Trying to model the sound of Bad Company

bornagainplayer

New member
I'm trying to get the sound of some Bad Company songs like Good Lovin' Gone Bad and Can't Get Enough of Your Love. I have a Les Paul, a multi-effects unit, and a tube amp, but I can't seem to get that sound right. It sounds like they use overdrive primarily and maybe a touch of flanger, but I just can't seem to get there. Does anyone have a recommendation on what pickups would be the best and what effects I should use?
 
Re: Trying to model the sound of Bad Company

I'm trying to get the sound of some Bad Company songs like Good Lovin' Gone Bad and Can't Get Enough of Your Love. I have a Les Paul, a multi-effects unit, and a tube amp, but I can't seem to get that sound right. It sounds like they use overdrive primarily and maybe a touch of flanger, but I just can't seem to get there. Does anyone have a recommendation on what pickups would be the best and what effects I should use?

I'm a big fan of the original Bad Company lineup...Basically Ralph's tone early on would have been a LP or a LP Juinor(P90s) into a cranked up Plexi or even a metal panel Marshall and I think Ampeg V4s?...The Seths or the 59s would be in that ballpark in your LP...Not sure on the crunchier stuff,but not a Tube Screamer...I would have to research what he might have used going into his Marshalls if he used another effect..

I use a Tech 21 British series pedal and can get the Can't Get Enough type tones into my own 73 50 watt Marshall head...Later on he was using JCM 900 series heads..

Memory tells me Can't Get Enough was tuned in some weird C tuning,also he was a strat player and played Teles also...
 
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Re: Trying to model the sound of Bad Company

" He didn’t practice much, found it “like homework.” He preferred to play in band situations. "

I love that.....
 
Re: Trying to model the sound of Bad Company

Less is more for that sound.

Classic PAF's (I might try a PG), and an amp not too overdone, eq maybe 5/8/7 b/m/t.

The gain is the key. almost no reason for the multi fx.
 
Re: Trying to model the sound of Bad Company

I believe he used a lot of Boss CE-1 chorus on the later albums, like Rock and Roll Fantasy, but not on the earlier stuff the OP mentioned.
 
Re: Trying to model the sound of Bad Company

I believe he used a lot of Boss CE-1 chorus on the later albums, like Rock and Roll Fantasy, but not on the earlier stuff the OP mentioned.

yeah - That's the ticket!

I was trying to figure out what would make the thick tones he used. Good call.

Still, mostly just a righteous LP into a Marshall and not done over-the-top.
 
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