Tailoring Gear to Situations.

[Gearjoneser]

I've been in the process of forming a new modern rock band, and have been getting my gear situated for that, and it's fun finally getting to crank it up again.
I have pretty much all I need for that genre.

I've also decided to do 2 bands at the same time, and the 2nd one will be playing the part of James Burton/Scotty Moore in an Elvis Tribute band. I think it'll be great fun, easy to make some money, and a good chance to get my 50's chops refined.

Have any of you had to change out your gear for guitars or amps that fit the bill? It's sort of exciting to have a real excuse for new gear! LOL

Here's my plan for the rock gig.
LP's and Strats almost all the time. Luckily, I've always used them, so I've got plenty. Bogner Ecstasy head with either the Bogner 2-12 or 4-12.
I'll use the Fulltone Clyde Deluxe Wah, Klon, Fulltone Choralflange, ADA Flange, and the green and blue Line 6's for FX. Also, the Bogner footswitch.

For the Elvis gig.
I need to sell several of my least favorite guitars, because I want to get a Fender 52 Hot Rod Tele and my friend's Dearmond Hollowbody. I'll also use my new Gibson ES-335 as a main guitar. For amps, I've got some nice clean toned amps, but I really want to use a Fender 6L6 amp, so I'm considering the Fender 64 Vibroverb, which I've always wanted anyway. To stay with the white Elvis theme, I plan on using white cables with nothing but my white Fulltone wah and white Fulldrive II. :nervous:

 

[ErikH]

Re: Tailoring Gear to Situations.

Makes sense to me. It'd look silly doing an Elvis gig with a Bogner half stack and a Les Paul Custom...LOL.

It's a matter of choosing the right tool for the job. That's what I love about my Valvetronix. In one amp I can get the sounds I need depending on the song, works out well. I'm starting to use an overdrive out front for a mild push on the Twin Model for mild drive then use the UK 80's model for the heavier stuff.

I don't have near the guitar arensol you have, all mine are Strats, but are configured so I can get the sounds I need from them, one traditional SSS, one H-H with split on the neck, and another H-H (single-coil bucker in the neck) with a Floyd. I wouldn't use the Floyded Strat to play blues and I wouldn't use the SSS Strat to play Metallica.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Tailoring Gear to Situations.

I can't afford to buy new gear, so I'll probably sell off things like G&L's and Schecter, and mics I don't need.

I finally tried the new 52 Hot Rod Tele, and I'm in love with that guitar. It's the best incarnation of the butterscotch tele ever, IMO. I probably won't get that Dearmond, since it's pointless....having the tele and 335. I really don't want to gig with the Matchless because it's so valuable, but I might anyway. I really want the more authentic look and sound of a Fender amp. I really dig the 64 Vibroverb/Diaz modded Fender w/15 inch speaker. But it's an expensive amp, so again, something will have to be sold to finance it.

 

[ErikH]

Re: Tailoring Gear to Situations.

Yeah, I hear ya. Every time I look at new stuff, I keep reminding myself I need to sell a few things first. Problem is, I'm running out of things I'm willing to part with..LOL. There's a few pedals I have for sale and I'd love to sell off my 4x12 since it's not being used right now. I've got a couple old Boss pedals too but I don't really want to part with them (DD-2, BF-2b).

Thing is, once those pedals sell, I'll be turning that right around and getting another one, just waiting for the thing to hit the stores...the Visual Sound Double Trouble. My guitars are set right now, I'm concentrating on the pedals aspect of it. I desparately need a new wah but that'll have to wait. Thinkin' about getting a Budda (other guitar player in my band has one...SWEET sound).

What's the neck profile like on the HR Tele?

 

[Brow]

Re: Tailoring Gear to Situations.

I'm in a similar situation myself at the minute.

My current originals band is considering taking a break/splitting up, so I'm thinking of forming a Rock/Pop covers band so that I can carry on gigging and maybe earn a little money too.

For my originals band I normally use my Carlsbro 50-Top head and my Award Session 1x12 cab. It's basically a clean/fat 'base' for me to build on soundwise with my Pedalboard and guitars (mainly my Gibson LP and homebuilt Strat or Fender Music Master) as I'm a tweaker and like to mix sounds up alot depending on how the mood takes me etc.

For the covers band I'll form (whatever that may be), I'm considering buying something along the lines of a Marshall JMP-1, so that I can basically have all the Clean/Crunch/Distorted sounds I need, ready programmed and EQ'd to my guitars and ready to go at the push of a button. I figure that as I'll be playing other peoples material, I'll be less tempted to 'tweak' sounds live as I normally would in my other band.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Tailoring Gear to Situations.

For the covers band I'll form (whatever that may be), I'm considering buying something along the lines of a Marshall JMP-1, so that I can basically have all the Clean/Crunch/Distorted sounds I need, ready programmed and EQ'd to my guitars and ready to go at the push of a button. I figure that as I'll be playing other peoples material, I'll be less tempted to 'tweak' sounds live as I normally would in my other band.

Yeah, most cover band guitarists I've seen are either using a pre/power rack setup or a modeling amp. It's the only way to truly capture all the sounds properly.

I'm going the opposite direction. The Elvis impersonator I met is already established with management, but he just needs a small band, rather than backing tracks. Realistically, all I'll be doing is playing a clean tone all the time, and sometimes an acoustic. Scotty Moore was more Gibson and James Burton was more Tele, so I'll have those 2 bases covered.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Tailoring Gear to Situations.

Yeah, most cover band guitarists I've seen are either using a pre/power rack setup or a modeling amp. It's the only way to truly capture all the sounds properly.

I'm going the opposite direction. The Elvis impersonator I met is already established with management, but he just needs a small band, rather than backing tracks. Realistically, all I'll be doing is playing a clean tone all the time, and sometimes an acoustic. Scotty Moore was more Gibson and James Burton was more Tele, so I'll have those 2 bases covered.

Scotty Moore huh? Sounds like a good excuse to pick up a Gibson Super 400 or L-5!

I remember that scene in the Elvis comeback special (1968?) where Elvis gets back together with Scotty and Elvis has his Martin and Scotty has his Gibson Super 400. Then, for some reason, Elivis switches guitars with Scotty and for the rest of the set Scotty is stuck playing solos on Elvis' non-electrified Martin flat top and Elvis strums rythym on Scotty's dual humbucker Super 400! Lew

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Tailoring Gear to Situations.

Joe,

I STRONGLY urge you to try that Vibrover reissue several times before you buy...you use pretty much nothing exxcept top shelf gear...that Vibroverb WON'T hold it's own with the gear you're used to...

 

[blueman335]

Re: Tailoring Gear to Situations.

Scotty Moore huh? Sounds like a good excuse to pick up a Gibson Super 400 or L-5!

Or a 295, if you can get past the gold color.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Tailoring Gear to Situations.

An L5 is definitely not in my immediate future.....maybe an Epiphone or Dearmond.

Honestly, I've only begun this idea of the Elvis band. Time will tell if it's worth moving gear around. The only thing that's certain is that I'm parting with my Schecter US Tele and getting something like that 52 Hot Rod. That guitar has all my favorite specs for a tele all rolled into one. And it even has a Duncan mini humbucker in the neck. I love the modern neck and the traditional 3 barrel bridge. It's about time they made the perfect butterscotch tele!

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Tailoring Gear to Situations.

Hey Lew, how do you like my avatar? LOL

I remember the gear change you made before starting your project with Sherrie. Switching over to Takamine or Washburn acoustics, just because of the electronics and fear of damaging a nice Martin by installing some sub-par piezo system.

Did you ever sell your Matchless SC-30? Are you using one or two Deluxe Reverbs?

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Tailoring Gear to Situations.

Joe,

I STRONGLY urge you to try that Vibrover reissue several times before you buy...you use pretty much nothing exxcept top shelf gear...that Vibroverb WON'T hold it's own with the gear you're used to...

I've owned a few Fender amps, and that Vibroverb isn't too bad, and I'd also consider a Vibroking. The other options are vintage blackface or silverface, and that's probably the better option. Whatever it is has to have the definitive Fender clean with beautiful reverb. What do you recommend I do?

I think Burton used a Deluxe Reverb, and I don't even know what Scotty Moore used, but it'd be nice to have something as good or better than their tone.
If there's one thing I love, it's great tone, and I love my Matchless Chieftain and Goldtone. They're absolutely perfect, but they lean a little British in tone, and I want straight up American Blackface tone.

It's SO fun to bounce back and forth between British and American tones.
Too many players choose only one, and for no good reason. I love playing on 6L6's, EL-34, and EL-84. Those are the 3 staples of great tone, so it's awesome to get musically intimate with all 3.....and maybe even other tube types like 6V6, KT-88, KT-66, and others.

One of my pet projects for my lifetime will be to own the greatest amp of every tube type. By the time I'm 45, I'm going to have the most ridiculous amp collection anybody's ever seen! Really. I'm going to have one of every major tube type, and the most perfect examples of each.

 

[ErikH]

Re: Tailoring Gear to Situations.

No, the most ridiculous amp collection ever seen is that one of the many Marshall stacks that you post from time to time...LOL.

I love Twins when they're dialed in right on the edge of breaking up. It's such a beautiful sound. EL84 amps I'm iffy with, depends on what it is. Vox's are my fav in that category. When it comes to a favorite tube type, EL34's are where it's at for me.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Tailoring Gear to Situations.

No, the most ridiculous amp collection ever seen is that one of the many Marshall stacks that you post from time to time...LOL.

Here's another good picture I found, while trying to find that pic of the front yard covered with Marshalls and Voxes! Victor Mason is a true Marshall junkie!
http://www.vintageamps.com/va/temp/slashfiles/VictorJTM45 copy7.jpg

 

[J Moose]

Re: Tailoring Gear to Situations.

One of my pet projects for my lifetime will be to own the greatest amp of every tube type. By the time I'm 45, I'm going to have the most ridiculous amp collection anybody's ever seen! Really. I'm going to have one of every major tube type, and the most perfect examples of each.

I'm guessing you haven't seen Mike Fullers amp collection?! Holy moly... he's got at least one of everything! lol Pye Studios in Long Island also has an insane collection...

Gearwise... I think it's pretty important to have the right tools for the gig at hand. I wouldn't use the same stuff for a fusion gig, bar band situation & a Satanic metal band... well, then again... maybe I would use similar stuff...

I used to haul my Dual Recto to all of those back in the day... it was the only giggable amp I had!

Don't you have a Bassman reissue or some other Fender? I don't see why you couldn't get good "Elvis" tones out of the Matchless or Goldtone... though if 'ya want a Blackface that's a whole other thang.

Get an old Super Reverb or a brown Concert... Fender is still competing with their own ghost...

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: Tailoring Gear to Situations.

An old blackfaced SF Super would be it, as far as I'm concerned, followed very closely by a 59 Bassman RI with a 'verb tank on top.

 

[Hoss]

Re: Tailoring Gear to Situations.

i bet you wish you still had the Pro Concert Reverb...!?

 

[jeremy]

Re: Tailoring Gear to Situations.

yeah, skip the vibroverb. its not up to par.

a deluxe might be perfect if you want clean and low volume but nice rich tone, wont do loud clean but for this type of gig im guessing the deluxe would be a great amp

 

[ErikH]

Re: Tailoring Gear to Situations.

Here's another good picture I found, while trying to find that pic of the front yard covered with Marshalls and Voxes! Victor Mason is a true Marshall junkie!
http://www.vintageamps.com/va/temp/slashfiles/VictorJTM45 copy7.jpg

mg: I would love to have just one of those.

 

[The Golden Boy]

Re: Tailoring Gear to Situations.

I've settled in to the gear I've got- there are a few pieces I long for- but never very seriously for very long.

Every year I do a gig of a set of a given band. Dress up like the band, do some schtick about the band... you know.

I'd go broke getting gear that was just like the guys I was imitating/spoofing.


My main gig at this point is a Rolling Stones tribute act. Fender style basses don't do it for this gig. Too bright, not enough bottom/low mid oomph. I'd retired my Thunderbird years ago, but it works out really good for the Stones thing for the same reason I retired it. It's low middy and tubby. I've been playing around with my EB-0, nothing like a muddy short scale bass to mimic the sounds of a muddy, short scale bass...