum tube and paper cone distortion. Oh yeah, those old Fender amps have a fantastic clean/gritty tone/response at low settings with a semi hollow too. As Rod Stewart says: "I wish that I knew what I know now, when I was younger..." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DJB08 Posted May 7, 2009 Share Posted May 7, 2009 I can understand using a handful of pedals... I can see how someone who uses a load would find it more convenient to use those processing boards. But IMO any digi0056933xquad-driverfuturama9x2 sounds like garbage... I like having some pedals. But, really at the end of the night I'm looking to get the best sound and dynamic out of a guitar straight in to the amp. Control effect with volume and tone etc. I mean, some sounds you can't get from that. Delay Flanger etc. Those boards also create...too many options.Lord,knows a guitarist on stage does not need that many options.. all those pads to push while playing and the 7 presets you create for that second half of the 2nd verse just makes you a dancing guitarist - I've seen it. I had to tell a friend once -"Man, you were board tappin and dancin all over that bridge part!" - he replies - "oh,I know, I love it!I had flanger/chorus/delay/octave on all at once!" - i say "yeah? seriously,it sounds horrible and you look like an idiot." After that we had a beer and fought about our differences...we're still friends. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DJB08 Posted May 7, 2009 Share Posted May 7, 2009 also, Charlie Brown, your comment makes sense... I think with a guitar being semi hollow the vibration has more space to travel in. A little air in there...sweet and round. I'm with ya! I love the sound of my dot and Twin. there really are so many sounds you can get it's scary. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rowdy27 Posted May 7, 2009 Share Posted May 7, 2009 The more..the merrier, U can never have too many toys or options! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twiggy Posted May 7, 2009 Share Posted May 7, 2009 I think effect pedals are one of three main parts of the guitarist equipment ( guitar => stompboxes => amp), of course used with common sense! How would you be able to get the spinning speaker sound (leaving original massive cabinets aside), good delay sound without dl4 or boss dd-5? and many many many more. Use with sense and enjoy! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unreal77 Posted May 7, 2009 Share Posted May 7, 2009 I found that after all these years, multi effects suck. I love pedals. If you have something to sell let me know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rowdy27 Posted May 7, 2009 Share Posted May 7, 2009 Yo Unreal..try a Digitech Metal Master.. it ROX! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
floydpink7 Posted May 7, 2009 Share Posted May 7, 2009 I love pedals. If you have something to sell let me know. Yeah, looks like you've got quite the collection there in your avatar! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tulsaslim Posted May 7, 2009 Share Posted May 7, 2009 Yep, those hard-core 'tone chasers' are doomed to a life of chasing but never finding. Like you said, they'll never convince themselves they've actually found what they're looking for. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geff Posted May 7, 2009 Share Posted May 7, 2009 I usually just play my solid-body guitars unplugged. Sounds nice to me. If I want to disturb the neighbours, I plug it into the amp, either clean or distorted according to my mood. I have a multi -effect programmable pedal thingummygig but mostly I just use it as an inline tuner. I cant play very well and no amount of effects is going to change that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
noshuzbluz Posted May 7, 2009 Share Posted May 7, 2009 Exactly! Some dudes are always buying the newest clubs' date=' hoping for a revelation, instead of concentrating on their technique. I don't think I've ever heard of anyone becoming a better player through any "new and improved" club, but it never stops some people from trying. I wonder if the Gibson Darkfire will make me sound better??? :- [/quote'] Crap! That's it! I'm selling the new clubs, the new LP and all that damn new windsurfing gear!...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matiac Posted May 7, 2009 Share Posted May 7, 2009 I have the aforementioned dreaded "multi effect pedal", i.e., Zoom 505II, and am quite happy with it. It was cheap, has a ton of infinitely tweakable models, so I can constantly change schitt up if I want, I usually keep the defaults, as they sound pretty good as is. I had an old Digitech RP1 I had to sell a while back that was pretty good too. I miss that one...just got rid of a '70's vintage MXR Distortion plus...I never used it, and an older Arion Stereo Delay...again, never used it. The Zoom is plenty enough. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigneil Posted May 7, 2009 Share Posted May 7, 2009 i plug my LP directly into my Marshal and that's that! i used to have a multi effects pedal and it was fun to muck about with. bit like having a floyd rose. ... you end up doing dive bombs all day insted of playing it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.