Looking for that fat "honk" overdriven sound

[bornagainplayer]

I have an Epiphone Les Paul Custom that I recently bought used that probably has the stock pick-ups with gold covers. I also have a Squire Telecaster with an SSL-2 in the bridge position and SSL-1's in the middle and neck positions. I play through a Fender Super Champ tube amp and have a Digitech Bad Monkey, an MXR compressor, and a Digitech P255 multi-effects processor. I sold my other effects pedals last year.

I like to play classic rock such as Bad Company, Argent, Deep Purple, Led Zeplin, AC/DC, Lynard Skynard, and some more modern rock like Foo Fighters and Red Hot Chili Peppers. I'm having trouble nailing that overdriven "honk" that some of these bands use, particularly Bad Company. Does anyone have any suggestions about what pick-ups and effects I need to get that sound?

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Looking for that fat "honk" overdriven sound

Many of the sounds that you desire were originally achieved with relatively little equipment. An American guitar, an instrument cable and a valve amplifier turned up VERY LOUD.

Some of the classic rock guitar sound is power valves working flat out through large loudspeaker arrays. There is only so close that a raft of pedals and a small amplifier can get.

For what it is worth, I have literally just taken delivery of an overdrive pedal that claims to do what you want. As soon as the Tour De France television coverage ends, I shall audition the pedal and express my opinions of it. (Might even post sound clips on SoundCloud.)

 

[CountFeedback]

Re: Looking for that fat "honk" overdriven sound

Not sure which Super Champ you have, the ones from the 80s are nice and the new ones look to not be too bad. Home, Studio, small gigs & rehearsal with a drummer that’s not too out of control… you should be able to get some nice sounds out of a little tube amp.

My first instinct is: ditch the Digitech! I think you need a: Crybaby, Phase90, tube screamer or RAT (bad monkey might be OK).

For pups in the Paul – 59s or any Vintage output PAF

The crybaby may be "that sound" you are looking for. Not used for whaka-chica-whaca but as a tone control. The phase 90 is also a classic 70s sound set slow it can provide a vocality to solos speed it up for a leslie vibrato.

 

[Falloffthebonetone]

Re: Looking for that fat "honk" overdriven sound

A jb would be pretty cool for that, itll hit your amp harder to drive it more and it has a nice vocal midrange to it that will honk nicely with volume replacing preamp gain. Any vintagey paf will do to but you'll have to crank your amp louder.

 

[Little Pigbacon]

Re: Looking for that fat "honk" overdriven sound

My first instinct is: ditch the Digitech! I think you need a: Crybaby, Phase90, tube screamer or RAT (bad monkey might be OK).

I'd agree with this. I've owned several generations of DigiTech multi-effects processors over the years, and I never came away thinking any of their floor units sounded good.

For pups in the Paul – 59s or any Vintage output PAF.

That's a good start, especially if the Epiphone pickups are the ones I'm thinking of.

 

[bornagainplayer]

Re: Looking for that fat "honk" overdriven sound

Thank you all very much. This gives me some ideas to pursue.

 

[Myaccount876]

Re: Looking for that fat "honk" overdriven sound

+1 to the JB. Probably will get you there.

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: Looking for that fat "honk" overdriven sound

get rid of all the stuff in your chain and crank that little amp of yours. See how close you can get it to the sound you are after. If you can do that, then perhaps reintroduce the badmonkey set for low gain to send your amp into that final "leap off the cliff".

 

[bornagainplayer]

Re: Looking for that fat "honk" overdriven sound

For what it is worth, I have literally just taken delivery of an overdrive pedal that claims to do what you want. As soon as the Tour De France television coverage ends, I shall audition the pedal and express my opinions of it. (Might even post sound clips on SoundCloud.)

Thank you all for your inputs. I'm very interested in getting feedback from Funkfingers about his new overdrive pedal and if it can get that overdriven "honk" sound.

 

[Jeffrec]

Re: Looking for that fat "honk" overdriven sound

I've always liked Seths for that midrange thing

 

[bornagainplayer]

Re: Looking for that fat "honk" overdriven sound

I agree about the Seth Lovers. I'm considering those. I also just learned about the Hotrodded Humbucker Set (SH-4 JB in the bridge and a SH-2 Jazz in the neck. Does anyone have any input on this combo?

 

[Falloffthebonetone]

Re: Looking for that fat "honk" overdriven sound

I agree about the Seth Lovers. I'm considering those. I also just learned about the Hotrodded Humbucker Set (SH-4 JB in the bridge and a SH-2 Jazz in the neck. Does anyone have any input on this combo?

Incredibly versatile; the duncan standard and his favorite pickup combo. Jazz isn't very hot or honky though, you could replace it with a Seth if you want.