The Tone Thread

[rayc]

I like surf guitar and I know that, in some instances, the reverb takes over but there's just too much in either this device or this fellow's blending of it. What do you reckon?
[BBvideo=560,315]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a4fvistHTvM[/BBvideo]

[Greg_L]

That is some pretty heavy reverb, but I think it sounds pretty awesome.

[Minerman]

Hey guys, the Gerg asked if I'd throw up some clips of my EVH LBX with lower gain tubes earlier today, so here goes...

These are pretty low-volume clips, I'm still living in the same place & don't wanna rock the boat too much, so I have to watch how often I get loud, & how loud I get when I do so...

Signal Chain:
LP > EVH LBX > EVH 4x12 > Audix i5 > daw (there is a bit of reverb on the mix clip, but the other clips don't have anything on 'em)...

Amp settings:
Resonance: 0
Bass: 5
Mid: 5
Treble: 5
Presence: 5
Volume: 3
Gain: 8 (Blue channel) & 6 (red channel)

EVH Blue Channel 12AU7 tubes 7-31-2017.mp3

EVH Red Channel 12AU7 tubes 7-31-2017.mp3

EVH 12AU7 tubes MIX 7-31-2017.mp3

BTW, since Dropbox pulled their "pay to play" shit, I thought Soundcloud would work, but the mix clip wouldn't upload, I'm assuming it's too big of a file & I guess they're following along saying "show me the money"...Lemme know what you guys are using for freebie storage/uploads, I need to find something to use...

[Greg_L]

Hell Aint a Bad Place To Be!

Sounds pretty good, but I think it's a little brittle. I'm sure more volume would fix that. And the guitar is out of tune lol. That does seem like more manageable gain levels though, so that's good.

I'm just uploading my stuff directly here now, but Soundcloud should still work for something that's only 4mb. I've put much bigger files than that on mine. Soundcloud is having business problems though, so maybe that has something to do with it.

[Minerman]

Hell Aint a Bad Place To Be!

Sounds pretty good, but I think it's a little brittle. I'm sure more volume would fix that. And the guitar is out of tune lol. That does seem like more manageable gain levels though, so that's good.

I'm just uploading my stuff directly here now, but Soundcloud should still work for something that's only 4mb. I've put much bigger files than that on mine. Soundcloud is having business problems though, so maybe that has something to do with it.

Yeah dude, I knew the guitar was outta tune, I'm about to re-string all of 'em in the next day or so, even the shitty bass is getting a set...I'm sure the tone would smooth out with more volume...

The low-gain tube could be causing the brittle thing, I actually went through a bunch a few days ago, & ended up with a single 12AU7 in the V1 slot...I had a different combination in there before, but can't remember if it was any better or worse...I honestly haven't even been playing much guitar since I got the e-kit...But the lower gain tube(s) definitely make this little amp way more versatile...

I'd prefer to upload here to the forum, so they'd be here permanently, but at the same time I don't wanna swamp the forum with uploads that'll take up needed space...I'll just have to find another place to put my clips, Dropbox was great while it lasted...

BTW, whaddya think about the drums on the mix clip dude???

[Greg_L]

BTW, whaddya think about the drums on the mix clip dude???

I thought they were pretty good. There are some timing issues but I didn't work out if that was in the guitar tracks or the drum track. But overall pretty solid!

[Minerman]

BTW, whaddya think about the drums on the mix clip dude???

I thought they were pretty good. There are some timing issues but I didn't work out if that was in the guitar tracks or the drum track. But overall pretty solid!

Yeah timing issues all over, guitar/drums for sure...That was me bangin' on the e-kit dude, these Rock Band tracks I have are a great resource for learning...

No cheating/editing the midi...

[JD01]

Haven't come up with a new tone in ages, but was messing about with this this evening... I've had a few beers.

Not sure if it might be a bit too "metal" what you think?

New Tone Test.mp3

[Greg_L]

Haven't come up with a new tone in ages, but was messing about with this this evening... I've had a few beers.

Not sure if it might be a bit too "metal" what you think?

New Tone Test.mp3

I think the rhythm tones sound pretty good. Lacking a little chunk on the mutes but not bad at all. The lead tone is ghastly. Nasal, thin, fizzy.

I don't think the tones sound "too metal". The riff is a little metal.

[JD01]

Haven't come up with a new tone in ages, but was messing about with this this evening... I've had a few beers.

Not sure if it might be a bit too "metal" what you think?

New Tone Test.mp3

I think the rhythm tones sound pretty good. Lacking a little chunk on the mutes but not bad at all. The lead tone is ghastly. Nasal, thin, fizzy.

I don't think the tones sound "too metal". The riff is a little metal.

Cheers, not sure what I did with that lead tone. I must have fucked something up cos it sounded alright in the room.

I'm not sure about the riff either, will probably expand on this on the morning and decide whether it's gonna become a song or get binned. It sounds quite cool.. but it's also got a bit of a neo classical whiff to it.

[Greg_L]

Cheers, not sure what I did with that lead tone. I must have fucked something up cos it sounded alright in the room.

I'm not sure about the riff either, will probably expand on this on the morning and decide whether it's gonna become a song or get binned. It sounds quite cool.. but it's also got a bit of a neo classical whiff to it.

Coming up with a melody that's listenable will probably be tough, maybe. I hear just that little bit and I'm like, it has no obvious hook so far.

[Minerman]

The rhythm tones on this are good dude, some of the best I've heard from you...Not sure what's different about the lead tone, but if you could get that same rhythm tone, then bump the gain up/boost/whatever, it'd probably work...

[rayc]

Good rhythms James - but that lead does sound awful. The backing reminds me of...
[BBvideo=560,315]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3qeKhBGXMEY[/BBvideo]

[JD01]

I lusted after one of these when I was younger:

Looks pretty versatile.

Wrong thread.

[rayc]

Another attempt at using my Squire Mustang in a mix. Sadly my newly re-tubed 5w amp won't make any sound today so I had to use my Marshall - not sure if the tone's any good - pushed the front end with an SD-1 (no drive) and had to scoop the darkness out again. It seems not to be an easy guitar to get "my" sound but I'll work it out eventually. I also played, in the chorus, F shaped chords to get some brightness happening. The sustained/feedback guitar, (Single coil hollow body) is on the opposite side to the Mustang (dual Humbuckers). Oh, It was L.O.U.D in that little room.
Thoughts please folks.

july2016mustangaug17.mp3

[JD01]

Sounds a bit harsh and fizzy to me, mate. But then you seem to like things more crunchy and garagey. Seems to work in this context 'cos the mix is generally pretty good I think - I've certainly heard you come up with better tones though.

There seems to be some slight tuning issues on this, but 'cos they kind of drift in an out its more likely to be an intonation thing, have you checked to get that guitar set up nicely?

[rayc]

James, Tuning is more misplaced fingers - I was more interested in the tone so it wasn't a perfect run. No not set up yet. I have to travel 40ks to get a set up. so haven't yet.
The harsh fizzy may be my treatment - it was pretty dark 0 I had to do a BIG scoop and little shelf.
yeah, better tones from the little amp - this was a 100w Bass amp. Sadly the little amp isn't playing friendly games at present. Thanks for the feedback.

[Greg_L]

Another attempt at using my Squire Mustang in a mix. Sadly my newly re-tubed 5w amp won't make any sound today so I had to use my Marshall - not sure if the tone's any good - pushed the front end with an SD-1 (no drive) and had to scoop the darkness out again. (I wish they'd bought me the P90 cheapo I asked for) It seems not to be a brilliant guitar but I'll work something out. I also played, in the chorus, F shaped chords to get some brightness happening. the sustained/feedback guitar, (Single coil hollow body) is on the opposite side to the Mustang (dual Humbuckers). Oh, It was L.O.U.D in that little room.
Thoughts please folks.
july2016mustangaug17.mp3

I don't think it's too bad. It's a little harsh, could be the SD-1. Could be that cab/speakers since your tracks always kind of have the same fingerprint on them.

Tell me about the SuperBass. What input are you using? Where do you have the volume control? What's the amp's EQ set to?

And what's up with the 5w? It won't do anything?

[rayc]

I don't think it's too bad. It's a little harsh, could be the SD-1. Could be that cab/speakers since your tracks always kind of have the same fingerprint on them.
Tell me about the SuperBass. What input are you using? Where do you have the volume control? What's the amp's EQ set to?
And what's up with the 5w? It won't do anything?

Greg,
The SD-1 was cranked for level and at about 1/2 way to the 1st notch for drive.
The Marshall top L input Pres 5, Bass 5, Mid 7, Treb 5 & Vol 7.
The Kustom Defender H5 5w - powered up & turned on but no sound at all. Swapped cables etc and tested the cab - all those things were fine. Rebooted the transformer (external step down jobbie) as well as switching and gently tapping the amp. I could see the power tube glowing but the pre is in a sleeve and I couldn't tell. It may be that the pre tube, the one I replaced, has unseated (though it has a spring pushing down in the sleeve) or is dead. I'll check tomorrow.
I scooped the same amount of darkness ITB as in the previous mix - seems to be the guitar or cabinet rather than the amps. I remembered last time's effort and didn't add a high shelf. The cab/speakers are the common element across my last several tracks and "darkness" has been an issue in each.

[rayc]

It seems the ECC81 tube was the problem - with the retaining sleeve off I could see that it glowed a bit, not as brightly as the unsleeved power tube but no sound passed through. I popped out the tube and put in a 5751 that is 70% of the optimum power as compared with the ECC81 which is/was 60%. Quick test & it passes a signal.
I'll communicate with the company about duds and refunds - the tube/valve only did about 3 hr work in total.
I will give the amp a proper run through once I've done the things I need to do today.