The Tone Thread

[CrowsofFritz]

Managed to record some lunchtime guitars today. Just a random riff that sounds like some sort of classic rock.

ES135 on the left Les Paul Jr on the right. I had a good mess about with my tone after fucking it all up recently 'cos I hadn't been recording much and I think I'm back near where I need to be. There's no EQ on the guitars at all, but in a proper mix I'd probably high-pass them a little and also a slightly low pass to take that cracklyness off the Les Paul (P90s - sound great, but I find they get crackly)

Classic Riffing.mp3

Sounds great — what’s the amp/sim?

[JD01]

Managed to record some lunchtime guitars today. Just a random riff that sounds like some sort of classic rock.

ES135 on the left Les Paul Jr on the right. I had a good mess about with my tone after fucking it all up recently 'cos I hadn't been recording much and I think I'm back near where I need to be. There's no EQ on the guitars at all, but in a proper mix I'd probably high-pass them a little and also a slightly low pass to take that cracklyness off the Les Paul (P90s - sound great, but I find they get crackly)

Classic Riffing.mp3

Sounds great — what’s the amp/sim?

Its just my Hughes & Kettner, through a Harley Benton cab and an Audix i5 mic.

[musicturtle]

If you are looking for me I have gone down the electric guitar tone rabbit hole.

I have never really dug into this stuff before, but in recording a new song of mine I am searching for the right sounds.

So I hooked up the Boss Katana 50 to my computer and dove into their Tone Studio app which gives you access to basically every Boss Digital effect you can think of. Now I understand why pedal boards are a thing

I have a pretty good amp sim with BIAS FX, but I am kinda liking having to commit to a sound and lay it down.

No mic'ing of cabinets/amps, too many fans run in the summertime in my house so it's Boss's cab sims and line out of the amp to the interface.

Wish me luck

[Armistice]

So long, farewell, auf Wiedersehen, goodbye...

[Armistice]

As a counterbalance measure to @musicturtle's descent into electric guitar tone hell, I have picked up an acoustic guitar again and am strumming away, trying to redevelop some calluses on the fingertips... still trying to work out what the next Honey Hunters move is, though... and have recorded nothing at all since the album, now 6 months back.

[musicturtle]

As a counterbalance measure to @musicturtle's descent into electric guitar tone hell, I have picked up an acoustic guitar again and am strumming away, trying to redevelop some calluses on the fingertips... still trying to work out what the next Honey Hunters move is, though... and have recorded nothing at all since the album, now 6 months back.

Haha, nice!(on the strumming, you have had some major home stuff going on)

I am trying to record an original song that does NOT have acoustic guitar in it.

I do believe that would be a first.

[Greg_L]

I like to think I have a pretty good and refined ear for electric guitar tones.

But for acoustic I can't tell a good one from bad one they're all the same.

[JD01]

I noticed something shite the other day... when I was boosting my overdriven tone it sounded like shit. I used to like it, but it sounded rubbish.

Anyway, I've not been playing with my gain lately, just using my crunch channel. My tone has gradually become a tiny bit more scooped, then when I added a boost on top of the scooped tone it sounded like shit. I think the lesson is that a boost needs some mids to work with. (In my amp anyway)

[Greg_L]

I noticed something shite the other day... when I was boosting my overdriven tone it sounded like shit. I used to like it, but it sounded rubbish.

Anyway, I've not been playing with my gain lately, just using my crunch channel. My tone has gradually become a tiny bit more scooped, then when I added a boost on top of the scooped tone it sounded like shit. I think the lesson is that a boost needs some mids to work with. (In my amp anyway)

That's funny you say that. I had a look at most of my Marshalls. This is totally unrelated and exactly where I left them in their previously used state for whatever purpose that was. Have a look at the tone controls...

[JD01]

That's pretty much where my H&K is now, but with more treble and less bass... but then they're different amps.

[Greg_L]

That's pretty much where my H&K is now, but with more treble and less bass... but then they're different amps.

I never look at the numbers really. On stages they're hard to see anyway. I just turn knobs till I like it and they all happen to end up around the same lol.

[WhiskeyJack]

I've never understood the scooped mid guitar sound. I think a lot of it was born from metal dudes hearing it when they are jamming along to some Pantera in their bedoom and think it sounds heavy as fawk but when they get into a jam situation next to a bass player i just sounds like fucking bathtub fart bubble trash.

Just gross.

[Greg_L]

I've never understood the scooped mid guitar sound. I think a lot of it was born from metal dudes hearing it when they are jamming along to some Pantera in their bedoom and think it sounds heavy as fawk but when they get into a jam situation next to a bass player i just sounds like fucking bathtub fart bubble trash.

Just gross.

Agreed.

[Lt. Bob]

I've never understood the scooped mid guitar sound. I think a lot of it was born from metal dudes hearing it when they are jamming along to some Pantera in their bedoom and think it sounds heavy as fawk but when they get into a jam situation next to a bass player i just sounds like fucking bathtub fart bubble trash.

Just gross.

and people also use that scoop on vocals ..... terrible

[JD01]

Slightly scooped clean sounds can be nice - takes away that harshness that you get. I thinking like a nice Fender clean.

[Greg_L]

Fender (blackface/silverface) cleans are what they are because Fender amps scoop by default.

[JD01]

Just some cleanish tones from my newly put together partscaster in a mix.
I think it does what its supposed to do pretty well.

TCM Inst Mix 2.mp3

[Greg_L]

Just some cleanish tones from my newly put together partscaster in a mix.
I think it does what its supposed to do pretty well.

TCM Inst Mix 2.mp3

Not bad. Really thin though. I like bright and clear but that needs some girth IMO.

[JD01]

Just some cleanish tones from my newly put together partscaster in a mix.
I think it does what its supposed to do pretty well.

TCM Inst Mix 2.mp3

Not bad. Really thin though. I like bright and clear but that needs some girth IMO.

Probably a bit too high passed in the mix.

[TK421]

Just some cleanish tones from my newly put together partscaster in a mix.
I think it does what its supposed to do pretty well.

TCM Inst Mix 2.mp3

Not bad. Really thin though. I like bright and clear but that needs some girth IMO.

This sounds decidely sexual. It is best practice to keep these types of conversations reserved for PM's or an external private messaging app.

Whatsapp has free video calling if needing more girth is what you are after.

Best.