Other lead sound options

[backinit]

I have been using a compressor as an lead break tool...pump up the volume...even out the notes..it actually works well. I'm just wondering what others are using as I question how it affects the dynamics of playing. Maybe I'm over thinking this some..

I do use a pedal for dirt so I'm not sure if some other options might increase noise.

[Victor (Fret Friend)]

The BOOST switch on an Electro Harmonix Metal Muff! What more could you possibly need?

[MCChris]

The BOOST switch on an Electro Harmonix Metal Muff! What more could you possibly need?

Eh, what to you know? You have no fucking ear for music.

[Victor (Fret Friend)]

The BOOST switch on an Electro Harmonix Metal Muff! What more could you possibly need?

Eh, what to you know? You have no fucking ear for music.

Awesome! Well done

Should I remove my post MCChris? I wouldn't want to get on your bad side now would I?

[carfish7]

A graphic EQ can be useful for making the notes stand out or "bite" a little more while also giving a boost, or round out the sound and give it more heft and definition if that is more effective in the context of whatever music you are playing at the time. I used an older Japanese Boss GE-7 with Monte Allums mods and it was extremely quiet and unobtrusive. Using one in a loop post-drive gets the best result for me. I also use a light delay just because it makes for a bit more loveliness in my mind.

Now I have a TC Nova System that allows me to do a few things at once with a single stomp to get my solos out front. Much easier to navigate than in the past where it was a 2 stomp affair!

[hamerhead]

I run a second OCD set a little dirtier and a little darker than the first one (which is left on all of the time). They stack really well, and the first one cleans up surprisingly well when you back the volume down on the guitar. Hit the second one and it's all nice and thick and punchy. I play mostly humbuckers, but singles do alright, too.

A Barber Tone Press is the 1st thing in my chain, and left on all of the time. The mix knob makes all the difference - just enough that it's there, but you don't hear it.

[backinit]

I run a second OCD set a little dirtier and a little darker than the first one (which is left on all of the time). They stack really well, and the first one cleans up surprisingly well when you back the volume down on the guitar. Hit the second one and it's all nice and thick and punchy. I play mostly humbuckers, but singles do alright, too.

A Barber Tone Press is the 1st thing in my chain, and left on all of the time. The mix knob makes all the difference - just enough that it's there, but you don't hear it.

I thought about something similar...maybe an EP booster or AC tone or similar. I really don't want to color the sound too much. If I'm clean during the rhythm parts I really don't want to add gain to the solos. The EQ maybe....?

Thanks for the responses...really

[Bennyboy-UK]

How about dialling in your lead tone with the guitar on 10, then backing off the guitar volume a bit to clean it up for not lead breaks.

When you max the guitar it'll add more filth, compress the signal a bit although the overall volume won't increase.

I know it's not big or clever doing this but it's an old trick that is very effective, and avoids tap dancing, and probably underused by the masses...

Done here by some bearded bloke, who looks fairly handy at playing the guitar at about 2.07

[carfish7]

don't want to add gain to the solos. The EQ maybe....

Post preamp in the loop - EQ is perfection for this. If used hitting the front-end, it will change gain structure and be far less effective at just getting it "one louder".

[Jakeboy]

+100000 on the guitar vol control. The right guitar will be sparkling clean at 5 or 6 and turn to ilthy snarl at 10.....of course you need the right amp for this as well. It is the only way I know how to play.

[zenmindbeginner]

I have a Barber Tone Press for extra boost but I force myself to never use it.

Same tone for rhythm and same tone for lead... hell I just use one tone. I have a little delay for color but it's largely unnoticeable and part of my "one tone".

As far as a compressor ruining your dynamics... dynamics are overrated.

Most amps have a crap dynamic range and rock and roll exists in the "red" right?

I just don't see a lot of dynamic range with an electric guitar... I don't see a lot of frequency bandwidth either. Not much going on below 100Hz or above 7KHz and the dynamic range of an electric guitar is rather flat too. It's due to our hearing "curve" boosting and limiting the midrange frequencies (compression) while not having very good ability to pick out discernible tones below 100Hz and above 7KHz. When our ears hear an electric guitar, we automatically compress the signal since it exists in the frequency range of speech which our hearing systems are tuned for.

The pickups and amp compress the signal and your ears further compress it... compression and a reduced dynamic range is a natural part of the listening experience.

The listeners want to hear your nuances just as much as they want your bold stuff to not rip their heads off... that is the definition of compression. Compression is so that the audience can enjoy your playing more, not for you to focus on the supposed lack of dynamics. When I am playing a solo, I am concerned with not fucking up... dynamics takes care of itself. You are either a dynamic picker or not, a compressor will not diminish that or take away from it.

The concern over dynamic range is best left to classical listeners and musicians, audiophiles with more money than sense and old blues musicians who tend to plug straight into a pre 1970's tube amp with no master volume.

Break out that compressor but make sure that you have some kind of noise reduction since compressors magnify the EMI/RFI that is swarming around in the vicinity as well as your noise floor.

When I bought my Barber Tone Press... I had to immediately go out and buy an ISP Decimator since I think I let someone borrow my old half rack HUSH II unit and don't remember who.

Compressors sound their best with a noise reducer or a very low inherent noise floor to begin with.

As far as an EQ, a little low mid boost can give your solos a little more heft and weight to the high notes but don't go overboard.

When I played Marshalls back in the day, I started use a CS-3 for my solos but ended up leaving it on all of the time and changing my gain a bit. My solution was just to set my volume pedal's minimum to my rhythm level and maximum for my leads and just rock 'er back and forth. Since my volume pedal was first in the chain, it sent less signal to the compressor for my rhythms which ended up sounding very natural to my ears.

[hamerhead]

I just don't see a lot of dynamic range with an electric guitar

That's one of the funniest things I've ever read on the HFC.

[RichRS6]

Bennyboy and Jakeboy hit it right on the head.

Get the right guitar and a good tube amp and it's all there (at least for what I do live or otherwise).

The less knobs to twiddle and stomp boxes to get in the way the better.

[backinit]

I get the volume knob twist for leads and I have tried it...it just doesn't work well for me. There just isn't enough volume. I'm not a huge fan on the way rhythm parts with gain sound. I would just rather step on a box and hear it sing out.

[Bennyboy-UK]

That's fair, if it works for you. I have a channel switching amp so yeah, I can do that too.

[aknapp]

I get the volume knob twist for leads and I have tried it...it just doesn't work well for me. There just isn't enough volume. I'm not a huge fan on the way rhythm parts with gain sound. I would just rather step on a box and hear it sing out.

Maybe this would work?

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Electronics,_pickups/Potentiometers/JackPot_Potentiometer.html

[zenmindbeginner]

F**k! I didn't think of this, but you could use a push pull pot to enact a parallel circuit where the volume and tone control is bypassed... Evan Skopp from SD refers to it as a "Blower Switch".

This looks like exactly what you want and is pretty inexpensive compared to another pedal or whatnot.

It gets my vote.

[Bobby Marshall]

Mr. Jim Tyler used to (and maybe still does) offer a blower switch as an option on his guitars that would bypass the selector switch and just have the bridge straight to the output jack. I thought this seemed to be a great option.

Great point bringing this up.

[RichRS6]

Anyone here used the blower switch or the stewmac version ?

Does going straight from the pick up to the output jack really make any (easily) perceptible difference ?

[backinit]

That should make a different in the tone for sure. ..but I can say that is not the direction that I want.

[hamerhead]

The EP Booster will get you there. It warms up the sound a little but is otherwise pretty transparent - no weird mid boost or odd EQ spike, just a fuller sounding volume increase. It's a great pedal. And really tiny.

[Hackubus]

What kind of amp is it? Does it have an effects loop?

A friend of mine has a JCM900 head with fx loop & sticks a MXR Micro Boost in the loop. It made for a considerable amount of boost when I saw their band play last weekend. (In fact, I felt he could actually stood to have turned it down a bit)

[hamerhead]

TURN IT DOWN?!?

[Hackubus]

I know right?

What they need to invent, is a switch that turns the rest of the damned band down when it's guitar solo time.

[backinit]

What kind of amp is it? Does it have an effects loop?

A friend of mine has a JCM900 head with fx loop & sticks a MXR Micro Boost in the loop. It made for a considerable amount of boost when I saw their band play last weekend. (In fact, I felt he could actually stood to have turned it down a bit)

I have 3 different amps depending on the situation, so it's an option. Maybe a modded LPB-1?

[gorch]

...

Done here by some bearded bloke, who looks fairly handy at playing the guitar at about 2.07

My computer scrolls up to 2.06. What can I do?

I just don't see a lot of dynamic range with an electric guitar

That's one of the funniest things I've ever read on the HFC.

That's the truth!

The truth also is that FC Bayern had beaten Lille by 6:1 in the European Champions League Soccer/Football this evening, I had a set of 5 Dusseldorfer Alt Beer, and almost crunched a bag of crisps. Not that I'm a fan of FC Bayern. It's just that a loose evening turned to something well.