My Tone....I think I found it...

[koogie2k]

I have been having some really good convo's with OC about effects and tone. I had a BOSS GT-6 processor that I used with my Marshall DSL. Unfortunately, the processor sounded like garbage no matter what I did. I went all over the 'Net and just could not get that thing to do what I wanted.....

So, I got rid of it. I really like the Marshall, so I kept that and worked my effects around it. I spent many hours at the local store trying out effects until I hit that "sweet" spot. I got my sound dialed in almost. So, I spent about $600 on good old fashioned stomp boxes and viola!....the tone I was looking for!! Went home and fine tuned it all in and couldn't be happier.

What did I get??? Just BOSS pedals. I tried other stuff, and I am a simple kind of guy, so I decided to keep my effects simple. BOSS is as simple as it gets and I found what I was looking for. Not that the other effects out there are bad. Just too much stomping around for me....I am getting too old to be tap dancing around... looking for the right programmed effect....

OC....thanks for the many hours online with me and now I will have to find something else to bother you with....hehehehe....

 

[CudBucket]

Well? What the fork did OC tell ya?

 

[koogie2k]

Basically, throw out the GT-6....solid state processor does not work well with tube amp...that I can agree with. But is only my opinion.

He made some suggestions such as Fulltone, Line 6, etc. Basically told me to go to the store and play everything and let the ears do the selection. Line 6 are great....just too much stuff for me to play with. I would be 90 before I found something that I liked with all the selections available per pedal. Fulltone was great, but not what I was looking for. Did not sit well with my Marshall unfortunately....not all pedals are good with all amps I found out. The digitechs were ok, just did not have the "oomph" I wanted. The BOSS pedals work for me....just a simple set up and I got what I wanted. Can't complain about that!

I was looking at trying for a Petrucci sound, but, why? He sounds great and all, but I don't play like him so why would I want to sound like him? I tend to let one guitarist influence me a little too much and OC knew this and told me to be me and find what I would like, not what JP or anyone else for that matter likes. Worked for me. Anywho, I found the tone I was after using the following:

Boss Metal Zone, EQ, Digital Delay, Chorus and Digital Reverb....

I tend to get in a very "metal" mood sometimes, that is why I got the extreme Metal Zone pedal.....

Mostly run the others through my FX loop and use the Marshall distortion. Best thing I have done so far with my sound besides picking up a JP guitar. It certainly keeps me playing longer and really helps in my writing process. That is what really matters.

 

[Lew]

you spent $600 on BOSS pedals?

 

[koogie2k]

Not all $$$ was on the pedals...sorry. That would be quite a collection being how inexpensive they are....ooopsss.... My total for everything including pedals was at that price....got some other stuff too.

 

[OrangeChannel]

Koogs...

Wizzow man! I am totally flattered! Thanks for the kind words. I'm glad I could help ya in your quest! You might want to get a phaser in there too bro. Thats my weakness...well that and delay. Boss makes some quality stuff. Dudes have been stomping on their stuff for years with great results...can't wait to hear it!


Late!

Jon Z

 

[Lew]

I agree with OC on the BOSS pedals,If it sounds good it is good, **** doesnt have to be "boutique" or cost a ton to be good and that B word gets thrown around way too much !

I have a Keeley BD-2 That I love,its great for a solo boost amidst HIgain or adding a touch of hair.


Glad to hear you didn't spend $600 on pedals

 

[Ali]

I really like the GT6 but it is a pain in the butt to get it matched up to an amp. It was designed with the Roland (JC120?) amps in mind which are set up very much with a neutral tone. Marshalls have a lot more mids and low end.

I got round the problem by:

Setting it up showing complete disregard to the instructions!!!!
Don't use any of the amp output settings in teh global menu. Set it to use the PA or headphones output instead. The tone suggestions for the amp they give ONLY work for the JC series. I ended up using 3 for Bass and TReble and 7 for Mids, not the 0 and 10 settings Boss recommend. Once you get close with the above, use the Global EQ to fine tune things and don't increase the patch volume above 120 (ideally 100).

For an even better sound, and if you don't want to use the amp sims, just the effects, us eth e4 cable method:

http://www.bossgtcentral.com/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=1

It's a lot of hastle at times but it really works. I thought the same thing when I got the GT6 until I used the headphones and found just how good it sounds like through them. It takes a lot of effort to transport that sound to an amp but it's worth it. Other effects units are far more user friendly but after discovering all this, I'm sticking with the GT6 fo rthe time being

 

[BIG GINGER GIT]

I was using Boss pedals with my Boogie but got sick of the tap dancing so I bought a Valvetronix and put this on eBay today

 

[koogie2k]

I went over to that forum (GT-6 one) and what not...must say I received alot of help. Peeps over there were really cool and all. It's just the GT-6 really was not working for me. It is great to use when going to my recorder. I used it tremendously....love it for that. Just the "four cable" method, the "stand on my head" method, the "be smarter than the gear" method or my favorite...."keep throwing it against the wall" method all produced the same results....me looking for my tech sensei (that would be OC) to bother him with a million questions. I went the simple route. Just works for me. I am glad the GT-6 works for you. It really is a cool unit...just too much for me to digest I guess.

No prob OC....I owe you a beer when I get up to your neck of the woods!! Will let you know when...still sorting out my desert trip and when I have to go and all the gory details... Looks like a double whammy for Koogs.....

 

[freeman]

Congratulations!

I agree with Mr Koogie2k. I have a BOSS GT5. This processor doesnot sound like garbage no matter what I do, because it equals garbage.

Right now I am really into FX pedals, easy to use, sounds great.

 

[kbaim]

Hey,

I heard Koogie playing through a small crate amp w/ fx built in and he had damn good tone with that! Using both an ibanez and an axis ss.

Send me the next recording project koog.

Tentative title...

DESERT STRUM

KEITH

 

[koogie2k]

Thanks for the compliment Keith.....I must admit, the tone was much much better with your Axis SS!!!

Funny you should mention recording....will be doing that tonight with my bud....so as soon as I chop it and get it down to a final, I will shoot something your way....

Desert Strum?!?!!? ....sounds like a new name for an album!! hehehe.

I still think you should post "Dreamin'" for the whole world to hear.....man, still gettin' chills thinking of it.

 

[eliot323]

If you're looking for a John Petrucci sound then Boss pedals are a good way to go - he seems to use a lot of them and is quite happy to appear in ads for Boss to that effect (pun intended...I know, it's cheesy).

I had a GT6 and couldn't agree more about the sound. I then tried a Line 6 Vetta which was astounding but expensive and had almost too much versatility. However, now that Line 6 have added their new Model Packs for the PODxt (which I've also got) which basically translates it into a Vetta (minus the power amp and cab) I decided to get rid of the Vetta and go back to valves and a few selected stompboxes.

I've got a Cornford Hellcat 212 combo, Vox Clyde McCoy wah, Roger Mayer Spitfire fuzz, Visual Sound's H2O chorus/delay and the MXR Noise Gate. Heaven! I can run the PODxt through the power amp for backup/variety. For me it works really well.

eliot323

 

[Lew]

How's that Hellcat?

 

[eliot323]

Hi Lew
The Hellcat is excellent. Its 35w, Class A with EL84s and has two channels vintage and modern. Vintage goes from clean to AC/DC and the modern goes from anywhere to extreme distortion. Its got reverb, a series effects loop and has 2 Celestion Vintage 30s. It has a really shimmery Vox like sound and when it's distorted, it's really creamy and compressed and musical. Plus its handmade and point to point wired with no PCBs. It ain't cheap, but you do seem to get what you pay for. The Cornford range of amps are really nice, the 6w Harlequin is also a gem. Check 'em out if you can

eliot323

 

[Lew]

Hi Elliot thanks for that!

Im deciding between a few amps at the moment and the harlequin is definetley an option and so is the hurricane,I would love a Hellcat but it's a bit out of my range.


Cheers!