Running Direct into a PA

[Shauggy]

OK, here's the deal - I've got a guy I play with who is a pretty good player. He's got some decent guitars, a Schecter and a USA Fender, but the problem is he uses a Zoom 505. His tones are killing me, but he doesn't realize that they are bad....he doesn't know what good tone is supposed to sound like.

He and his wife don't have a lot of $$, so me and some other cats are going to chip in and buy him some better gear. The obvious answer would be to get him a POD or something, but like I said, he doesn't know what good tone sounds like, so he'd be lost with one of those (or it might make it even worse!) I was going to buy him a TS-9 or a Distortion+ or something like that to make it simple, but then we'd need to get an amp modeler so he can run into the PA system. I could let him use my DG Stomp for a while (and tell him the chorus switch is off-limits under penalty of death and mutilation) but I'd like to get him something of his own.

So...you guys have any experience with running direct to a PA? Would a Sansamp GT do the trick? I was considering one of the Behringer GDIs (I know it's Behringer, but it would be cheap and I heard it's decent....ANYTHING is better than running through a 505)

Any other suggestions? At least until I can coach him into a good sound (or suggestions for that would be awesome too)

(PS - I would have him use his amp, but he's got a 2x12 combo and a bad back....so he doesn't carry it around much, but I may just have him start doing that instead)

 

[mediumpimpin]

Re: Running Direct into a PA

Tell the guy to get a cart or dolly or something to carry the combo, that would be the cheapest/easiest solution I could think of. If you must, I'd suggest a pod, I know a guy who used one and got some pretty good sounds out of it. I'm guessing if the guy has a bad back, his ears aren't too good either which would explain his ignorance towards his horrible tone.

 

[ozzynotwood]

Re: Running Direct into a PA

Tone is a very subjective thing. Maybe its you that doesnt know what 'good tone' is supposed to sound like.

 

[Shauggy]

Re: Running Direct into a PA

Tone is a very subjective thing. Maybe its you that doesnt know what 'good tone' is supposed to sound like.

That is a possibility, but I like to think I've got a pretty good ear - that's my thing, I'm not a shredder or anything but I do know how to get a good sound out of my guitar. People never tell me "man, that was a face-melting solo" but they do say "Hey, what are you running through, you had a really great sound up there". Now, OTOH, running the distortion on an old 505 is akin to using a stock DS-1 with the gain all the way up. It's like shrill, icepick highs with a computerized vibe to it, and he always seems to try and throw in the auto-wah and the flanger. It's to the point where when we both play electric the sound guys occasionally turn him down in the house.

I think his problem is he can't tell a difference yet between a good sound and a bad - and I was like that at one time so I can empathize with him. I've just got to tell him in a way that doesn't make him feel like an idiot, 'cause he's still a good player and a stand-up guy.

I'ma see if I can get him to lug that combo around. Maybe I'll buy him a small luggage cart instead.