How do *you* get tone?

[op111]

Hello,

I am seeking knowledge about distortion and how to get it.

I am relatively new to guitar playing (5 years), and learned using Line6 and Roland digital amp emulations. Unlike most players I am used to digital, and am now trying to grok tubes.

I am confused by the role of the preamp and distortion pedals. Amp reviews and ads would indicate that cranking the preamp to tube distortion is superior, but a friend who is a 40 year pro advised me to choose an amp based on its clean sound and to use pedals to get distorted tones. I have also seen similar advice given on the 'net.

Are there two schools of thought here? Why do amps have "drive" channels if they are not meant to distort? How does one choose an amp? Why tubes for clean sound? What makes a Marshall or Soldano special?

Thanks
Peter

[pbradt]

I don't do either of those. The best way to get pretty pretty overdrive is to select an appropriate amp for the venue and turn it UP!

You can then use the volume knob on your guitar to control how loud and overdriven it is.

Others will have other methods, but this is how I do it.

P.S. My amps don't have "drive" channels. That's what turning the amp up is for.

[JubileeMan 2555]

You are asking probably the most complex and most argued topic when it comes to amps.

You know what I'd do? Find an artist, or a series of artists that you find get great distorted tones, and back-track how they are accomplishing those sounds. It will not only teach you as you find information, but will get you better tone in the process.

Any other advice will be personal opinion, and that will usually lead you in circles.

[jpervin]

Originally Posted by pbradt

I don't do either of those. The best way to get pretty pretty overdrive si to select an appropriate amp for the venue and turn it UP!

You can then use the volume knob on your guitar to control how loud and overdriven it is.

Others will have other methods, but this is how I do it.

P.S. My amps don't have "drive" channels. That's what turning the amp up is for.

+1

A Tele with a neck P-90 thru a tweed Deluxe is a heavenly thing! :AOK

[pbradt]

I prefer it w/o the P90 but that do sound nice.

[ChickenLover]

All of this is just my opinion.

You can get great tones a bazillion different ways. Pedals into a clean amp is one...preamp distortion in a tube amp is another. As soon as anyone tells you "you must use a tube amp" or "you must use pedals into a clean amp" then take whatever they say with a grain of salt.

After playing for many years my opinion is that the players that get the best tone do it by...listening. They also are open-minded yet very discriminating. I've played with people that no matter what gear you give them, they'll manage to make it sound bad. Yet, other players manage to make just about anything sound good. Think about why that might be.

Some questions that you need to answer before you'll get very useful answers are:
What kind of tones are you looking for? Who are some artists that have tones you'd like to get? Any specific songs that have tones you'd like to get?

Good luck...try to have fun in your quest.

[rooster]

I get my distortion sound a few different ways depending on the song. Since my amp has 2 channels, (the OD having 2 different master volumes), I can run a box into the clean side (Fuzz Face for Doors stuff), or switch over to the drive side where I can either just run the drive of the amp (pretty good grind), a clean boost into it (early '80s distortion levels) or a fully-boosted clean boost into it (late '80s to early '90s distortion levels). Pickup switching makes a big diff as well, as does the choice of guitar.

There are as many ways to get distortion as there are albums with distorted guitars on them. Well, not quite, but close.

rooster.

[op111]

WOW!!! 5 replies in 10 minutes!!! What a great 'board!!!

So what are the feelings about Digital Emulators? Since I am used to digital should I learn to get good tone from them, or is that a dead end?

Digital products are cheap, reliable and getting better, but seems to lack the "Ooo aahh!!" effect. How do Pro's feel about digital? Toy or the future?

P

[stratovarius]

I am with your pro friend on this one.

Getting that killer clean sound seems to be the trickiest thing, so I find it best to start with that. You can always dirty it up with a pedal, but there is nothing in the world you can do to get a great clean from an amp that won't deliver.

If you only count on your amp for the dirt, you're stuck. If you don't like the tone, then your only option is deal with the headache of trying to find a buyer for a very expensive, hard to ship item. What a pain! Pedals are much easier to buy and sell and you can afford to have a few different flavors available.

Unfortunately, players rarely mention how they're using their equipment. What will work at high volumes or in a band context won't necessarily work at home or in a studio situation. I mostly play at low volume and have found that the amp plus pedals route works best for me.

[pbradt]

My feelings about digital emulators are all negative, so I won't be much help there. AFAIC, it's not even a toy, more like useless junk.

But again, that's just my opinion.

[BBQLS1]

How do "I" get tone that I like?

Marshallesque amp, Dirty when loud, Lots of mids.....

Turn the amp up to 10 or close, plug in a Double Humbucker, Les Paulish guitar. I don't use pedals much. For cleans, I roll the volume knob on the guitar back and the amp cleans up. It doesn't have to be perfectly clean for me, I like the hair on the notes.

My rig: I have a few 18 Watt Marshall clones, and I've got the parts for a 36W version on the way. 2X12 closed back cab that I'm waiting for Weber pre-rola greenback clones for (it was a V30 and G12H30). Guitars: PRS Custom 22 and a double bucker strat.

[tedzepplin]

you need this book. it comes with a cd of sudio demonstrations of different amp and guitar set ups. it explains what you are asking about.
Guitar Rigs: Classic Guitar and Amp Combinations (Paperback)
by Dave Hunter (Author)
http://www.amazon.com/Guitar-Rigs-Cl...4687471&sr=8-1

[op111]

Great thread!

So I also own a Fender Blues Jr which I bought based on reputation. I also bought a Boss Blues Driver also based on reputation. Since I didn't know what to listen for, I figured I'd get a cheap and well known tube amp and pedal and get started.

After about 6 months, I then visited my friend who has Swart and Dr Z amps, and lots of Pedals. He prefers the Fulltone Full Drive and Vodoo.

Now I am wondering what to do next. The clean tone is pretty nice, but compared to fancy amps, the Blues Jr sounds a bit muddy. Should I sell it and move on? Should I mod it ala BillM? Should I spend time to learn how to get the tone I like?

P

[CocoTone]

Rule of thumb. If it sounds good clean, or with mild grind when turned up, then most of the time, it will sound great with good pedals.

CT.

[Don L]

Originally Posted by ChickenLover

You can get great tones a bazillion different ways. Pedals into a clean amp is one...preamp distortion in a tube amp is another. As soon as anyone tells you "you must use a tube amp" or "you must use pedals into a clean amp" then take whatever they say with a grain of salt.

After playing for many years my opinion is that the players that get the best tone do it by...listening. They also are open-minded yet very discriminating. I've played with people that no matter what gear you give them, they'll manage to make it sound bad. Yet, other players manage to make just about anything sound good. Think about why that might be.

For live playing, I've found clean/cleanish amps with pedals to be the most flexible and gig-friendly. For home use and for jamming with friends, plugging straight in and cranking it seems most popular.