Gain Fatigue - anyone have/notice this?
- Thread starter Aceman
- Start date
El Supremo
New member
Re: Gain Fatigue - anyone have/notice this?
Well I wouldn't worry about it anyway. Maybe your just starting to have some kind of appreciation for more extreme tones perhaps?
I'd just go with it. It's not like your going to lose the ability to dial in a nice rock tone or something.
Well I wouldn't worry about it anyway. Maybe your just starting to have some kind of appreciation for more extreme tones perhaps?
I'd just go with it. It's not like your going to lose the ability to dial in a nice rock tone or something.
Big Flannel
New member
Re: Gain Fatigue - anyone have/notice this?
I had the same experience with my Metal Muff. Loved it at first and then wanted more. I eventually broke down and bought an EMMA Pisdiyauwot. That thing has more gain than you can ever use.
I had the same experience with my Metal Muff. Loved it at first and then wanted more. I eventually broke down and bought an EMMA Pisdiyauwot. That thing has more gain than you can ever use.
STRATDELUXER97
Stratoblaster Tone Meister
Re: Gain Fatigue - anyone have/notice this?
It's all good Bobby....Main thing is that you're playing! These days I'm doing alot more of that my darnself!
It's all good Bobby....Main thing is that you're playing! These days I'm doing alot more of that my darnself!
CTN
The Drama Dude
Re: Gain Fatigue - anyone have/notice this?
or try recording high gain tones in a full band multi-tracked mix and getting it to sound clear, crisp and badass at the same time.
you will find yourself turning the gain down a LOT.
then you go and play guitar for fun, and suddenly find that turning up the gain is like a filthy, nasty, squealing...well... use your imagination. the metaphor is sexual. Before the gain turning up, it's like an innocent schoolgirl.
or try recording high gain tones in a full band multi-tracked mix and getting it to sound clear, crisp and badass at the same time.
you will find yourself turning the gain down a LOT.
then you go and play guitar for fun, and suddenly find that turning up the gain is like a filthy, nasty, squealing...well... use your imagination. the metaphor is sexual. Before the gain turning up, it's like an innocent schoolgirl.
GoldenVulture
Braindeadologist
hermetico
New member
Re: Gain Fatigue - anyone have/notice this?
I think that this is all depending on our own growing as guitarists.
As we swap our gear, needs change and, as we turn our attention to certain "new horizons" what was good, isn't anymore.
I believe, most of guitarists had spent 80% of money (addressed to pedals) in gain pedal of any sort (OD, distortion, compressor, fuzz...) and, we probably have a big unnatended stock of those in our shelves.
While I loved hi gain distortion, I'm more on to have a couple of good ODs to push my tubes, lately.
But... this can change at any time and without notice!.
:laughing:
I think that this is all depending on our own growing as guitarists.
As we swap our gear, needs change and, as we turn our attention to certain "new horizons" what was good, isn't anymore.
I believe, most of guitarists had spent 80% of money (addressed to pedals) in gain pedal of any sort (OD, distortion, compressor, fuzz...) and, we probably have a big unnatended stock of those in our shelves.
While I loved hi gain distortion, I'm more on to have a couple of good ODs to push my tubes, lately.
But... this can change at any time and without notice!.
:laughing:
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Aceman
I am your doctor of love!
Re: Gain Fatigue - anyone have/notice this?
I am really running a range of playing at the moment though…which makes it seem odd to me that I would hear this and go "man - that is more distortion than anyone could need!"
Playing a touch of classical
Playing a bunch of acoustic - unplugged completely AND effected (comp/model/exciter)
Digging deep on Pentatonics in Jazz/Blues context (Roland, Fender Twin, Bassman)
Playing 80's metal - Marshall OD2, 5150
And some heavy heavy riffing on the Muff. I can't even begin to describe how tame my beloved 5150 tone seems!!!!!!
I am really running a range of playing at the moment though…which makes it seem odd to me that I would hear this and go "man - that is more distortion than anyone could need!"
Playing a touch of classical
Playing a bunch of acoustic - unplugged completely AND effected (comp/model/exciter)
Digging deep on Pentatonics in Jazz/Blues context (Roland, Fender Twin, Bassman)
Playing 80's metal - Marshall OD2, 5150
And some heavy heavy riffing on the Muff. I can't even begin to describe how tame my beloved 5150 tone seems!!!!!!
El Dunco
Sock Supplier to RHCP
Re: Gain Fatigue - anyone have/notice this?
I for one get the notion. Gain can be like candy something. By default for general rock type stuff I'll find the point on the dial where a palm muted chord will sound good and no more than that.
Doing that and focusing more on the EQ and voicing never fails, especially live. (My dual rec is slightly modified I must admit) I dig our soundboards lately, the tones are just awesome. Sometimes though I'll want to really open it up.
On the second record we're doing we have a song called Seeds. It's mostly just huge, long chords in the Sabbathian vein so I pushed the front end with a fuzz, you can't mute or play anything outside fifths and octaves with that sound but for when you want infinite sustain it's awesome, it smears the powerchords together and almost sounds like a whole different instrument.
I for one get the notion. Gain can be like candy something. By default for general rock type stuff I'll find the point on the dial where a palm muted chord will sound good and no more than that.
Doing that and focusing more on the EQ and voicing never fails, especially live. (My dual rec is slightly modified I must admit) I dig our soundboards lately, the tones are just awesome. Sometimes though I'll want to really open it up.
On the second record we're doing we have a song called Seeds. It's mostly just huge, long chords in the Sabbathian vein so I pushed the front end with a fuzz, you can't mute or play anything outside fifths and octaves with that sound but for when you want infinite sustain it's awesome, it smears the powerchords together and almost sounds like a whole different instrument.
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JeffB
Let it B
Re: Gain Fatigue - anyone have/notice this?
I have been dialing back the gain for 15 years. I use 1/2 of what I used to for my main crunchy tone. What I want more of most often is VOLUME, because that is where the best tone resides for my taste in amps.
Unfortunately it is not very practical.
I have been dialing back the gain for 15 years. I use 1/2 of what I used to for my main crunchy tone. What I want more of most often is VOLUME, because that is where the best tone resides for my taste in amps.
Unfortunately it is not very practical.
El Dunco
Sock Supplier to RHCP
Re: Gain Fatigue - anyone have/notice this?
You can always have your volume back a little, set the gain to sound good there and when you want some extra like when the band kicks into this super groovy riff or you need some more singing sustain, roll it up!
Something I do with my guitars with good tone but really high output.
You can always have your volume back a little, set the gain to sound good there and when you want some extra like when the band kicks into this super groovy riff or you need some more singing sustain, roll it up!
Something I do with my guitars with good tone but really high output.
Aceman
I am your doctor of love!
Re: Gain Fatigue - anyone have/notice this?
No doubt nothing can mess up a band situation like uber-dirt. Especially in a 2 guitar situation.
I think we all agree for the most part that the amount of gain that is awesome is actually less than we think.
But - do you notice that you get gain fatigue? Do you find, that at whatever level of gain you use, you keep creeping it up slowly but surely???
Or do you perhaps one day beat it, and move towards clean? And very far towards clean….
No doubt nothing can mess up a band situation like uber-dirt. Especially in a 2 guitar situation.
I think we all agree for the most part that the amount of gain that is awesome is actually less than we think.
But - do you notice that you get gain fatigue? Do you find, that at whatever level of gain you use, you keep creeping it up slowly but surely???
Or do you perhaps one day beat it, and move towards clean? And very far towards clean….
JeffB
Let it B
Re: Gain Fatigue - anyone have/notice this?
Been doing that for 30 years basically,but what I meant is that I played 50/100 w Marshall full and halfstacks for a lot of years, and now am relegated to using 5-20w amps witha 1x12 or 2x12. There are things that the little amps just cannot do, due to lack of sheer (eardrum destroying) volume. Sustain,dynamics, controlled feedback, etc..
Been doing that for 30 years basically,but what I meant is that I played 50/100 w Marshall full and halfstacks for a lot of years, and now am relegated to using 5-20w amps witha 1x12 or 2x12. There are things that the little amps just cannot do, due to lack of sheer (eardrum destroying) volume. Sustain,dynamics, controlled feedback, etc..
JeffB
Let it B
Re: Gain Fatigue - anyone have/notice this?
Bob- nope, I am always dialing it back down, as I prefer a more open tone, and less compression. . I am at that point. But again I think that is due to the fact that my sound has historically been about volume. Big loud amps, with lower gain. I played a MV JMP combo with 4x12 for alot of years, and then a 1987ri was my rig for a long tme after. I had laney and jackson (laney) big watt amps too.
Small amps like I use today, just do not cut it: the volume is not there to add in the needed balls to the tone. The small amps have tons more gain than my JMP/1987 did, even the Class5, but the powerful old school Marshall sound is just not there without the volume. Big volume is a neccessary component, not so much gain.
Edit- in essence, toanswer your OP question- I have always been the kinda person who feels there is too much gain going on in my tone, and I dial it back. Since I was a kid, I have been dialing back the distortion (except during my maiden/metallica phasez). For leads, I still do not kick on much extra with a pedal. Of course these days, true, it is a play at home thing, thus why the volume I prefer is just not practical.
Bob- nope, I am always dialing it back down, as I prefer a more open tone, and less compression. . I am at that point. But again I think that is due to the fact that my sound has historically been about volume. Big loud amps, with lower gain. I played a MV JMP combo with 4x12 for alot of years, and then a 1987ri was my rig for a long tme after. I had laney and jackson (laney) big watt amps too.
Small amps like I use today, just do not cut it: the volume is not there to add in the needed balls to the tone. The small amps have tons more gain than my JMP/1987 did, even the Class5, but the powerful old school Marshall sound is just not there without the volume. Big volume is a neccessary component, not so much gain.
Edit- in essence, toanswer your OP question- I have always been the kinda person who feels there is too much gain going on in my tone, and I dial it back. Since I was a kid, I have been dialing back the distortion (except during my maiden/metallica phasez). For leads, I still do not kick on much extra with a pedal. Of course these days, true, it is a play at home thing, thus why the volume I prefer is just not practical.
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El Dunco
Sock Supplier to RHCP
Re: Gain Fatigue - anyone have/notice this?
I agree, can't go wrong. I was being more general with the volume dial advice.
EDX
New member
Re: Gain Fatigue - anyone have/notice this?
i had feel the same exact thing, i my case is ridiculous and weird, damn!! a beaten volume cranked marshall MS-2 on OD and tone knob on 10 with a boss od-3 with level on 10 tone 0 and drive 1.5 sounded 100000 times more angry, heavy and evil than the lead channel my g1 envoy with gain full ad volume on 2 (modern mode)!!!!!!!! after get the gain knob back to 7.5 and raging volume to 4 the little envoy screamed to the whole neighborhood who was the more evil thrash amp.............
the gain fatigue sometimes is just the result of a gnome that raised your gain knob and lowered your volume know while you sleep
i had feel the same exact thing, i my case is ridiculous and weird, damn!! a beaten volume cranked marshall MS-2 on OD and tone knob on 10 with a boss od-3 with level on 10 tone 0 and drive 1.5 sounded 100000 times more angry, heavy and evil than the lead channel my g1 envoy with gain full ad volume on 2 (modern mode)!!!!!!!! after get the gain knob back to 7.5 and raging volume to 4 the little envoy screamed to the whole neighborhood who was the more evil thrash amp.............
the gain fatigue sometimes is just the result of a gnome that raised your gain knob and lowered your volume know while you sleep
hermetico
New member
Re: Gain Fatigue - anyone have/notice this?
When I go rearshall with some mates, I find that we start flamethrowing, with fast, hard and bold sounding songs then, we go cleaner, slower, more sensitive and, we finish the session unplugged, accoustic bass and guitars.
So, I bet, we feel such a fatigue, lately.
:laughing:
When I go rearshall with some mates, I find that we start flamethrowing, with fast, hard and bold sounding songs then, we go cleaner, slower, more sensitive and, we finish the session unplugged, accoustic bass and guitars.
So, I bet, we feel such a fatigue, lately.
:laughing:
