Guitar rig for modern country?

[karpathion]

I still can't believe I'm doing this...

So, I'm going to audition for an established modern country band. The problem is, I've never played a country song in my entire life. These guys contacted me, looking for an old metalhead to play lead, and handle all the higher gain needs that they have. I'm going to give it a try.

I'm not going out and buying a whole new rig, I'm just gonna use mine. I'm taking my 50w Pittbull, 2x12 with g12's, and my Gibbo Explorer pro.

My question is, what effects should I use or go buy? I use no effects at the moment, but I am hearing them in this modern country that these guys play.

I'm thinking, a compressor, trem, chorus and delay. Think that will get it done?

 

[That90'sGuy]

Re: Guitar rig for modern country?

 

[karpathion]

Re: Guitar rig for modern country?

I'm very serious! But, I know exactly what you're thinking

I walk in to a room full of country players, my tattoos in full bloom. In one hand is a VHT Pittbull, the other a shiney Gibson Exlporer Pro.
The thought on most minds would be, "Is this guy lost!?" I get it. I really do! But, yes. This is going to happen.

If they want me to play something else. They can pay for it.

 

[Matt42]

Re: Guitar rig for modern country?

Comp, delay and trem will serve you well. I feel like I hear phaser or flanger sometimes too.

 

[That90'sGuy]

Re: Guitar rig for modern country?

I'm not going to say it isn't going to rock (because I've played Pittbulls before and I used to own a '76 RI Explorer... that's a really great rock/metal rig), but asking for pedal advice when you're anything, but conventional when it comes to this gig is hilarious.

With that said, what do you feel is missing with what you've got? I think compressors are really handy for the quick pickin' runs, but I don't think you "need" effects to play modern country. Delay is quite prevalent with leads, so I'd recommend that, but you don't have to go overboard or over think it. Heck, if you're that serious about fitting the bill, you'll switch to a cleaner amp and a single coil/P90 guitar. If it were me in your shoes though, I'd spring for a good analog delay for slapback and a compressor.

 

[jon the art guy]

Re: Guitar rig for modern country?

heh...I'd pay to see a country band using rigs like that.

Get a Soul Food from EHX. Those add that little bit of warm dirt (apparently), and if there's anything I think of when I think of new country, I think of warm dirt played through a tele. I also think of lifted trucks that smell like puke and homophobic bro-time.

I'd get splits on your Explorer pickups and twang the heck out of them.

also those others you suggested. soggy compressor, chorus and slapback delay.

 

[B2D]

Re: Guitar rig for modern country?

When you say "modern country" are you talking about pop-country, rock country, or something else?

I don't really play country but if you called me to do a gig for it I'd bring a fat-sounding Tele, a good clean amp, an overdrive, compressor, delay, and maybe a tremolo pedal. That and I'd bring my A game for hybrid picking.

 

[karpathion]

Re: Guitar rig for modern country?

It's more like a rock country. I'd say it's like a Skynyrd, with a banjo, mando, and fiddle added. I've only heard one song though. It was an original.

 

[Rockstar216]

Re: Guitar rig for modern country?

If your handling Lead guitar duty then that Pitbull should suffice but your primary concern is going to be lead tone and mid gain tone but your cleans can't be lack luster neither. Like previously stated invest in a compressor for starters. As for any other pedals maybe a chorus, flanger, and tremolo and a OD.

The thing about modern country is that the stuff you hear on the radio is processed and multi tracked to hell and back and their is always multiple guitars going on. I was in a similar situation but they didn't call me, I was thinking of calling them and auditioning but wasn't sure cause like you my rig isn't really a country rig and my guitar is a super strat with a Floyd.

I'm sure if your playing blows them away it won't matter what your rig is unless they really care about looks.

 

[youngthrasher9]

Re: Guitar rig for modern country?

I don't play that kind of music, but I hear a lot of it.

The effects you mentioned would probably be perfect, but I don't know that trem is necessary. Personally I'd add a good Wah to the board.

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: Guitar rig for modern country?

I'd take the rig you are comfortable using. If you are used to and can don80's pop metal, then you are ready to go in my mind. That combo of clean balads, crunchy rhythms and singing leads will fit with the more rocking style modern country. They are obviously looking for something different than a typical country lead player so bring your A-Game, It'll either be a fit or not, but should be fun either way.

Good luck!

 

[TimmyPage]

Re: Guitar rig for modern country?

Just saying, when I see an Explorer I think of Skynyrd. It might take a pickup change though, if you have something super high output in there now. Plus I found a clip for some inspiration, dude's not the best player in the world but it'll help calm you and everyone else down about your amp.



You'll probably want to add a compressor in there for some of the country-er songs, and a decent clean boost (something that will hit the amp just a little bit, while increasing the volume) because it sounds like the amp has more than enough gain on tap, you might just need a boost in volume or cut for solos.

Other than that dude, you're more than set. I'd love to hear country with your rig.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Guitar rig for modern country?

Man...modern country guitar just sounds like rock guitar to me...with some country twang and country licks added.

I'd just show up with my regular stuff and then see if I needed anything else.

Maybe check out some Keith Urban, Brad Paisley, Buddy Miller, Marty Stuart and Kenny Vaughan videos and gear run-downs.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Guitar rig for modern country?

Get a Soul Food from EHX.

I think every electric guitarist should check out one of those. For $63 it's the best buy I've ever seen for a Klon Klone, and it'll make any Strat or Tele sound better for just any style of music.

Or better still, a PCE Aluminum Falcon. That's the Klon Klone I use.

 

[GuitarStv]

Re: Guitar rig for modern country?

Take the screws out of your explorer's humbuckers and it'll brighten up the pickups for a similar to single coil sound without any real modification to the guitar. Just stick 'em back in when you're done with the country stuff.

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: Guitar rig for modern country?

practice a lot of cleanly executed major pentatonic runs and unison bends at fast tempos.
If you play good in the context and genre required then you'll get the gig.
Don't worry too much about gear unless after you get the gig you find that some changes are necessary to do justice to the repertoire.

 

[Gone_Shootin]

Re: Guitar rig for modern country?

I would take a strat with either a HH or HSS config set up so that I could split 'bucker(s) (twang where you need it is your friend).

For stomps I would use a compressor (an MXR Dyna Comp, Wampler Ego, or a Keeley 4 knob would work well), and an overdrive, then I would run a phaser or flanger (listen to some Waylon Jennings & you'll hesr that type of effect going on in some songs), and a reverb pedal if you don't have an amp with reverb.

As far as an amp goes, Fender, Vox, and Marshall Plexi are the basic tones that I hear in modern Country, although Kurt Allison (Jason Aldean's lead guitarist) runs 5150 IIIs, so more modern high gain stuff has found it's way in too. http://www.evhgear.com/news/2012/09/jason-aldean-rocks-letterman/

 

[karpathion]

Re: Guitar rig for modern country?

practice a lot of cleanly executed major pentatonic runs and unison bends at fast tempos.
If you play good in the context and genre required then you'll get the gig.
Don't worry too much about gear unless after you get the gig you find that some changes are necessary to do justice to the repertoire.

That's pretty much what I see too. Just a few simple patterns, and add some twang.

What do you think? Roll back on the gain, compress the piss out of it, and throw in a mild slapback? That should be close, right?

 

[Matt42]

Re: Guitar rig for modern country?

Dude, that shop is in my home town. Hilarious. It's a great shop. Greg should have called me to do the demos!


For the style you are describing, you can get by with just some crunch, maybe take a TS style OD for a solo boost. A little delay and trem will probably go a long way, but it's not as necessary as if you were playing "Nashville" country. Check out the Drive By Truckers, it sounds like what you are describing. I think a lot of that stuff is just a p90 or humbucker guitar into a crunchy amp.

 

[B2D]

Re: Guitar rig for modern country?

That's pretty much what I see too. Just a few simple patterns, and add some twang.

What do you think? Roll back on the gain, compress the piss out of it, and throw in a mild slapback? That should be close, right?

NO NO NO.

Do that and you'll ruin your dynamics, Christ....

Just a little bit to give you some pop and sustain and level out your picking lines.

Look into a Barber Tone Press. Those are great.