| Author | Message | ||
| jalevinemd
Senior Member Username: jalevinemd Post Number: 786 Registered: 12-2003 |
The Chicago Alembic Gathering has forced me to rethink my OD/Distortion pedals, which I have spent the last several years experimenting with and amassing. I thought I had it perfect...until the Bag End jam session. The problem seems to be that I based my selection on the fact that I was playing at or slightly above acceptable household volumes and pretty much standing on top of my amp (5-10 feet away). At the gathering, with the volumes SIGNIFICANTLY higher and my standing quite a bit farther away, I found that my Keeley modded Tube Screamer produced amazing tone! I have NEVER found this to be the case at home. The problem is that, after all these years, I've finally found a small group to jam with and I've got a guy making me a custom pedalboard a la Pete Cornish. I don't know if the pedals I've come to love while playing in my den will be the perfect ones for playing in a band. Bottom line... I never thought that pure volume (not natural tube overdrive) and distance from the amp contributed so much to tone. | ||
| lbpesq
Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 3918 Registered: 7-2004 |
Jonathan: Ahh, they certainly do. I hate playing right on top of my amp. Congrats on the step into ensemble-land You might want to try out your stuff with the group before you finalize the pedals to be mounted in your board. Perhaps give that Seymour Duncan Twin Tube Classic another spin around the block? Bill, tgo | ||
| serialnumber12
Senior Member Username: serialnumber12 Post Number: 467 Registered: 12-2004 |
Crank up a 12 pack of budwiser smoke a few good joints & Distort all your natural senses.............thats the best distortion!  | ||
| jalevinemd
Senior Member Username: jalevinemd Post Number: 787 Registered: 12-2003 |
Kevin, Guess that's real natural distortion! Bill, Funny you should say that. I pulled it out of the closet and plan to bring it with me to Cali. See you in a couple of weeks. Later... Jonathan | ||
| crobbins
Advanced Member Username: crobbins Post Number: 381 Registered: 6-2004 |
I get my distortion right out of the amp, with the BoogieStack.  | ||
| dadabass2001
Senior Member Username: dadabass2001 Post Number: 1174 Registered: 6-2002 |
Jonathan, Glad to hear you're playing out. For me, there's nothing on earth like the feeling of ensemble creative collaboration.  Have a fantastic time! Mike | ||
| jalevinemd
Senior Member Username: jalevinemd Post Number: 788 Registered: 12-2003 |
Mike, Yeah...the gathering really gave me the fever. The rest just fell into place. Like they say, it's when you finally stop looking for what you want that you get it. | ||
| lbpesq
Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 3921 Registered: 7-2004 |
I always tell beginning guitarists that one hour of playing with others is equal to ten hours of practicing by yourself. And one hour of playing on stage in front of an audience is equal to ten hours in the studio. Bill, tgo | ||
| pauldo
Intermediate Member Username: pauldo Post Number: 163 Registered: 6-2006 |
"Yeah...the gathering really gave me the fever." I feel you on that one Doctor John - I'm currently without a band and after that weekend I need to get out and JAM!!!. Bill you are correct also - when you are live in front of people you better have your A-game .... or you can just tell them that you are playing avant garde jazz! ;-) Which I did play some of in Chicago.:-D | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 8175 Registered: 5-2002 |
For the past year I've been practicing at household levels on top of my rig as well. The one time a few weeks ago when I jammed with a guitar player and drummer at volume, my tone was terrible (so was my playing; I had forgotten how to play with a band). Recently it seems like every day I'm rethinking and changing my approach to tone. | ||
| jalevinemd
Senior Member Username: jalevinemd Post Number: 789 Registered: 12-2003 |
One thing I've definitely noticed is that, when I adjust everything for playing on top of the amp and then move way out in front, the tone is way too trebly. Why is this? | ||
| sonicus
Intermediate Member Username: sonicus Post Number: 112 Registered: 5-2009 |
it is the nature of the physics of the higher frequencies be more directional. The higher frequencies have a different dispersal rate.There are many variables that can be part of the equation. | ||
| lbpesq
Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 3924 Registered: 7-2004 |
Jonathan: Is this with an open back cab by any chance? Some open back cab designs result in more bass going out the back (my new Pritchard Amp has what he calls a "tunnel back" design to accentuate this). You may be hearing this bass overemphasized when you're up next to it, but hearing a more accurate tone when you put a little distance between you and the speaker(s). I prefer to play at least 6-10 feet in front of my amp, and even more if the venue allows. Bill, tgo | ||
| jalevinemd
Senior Member Username: jalevinemd Post Number: 790 Registered: 12-2003 |
Bill, Both amps are closed back. I'd have to agree that the more accurate tone is farther away from the source. BTW, can't wait to hear that Pritchard. Later... Jonathan | ||
| lbpesq
Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 3925 Registered: 7-2004 |
Jonathan: Is you amp on the floor, or raised up from the floor? As Wolf (Sonicus) noted above, high frequency waves are more directional as they are smaller and don't disperse as widely as the much larger bass waves. This is why many stereo speaker systems come with two small satellite speakers and one woofer. You can discern direction of the higher frequency waves emitted from the satellites, but not of the lower frequencies from the woofer. If your amp is on the floor, or well below your ear level, try either raising it up on a chair or table, leaning it back so it points at you (like Fenders with the silver swing-out legs on the side), or kneeling down to get your ears more on the level as the speaker. You should hear the tone more accurately. Bill, tgo | ||
| dadabass2001
Senior Member Username: dadabass2001 Post Number: 1175 Registered: 6-2002 |
The off- axis response is noticeably different, as several above have said. The more directly in front of your speaker you can be, the more accurately you will hear full response with your guitar. The change can be radical with as little as 15 to 20 degrees from dead center. Also lower frequencies need more space to propagate (develop), so further from you cabinet will give a more full-range sound. Another option if you're using a combo or a "smallish" speaker cabinet is to set it angled on a chair (less safe in traffic) or On-Stage Stands makes an angled speaker stand. I use one regularly, if I can't bring and stack my two Acme Low B-2 cabinets. They're available from GC and SA as well as online shops. Paul, keep your eyes open for open stage / open mic nights at local music clubs. There aren't as many as there were a few years ago, but that's how I met the guys that formed Pickled BEATS, and several other good local players. Does Milwaukee have a local nightlife /entertainment magazine.? In Chicago we've got "Illinois Entertainer" and "Suburban Nightlife". Also look for bulletin boards in local music store foyers. I used to do two jams every week at the end of the century... Mike | ||
| blackelan
Intermediate Member Username: blackelan Post Number: 112 Registered: 7-2007 |
I screwed around with tons of over drive pedals and here is what I found. Tone Bender coloursound if the best pedal by itself because you dont lose most of the lower frequencies. The Turbo Rat is great but you have to run a Boss GEB-7 behind it to boost the lower frequencies you lose going through the pedal. If you can run two channels at the same time. One clean and one overdriven for the best tone. | ||
| jazzyvee
Senior Member Username: jazzyvee Post Number: 1537 Registered: 6-2002 |
At home generally my guitar amp/speaker is in front of me whereas at a gig, for the most times it's behind me so that also affects how I hear my guitar. The difference is quite significant and usually at gigs is when i hear the best sound from my guitars. Where space allows at gigs I always have the cab about 6 to 8 feet behind me so I get a better fix on the sound. Jazzyvee | ||
| jalevinemd
Senior Member Username: jalevinemd Post Number: 791 Registered: 12-2003 |
Bill, The amps are off the floor just a bit. I have the Auralex Gramma and Great Gramma. Allows for acoustic isolation from the floor but doesn't raise them enough to be at ear level. I'm just going to try and play farther from the amp at home. Unfortunately, I'm limited by the volume. Before I commit to this board, though, I'm going to make sure that I play everything in a live/loud setting. Later... Jonathan |
