my Distortion/Overdrive sounds awful
Alright, here's the thing... I'm using the BOSS ME-50, which includes all kinds of Distortion/Overdrive. But whenever I play any of the DS/OD options turned up, it sounds like crap. I've messed around with the Bottom and Tone, I've tried using the Tone Modify (Presence, Fat, Tight, Enhance...), I've tried the Noise Suppressor, but I can't get it sounding cleaner (not use the same word as the opposite of distorted... I mean heavy, but not sloppy). Is there something I'm missing? Do I need to bring in some other effect? Do I need an Equalizer? (can't afford it, but if that's the problem, then I at least want to KNOW that I'm screwed.)
# 1
Do you mean how to you get lead guitar, solos in particular to sound clean with distortion?
For example the solo in 'one' by metallica sounds crystal clear but the gain control on kirks amp is probably at ten! This is done by palm muting every string except the one your currently picking.
For example the solo in 'one' by metallica sounds crystal clear but the gain control on kirks amp is probably at ten! This is done by palm muting every string except the one your currently picking.
# 2
# 3
But by definition.. distortion will do that to open chord etc! If you mean its making them way more distorted than you want then cant you just turn down the gain?
If you have a small amp then maybe thats causing the problem. I have a stack and even when the gain is on 10 on the OD channel while its distorted you can still make out wach individaul string ringing out.
If you have a small amp then maybe thats causing the problem. I have a stack and even when the gain is on 10 on the OD channel while its distorted you can still make out wach individaul string ringing out.
# 4
What equalizer can't you afford ? I'm sure there's one in your Me-50.
I think you're problem is your settings ... Try to lower the gain and add some more mids.
BTW, did you try the presets ? If they sound sloppy too , then it's definately your amp.
I think you're problem is your settings ... Try to lower the gain and add some more mids.
BTW, did you try the presets ? If they sound sloppy too , then it's definately your amp.
# 5
No, there is no equalizer on the ME-50, though it does have the Tone Modify, but that's about it. I'll try to mess around with it some more, but what I meant was that it sounds really awful, like unprofessional. Of course distortion is "distorted"... thank you, Axl_rose. I hear Creed, P.O.D., 3 Doors Down, all my favorite bands on their distortion, and they don't sound anywhere near as horrible as mine does, to the extent that I think I might actually be missing something. Sure, studios have extra stuff to give it that sound, but isn't there something I can do with what I have? I'll work on it and see what I can find.
# 6
What kind of amp and guitar do you have? Have you used other distortions/overdrives before that sounded good through the same setup?
[Edited by iamthe_eggman on 01-26-2004 at 01:34 PM]
[Edited by iamthe_eggman on 01-26-2004 at 01:34 PM]
... and that's all I have to say about that.
[U]ALL[/U] generalizations are [U]WRONG[/U]
[/sarcasm]
[U]ALL[/U] generalizations are [U]WRONG[/U]
[/sarcasm]
# 7
well, honestly, not the best out there. I've got one of those Fender Squire Strats, and I have a Marshall G15R CD (45 Watt)--not their smallest one, but pretty close. Do you think it's the guitar?
# 8
Originally posted by puffinboy
Of course distortion is "distorted"... thank you, Axl_rose.
Ok sorry for tryna help, you question doesnt make sense anyway :rolleyes:
# 9
Well there ya go! Your pedal is probably a distortion modeler for distortion pedals, not a modeler for tube amp distortion. I have always hated solid-state distortion - it sounds exactly how you described your problem. There are a couple of ways to solve your problem:
Go tube - tube distortion is what most of the greats use to get their tone (i.e. randy rhoads, van halen, handrix, hammett), then if you don't have enough gain - add your boss pedal..... clean boost or dist boost
another, less expensive way is to go digital amp modeler...... these have close to the real thing sounding distortion... but if your not picky they work fine. Then you can also add your pedal if you don't have enough gain.
good luck man, I hope I've helped
(and that guitar is crap)
[Edited by Rrhoads154 on 01-26-2004 at 07:58 PM]
Go tube - tube distortion is what most of the greats use to get their tone (i.e. randy rhoads, van halen, handrix, hammett), then if you don't have enough gain - add your boss pedal..... clean boost or dist boost
another, less expensive way is to go digital amp modeler...... these have close to the real thing sounding distortion... but if your not picky they work fine. Then you can also add your pedal if you don't have enough gain.
good luck man, I hope I've helped
(and that guitar is crap)
[Edited by Rrhoads154 on 01-26-2004 at 07:58 PM]
There are only two important things in life - There's music and theres girls, not necessarily in that order....
The Ace's Guitar Tricks
The Ace's Guitar Tricks
# 10
I have two gripes with squires- 1. The pickups have a tendancy to crap out and stop outputting everything more quiet than practically banging on the strings, and 2. they do not adjust to different string gauges very well. I've seen someone change change from .09s to 10s and the strings were like a quarter inch off the fretboard before everything got adjusted.
"If one has realized a truth, that truth is valueless so long as there is lacking the indomitable will to turn this realization into action!"
-A.H.
-A.H.
# 11
Originally posted by Axl_Rose
Do you mean how to you get lead guitar, solos in particular to sound clean with distortion?
For example the solo in 'one' by metallica sounds crystal clear but the gain control on kirks amp is probably at ten! This is done by palm muting every string except the one your currently picking.
Kirks sets his amp to:
* Gain - 6
* Vol - 9
* Hi - 8
* Mid - 5
* Bass - 8
* Rev - 1
I use the Fender hot rod deluxe tube amp. The friggin things screams, i love it. I hate amps that how all those effects on them.
Try messing with your hi's,mid's, and bass, turn them up or down until you get the sound you want. Mess around with the gain, and volume and rev. You want a heavy sound then turn the bass up, and lower the highs. And boost up the mid's a bit.
# 12
# 13
There we go... that's what I was asking. Thanks a lot, guys. I may not be able to fix it in the near future, but now I know what my problem is. When I get out of college and I'm able to focus more on my music, I'll definitely keep you all in mind. Thanks again.
# 14
Originally posted by Axl_Rose
Rev = 1? What effects does kirk use though? And what amp?
He uses mesa-boogie , and I'm sure the reverb is not set to 1 , specialy for the leads .
# 15
* Gain - 7
* Vol - i'm not sure
* treble - 7
* Mid - 4
* Bass - 6
* Rev - 0
Thats what kirk uses.
* Vol - i'm not sure
* treble - 7
* Mid - 4
* Bass - 6
* Rev - 0
Thats what kirk uses.
By virtue of their electrical properties, tubes generate a special waveform when they're saturated, which is why tube engineering has tremendous tonal advantages over solid state or DSP solutions, particularly for crunch and lead sounds. Tubes enter the saturation zone gradually or softly, which lends tube-driven tone its trademark yet totally unique character.
# 16
# 17
Kirk has used dozens of amps in his past albums!
They include Marshall, Mesa-Boogie, Vox maybe fender and others....
They include Marshall, Mesa-Boogie, Vox maybe fender and others....
There are only two important things in life - There's music and theres girls, not necessarily in that order....
The Ace's Guitar Tricks
The Ace's Guitar Tricks
# 18
Morley effects i believe.
i got that amp setup from a website that claimed to get it from kirk himself, but who knows. I used to have th whole list of his guitars, amps/effects/pedals,and so on, but i lost it since then.
i got that amp setup from a website that claimed to get it from kirk himself, but who knows. I used to have th whole list of his guitars, amps/effects/pedals,and so on, but i lost it since then.
# 19
You know, I may have been reading rather quickly but I don't remember anyone asking him if he is running it through an effects loop, or through the distortion channel on the Marshall... Because it really should run through the effects loop (even though I have heard some amp that sound like crap like that) or through the clean channel on the amp.
I just had to add this because it may seem like a simple thing for some of us, but more than once I have seen people do that and it sounds horrible...
I just had to add this because it may seem like a simple thing for some of us, but more than once I have seen people do that and it sounds horrible...
So. If you throw a cat out of a car window, is it considered "kitty litter"?
# 20