The Chase Never Ends (Tone Question)

Re: The Chase Never Ends (Tone Question)

EDX said:
lol i actually tought gear addiction was far more expensive than drug addiction plus the fact that you end up hoarding bunch of things
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Yeah, it is a problem. Not only that, people tend to obsess over gear over actually playing and practicing. If it makes that person happy, and they have the money (and spending that money doesn't take food out of their family's mouths), then, go for it.
 
Re: The Chase Never Ends (Tone Question)

BFahz said:
The '78 is what I was thinking as well. So I had read some good things about the MXR 10 band EQ so I picked on up and holy ****, this thing sounds great! I had read to bring down the 250 frequency to address the boominess, and it did just that. Raised the mids and highs a touch, which gave it the sizzle and chime.

I ran in the effects loop first but I actually didn't like it (similar to the GE7, which I didn't like), but I then ran in front of the SmallBox, and it sounds really good. I am using the MXR to push a touch of gain which has increased the harmonics in the amp. Been playing for three decades and never really messed around with EQs, but I am sold on the MXR!
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I love the MXR. Mine went kaput last year and I really miss it.
 
Re: The Chase Never Ends (Tone Question)

Mincer said:
Yeah, it is a problem. Not only that, people tend to obsess over gear over actually playing and practicing. If it makes that person happy, and they have the money (and spending that money doesn't take food out of their family's mouths), then, go for it.
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Dave that's probably because alot of Them have a Forum as their Social guitar life , not real musicians or an audience to put a stamp on their tone ,in person ( Not Much of it matters without that ~ as You alreadyknow .
 
Re: The Chase Never Ends (Tone Question)

Oh man!! After reading Ace's post I realize I'm a lost soul. Even beyond that. I've got so much "stuff" that I almost need a bigger house to fit it in...maybe this IS a more expensive addiction than drugs. All of this stuff and 3 dozen guitars and I can't play worth a hill of beans.

Ace, will you be my therapist and help me out of this obsession? (Actually, I'm not being facetious. I need to get over my gear addiction).
 
Re: The Chase Never Ends (Tone Question)

I can't speak to the guitar and amps in question, but I find the Setzer / Van Halen comparison as having 'it' curious. Because if that, I will point out that some of the frustration in tone chasing is that guys are chasing a recorded, produced sound where some of the 'tone' is an artifact of the recording and production process. Few have actually stood right in front of Eddie's rig in the late 70's to memorize what it actually sounded like. You might have already gotten the tone at one point and not even known it or recognized it.
 
Re: The Chase Never Ends (Tone Question)

beaubrummels said:
I can't speak to the guitar and amps in question, but I find the Setzer / Van Halen comparison as having 'it' curious. Because if that, I will point out that some of the frustration in tone chasing is that guys are chasing a recorded, produced sound where some of the 'tone' is an artifact of the recording and production process. Few have actually stood right in front of Eddie's rig in the late 70's to memorize what it actually sounded like. You might have already gotten the tone at one point and not even known it or recognized it.
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Exactly. Ive never bothered with chasing a studio tone. Live albums have always been my favorite albums and I still prefer well recorded bootlegs and soundboard recordings that these days are more accessible.
 
Re: The Chase Never Ends (Tone Question)

I posted this about a year ago, then took it down.

Want to hear Ed's amp in person during the recording of VH1? Here it is.

A snippet of "Runnin' With The Devil" (the actual tune done in studio) - two tracks (one darker being Celestion, one brighter being JBL), straight off the SM57 mics, before studio processing:

"Celestion" speaker
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6fVBUL3SmFiNV92NDVnOXpaWEU/view?usp=sharing

"JBL" speaker
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6fVBUL3SmFiMS1NMDZUNFk2LTg/view?usp=sharing

That's what Ed's amp/rig sounded like in the studio in 1977 for the recording of VH1.
You'll notice that the tone is full sounding... but isn't anything special.

Add (among other things) a lil' EMT140 plate 'verb, the Sunset Sound Echo Chamber, pan it correctly... and then you get the smokin' album tone that still has people (not me, though) scratching their heads, buying up Ed-related gear and modding their amps - to this day.

(and an emphatic "NO" - that isn't even close to being a SD '78 humbucker - try ceramic magnet for starters)
 
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Re: The Chase Never Ends (Tone Question)

I've been playing for over 25 years, and I've had "my" sound (something Strat-like through the MkIII or MkIV) for at least 18 years, but I'm still chasing tone, because it's never over! I love it, and to quote a certain public figure, but with honesty in my case, "I ain't in no ways tired"!.

I long ago turned my focus to recording music in my home studio. Talk about endless tweaking! My sound is easy to get, but then getting everything together with bass, drums, and sometimes keys in a dense mix is another challenge altogether. If I wasn't already deep into my "day job" career, I wouldn't mind shifting gears to become a music producer. And the ultimate challenge is always original songs. But tone? No problem.
 
Re: The Chase Never Ends (Tone Question)

beaubrummels said:
I can't speak to the guitar and amps in question, but I find the Setzer / Van Halen comparison as having 'it' curious. Because if that, I will point out that some of the frustration in tone chasing is that guys are chasing a recorded, produced sound where some of the 'tone' is an artifact of the recording and production process. Few have actually stood right in front of Eddie's rig in the late 70's to memorize what it actually sounded like. You might have already gotten the tone at one point and not even known it or recognized it.
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used to do that regularly , even looked up His Amp guy ( Sanchez? , up in the valley of so-Cal
 
Re: The Chase Never Ends (Tone Question)

Aceman said:
No you are not. when you really get tired, you'll quit. This is an addiction. At some point, you will realize that you have hit dozens of great tones and moved on to lesser and back again. And you'll realize that you have wasted untold dollars, not to mention time. And it was all for nothing. It's an addiction. At some point you need to get over tone and move on to music. Just like an alcoholic realizes it isn't the booze - it's the clarity, or a sex addict realizes it isn't humping, it's relationships.


And just to show you how bad off you are....you have all of this:



And then you added this:



You sir, are a lost soul. That is so messed up on so many levels I can't even describe it. I could probably dial in the tone you want with a Digitech RP250 into a Fender Blues Jr.


Chase on - but know your quest is futile, even infantile. If you have done all of that and resorted to a Boss GE-7, there is no victory. Not now, not ever. It isn't the gear. It's you.
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Bravo, Ace! At some point, you have to look inward. And the sooner, the better.

When you understand how tone works in live band vs studio situations, including how it intermingles with the other instruments in the mix, you won't stay up at night constantly worrying about your GEAR not being capable of producing what you want. Because it is there Daniel-san. You must find it. :beerchug:
 
Re: The Chase Never Ends (Tone Question)

Hey - I have a crap ton of guitars too. But I can sit and be happy with any of them. I just love guitars....
 
Re: The Chase Never Ends (Tone Question)

GuitarDoc said:
Oh man!! After reading Ace's post I realize I'm a lost soul. Even beyond that. I've got so much "stuff" that I almost need a bigger house to fit it in...maybe this IS a more expensive addiction than drugs. All of this stuff and 3 dozen guitars and I can't play worth a hill of beans.
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LIAR -------^^^ <-- Aceman , It's the I cant play worth a hill of beans - martyr / humble thing . Seen Him wail axs + know some He hung with and sat-in for occasionally , but I'll shut up - dont wanna blow His cover : ) I have many guitars too cause I build em' as well ( so does He ) . He taught me alot of wiring + pickup stuff for yrs. , whether He knew it or Not
 
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