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Miscellaneous => Gigs - Live Talk => Topic started by: Dante on March 26, 2017, 09:10:58 AM

Title: OMG, your Tone is amazing
Post by: Dante on March 26, 2017, 09:10:58 AM
Ho Hum, another gig, another bunch of other guitarists raving about my guitar tone...happens all the time. Nothing to see here, move along

Had a gig last night with a new cover band. Since I'm not up to speed on all the songs yet, we had three guitarists taking turns all night (basically, one per set) to get the band through the gig. Both the other guitarists just kept raving about the tones of my rig. Same ol thing, no comments about playing ability, just tone - haha.

One of the guys is a total gear whore too, so I am sure he's considering an ADA preamp. He has over 50 guitars, and who-knows-how-many amps, many of them vintage tube heads & cabs. I just think to myself - he must be wondering why he has a garage full of amps when there's a beautiful tone machine in a 4u rack right there in front of him.  :dunno:
Title: Re: OMG, your Tone is amazing
Post by: Kim on March 26, 2017, 11:30:53 AM
Ho Hum, another gig, another bunch of other guitarists raving about my guitar tone...happens all the time. Nothing to see here, move along...

 :lol:   

Strange that you posted this today....just this last night I went to see a cover band playing locally and was wondering why the guitar rig didn't sound better than what it did.  The guy was a solid player for sure, but his gear just didn't seem to sound as good as what you'd probably expect.   Mesa Mk-something head, Jet City cab, floorboard with a dozen pedals, etc..... 

Granted, I'm not in a cover band and just concentrate on our originals....but every time we rehearse or play there's a huge wave of something special that comes over me the moment I kick the poweramp off Standby and get to it.  It's exactly the tone I've always heard in my head, but could never get before. 

That feeling.....it doesn't go away.  :thumb-up:
Title: Re: OMG, your Tone is amazing
Post by: Dante on March 27, 2017, 10:43:11 PM
Ho Hum, another gig, another bunch of other guitarists raving about my guitar tone...happens all the time. Nothing to see here, move along...

 :lol:   

Strange that you posted this today....just this last night I went to see a cover band playing locally and was wondering why the guitar rig didn't sound better than what it did.  The guy was a solid player for sure, but his gear just didn't seem to sound as good as what you'd probably expect.   Mesa Mk-something head, Jet City cab, floorboard with a dozen pedals, etc..... 


A good friend is in another cover band (actually, several), and he uses some Line6 thingamajig that is priced at $1,500. It's a multi-fx pedal for christsakes, with multi-colored lights. I can get those lights at IKEA for $40. Anyway, I felt the same way...asking myself 'why is the guitar so thin and wimpy sounding? That's not right. Where's the sound man?"
Title: Re: OMG, your Tone is amazing
Post by: Dante on April 02, 2017, 10:42:22 AM
Yup, I'm bumping my own thread again...played another gig with the new band last night. Since I'm still not totally up to speed on all the songs, we had a couple guests come onstage for a half set. They were previously in another band with our singer, so they remembered a half set worth of old material.

My singer plugged his guitar into my rig, and let his ol' guitarist use his rig - said he already knew how to use my rig and it would confuse the other guitar player(?). I find this interesting that he'd rather use my rig than his own Blackstar combo. So, after the set, during the break, the other guitarist comes up to me and says "I shoulda plugged into your rig, that thing sounds amazing"

Boom.
Title: Re: OMG, your Tone is amazing
Post by: rnolan on April 03, 2017, 04:40:18 AM
Hey Dante, why am I not surprised  >:D , are you using the Classic in this outfit ? (seems where you've gravitated lately ??).  My MP-2 clean patch is working well for the new funk/soul band I've joined, very different style for me but I'm having fun so far, and they want me to stay, so I must be doing ok  :dunno: .
Title: Re: OMG, your Tone is amazing
Post by: Dante on April 03, 2017, 05:43:04 PM
Hey Dante, why am I not surprised  >:D , are you using the Classic in this outfit ? (seems where you've gravitated lately ??).  My MP-2 clean patch is working well for the new funk/soul band I've joined, very different style for me but I'm having fun so far, and they want me to stay, so I must be doing ok  :dunno: .

Yes, I have been using the Classic at gigs. My MP-2 is my current backup and it generally stays at home for practice. Truth is, the MP-2 is a bit noisy on higher gain patches, so I'll be dealing with that someday soon
Title: Re: OMG, your Tone is amazing
Post by: rabidgerry on April 04, 2017, 01:32:20 AM
So I bought another MP1 yesterday and you know what?  The same guy was selling an MP1 classic.  Now for difference and variety I was interested in the classic, but I have read so much about the Classic not sounding as good as the original that I decided to go with that.  It cost me £25 more than what the classic sold for in the ebay auction  :facepalm:
Anyways tone, I have no idea about my own tone.  MJMP heard it.  It doesn't sound like anyone else, but I dunno if that's enitrely good or not.  Sometimes I wished it was a little more like something recognisible, but to me it doesn't quite sound like anything I listen to.  This may be down to playing style and picks I use but I always ask people what they think of my tone.  More so because I'm paranoid about it.  I have had complimenets in the past but I still always have the paranoia.  I like personally but then I'm always thinking about refining it.  Tone is a strange beast, that's all I can say.

I played a show at the weekend in England, and there was real talented band on after us.  They were younger guys.  Well both their guitarists had the best nmost expensive shit out there.  Two engl powerballs and a bunch of other expensive shit that I could never afford.  Now I wasn't impressed with their tones despite this expensive stuff.  It's was much too scooped.  However their use of effects sounded very good during passages where they'd utilize delay.  But generally all the lead stuff sunk below the mix off stage.  Is my tone better than theirs?  Dunno, but at least you can hear what I'm playing  :lol:
Title: Re: OMG, your Tone is amazing
Post by: Harley Hexxe on April 04, 2017, 06:15:13 AM
Isn't that what your tone is all about Gerry? Being in the mix, not somewhere around it!

    These guys were obviously young, and dialed their amps in the way we did when we were younger. They dial in their tones the way they sounded good in the privacy of their homes, when they were practicing by themselves, and it sounded good, but they didn't compensate for the other band members when they got together. It's a common mistake we all make and have to learn as we gain more experience playing in a band. They probably just figured they would turn up their amps on a stage and it would work.
Title: Re: OMG, your Tone is amazing
Post by: GuitarBuilder on April 04, 2017, 07:08:09 AM

Yes, I have been using the Classic at gigs. My MP-2 is my current backup and it generally stays at home for practice. Truth is, the MP-2 is a bit noisy on higher gain patches, so I'll be dealing with that someday soon

Hey Dante - how many and which patches are you using live with the Classic?
Title: Re: OMG, your Tone is amazing
Post by: rabidgerry on April 04, 2017, 01:47:39 PM
Isn't that what your tone is all about Gerry? Being in the mix, not somewhere around it!

    These guys were obviously young, and dialed their amps in the way we did when we were younger. They dial in their tones the way they sounded good in the privacy of their homes, when they were practicing by themselves, and it sounded good, but they didn't compensate for the other band members when they got together. It's a common mistake we all make and have to learn as we gain more experience playing in a band. They probably just figured they would turn up their amps on a stage and it would work.

Well these guys weren't in the mix, they were buried.    My tone, I've no idea about my tone ask mjmp.  I've always had the mids.  Been playing about with it lately though, not full happy.  A little bit of eqing I think.
Title: Re: OMG, your Tone is amazing
Post by: Harley Hexxe on April 04, 2017, 04:34:49 PM
That's what I meant by the question Gerry. Your tone is all about being in the mix. More mids bring the guitar up in the mix
Title: Re: OMG, your Tone is amazing
Post by: MarshallJMP on April 05, 2017, 03:26:31 AM

G has a very mid sounding tone, so it really pops out in the mix.
Title: Re: OMG, your Tone is amazing
Post by: Harley Hexxe on April 05, 2017, 06:22:52 AM

G has a very mid sounding tone, so it really pops out in the mix.

  Yes he does. I've been listening to a couple of his tracks, and he's got some very catchy tunes coming to the surface. :headbanger:
Title: Re: OMG, your Tone is amazing
Post by: MarshallJMP on April 05, 2017, 08:52:05 AM
Yeah he's a very good player
Title: Re: OMG, your Tone is amazing
Post by: rabidgerry on April 05, 2017, 12:29:37 PM
Thank you very much  :thumb-up:

The mids is something I've always liked.  I think I only ever scooped my tone for like a few hours max through all my time as a player I reckon.  I would turn it down for a while then it would turn back up always, just always liked the mids.

As for good player, well I dunno, I don't feel like it when I start trying to record something or some younger guys blow the shit out of their axes in front of me.  I tend to cling onto the fact at that point when I see that sort of thing, that I think I've something unique about my playing.  Well I hope so  :lol:
Title: Re: OMG, your Tone is amazing
Post by: Dante on April 05, 2017, 08:42:26 PM
Funny, I don't think too much of my tones without the band. They don't really sound all that remarkable, TBH. It's that cut thru the mix that sets you apart from the average guitarist, IMO. The Classic seems to cut through the mix better for me than the MP-2, so that's what I use. It is also better with picking dynamics.

As for patches, I rely on two cleans and three crunch tones. Each patch has a preset solo boost, delay, chorus (or flange, or harmonizer or phaser or...) and one more setting for special song-specific effects

My main patches are:
Clean & dry
Clean & wet
Classic rock
Mod rock (more bottom, less mids)
Metal (scooooped Mids)
Title: Re: OMG, your Tone is amazing
Post by: rabidgerry on April 06, 2017, 01:29:31 AM
I try to get the band to shape around my tone.  I'm always getting them to work around it or with it, because for me metal bands are based around the guitars and also cause I'm the boss :lol:

And also because in my band it's my vision and I have the forsight into what we're supposed to sound like.  It's always a work in progress if I'm honest.  Little changes here and there.

In reference to individual tone I must also factor in that I think the guitars I use plays some part in it and a lot of other things I choose as well as and then combine that with playing style to get what I would say is my tone.  I also rock a chorus through a lot of songs, yes distortion and chorus the whole way through in stereo  :thumb-up: which many people frown upon or don't think to use in the metal scene I'm playing within (uk and Ireland).
Title: Re: OMG, your Tone is amazing
Post by: Dante on April 10, 2017, 10:43:53 PM
I try to get the band to shape around my tone.  I'm always getting them to work around it or with it, because for me metal bands are based around the guitars and also cause I'm the boss :lol:

And also because in my band it's my vision and I have the forsight into what we're supposed to sound like.  It's always a work in progress if I'm honest.  Little changes here and there.

In reference to individual tone I must also factor in that I think the guitars I use plays some part in it and a lot of other things I choose as well as and then combine that with playing style to get what I would say is my tone.  I also rock a chorus through a lot of songs, yes distortion and chorus the whole way through in stereo  :thumb-up: which many people frown upon or don't think to use in the metal scene I'm playing within (uk and Ireland).

I can't tell you how many bands around this scene are led by a guitarist with a vision. My own latest cover band project included. Thankfully, it's not my vision, it's the front man. I'm his hired gun...lead guitar guy. I love it - kinda takes the pressure off 'leading' the band. But, as I'm sure you already know, some of us are just inherent leader types and tend to start bossing people around from time to time ;)

My previous cover band was all my vision, but luckily, I was smart enough to surround myself with excellent musicians. Great. Band. And a great brotherhood of friends having fun playing stuff they like for their friends, family and strangers getting married or having a party. Great. Band.

I agree with your comment about guitars playing a part too. As we have already discussed, I buy cheap guitars (usually Ibanez) because they're made well and have cheap electronics - which I'm going to change anyway. I feel like my guitars are tinny in character because I have my bass turned so high in my preamps. The tinny guitar cuts through the mix like a midrange, while I keep pumpin' the low end to get my chugga chugga on. Could have something to do with the tones I get, but I gotta tell you, my Classic Rock tone is very similar to your new MP-1. Plexi-esque, like a HOT Marshall on a summer day
Title: Re: OMG, your Tone is amazing
Post by: rabidgerry on April 13, 2017, 01:12:53 AM

I can't tell you how many bands around this scene are led by a guitarist with a vision. My own latest cover band project included. Thankfully, it's not my vision, it's the front man. I'm his hired gun...lead guitar guy. I love it - kinda takes the pressure off 'leading' the band. But, as I'm sure you already know, some of us are just inherent leader types and tend to start bossing people around from time to time ;)

My previous cover band was all my vision, but luckily, I was smart enough to surround myself with excellent musicians. Great. Band. And a great brotherhood of friends having fun playing stuff they like for their friends, family and strangers getting married or having a party. Great. Band.
I have to point out that I never set out to be the leader or to push my vision.  It was just natural me being the guitar player and heavy metal being guitar based music n all that I fell into that role.  It became cemented then as soon as I began to record the band because then I guess I became the producer as well (never quite sure what the hell a producer is BTW).  Also part of the reason I'm with the guy's I'm with was because they were the only ones interested in what I wanted to play.  I didn't chose the best guys around, it was/is more of a case of sticking with those who would stick with me and were reliable.  Obviously if they were terrible it wouldn't have worked.  Sometimes I wish I could hire and get new guys in and out but it's not realistic, the choices are limited by A) where I live, B) The style of music I play C) Other issues from money to transport to dedication and work ethic.



I agree with your comment about guitars playing a part too. As we have already discussed, I buy cheap guitars (usually Ibanez) because they're made well and have cheap electronics - which I'm going to change anyway. I feel like my guitars are tinny in character because I have my bass turned so high in my preamps. The tinny guitar cuts through the mix like a midrange, while I keep pumpin' the low end to get my chugga chugga on. Could have something to do with the tones I get, but I gotta tell you, my Classic Rock tone is very similar to your new MP-1. Plexi-esque, like a HOT Marshall on a summer day

So you think that new MP1 sounds Plexi esque also?  Well that's good  :thumb-up: 

So that was a Tokai Custom Edition strat with it's stock pickups (from 1988) running into my Boss GT5, then using its vintage OD set with zero drive, bass+20, trebel 0, level 45, I boost the general MP1 tone, the MP1 is in the moveable loop in the GT5 (I run 4 cable method), then the output of the MP1 runs back into the GT5, then I stuck on a little low end boost on the GT5 EQ and then the GT5 Reverb.  This is then routed through my EPSI cab sim (runs on speaker impulses), then into my multi track recorder.

You know the same seller was selling a classic, and it actually went for £30 cheaper than this MP1.  I so nearly bid on it man, but I've been biased toward an MP1 over a Classic.  On the day of the auction I was reading about the classic trying to convince myself to go for it (also because I wanted something I already don't own) but yet I kept reading the same thing that the MP1 sounds nicer.  So I buckled and bid on the MP1.  About 4 mins after this the Classic ended it's auction and someone bought it for £125.  Now I like that price better than £155 which I paid for the MP1 but hey the MP1 sounds great and seems in good condition (although I noticed it doesn't always turn on on the first go, I have to look into that issue).

Perhaps I will get a Classic some day and MP2, currently though they are on the backburner.

Let me hear some metal using your Classic man if you don't mind?  I will also bare in mind that even if the MP1 seems to be spoken off as sounding better than the classic (ceetainly from all the things I have read on the internet), I realise that sometimes it just depends on how you use a piece of gear and people get great results from different equipment, so I would never write off a Classic at all!
Title: Re: OMG, your Tone is amazing
Post by: Harley Hexxe on April 13, 2017, 05:45:44 AM
Hey Gerry,

    There is a distinct difference between the MP-1 and the Classic. For what you want out of your guitar tone, you probably made the right choice. The MP-1 has more bottom end than the Classic, which also means the low mid-range is enhanced a bit more. This is where your guitar tone lives. You have more of the low mids coming through than the high mids, but the extra low end of the MP-1 helps push that midrange a little better. There are plenty of mid-range frequencies in the Classic, but it takes a bit more volume to get them to come through the mix, which is why I'm still rolling tubes (valves), in the Classic.
Title: Re: OMG, your Tone is amazing
Post by: Dante on April 13, 2017, 09:34:18 PM
This is probably why I have to bump my lows quite a bit. I turn them up pretty high...especially on the metal stuff. I think I have a clip on Faceb**k of that tone...I'll look around
Title: Re: OMG, your Tone is amazing
Post by: rabidgerry on April 14, 2017, 01:03:44 AM
On the clip i posted the bass on my MP1 is at zero.

Live, I find I have to dip the bass on it quite a bit.
Title: Re: OMG, your Tone is amazing
Post by: Dante on April 15, 2017, 01:44:30 PM
My bass is typically up around 8-10. If it's a Metal patch, it's at 12. I may even add more with the EQ in my GX-700. The mids are SCCOOOPED for the Metal stuff.

Here's a clip of my 1978 Ibanez CN200 on the Classic Rock patch (I think). This was our final song of our final show, a 12-hour rockfest of local bands. Our singer's mother is named Caroline and she attended every show, in her honor, we played Neil F**king Diamond

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNU9-sToMwg

And, here's a clip of the Metal patch, with a very lightweight 2006 Ibanez SAS45 that I put a Seymour Duncan JB into. It was over 100ºF at this gig, we're dying here.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6zafGbHYd0U

And finally, here's the clean tone from an Ibanez AS73, circa 2005, Chinese with a Seymour Duncan Jazz in the neck, JB in the bridge.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JaencQFBAVs

All of these clips are the Classic, not the MP-2
Title: Re: OMG, your Tone is amazing
Post by: rabidgerry on April 20, 2017, 02:47:52 AM
No way, that middle clip was very entertaining.

Can't really hear what's going on there, but it sounded good.  That singer was great  :thumb-up:

Some day I shall play in 100ºF heat!

I could have had the chance this summer with a gig in Greece but as far as I know we aint going now  :(

It's weird that you scoop the mids and I boost mine lol  I just can't get it to work if I scoop them.  If i scoop them it's literally very subtle amount.  Made a difference actually cleaning up a Peavey Rockmaster I use.
Title: Re: OMG, your Tone is amazing
Post by: rnolan on April 20, 2017, 03:42:36 AM
Well yeah 100 deg F (37.7 C) is bloody hot, but try 45 C (113 deg F) under a piece of corrugated Iron  :facepalm: , no breeze, downed 6 schooners (15 fl oz) of beer, didn't go to the loo once, dripping with sweat... This is when I decided maple (lacquered) fingerboards were a bad idea... Ahh the Wagga Wagga Aussie Rules footy club bear garden... Note to self, sweat bands are useful LoL.