Tube Screamer..?

munkydanny

So I find myself in a Metallica tribute band working with another guitarist. I've never been much good at working with other guitar players in the past, but this is actually going pretty good!

My problem is though, when it comes to my solo, I need something to cut me through the mix. Now I have heard that Ibanez Tube Screamers are brill for this but I'm just wondering has anyone else discovered anything different or even better before I part with cash?

Muchos gracias to Mr. Hungus for suggesting that ISP decimator in a previous thread. Dream come through! :pac:

Alanstrainor

Well i love my tube screamer, without a doubt my favourite overdrive pedal. Mine is the Ts9, brighter than the ts808, so it may give you more of an "edge" if you're trying to cut through. I'd definitely recommend it anyway.:pac:

boycey

Out of curiosity munkydanny what guitar and amp are you using?

One trick I used to use when jamming with the lads way back when was to step on my wah and leave it at almost full treble for solos, sounds lovely on a twin humbucker guitar with either the neck pickup or both pickups on.

A lot of players playing heavier stuff tend to go for a too 'scooped' sound, neglecting their mids. Less gain, more volume and plenty of mids would cut through nicely if you have a multi channel set up.

As for overdrives I just sold on a Fulltone Fulldrive2 I no longer need. Fantastic pedal, with a great variety of sounds. Worked great with every amp I tried it through.

Voodu Child

Well, you can use a clean boost to give you that extra 'push' for solos. Or you can use an EQ pedal, with a custom setting..maybe an overall boost, with an extra push in the mids. Either of these could be used in the effects loop as well - they'll have a different effect depending on whether they're up front or in the loop.

The tubescreamer is a famously good pedal, but a lot of the good ones are modded ones, or older models, not the current off-the-shelf model. So if you're looking at TS type pedals, check out the BBE green screamer. Also, check out the MXR Custom OD. I use a MXR Zakk Wylde OD, its not really a tubescreamer style sound, but I find it works much better in a high-gain setting.

A7X

If ur using the distortion in ur chain and not ur amp id recommend the Seymour Duncan SFX01 Booster! It is brilliant and gives u an unbelievable boost you dont even need to turn it up that much! heres a link http://www.thomann.de/ie/seymour_duncan_sfx01_pickupbooster.htm you put it after ur distortion btw and i still cant figure out how to do tht with the amps distortion so i dont bother

Dord

Get an Electro Harmonix LPB1. It's a clean boost that's used by a LOT of people during solos.

Cosmian

The Ibanez tube screamer is probably the best and most natural overdrive I have ever heard for a bass. Just thought I would put that out there.

studiorat

Dord wrote: »

Get an Electro Harmonix LPB1. It's a clean boost that's used by a LOT of people during solos.

+1
A tube screamer is the dogs but will sound different when you kick it in. You could also try setting up the rhythm sound with the guitar volume turned back a bit and just turn the knob for the solo bits or just play louder!!

-=al=-

ts808

i think an eq would be mroe usefull, if ur doing metallica i persume it has the usual no mids int he rhythm so fill out that gap with an eq, + on an eq you have a db boost or cut, so if its in the loop, theres a big difference, ..i use both an overdrive and an eq, + ive seperate overdrive channels that are footswitchable, i gots it goin on :cool:

Dord

Actually an EQ pedal would be pretty good. He could boost the mids slightly and then kick it in for the solo. It'd cut through better.

studiorat

-=al=- wrote: »

ts808
..i use both an overdrive and an eq, + ive seperate overdrive channels that are footswitchable, i gots it goin on :cool:

do you have 3 legs or something?:D

-=al=-

i jsut like the added choice, variation and all the tonal possibilites possible i guess, overdrives on most of the time, its just a mater of switching channells, then if i need it, the eq for extra boost, sure im mad for tone

studiorat

s'all about the tone. I was just thinking about stomping on all those pedals at the same time.

Doesn't anyone just play louder anymore? Actually there's probably so much compression going on already that changing tone with an EQ's probably the best way to cut through.

-=al=-

my compressor is on 24/7 too

munkydanny

Sorry for not replying for a while, but I'm using a Mesa/Boogie Dual Recto head (the older 2 channel model) through a Marshal 1970A cab, not much goin on effects wise, I only use a Morley Bad Horsie wah, so keeping it down is a good idea, but not really viable for a wah with no click. Unless I want to look like Jesus, rising ever so slightly above the rest of the lads when I'm soloing!

I've been looking into Keeley modded TS's but I only have youtube demos to go by. Tbh I tried a TS9 in Musician Inc. the lads were incredibly helpful, but I just couldn't see it making a huge diff to my sound. It is typical scooped mid metal alright.

And wouldn't you know it, was at practice last night and my amp just sounded like pure mud no matter what I did!

But I guess all in all I'm just looking to get something to make me cut through with crystal clarity when I do a lead break..

A7X

yeah i know how ya feel my amp is a load of muck i cant get the tone i want because of teh lack of funds and im recording at the moment AND I CANT DO ANYTHING BOUT THE TONE

munkydanny

Fair enough, but my problem is that its a mutha' ukin' Mesa/Boogie Dual Recto! They ain't supposed to sound like muck! Not least put through a Marshall 1960A cab!

But hey, lets not get off topic and I'm havin it looked at by a pro tonight anyways.. :cool:

I'm having a bit of lust for this Ibanez TS9DX FLEXI-4X2 Keeley mod as used by Vai for the Zappa tour. I remember being there and his tone was amazing! Especially for the leads. Of course big diff between a Metallica tribute and a fairly clean sounding jam session between seasoned artists like Vai and Dweezil Zappa..

Anyone able to provide any feedback on this particular device?

BuddhaJoe

munkydanny wrote: »

Anyone able to provide any feedback on this particular device?

I have a Keeley Mod Plus TS9 which is one half of the Ibanez TS9DX FLEXI-4X2 which I play through a Recto. Nothing short of amazing. I could probably record a of clip today or tomorrow if you wanna hear it with and without the TS.

Voodu Child

munkydanny wrote: »

They ain't supposed to sound like muck! Not least put through a Marshall 1960A cab!

They aint supposed to sound like muck dialled right, but they're very easy to get wrong. Thats a thing with Mesa amps - the controls are particularly interactive and powerful, more so than most other amps. It makes them extremely versatile, but also 'hard to dial'.

But yeah, assuming you've got it dialled right, Recto's sound awesome boosted up front.

Kenny_D

Deffinitely go for one of the keeley modded tubescreamers. Thinkin of picking one up myself. Used to have a Maxon 808 which was a great pedal too

munkydanny

BuddhaJoe wrote: »

I have a Keeley Mod Plus TS9 which is one half of the Ibanez TS9DX FLEXI-4X2 which I play through a Recto. Nothing short of amazing. I could probably record a of clip today or tomorrow if you wanna hear it with and without the TS.

Yeah man, that'd be awesome!

munkydanny

Ok, so assuming I got it wrong how would I get it right again? Since I've begun using her live and in the rehersal room I've noticed she's very tempramental! One day it sounds awesome, but another its very muddy! Yet the funny thing is, my settings don't change! Now I'm a bonafide expert when it comes to guitars, but I know less than nothing when it comes to tube amps! I did notice however that two of the tubes are a different make to the others. It looks as though they were never changed, but when two of them blew someone just put two different ones in. Maybe a bad match?

Or maybe I should just grit my teeth, leave it into a shop and take the OTT cost like a man! :pac:

Sergio

have you ever tried a BBplus preamp from xotic fxs.check out some videos on there website or on youtube if you want.it gives ya great gain boost without affecting your tone.
http://www.prosoundcommunications.com/english/xotic/effects/bb_plus/

BuddhaJoe

munkydanny wrote: »

Yeah man, that'd be awesome!

Okay I gave it a shot. Two things to note first is that:

(1) Im still learning how to record an amp properly so this doesnt sound that great, its a bit darker sounding than it really is.

(2) I dont know how to play this song, I got the Steve Vai naked tracks today (vai songs without lead guitar) so im just playing along by ear.

Signal chain is US Strat Plus -> M/B Recto -> TC G-major for reverb -> SM57. Amp and gmajor settings are the same for both recordings.

Theres a fire in the house with TS: http://media.putfile.com/vai1

Theres a fire in the house without TS: http://media.putfile.com/vai2

munkydanny

Thanks Joe, I think thats made my mind up for me. The difference is subtle, but defo there. Sounds like a great pedal!

Nice recording by the way, I love that song and you did it justice!