Tech 21 Leeds+ Strat = thin, trashy sound?

[Endr_rpm]

Not always in a bad way mind you Got the Leeds last week, played my Reverend Daredevil 290 through it, awesome. Parker Fly? Awesome. Parts Strat? Harsh and thin. Old MIK Squire 2 neck (maple), MIM body and bridge, GFS Vintage 60s pups. Can't seem to get a GREAT sound out of it. CA get some good sounds, but always tends towards harshness and ice picky highs. The guitar didn't have this reaction to my DSL401 (sold), so I'm wondering if it's just not a good match with this one piece of gear. I'm not a "strat guy" per se, but I do love me some phaseoid knopfler esque goodness, and was hoping this could get me close. The EQ knobs seem perfectly voiced for the P90s, but the highs are too high and bass too woofy for the strat. Any one else with the same predicament? Suggestions? Am currently going direct, sometimes int he loop of an M13, this weekend I'll try it in my bass amp (MB LM2 and Avatar 210)

 

[tech21nyc]

My question first would be how are you setting the controls? The Reverend has P90's and I assume your Parker Fly has humbuckers? Those two guitars will inherently be fatter sounding off the bat than your Squire Strat with single coils. Although I work here I also own the Leeds and Liverpool pedals and use both for playing direct into a PA as well as going direct to the board in my home studio. With my single coil Strat I find I get a nice warm fat sound with the controls on the Leeds set to: Level 11 o'clock, Mid 1, Character 12, Drive 11, Lows 11 and Highs 11-12 and Speaker Simulator switch engaged (pressed down.) I hope this helps.

 

[Endr_rpm]

Thanks!! My level was a bit higher, but I had mids ~12-1 (o'clock, I assume?), so I'll try dropping those out. I was boosting them, thinking I needed to make up for the scoop inherent in the design, ya know? I found great sounds with the other 2 instruments with most settings between 11-12, but I preferred the bass around 9 or 10, kept it from getting too bassy and stomping on the bass lines (I'm primarily a bass player).

And yes, I realize comparing my parts-o-caster to my Fly is a bit of an apples to badgers thing I just learned to play on the neck, and wanted to update the electronics and get a decent (not plywood) body. But my Parker is my baby.

 

[burningyen]

I think tech21nyc was suggesting you boost the mids (1 o'clock).

 

[Endr_rpm]

Oh, you are correct, silly me. Nosir, didn't like it.

Of course, on my ride to work today I hear PF's "Money" and realize I am getting almost EXACTLY that lead tone. Horses for coures, I guess I'll have to get a Blonde or a Liverpool. Darn

 

[THiwaTT]

I have been loving my Liverpool with a strat into a Champ 600 RI

 

[tech21nyc]

Oh, you are correct, silly me. Nosir, didn't like it.

Of course, on my ride to work today I hear PF's "Money" and realize I am getting almost EXACTLY that lead tone. Horses for coures, I guess I'll have to get a Blonde or a Liverpool. Darn

I didn't notice at first but you mentioned going into the lopp of the M13. From my experience with Line 6 products you are usually going through an A/D converter which can compromise the sound of the Character Pedal or any other analog device though I'm not really familiar with the M13. It would really depend on how you have it configured. Also when going direct what are you monitoring with.

I wouldn't say the Leeds has a mid scoop at all in the flat setting. It's midrange will boost +12dB in the 400hz and you can cut -12dB at 750hz which will give you the mid scoop. It really depends on the guitar, and what system you are playing through. You shouldn't need to drastically alter things for a different guitar. I was doing a track with my Leeds last night and went from a Suhr with single coils to my PRS with P90's and it worked either way. I hope this helps. Just be patient as it can take a little while to get used to the pedal but once you get the hang of the wide ranging controls it will become second nature.

 

[Endr_rpm]

It WAS the M13, but not the converter- I just had the Level too high for the loop, so it was overdriving the return. Turned it down a couple notches, turned the recording I/O up a couple and now sounds like a million bucks. Thanks!!