What Should I do?......

[fishyfishfish]

I think I am addicted to delay and reverb. I played a gig today and my stuff in the loop took a crap (Bad cable) didn't have time to fix it, and during the whole set I felt like my tone was so dry I was cringing. Should I bite the bullet and ditch the "Epic Lead Tone" and play dry ala John Sykes, or keep ignoring my problem. I didn't think I used a lot of delay or verb, but man this is making me really reassess my rig and playing style. What should I do?
Does anyone else have an effect they have a hard time playing without?

 

[Spewnz]

I don't think there's anything wrong with liking an effect if it works for you and you don't like the sound of your amp dry then go for it. I don't really like my amp dry either.

 

[domct203]

I don't think there's anything wrong with liking an effect if it works for you and you don't like the sound of your amp dry then go for it. I don't really like my amp dry either.

+100

Nothing wrong with it at all. I'm a reverb addict as well (THE reason I went from a Triple Recto to the Roadster), and love delay for Leads. I will even use chorus for my heavy rhythms when I want to add some emotion or tension to a verse or bridge.

I absolutely love chorus and delay for my clean tones, and will throw the occasional phaser in as well.

With the exception of reverb, I don't rely on effects for my core tone, but use them to add "spice".

Dom

 

[fishyfishfish]

I'm still playing around with my rig tonight to see whats up. I guess the main deal is that I am bouncing against the repeats for rhythm and lead parts and letting verb fill in space for clean finger picking stuff. Man, I never noticed how much my "Style" evolved around echo. I blame Neal Schon.

 

[lyman]

naw, man. it sounds like you've found your "voice." i say embrace it. if that's what sounds/feels right to you then it's not a problem or something you need to cure yourself of. sure, if you're gonna audition for a jazz gig i might say get used to playing w/o delay but it doesn't sound like that's the case. so get out there, pick up your guitar, and sound like YOU.

 

[boogieman60]

I use reverb..not to much...But I love my Delay. I use 3 differant patchs (presets) for short or longer delays. One thing I really like about the Mk V is that you can turn it off If the song calls for a DRY sound. So thats My point in answer to your post . Use it when you need it or like it, turn it off if the SONG requires a dry sound or the delay gets in the way. :roll: Delay is a big part of a lot of players sound Where would EDGE be without it? :lol:

 

[talltxguy]

Force yourself to play dry. It will put some pressure on you, which you probably haven't had for a while. I'm not gonna say dry or wet is better; but overcoming that effects crutch will give you more confidence.

 

[RR]

Force yourself to play dry. It will put some pressure on you, which you probably haven't had for a while. I'm not gonna say dry or wet is better; but overcoming that effects crutch will give you more confidence.

I agree ...

... I know you guys probably don't watch "American Idol" but when they do an audition its all acapella and no 'karaoke effects' to hide from. Your voice and your voice only.

I heard some guitarists sound great with their massive pedal boards, but once you hand them an acoustic guitar, they suck. Supposedly Michael Schenker rarely records with an acoustic guitar or plays one but supposedly he smokes on one. He sounds great (as well as other guitarist I'm sure!).

 

[lyman]

talltxguy and RR do make a good point. i've said it before, but i feel that the best thing that happened to my electric guitar playing was playing a LOT of acoustic guitar. of course, others have said the best thing that happened to my electric guitar playing was a power outage! :wink:

 

[RR]

lyman:

Maverick, Weber Silver Bell ... that tells me something of your guitar amp tone! :wink:

 

[lyman]

lyman:

Maverick, Weber Silver Bell ... that tells me something of your guitar amp tone! :wink:

Actually I use that cab/speaker with my JTM45 clone. The silver bell is perfect with the marshall voicing. I've got a 1x12 with weber blue dog planned for the maverick, but since i've gotten that other amp i have not even turned the mav on! I just list my mesa gear in my sig, so i can see why you'd think i use them together. For the record they sound fine together, especially on overdriven stuff.

 

[RR]

lyman:

Yeah, I have a Maverick 2x12" combo with Silver Bell, Blue Dog (both alnicos), sounds great. But I also have a Celestion Heritage / Celestion Greenback (older England Celestion when they were affordable :x) that I A/B. So I get the sweet sustain of the Webers or gritty classic rock from the Celestions.

The amp technician that recommend these combo also recommends a Tone Tubby alnico and ceramic combination.

I too want a JTM45 Blues Breaker. I'm looking into Union Jack JTM45 clone. Supposedly this amp builder added a rectifier switch so you switch either 5AR4 or solidstate rectifier. He claims the solidstate rectifier give you a Super Lead plexi tone. So my two favorite Marshall tones => Blues Breaker or Plexi.


sorry fishyfishfish for hi-jacking our thread.

 

[lyman]

ha ha. ok, now i see where you're coming from RR. wasn't sure if you were skeptical about that combination. but yeah, i bet those alnicos sound great with your setup.

man, i love the jtm45. mine is a head w/kt66's in it. i agree on the plexi, i had the chance to use a 100w '71 super lead on a recording and it smoked.

yes, sorry for the hijack too!

 

[RR]

ha ha. ok, now i see where you're coming from RR. wasn't sure if you were skeptical about that combination. but yeah, i bet those alnicos sound great with your setup.

man, i love the jtm45. mine is a head w/kt66's in it. i agree on the plexi, i had the chance to use a 100w '71 super lead on a recording and it smoked.

yes, sorry for the hijack too!

Uh ... well JTM45s as well as a Super Leads which are two amps of the corner stone of Rock doesn't have reverb. :wink:


Yeah, kind of in a dilemma if I order Union Jack JTM45 with switchable rectifier, do I stay with KT66s like the original or do I get one with EL34s so this amp is cross between a Blues Breaker and Plexi?

 

[fishyfishfish]

66'S Will give you a more open tone with some grit, EL34 will be slightly more mid's .
This or the JTM (Or even the clones) are not bedroom amps, and before anybody buys anything check out the Dirty Shirley from Dave Friedman:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HXniCTC2foo

 

[fishyfishfish]

Oh, AND I have been delay free for a while now. Feels good.