Overdrive or boost that does not emphasize pick attack noise?

Re: Overdrive or boost that does not emphasize pick attack noise?

Tubescreamer with the tone rolled back. Some Tubescreamers are darker than others. I liked the Maxon OD-808, but I currently use a Mesa Grid Slammer. I usually run mine with the tone around 10:00 as it's fatter with less edge.

Run your Tubescreamer with the level turned up and the gain turned down. Less buzzy that way.

When using an OD, try backing the guitar's volume off a bit until your sound smooths out. You'll gain the additional compression from the overdrive, but it'll take some/most of the sizzle and edge off the attack.

Rolling your guitar's tone off was already mentioned...

Purple Tortex picks.
 
Re: Overdrive or boost that does not emphasize pick attack noise?

I've been using purple Tortex picks for 30 years, and I am literaly buying a tube screamer right now, so it sounds like I am on the right track. And it sounds like you & I share a love of thick, fat, dark tones!
Thanks to all. The journey continues...
 
Re: Overdrive or boost that does not emphasize pick attack noise?

I wish I knew what the noise was. Gain levels change the whole thing and noise level. Compression magnifies whatever it gets if hiss it magnifies the hiss. Sounds like a compression thing to me.
I prefer compressors like the Keeley or Wampler with a blend to use more of the dry signal and only light compression ratio.
I have a PB1 class A clean boost, a PCE Klon circuit, a Mesa Tone Burst(clean boost) and a Mesa Flux drive that sound great on my Les Paul dominated rig.
What sort of tone EQ thing do you have dialed up on the amp? I know from past uses of compressors they can create an almost backwards sounding attack envelop which can be cool but not something always useful.
This is why drives termed "transparent" and low compressive are valued. Higher gain and hit tubes have a natural compressive quality so sometimes a pedal can be serious overkill.
Just saying in playing decades I have come to use the JazzIII pick and never really think about how I pick things even some times mixing fingers just seems to come naturally depending on the basis of the tune. Maybe it is too overt a pick attack, some players have a more aggressive style.
 
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Re: Overdrive or boost that does not emphasize pick attack noise?

some_dude said:
Tubescreamer with the tone rolled back. Some Tubescreamers are darker than others. I liked the Maxon OD-808, but I currently use a Mesa Grid Slammer. I usually run mine with the tone around 10:00 as it's fatter with less edge.

Run your Tubescreamer with the level turned up and the gain turned down. Less buzzy that way.

When using an OD, try backing the guitar's volume off a bit until your sound smooths out. You'll gain the additional compression from the overdrive, but it'll take some/most of the sizzle and edge off the attack.

Rolling your guitar's tone off was already mentioned...

Purple Tortex picks.
Click to expand...

Actually, I use a Bad Monkey but plug into the mixer output, which is supposed to be be for plugging directly to a PA or mixer, except I go into an amp. It is certainly a darker overdrive than the normal output jack, which takes away a little of the attack.
 
Re: Overdrive or boost that does not emphasize pick attack noise?

Gainstage said:
I wish I knew what the noise was. Gain levels change the whole thing and noise level. Compression magnifies whatever it gets if hiss it magnifies the hiss. Sounds like a compression thing to me.
I prefer compressors like the Keeley or Wampler with a blend to use more of the dry signal and only light compression ratio.
Click to expand...

The noise - in this case - is the sound of a hard edged pick "fretting" the string at a place on the string very close to the bridge. It will change to a lower pitch the further away from the bridge you strike the strings.

I like it for some stuff, especially on note ripping solos, and avoid it for other stuff, particularly if the guitar is exposed in the mix.

I feel that using pedals to get rid of or control this sound is not the best idea, I tend to agree it is technique and pick type.

Allan Holdsworth is not a human being! Hah!
 
Re: Overdrive or boost that does not emphasize pick attack noise?

I don't think you can ever totally get rid of it, but I would try a bunch of different picks, mostly thicker, and spend some woodshed time working on technique (that's not a criticism), you may find something there too.
 
Re: Overdrive or boost that does not emphasize pick attack noise?

Doesn't someone make felt picks for jazz bass? Use one of those.

Sent from my MotoE2(4G-LTE) using Tapatalk
 
Re: Overdrive or boost that does not emphasize pick attack noise?

Demanic said:
Doesn't someone make felt picks for jazz bass? Use one of those.

Sent from my MotoE2(4G-LTE) using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

Good point. A friend of mine makes picks from Oak and has just bought some Snakewood. Both are hard but may not have that ultra high fretted sound.
 
Re: Overdrive or boost that does not emphasize pick attack noise?

Just to clarify, I know there isn't a pedal that will eliminate pick noise. I posed my question badly. What I meant to ask is if there is a good way to boost for more volume and/or saturation without also boosting the bejeezus out of the pick noise, or at least to do so as little as possible.

Some devices emphasize it more than others, so to me that means some must emphasize it LESS than others.

I am going to try the tube screamer and if that doesn't suit me I will just go back to straight amp gain and be happy.
 
Re: Overdrive or boost that does not emphasize pick attack noise?

Build one! I had a good friend of mine who builds pedal do a breadboard blind test with each and every component until it was exactly how I wanted it. I based it on the ZW-44 and the fact that I hate Tubescreamers and the component selection we went with justified what I dislike about them so much. I call it The Cornhole because it pretty much straight cornholes the front of the amp without adding ugly frequencies.
 
Re: Overdrive or boost that does not emphasize pick attack noise?

Practice with the amp louder than you'd normally use for practice, and hit the strings lighter with the right hand, but harder with the left. It is a balancing act. The goal is to not hear the difference between picked or non-picked notes. You usually need some level of gain, but it isn't as much as you'd think.
 
Re: Overdrive or boost that does not emphasize pick attack noise?

Dave Locher said:
Just to clarify, I know there isn't a pedal that will eliminate pick noise. I posed my question badly. What I meant to ask is if there is a good way to boost for more volume and/or saturation without also boosting the bejeezus out of the pick noise, or at least to do so as little as possible.

Some devices emphasize it more than others, so to me that means some must emphasize it LESS than others.

I am going to try the tube screamer and if that doesn't suit me I will just go back to straight amp gain and be happy.
Click to expand...

The Seymour Duncan Killing Floor boost pedal has a high filter. That should do the job to be honest.
 
Re: Overdrive or boost that does not emphasize pick attack noise?

Got a tubescreamer. Done! Thank you. There is magic in that tone knob.
 
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