Have you found "Your Tone" ??

boycey

Just wondering out loud as usual- bear with me!!
Like myself most of ye are self confessed gear whores. Nowt wrong with that. But after all the purchases/trades/upgrades are you happy you've found your sound, or indeed can you emulate someone else's tone close enough to keep you happy?

With me its become a simplicity is best approach. After years of gear its boiled down to a good single channel amp and a guitar capable of getting a nicely overdriven sound but still capable of cleaning up nicely when the volumes rolled back. And thats about it. Not too big into effects though I've bought and sold plenty over the years, just happy with a classic rock level of drive, plenty of mids and a slightly gritty clean .
So I suppose Im asking what/who's sound are you aiming for and are you close enough to it to be satisfied?
(and sorry for my usual long winded posts:o)

spoonbadger

Well i have my clean and slight breakup tone down, but i'm still looking for a proper overdrive!!. And +1 on the simplicity, if you cant get 90% of your tone with just your amp and axe, then you're not going to make up the rest with effects! .

For clean tones i was always going for my own sound, thick and beefy but still plenty of sparkle. And for overdrive, my goal was "mermaid" by hendrix and gilmour's "comfortably numb" solo tone. Am playing a strat through an oldschool marshall fwiw.

-=al=-

ill never bee 100% happy, but yeah im happy enough

Darkstrike

I have more than one tone!

punchdrunk

i've kinda settled on a '52 tele bridge pickup through an orange halfstack as being mine,sounds lovely!

spoonbadger

punchdrunk wrote: »

i've kinda settled on a '52 tele bridge pickup through an orange halfstack as being mine,sounds lovely!

Hehe, alt. rock and indie? .

KevLeppard

Got a wicked "classic rock" tone. Gibson Les Paul plugged into a Marshall JCM 2000 DSL Half Stack.

Because of the tone I get from this set up, I dont use much by way of effects, bar a Dunlop wah wah and the occasional BOSS Chorus on some clean sounds. A Graphic EQ for a volume boost, with the EQ settings at neutral.

punchdrunk

spoonbadger wrote: »

Hehe, alt. rock and indie? .

oh yeah! :pac:

Seziertisch

If you want to step things up a notch or two, try out Vovox or Evidence Audio cables. They are a very significant step up from Planet Waves or the likes.

You can hear it in the room, but the difference becomes even more apparent when you mic it up. I have done comparisons with a 57 on the cone swapping out different cables and the differences were very obvious between different cables, and particularly between "high-end" and "budget" cables. I was a sceptic until I heard for myself.

They are a much better investment than a new pedal for example. If you look around online you will find plenty of guys saying it couldn't make that much of a difference, read a bit more and you will see that none of these guys have ever actually played through the cables they are dismissing.

darrenw5094

KevLeppard wrote: »

Got a wicked "classic rock" tone. Gibson Les Paul plugged into a Marshall JCM 2000 DSL Half Stack.

Because of the tone I get from this set up, I dont use much by way of effects, bar a Dunlop wah wah and the occasional BOSS Chorus on some clean sounds. A Graphic EQ for a volume boost, with the EQ settings at neutral.

Can't beat the Slash GNR tone for straight up rock.......and maybe Angus.

Red Sleeping Beauty

Nope.
There's guitar tones I like but I wouldn't really be able to play with them if that makes sense (I'm kinda rubbish at playing telecasters but I love the sound they make). Some guys can be a chameleon and play everything , all different styles and sounds. I can't though. Tone serach continues

Fingers Mcginty

boycey wrote: »

After years of gear its boiled down to a good single channel amp and a guitar capable of getting a nicely overdriven sound but still capable of cleaning up nicely when the volumes rolled back.

Me too

Doctor J

Got a load of different tones I'm happy with.

For Metal stuff, there's just something about the Empire which has a presence to it I really like, only the Eggle comes close. That into the Ampeg is just such a sweet, sweet sound.

For less distorted stuff, the Duke into the Fulltone, into the Tremolo, into the Holy Grail, into the Bassman puts me into a happy place. I want to get a G Player into that setup too, that'd be real nice, I reckon.

On bass, I've built up a selection of nice basses which don't need any colouring, just make them loud and let their own sound come through. They all sound different and suit different styles of playing and different styles of music.

In the same way that I could never be happy playing just one kind of music, it's always nice to have a selection of sounds to draw on, I'm always open to more. I could never have just one sound and say "That's it, that's my sound."

felim

I've always been a fan of a LP type guitar into a cranked Marshall. That's what I use. I can get other tones but that one just suits my playing style the best.

Zangetsu

Found my bass tone a month ago, been searching for a long time, turns out it was inside an X3 Live

For elec guitar there was only 1 setup they made my head explode which was an American Tele through a fender deluxe on the bridge pickup with the tone rolled most of the way back, wasn't much in the eq just a smidgen of reverb. Twas beautiful (until someone killed the tele ).

Acoustic guitar, takamine with 13's makes my ears wet.

freshcream

I,m happy with my clean tone, clean blues, dirty blues and cleanish rock tones, they all come from a goldtop with p90s and a small fender tweed amp, but I haven't found any harder tones that i am happy with yet.

Voodu Child

I like a thick saturated lead sound, with a little bit of sag, lots of sustain and a lot of harmonic content and touch responsiveness. The Boogie MKIV pretty much does that straight-up, no pedals...though it does take a bit of tweaking on account of all the different options and settings.

I wouldn't call it 'my' sound, but it's a sound I like and i've got it, so I guess that answers the thread :pac:

A7X

Serious no.

Lack o money = lack o tone

Quattroste

NO. I have 3 amps which equates to 6 seperate channels and best tone I have, comes from a pocket pod into my headphones Fcukin annoying to be honest.

They say your tone comes from your fingers. Well, my fingers are tone deaf :pac:

punchdrunk

Quattroste wrote: »

NO. I have 3 amps which equates to 6 seperate channels and best tone I have, comes from a pocket pod into my headphones Fcukin annoying to be honest.

They say your tone comes from your fingers. Well, my fingers are tone deaf :pac:

i thought you'd an orange rocker? :eek:

Patricide

Im not there yet...but im getting there. +1 for simplicity, I used to have a rake of pedals but i was better off just not having them there in the first place.

Guitar - Lead - Overdrive - AMP. Tis the way it should be done. Maybe a bit of compression on the cleans. Once you got your sound out of that setup, everything else is just icing on the cake.

Doctor J

punchdrunk wrote: »

i thought you'd an orange rocker? :eek:

That always makes me think of Uncle Andy and Big Mervyn :pac:

punchdrunk

Patricide wrote: »

Im not there yet...but im getting there. +1 for simplicity, I used to have a rake of pedals but i was better off just not having them there in the first place.

Guitar - Lead - Overdrive - AMP. Tis the way it should be done. Maybe a bit of compression on the cleans. Once you got your sound out of that setup, everything else is just icing on the cake.

I suppose it depends what your trying to get out of it,if your trying to get a good sound from a cheap guitar and amp,thinking pedal will fix any areas the other two are lacking in your wrong...forget about it!

but at the time a good guitar and amp will only get you so far in certain genre's
if you want to sound like sonic youth/RATM/radiohead/U2 etc ,your gonna need FX

Paolo_M

I have in a way, only it involves mutiple amps and guitars.
My ultimate clean to mild overdrive tone is from my '65 Vox AC50, ultimate crunch tone from my '71 JMP50 and ultimate high gain tone is from my hot rodded '81 JCM800.
Haven't found an amp that can convincingly deliver all three so about a year ago I decided to figure out how they all worked and build one myself. It sounds great so far on paper, I've yet to actually build it though...we'll see :pac:

-=al=-

actually i pretty much have my tone now, i was just editing it to perfection there today, got some new gear, its perfect for me anyways

viva la vida

Quattroste

punchdrunk wrote: »

i thought you'd an orange rocker? :eek:

No. I'm not really serious, lets just say my tone tends to morph quite a bit. I have a Mesa LSS, Marshal 6100 and a Matamp First Lady. Waste of three amps really

rgjmce

haven't be able to get 'my tone' yet cause i have a crap 15 watt amp but as soon as i get a new amp then i will certainly be going tone searching, i do have idea of what tone i want though

500x

Interesting thread this. 'Tone', I bet us guitar players think more about it than we do a lot of things... Not everything, but ya know.

I agree with the original post, simplicity. It's been a long road for me, I wish I'd known this stuff when I was 14.

My biggest set-up was a 12U rack, with two 4x12 cabs.... A massive midi foot switch, and not a whole lot of a clue!

I now use either an ENGL Screamer or Fireball head through a V30 loaded cab. I'm about to order a 1x12 V30 ENGL cab for further portability.

The Fireball is usually associated with heavy metal players, but I love it for the classic rock stuff I do.

Out of my little family of guitars, the best for me is a PRS Custom24 from 95 with a SD Pearly Gates and Custom set of pickups. It's actually a 'aul Reed Smith'... My 'P' fell off!!! It's fairly beaten up now.

I've jused ordered a Visual Sound H2O pedal to replace my Boss CE5 and DD3, which sit in the loop of the ENGL.

A Crybaby and the ENGL 2 button footswitch are all that I have on the floor; the FX in the loop sit on top of the amp... I just leave em on but at a very subtle level. Recently I'm noticing myself even leaving the FX out... I'm either growing out of them, or I couldn't be bothered buying batteries!

The EQ settings I use on both amps are similar - Mids at 10, Treb at 9, Presence at 0 or 1, bass at somewhere depending on the head.

Can you guess? I like a fairly 'wooly' overdrive sound with plenty of saturation. Tony McAlpine's tone on Evolution, Malmsteen's (woo!) tone on Fire And Ice, or Satriani's live tone on the last three songs of Time Machine. To me, they are beautiful.

I think a hint of chorus thickens things up nicely, and delay covers up my sloppy playing!!

When a band I was in previously had the luxury of bringing along our own sound engineer, we had some pretty intense discussions about my sound (he is a guitarist too).

Engineer: "Your amp sounds like it has a blanket over it, it sounds like ****!"
Me: "Ah it's great."
Engineer: "Yeah right, it's awful."

Acoustic? My Lowden O35C Custom is a stunner. I love it, but you gotta play it with your fingers; it hates picks.

For strumming, a good old Martin HD28.

Strings are Elixir Nanoweb, gauge 13.

For the Nylon string stuff, an Avalon S32C.

If only I could find some gigs.... Maybe I could let others hear my wooly lovely sound. :-)

Best wishes,

Tony

Red Sleeping Beauty

A7X wrote: »

Serious no.

Lack o money = lack o tone

Is tone cheap ? Is it expensive ? Can you put a value on it ?

I've heard the saying that tone is in the fingers, what do ye think?

A7X

alan dunne 27 wrote: »

Is tone cheap ? Is it expensive ? Can you put a value on it ?

I've heard the saying that tone is in the fingers, what do ye think?

Tone is always crap when its played through my gear.

Red Sleeping Beauty

What about when someone else plays through your gear ?

-=al=-

im just re doin my pedalboard there today, george l's cables everywhere, btw does anyone know anyone in ireland who stocks george l's?

so much better downgrading and getting rid of unsed pedals, but ill miss that talkbox!

Sergio

This is such an interesting thread because everyone has different opinions on likes/dislikes etc
Im looking to buy an amp and build a proper rig in the next 12months or so.was thinking about spending alot of money on a mesaboogie possibly the versatile roadking series2 or the new Mark 5 thats out this year.
any advice from the boogie players?

brendansmith

A7X wrote: »

Tone is always crap when its played through my gear.

I think you should get one of these and tell us what they are like:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Raven-West-electric-guitar-THIN-FAST-NECK-BLEM-BLEM_W0QQitemZ130289605095QQcmdZViewItemQQptZGuitar?hash=item130289605095&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1205|66%3A2|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A1308|301%3A1|293%3A2|294%3A50

Quattroste

Colinboy wrote: »

This is such an interesting thread because everyone has different opinions on likes/dislikes etc
Im looking to buy an amp and build a proper rig in the next 12months or so.was thinking about spending alot of money on a mesaboogie possibly the versatile roadking series2 or the new Mark 5 thats out this year.
any advice from the boogie players?

Mmmmmmmmm Mark V.

I have a Mesa LSS and it is a great great amp. I haven't much experience with other Mesa amps but Voodoo on here has. I love the look of the new Mk V and the sounds on the demo videos sound great too. I may have to get one og them after I.......... well the next time I have money

Seziertisch

-=al=- wrote: »

im just re doin my pedalboard there today, george l's cables everywhere, btw does anyone know anyone in ireland who stocks george l's?

so much better downgrading and getting rid of unsed pedals, but ill miss that talkbox!

The George L connectors are fine, but I am not such a fan of the cable. Check out the Evidence Audio Monorail. It works in the same way, sounds waaaay better and is not that expensive (I think 2.15$ a foot).

Voodu Child

Colinboy wrote: »

any advice from the boogie players?

A Rectifer-series amp is very different to a Mark-series amp in terms of tone. So the only advice is to try and play both and see which you prefer.

-=al=-

Seziertisch wrote: »

The George L connectors are fine, but I am not such a fan of the cable. Check out the Evidence Audio Monorail. It works in the same way, sounds waaaay better and is not that expensive (I think 2.15$ a foot).

I am intruiged, mono means one and rail means rail, is there anywhere in Dublin that distributes them???

I just completly took apart the old pedalboard i made and put my pedals back into an old pedlaboard case i had, i needed something more sturdy to transport and downsize my pedals... looks cool now

Old = http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j235/alsfotos/DSC00055.jpg

New = http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j235/alsfotos/DSC01283.jpg


awsome-o :cool:

ClutchIt

I have 2 beautiful and very different guitars and I don't want anything else on that front. A Tokai LP and Ibanez S-series.

I am currently playing thru a Cube 60 tho so I would like a tube amp. But I'm not gigging at the moment, and the Cube's cleans are so nice, that i'm taking my time till I join a band to buy the ENGL screamer combo. Or else till I get a good deal on one. Just lost out on ebay to one it went in the end for £520, which was a great price but I had no comp come to end of auction time. Didn't mind really it's too big for the bedroom!

population

I have a simple enough set up but it gives me all I need really.

Tiny Terror set to clean use Strat

Tiny Terror set to mild overdrive use Tele

Tiny Terror set to heavy gain use Tokai LP

Use a Vox Wah and a Marshall Reflector Reverb and thats it.

Oh yeah must say though the Pod XT Pro is great for the FX

Seziertisch

-=al=- wrote: »

I am intruiged, mono means one and rail means rail, is there anywhere in Dublin that distributes them???

I just completly took apart the old pedalboard i made and put my pedals back into an old pedlaboard case i had, i needed something more sturdy to transport and downsize my pedals... looks cool now

Old = http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j235/alsfotos/DSC00055.jpg

New = http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j235/alsfotos/DSC01283.jpg


awsome-o :cool:

I don't think there is anywhere in Ireland selling it. I think Charlie Chandler in the UK has it, or just go to lavacable.com (which is where I got it from). I found the George L cable to be overly bright, while the Monorail is just really balanced sounding not too much of anything and with very solid mids giving great presence to your guitar tone.

A7X

brendansmith wrote: »

I think you should get one of these and tell us what they are like:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Raven-West-electric-guitar-THIN-FAST-NECK-BLEM-BLEM_W0QQitemZ130289605095QQcmdZViewItemQQptZGuitar?hash=item130289605095&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1205|66%3A2|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A1308|301%3A1|293%3A2|294%3A50

Nah. I like my guitar but I have my eyes set on a new one anyway.

It's pretty much a new amp that I want. I'm gonna mod some of my pedals.

I hate the middle pick-up. I dunno why but I find it more awkward to play with it when picking fast.

Dord

For bass I'm happy with the tones I've got at my disposal. I usually let my basses own tones shine through or use the onboard tone controls they have. 99% of the time my amps EQ settings are flat. I use effects but not as a main part of my sound, as additions when I need them. I don't need them to get the sound I want. Soundwise my basses range from mid heavy and bright to deep and oldschool type tones. Each has its purpose in my mind.

On guitar I haven't come across the right amp for me yet so I'm stuck with a Microcube at the moment. It does the job for messin' around. I'm very happy with my guitar though, the sound is pure bliss clean. Amazing. It feels awesome in my hands.
I just need to find that illusive amp...

-=al=-

Seziertisch wrote: »

I don't think there is anywhere in Ireland selling it. I think Charlie Chandler in the UK has it, or just go to lavacable.com (which is where I got it from). I found the George L cable to be overly bright, while the Monorail is just really balanced sounding not too much of anything and with very solid mids giving great presence to your guitar tone.

well untill the george l's stop goin ill prob get em then

Well here it is in all tis wired up fully workin compact glory anyways

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j235/alsfotos/DSC01285.jpg

thats were my tone comes from ... came out rather well i think not to bad on the wire situation

Dord

Where'd you get the George L's?

-=al=-

ebay, there pretty cheap from the uk now if u wana get em, nowhere here has them, waltons used too, but onlines the only way theres a cable kit u can get that shud be enough

Dord

cheers!

Pyr0

I've noticed the more I get the grips with my pod the easier I find to tweak and get a tone I like. I compared a tone I'm using now to one I had about 6 months ago and jaysus ! What was i thinking ?! Even now i'm still trying to get that tone that just makes you say "Yes.." with a little head nodding and a grin !

fish-head

At the moment my sound is my Gretsch Corvette into my Atomic Reverb with the reverb way up and the amp pushed hard. Surf/Garage/Thrashtacular.

population

fish-head wrote: »

At the moment my sound is my Gretsch Corvette into my Atomic Reverb with the reverb way up and the amp pushed hard. Surf/Garage/Thrashtacular.

Sounds damn nice sir. Gretsch + Reverb = Salt + Vinegar

Made for each other

munkydanny

I guess my ideal tone would probably be made of a lot of different machines. I'd love a Les Paul with a Marshall JCM 800 for lead tones, a Mesa Triaxis pre and Strategy 200 for rythm and a Fender Duo Sonic Pro for cleans.

Yes I do have a problem.