Ideal cover band axe?

[Discharged]

Re: Ideal cover band axe?

I've played in cover bands playing top-40 hits plus other regional music styles belonging to different countries like Denmark, Germany the rest of Scandinavia for over twenty-five years. Repertoire was over 1,000 songs and was always expanding.

With that experience, the best compromise nowadays would be a strat-like instrument with three stacked or HB SCs with a Schaller superswitch allowing the following combinations:

1. Neck
2. Neck+middle
3. Neck+bridge
4. middle+bridge
5. bridge

The rest would be added by a modeler amp like a Mustang or a Katana, with a Footcontroller.

You can get everything you need to copy the recorded sounds of most songs. For some time I played with a duo using MIDI backingtracks, so I even got the sequencer to change the amp's presets for me for every song.

/Peter

 

[sumitagarwal]

Re: Ideal cover band axe?

I've played in cover bands playing top-40 hits plus other regional music styles belonging to different countries like Denmark, Germany the rest of Scandinavia for over twenty-five years. Repertoire was over 1,000 songs and was always expanding.

With that experience, the best compromise nowadays would be a strat-like instrument with three stacked or HB SCs with a Schaller superswitch allowing the following combinations:

1. Neck
2. Neck+middle
3. Neck+bridge
4. middle+bridge
5. bridge

The rest would be added by a modeler amp like a Mustang or a Katana, with a Footcontroller.

You can get everything you need to copy the recorded sounds of most songs. For some time I played with a duo using MIDI backingtracks, so even I got the sequencer to change the presets for every song.

/Peter

This seems like a very good approach, especially if its a HStkStk. The only common sound you really leave out is middle-only, and even that would rank near the bottom of that overall list.

 

[Discharged]

Re: Ideal cover band axe?

The only common sound you really leave out is middle-only

TBH, I'm was not a great user of that position; the one I used the most was neck-only, followed by bridge only, middle+bridge and in some country and German regional styles, neck+bridge.

/Peter

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Ideal cover band axe?

I've played in cover bands playing top-40 hits plus other regional music styles belonging to different countries like Denmark, Germany the rest of Scandinavia for over twenty-five years. Repertoire was over 1,000 songs and was always expanding.

With that experience, the best compromise nowadays would be a strat-like instrument with three stacked or HB SCs with a Schaller superswitch allowing the following combinations:

1. Neck
2. Neck+middle
3. Neck+bridge
4. middle+bridge
5. bridge

The rest would be added by a modeler amp like a Mustang or a Katana, with a Footcontroller.

You can get everything you need to copy the recorded sounds of most songs. For some time I played with a duo using MIDI backingtracks, so I even got the sequencer to change the amp's presets for me for every song.

/Peter

100% agreement.

A good Strat and a good modeling amp.

If the modeler allows for 100 presets, create your favorites and put them right at the beginning for easy access.

I program mine with rhythm tone and soloing tone alternated so I’m just one preset away from a rhythm tone or soloing tone.

For example: rhythm at 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9.

Soloing at: 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10.

You could have the first 10 presets optimized for single coils and the next 10 optimized for humbuckers.

 

[zionstrat]

Re: Ideal cover band axe?

Beware complicated switching schemes on a guitar you play live. You need to be able to change FAST...

Bill

Bill this is a good reminder... Nothing worse than killing a solo when you move to wrong gear...

This concern caused me to keep very simple wiring for many years, but I also carried too many guitars until I learned this trick...

Much like a strat 5 way, I learned to order sounds from bright to dark in one direction and I set pull pots and switches down for increased power...ie push pot down to undo a split...

As a result, I am almost always in the ballpark even when I miss a gear.

Kind if the opposite of old PRS knob where power sounds were at opposite ends of the turn.

Of course, this takes a lot of planning and experimentation and there are many judgement calls (is this really the thicker if 2 sounds, or can I make an exception, or do I even need this sound at all?).

In this same direction, when I was starting off, I only allowed out of phase with series on. But the more I refined this concept, the more comfortable I became with ' dangerous' settings and exception s to the rule.

To sum it up, cover everything guitars tend to be complex and it really is important to make user interface logical and forgiving.


Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G920A using Tapatalk

 

[zionstrat]

Re: Ideal cover band axe?

100% agreement.

A good Strat and a good modeling amp.

.

Ah, the other side of the equation that makes the model vs tube threads so interesting ( I love both, but will save that for a different thread).

On the modelling side, I've done it both ways... Custom patch for specific songs or good generic setting, ie chorus always assigned to first pedal, overdrive on 2nd, etc.

A few years back, we recorded an entire night and were surprised that generic settings worked as well ,if not better , than custom and we agreed there were a number of reasons.

1. Masking in the mix changes everything... I may have perfectly replicated amp, speakers and chorus, but keyboards other guitars, bass, especially ride cymbals overlap and strongly alter my sound.

2. Specialty sounds that are close to correct can be really irritating, while a generic that's in the ballpark is often better fit the sound of our band.

So just like guitar wiring, and much like other posts, I recommend generic patches where everything is configured the same, with different patches customized for style and hardware.

And yes, I love both... When my tubes get to play out, the more complex guitars go out... When modeling fits, less complicated guitars get to play.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G920A using Tapatalk

 

[Obsessive Compulsive]

Re: Ideal cover band axe?

I've played in cover bands playing top-40 hits plus other regional music styles belonging to different countries like Denmark, Germany the rest of Scandinavia for over twenty-five years. Repertoire was over 1,000 songs and was always expanding.

With that experience...

/Peter

Bragging about 25 years playing covers? You are truly an inspiration for aspiring young players...lol (again, sarcasm in case you don't get it).

 

[sumitagarwal]

Re: Ideal cover band axe?

Bill this is a good reminder... Nothing worse than killing a solo when you move to wrong gear...

This concern caused me to keep very simple wiring for many years, but I also carried too many guitars until I learned this trick...

Much like a strat 5 way, I learned to order sounds from bright to dark in one direction and I set pull pots and switches down for increased power...ie push pot down to undo a split...

As a result, I am almost always in the ballpark even when I miss a gear.

Kind if the opposite of old PRS knob where power sounds were at opposite ends of the turn.

Of course, this takes a lot of planning and experimentation and there are many judgement calls (is this really the thicker if 2 sounds, or can I make an exception, or do I even need this sound at all?).

In this same direction, when I was starting off, I only allowed out of phase with series on. But the more I refined this concept, the more comfortable I became with ' dangerous' settings and exception s to the rule.

To sum it up, cover everything guitars tend to be complex and it really is important to make user interface logical and forgiving.


Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G920A using Tapatalk

I feel like the technique you're describing almost exactly describes my suggested 2x 3-way idea. In this you basically use one switch to choose your "pretty" sound, and you use the other switch to flip between pretty and power. Dead simple and hard to miss on a pretty<--->power transition.

 

[Obsessive Compulsive]

Re: Ideal cover band axe?

middle+bridge and in some country and German regional styles, neck+bridge.

/Peter

This is definitely BS or something you just make up in your mind and you end up believing it.

How does a neck+bridge position contributes a 'specific' tone to certain songs? You don't fool me. If you believe there is a noticable difference, you are delusional. Enough with that self aggrandizing stance already.

 

[sumitagarwal]

Re: Ideal cover band axe?

I knew the EU was having trouble these days, but...

 

[zionstrat]

Re: Ideal cover band axe?

I feel like the technique you're describing almost exactly describes my suggested 2x 3-way idea.

View attachment 87340

Absolutely, looks like a good application of the strategy.

However, I tend to mix mods with pup switching, not just pups, so I'm often putting unusual combination s within normal switching to get multiple changes with a single move.

Good example is my L5 where a single position selects underwound with bass roll off for rhythm (roll off is controlled by first tone pot).

Same idea with series and spin a split...

Back to easy to see but complex, one of my favorite local guitarists has a standard 5 way with 3, 3 position switches. One for each humbucker.

Each switch is normal in the middle, parallel to self when up and series when down (no idea how series works in this case but he says there are no dead spots).

So he sees this combo much like u see yours... 5 way handles brightness and thicker sounds incease as more 3 ways are flipped downward.

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[Discharged]

Re: Ideal cover band axe?

This is definitely BS or something you just make up in your mind and you end up believing it.

How does a neck+bridge position contributes a 'specific' tone to certain songs? You don't fool me. If you believe there is a noticable difference, you are delusional. Enough with that self aggrandizing stance already.

"There are known knowns. These are things we know that we know.
There are known unknowns. That is to say, there are things that we know we don't know.
But there are also unknown unknowns. There are things we don't know we don't know."

- Donald Rumsfeld

So, you're following me like the dog follows his master. I like it when you've established the hierarchy all by yourself.

/Peter

 

[Obsessive Compulsive]

Re: Ideal cover band axe?

"There are known knowns. These are things we know that we know.
There are known unknowns. That is to say, there are things that we know we don't know.
But there are also unknown unknowns. There are things we don't know we don't know."

- Donald Rumsfeld

So, you're following me like the dog follows his master. I like it when you've established the hierarchy all by yourself.

/Peter

So, you have no idea how a neck+bridge position affect how a song sounds to the listener? So you just made it up, correct?

I am following you like a DEA's dog at JFK until you admit that stash of cocaine you swallow.

 

[Aceman]

Re: Ideal cover band axe?

And this is just personal opinion....but as GUITARISTS, we can really get hung up on tone. As AUDIENCE - I place much more value on the band being tight, and playing it like they mean it. Tonal subtleties be damned. You aren't Stevie Ray Vauighn, you will not sound exactly like him. Don't try. But the house can easily be rockin' if the band is knockin' on all 8 cylinders!!!!!

Now - back to tone....which never hurts.

 

[chadd]

Re: Ideal cover band axe?

I could do just about anything with my blue strat. Neck is APS-1, because I love strat neck tones. Middle is an off brand A3 single that gives me enough bit to be a convincing strat bridge. Currently has a Burstbucker 2 in the bridge, but I'm really liking the sound of the Fender Shawbuckers.

 

[Obsessive Compulsive]

Re: Ideal cover band axe?

So, you have no life. I figured that much. Boo hoo!

Have another Prozac, on me. Oh wait! You can't... poor you.

I'm actually flattered that you chose to use me as a way, although clumsy, to somehow fill the void you feel inside. Or are the voices in your head that told you to?

Man, the entertainment value of your posts is off-the-charts. Keep at it! It amuses me to no end.

/Peter

Until you explain to us - scientifically - how that neck+bridge position contribute to the tone of traditional German music, you are just a Frank-Falbo wannabe with no credibility.

 

[Chistopher]

Re: Ideal cover band axe?

Until you explain to us - scientifically - how that neck+bridge position contribute to the tone of traditional German music, you are just a Frank-Falbo wannabe with no credibility.

Silly goose, tone isn't science, it's a feeling. You can't describe feelings scientifically.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Ideal cover band axe?

Until you explain to us - scientifically - how that neck+bridge position contribute to the tone of traditional German music, you are just a Frank-Falbo wannabe with no credibility.

He might be a “Frank Falbo” wannabe with multiple accounts under different names...but whatcha got against the neck & bridge pickups combined tone? I use that sound a lot. It’s my favorite rhythm tone on a Tele.

 

[zionstrat]

Why aren't we talking about- Ideal cover band axe?

Why aren't we talking about- Ideal cover band axe?

I have no knowledge of who is who, nor do I have any idea how this group is moderated, however, I was really enjoying the Cover Axe conversation and wonder if we can get back on topic?

 

[Mincer]

Re: Ideal cover band axe?

Let's keep this thread clear of personal attacks, mmmkay?