Neck Pickup 'Synth-like' Tone

[evh_slash]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMFZ7BER6j0

Anybody got any tips on how to get that super smooth saturated Synth-like lead tone like in the video ?? The parts at 0.30 & 1.20 is so cool ! Almost sounds like a Keyboard solo !

I'd love to know how he gets such a creamy sound yet still manages to cut through so well !
Any Neck Pickup recommendations and / or other ideas (ie Amp , Pedal, Mic Position etc) would be much appreciated.

Or is this just a lot of post-processing (comp / delay and EQ) ?
I don't think a guitar amp/cab ever sounds like this unless you're sitting in another room ?!

 

[Blille]

Neck Pickup 'Synth-like' Tone

Assuming I get what you mean, (almost) any neck pickup with a Big Muff can get you that tone. When I practice like that at home my wife tells me it sounds like the doorbell. I'll start telling her "it's synth-like". That will go well.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

Re: Neck Pickup 'Synth-like' Tone

Doesn't sound like there's anything out of the ordinary going on. Lots of gain, smooth neck pickup (not super bright/attacky, like many Duncans tend to be), and clean playing. Perhaps with the tone rolled off a tad, but I doubt it.

 

[GuitarStv]

Re: Neck Pickup 'Synth-like' Tone

Lots of gain, neck pickup with tone rolled back a bit should get you in the ballpark. Of course, then you have to learn to play as well as he does.

 

[evh_slash]

Re: Neck Pickup 'Synth-like' Tone

Doesn't sound like there's anything out of the ordinary going on. Lots of gain, smooth neck pickup (not super bright/attacky, like many Duncans tend to be), and clean playing. Perhaps with the tone rolled off a tad, but I doubt it.

Yeah , I just like the attack on the notes + the vocal 'wah' characteristic ... Definitely not as bright and glassy as duncans !

 

[jeremy]

Re: Neck Pickup 'Synth-like' Tone

i think it has a lot more to do with the production than the pup choice

 

[evh_slash]

Re: Neck Pickup 'Synth-like' Tone

i think it has a lot more to do with the production than the pup choice

Take what we said regarding pickup choice with a pinch of salt. Of course pickups are only 1 small piece of the puzzle .

Maybe I should re-phrase the title of the thread : "How to achieve a similar fake-ass processed lead tone but on a real valve amp & cab with passive pickups" haha

 

[evh_slash]

Re: Neck Pickup 'Synth-like' Tone

i think it has a lot more to do with the production than the pup choice

Whenever I record solo's on the neck pickup, my lead tones always seem to have this slightly annoying thin buzzy/fizzy quality, mainly on the high B and E strings. Funnily enough the Low E and A strings then get too boomy !! So I'd love to know how some of these guys get their plain strings sounding ultra smooth & fat while keeping a tight cutting sound on the low strings...

Maybe its just a case of Mic positioning, or a Post-EQ High Pass filter, Amp Presence setting and maybe using something like a Tubescreamer (808) style to smoothen it all out with a mid hump ...

 

[Chris Pile]

Re: Neck Pickup 'Synth-like' Tone

The only synth-like tones I'm hearing are when Andy taps...

 

[evh_slash]

Re: Neck Pickup 'Synth-like' Tone

The only synth-like tones I'm hearing are when Andy taps...

Best example of what I mean from 1.25 - 1.30 , The low strings have an almost rubbery Octave divider kinda sound...

 

[SFW]

Re: Neck Pickup 'Synth-like' Tone

Slap a demon in the neck and you’re there. If you’re willing to go split tones for true cleans, and high output pickup will get that sound. Add gobs of distortion and presto. I’ve run a super distortion in the neck, and have gotten some of my best lead tones that way. Just had to go to position 4 for real cleans.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Chris Pile]

Re: Neck Pickup 'Synth-like' Tone

Best example of what I mean from 1.25 - 1.30 , The low strings have an almost rubbery Octave divider kinda sound...

I don't hear it. What I meant was it sounds like a sequencer.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Neck Pickup 'Synth-like' Tone

Use an actual synth fuzz pedal, like the Fooz.

 

[LLL]

Re: Neck Pickup 'Synth-like' Tone

Use an actual synth fuzz pedal, like the Fooz.

 

[Tone Meister]

Re: Neck Pickup 'Synth-like' Tone

i think it has a lot more to do with the production than the pup choice

And the player's technique and phrasing

 

[audiocheck]

Re: Neck Pickup 'Synth-like' Tone

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMFZ7BER6j0

Anybody got any tips on how to get that super smooth saturated Synth-like lead tone like in the video ?? The parts at 0.30 & 1.20 is so cool ! Almost sounds like a Keyboard solo !

I'd love to know how he gets such a creamy sound yet still manages to cut through so well !
Any Neck Pickup recommendations and / or other ideas (ie Amp , Pedal, Mic Position etc) would be much appreciated.

Or is this just a lot of post-processing (comp / delay and EQ) ?
I don't think a guitar amp/cab ever sounds like this unless you're sitting in another room ?!

High Gain Pre-Amp with some Delay. Neal Schon is the master of this sound. Listen to some of his his stuff he put out as a solo artist.