nosajwp Posted July 19, 2005 Posted July 19, 2005 I know most of these guys played through JCM-800's, but there had to be something else. I've played through several JCM-800's that were maxed out, and still didn't have the "edge" that most hair bands had.
morningstar Posted July 19, 2005 Posted July 19, 2005 First. You are probably playing to a room full of drunks. If the drunks are happy, the barkeeper's happy. If the barkeeper's happy, you get invited back. If you are playing for yourself, or for other players in the crowd, you are missing the point of playing retro stuff for drunks.Marshall JCM 800's will do the job just fine. Many metal monsters of the 1980's used various types of boosters up front. Some metal guys had their heads modded, like the Lee Jackson mods which can create one hell of a lot of "squeeze" even at moderate volumes. Frankie's got some of these and makes em sound fabulous. Some stomp boxes can blend with JCM800 without making a mess. Always have a delay in the chain. Reach for a tone with just enough distortion, but not too much. You have to pay attention better when playing, but overall it sounds way better, fatter and non-buzz-saw.Also many of the 80's metal doods were total rack weenies and were using non-head stereo amplification with beaucoup preamps doodads geegaws and miscellaneous whatzits (all with flashing LED's). Bottom line: This works for ME: The drunks want uninterrupted entertainment, so I have gone total rack weenie and my POD XTPro and Live both provide fast accurate switching and tone that is good enough for a buncha stoned drunkards, and that's good enough for the barkeepers.
Stike Posted July 19, 2005 Posted July 19, 2005 Lotsa them guys used ADA MP1 preamps. A 5150 head will do that stuff well too.
kurtsstuff Posted July 19, 2005 Posted July 19, 2005 Well....When I was doin the "hair band" thing in the 80's..I was always running through a tube preamp of some sort (hughes and kettner access) throung a Marshall Jcm 800 but usually an earlier JMP types.....Marshalls are basically uselless on there own but....ya run anything through them and they sound like a Marshall! Hmmm??
Hamer95USA Posted July 19, 2005 Posted July 19, 2005 Lotsa them guys used ADA MP1 preamps. A 5150 head will do that stuff well too. Hey guys, You mean like this: My club guitar rack system: My large guitar rack system: I am the rack master!! Controller of all things MIDI, preamp, effects, power amp. You guys with your little girlie man foot pedals and combo amps can eat my shorts!! You love the "Monster" guitar rack system because it's heavy to make you use your little girlie muscles, loud enough to anger everyone, and lots of programming to make your brain work. Remember, I'm here to pump you and your guitar up!!! Guitar George
hamersandstrats Posted July 19, 2005 Posted July 19, 2005 The original Boss OD-1 and SD-1 pedals will boost those Marshalls real nice as well.
RacerX Posted July 19, 2005 Posted July 19, 2005 All 80s All the time! Plenty of blinky LED's Too! ADA MP1 Rocktron Intellifex LTD BBE 462 Marshall 8008 All sitting on a vintage 80's Pearce 2x12 Slant cab. And a shot of my FrankenVint (Vintage S 1pc flame maple body, Schecter 1pc solid rosewood neck. Ready to ROCK !!! Now all I need is my hair back LOL!!! Mark.
tobereeno Posted July 19, 2005 Posted July 19, 2005 I've always felt, correctly or not, that the key to that 80's sound was in the effects. Nice wet chorus and delay added to a bright crunch (read Marshallesque) distortion. A phaser can't hurt either, come to think of it.
kurtsstuff Posted July 19, 2005 Posted July 19, 2005 And remember....your nut sack bulge in your spandex should be on the left if your right handed and vice-versa...thats key to 80's tone!!
Jeff R Posted July 19, 2005 Posted July 19, 2005 The original Boss OD-1 and SD-1 pedals will boost those Marshalls real nice as well. Another vote for that route. That's what I do for that sound. Extra edge and icy harmonics galore.
SirDouglas Posted July 19, 2005 Posted July 19, 2005 In the 80s i uses straight up Sunn nothing fancy no pedals.... now i use only ampeg... i can get what ever sound i want jsut by changing basses and a tad of dial...(not soap) Sir DOuglas Randy
Guest Buck Dharma Posted July 19, 2005 Posted July 19, 2005 Need to have real tight spandex and makeup on! Make sure you act tough too, specially after the mascara. LOL only joking 80's people.
savethematches Posted July 19, 2005 Posted July 19, 2005 +1 for the ADA MP1I no longer have my 80's rig and never took any pictures of it (what a shame).My signal path was:Hamer TLEADA MP1 (w/ chorus on)Korg Reverb/Delay unitCrown DC150Laney 412 cab wired stereoThat was one badass rig! Way too hard to transport though after I ruined my left knee.
Nuclear Wessel Posted July 19, 2005 Posted July 19, 2005 The Sharp channel in my Hafler (Bogner designed) Triple Giant preamp nails that sound. It has a little extra fur. I don't use it much since we don't play much 80's material. I usually use the Brown channel, which is just perfect for classic rock. Great crunch, but less "zzzt" than the Sharp channel.Sorry, I know a pic would be worth 1000 words but I don't happen to have one. Greg, thanks for the info. That explains a lot of the lyrics & song titles in the 80's - compensating for inadequacy!
Brooks Posted July 19, 2005 Posted July 19, 2005 You guys with your little girlie man foot pedals and combo amps can eat my shorts!! yeah, guys like eric johnson, jeff beck, and SRV were trying to get that elusive ratt/crue "tone" all the wrong way; they needed a bunch of rack gear and floyded guitars, not stompboxes/tube amps/vintage guitars. what a bunch of idiots! ha.
Guest JackButler Posted July 19, 2005 Posted July 19, 2005 80s sound?!?!?!? What's that??? You guys talk like that ever went outta style or sumthin'! LOL!
pesocaster Posted July 19, 2005 Posted July 19, 2005 Let's not forget about the all important Rockman... when gigging in the 80's I mostly remember seeingRandall Solid state rigsMarshall + Pedals or racksRack rigs ... mostly ADA MP-1'sBut you have to remember your over-the-top use of CHORUS! ... on EVERYTHING!Get out the eyeliner, Aquanet and spandex
HamerHokie Posted July 19, 2005 Posted July 19, 2005 I know most of these guys played through JCM-800's, but there had to be something else. I've played through several JCM-800's that were maxed out, and still didn't have the "edge" that most hair bands had. Drop a cat into a chipper shredder.
kurtsstuff Posted July 19, 2005 Posted July 19, 2005 80s sound?!?!?!? What's that??? You guys talk like that ever went outta style or sumthin'! LOL! Ok,Ok!!! I admit it and I'm with Jack on this....I'm still using the same tone and rigs I've been using since the 80's hehe
silentman Posted July 19, 2005 Posted July 19, 2005 Funny - I'm thinking of going back to a rack... local store is blowing out a NOS Digitech 2112 for like $250.
BillW Posted July 19, 2005 Posted July 19, 2005 Here I go dating myself....back in the day ('86 - '89) I used a Rat II set to slight boost into a Yamaha spx-90 stereo out into 2 50W JCM800 NMV 1/2 stacks with greenbacks. Almost everyone I knew in the Boston area had something similar around that time - with the exception of a few MB Mark series stacks.- Bill
Steve Haynie Posted July 19, 2005 Posted July 19, 2005 I could never afford the TC Electronic 2290 which seemed to be the obligatory delay unit for all "serious" players in the 80's. With all the rack gear, it made me wonder what the amp heads were for.I must agree with the previous statement that the Peavey 5150 or the newer 6505 series have the 80's sound built in.
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