Music Equipment Questions?

[FUNKMAN]

I have the Boss GT-6 Pedal and a Peavey 410 Tube amp. When i'm using the pedal and it's effects it seems that i get the best sound when the amp is at low volume. The more i raise the volume the more 'distorted of unclear' the effected sound seems to get.

Could it be a compatability issue with the pedal and a tube amp? Would i need to go solid state?

I had heard that it would be good to have a very good PA system where i could keep the effect and amp low and just add the volume i need through the PA, which should help keep the sound i like. But i don't have the funds for a high quality PA right now.

Any advice or suggestions would be appreciated!



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i just got sig'd by the sweetest Kat...

[TheMojoPin]

Music Equipment Questions?

No, thanks, but I don't have any.

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2% << December boys got it BAD >> "You might tell some lies about the good times we've had/But I've kissed your mother twice...and now I'm working on your dad..."

[Gvac]

Accept no imitations, Funkman. The ONLY distortion pedal I've ever used that's worth a damn is the Ibanez TS-9 Tube Screamer. It costs about $100, but it's well worth it.

And as far as going solid state - SACRILEGE!

http://sweb.uky.edu/~clvand0/Monte/TS-9.jpg

<img src=http://ltrooster.homestead.com/files/gvacamerica.jpg>

[Spank Daddy]

Is your pedal board powered by AC, and plugged into the same circuit ( you know, the 'holes' in the wall ) as your amp when you play ?? I had this problem with AC powered Boss pedals and a all-tube amp, but when I switched to all battery power and took it out of the circuit, the noise went away.



<IMG SRC="http://hometown.aol.com/varmintmike/images/cheech&chongsigpic.jpg">

[FUNKMAN]

The ONLY distortion pedal I've ever used that's worth a damn is the Ibanez TS-9 Tube Screamer.


G,

Thanks for the info. Next time i'm at the Guitar Center i will have to try it out!

regards,

Funkman

<img src="http://64.177.177.182/katylina/funkmansig.jpg">
i just got sig'd by the sweetest Kat...

[FUNKMAN]

Is your pedal board powered by AC, and plugged into the same circuit ( you know, the 'holes' in the wall ) as your amp when you play ?? I had this problem with AC powered Boss pedals and a all-tube amp, but when I switched to all battery power and took it out of the circuit, the noise went away.


Spankdaddy,

I am using the same powerstrip for the pedal and amp. What if i try seperate AC sources instead of going battery?

thanks!

<img src="http://64.177.177.182/katylina/funkmansig.jpg">
i just got sig'd by the sweetest Kat...

[Spank Daddy]

Funk......even if you plug each item on it's own strips into seperate holes in the wall ( like I tried at a rehearsal studio ), the power from each socket may be all coming from the same circuit/power source/fusebox. That's how it was explained to me, as I has the same problems........so when I powered up all my effects with 9V batteries, and keep the signal from guitar to effects to amp in the same line with no outside connections, I had no noise problems at all, and super clear response from guitar to amp.





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[Spank Daddy]

And as far as going solid state - SACRILEGE!

You got that right brother..........a Sovtek MIG 100 watt all tube amp powered by 4 - 5881's and 12AX7's Budday !!!


<IMG SRC="http://hometown.aol.com/varmintmike/images/cheech&chongsigpic.jpg">

[A.J.]

And as far as going solid state - SACRILEGE!


Hey, I was a starving college student! It was all I could afford.

That said, my Peavey Studio Pro 50 has better built in distortion than the Boss pedal I bought.

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A Skidmark production.

Red Sox Nation

[FUNKMAN]

Funk......even if you plug each item on it's own strips into seperate holes in the wall ( like I tried at a rehearsal studio ), the power from each socket may be all coming from the same circuit/power source/fusebox. That's how it was explained to me, as I has the same problems........so when I powered up all my effects with 9V batteries, and keep the signal from guitar to effects to amp in the same line with no outside connections, I had no noise problems at all, and super clear response from guitar to amp.


Thanks Again! I'll try it 'if' it takes batteries? Just checked the specs and i don't see anything about DC.

Connectors: Input Jack, Output Jacks (L/Mono, R), Phones Jack, Send Jack, Return Jack, Digital Out Connector (coaxial), Sub EXP Pedal/Sub CTL Pedal 1,2 Jack, MIDI connectors IN/OUT, AC Adapter Jack

Power Supply: AC 14V Supply AC Adapter (Boss BRC Series)

Current Draw: 800 mA

Dimensions (W x D x H): 515 x 261 x 75 mm (20-5/16 x 10-5/16 x 3 in.)

Weight (excluding AC Adapter): 4.7 kg (10 lbs., 6 oz.)

Accessories: AC Adapter (Boss BRC Series)

Options: FS-5U, FS-5L, EV-5, FV-300L+PCS-33

*0 dBu=0.775 Vrms


<img src="http://64.177.177.182/katylina/funkmansig.jpg">
i just got sig'd by the sweetest Kat...

[David Lee Kinison]

Pedals we don't need no stinking pedals!

http://www.marshallamps.com/images/archive/images/4104.jpg

D
L
K

A Lil Aint Enough !!!

[Spank Daddy]

Yeah Funk, your "total package" effect board won't take batteries, so you're stuck with further questions..........do I need all these effects and deal with noise, or would a string of 2-5 different stomp boxes be enough for my sound needs, or possibly go straight to the amp and work it with a plain volume pedal ?? Everybody's gotta figure out their own sound, and what works best for them. I like to keep it as simple as possible ( tuner, distortion, wah, and chorus ) and let the Les Paul and glowing glass and hot metal amp ( and hopefully my playing ability, too ) take care of the rest.

Good luck in finding your sound dude.


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[zootybang]

I have the GT-6 also, and i play through a peavey ultra-plus 120 watt tube head.
Are you using the effects while on the distortion channel? Because that doesn't work. You'll get total shit sound. You have to be on the clean channel with all the equilization turned to zero. It even says it in the GT-6 manual.

[FUNKMAN]

Are you using the effects while on the distortion channel? Because that doesn't work. You'll get total shit sound. You have to be on the clean channel with all the equilization turned to zero. It even says it in the GT-6 manual.


Zooty,

I had read that and i am using the 'clean' channel with the low/mid/highs turned to the lowest position. I have the Combo Peavey 410 Ultra 60 watt.

It may be just my ear and my taste in sound. I believe what SpankDaddy is saying and i have Chorus, Delay, and WaWa pedals that take the 9volt. I'm gonna do some testing and see how the battery powered pedals clean up the sound!

Thanks for the input!

<img src="http://64.177.177.182/katylina/funkmansig.jpg">
i just got sig'd by the sweetest Kat...

[MizzleTizzle]

The GT-6, like the Line Pods have amp modeling, and It sounds like you know this, but if you're doing any amp modeling, what you want this thing to go through is nothing, a JBL EON or something similar; keyboard amp type stuff with a wider frequency response; those old tubes amps kick ass, but over more midrange then the highs and lows you get with the fancy schmancy multi-FX boards like these; tube amps will just color everything through its own sound.

I do like the COSM effects though; they are on the Boss Digital Recorders, and I use them mostly for synths, but the FX and amp models are coolness.

For me personally? These multi-FX things are great for home and studio, and live with the right support sound system; for live on stage I'm in the guitar thru a stomp box or two, direct in to amp.

my 2

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just below the surface of what we might call our ordinary lives lie riches

[FUNKMAN]

my 2


thank you thank you!

appreciate your input!

<img src="http://64.177.177.182/katylina/funkmansig.jpg">
i just got sig'd by the sweetest Kat...

[jocefus]

funk, make sure the pre amp or gain knob (not sure what u have ) is turned down low. the pre amp and gain is used for punch/distortion on the amp... so turn them bitches down =D ...

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Big ups to amy, aggie, satcam,adf and fluff for the sigs..

hey my man, what it look like

[FUNKMAN]

funk, make sure the pre amp or gain knob (not sure what u have ) is turned down low. the pre amp and gain is used for punch/distortion on the amp... so turn them bitches down =D ...


Thanks budday!

Maybe i didn't give it a good checkover and i'll make sure the gain is down 'all the way'...

<img src="http://64.177.177.182/katylina/funkmansig.jpg">
i just got sig'd by the sweetest Kat...

[Borne Too Loose]

Accept no imitations, Funkman. The ONLY distortion pedal I've ever used that's worth a damn is the Ibanez TS-9 Tube Screamer. It costs about $100, but it's well worth it.


GVac is TOTALLY right! the TS-9 is probably the best sounding distortion pedal available. Only outshined by it's predecessor, the T-808 i believe, sounded better, but it's still versatile for just about any style.
As far as the PA, i think it makes a difference and helps, but really its only necessary when gigging and almost always provided by the host, so let them deal with it. if its just for rehearsals i wouldnt drop that money. to make up for volume, i always like to just rig together a couple of Tube amps (Fender Bluesmans and Twin Reverbs strung together always made up the difference.)
The only effects board i ever liked was the Boss
ME-X.
http://www.lyana.nl/afbeeldingen/mex.jpg
Good effects without much tone compromise. They still go pretty reasonably on ebay. I ran this board with a Vox Wah, Roto-Vibe, and an MXR dyna-comp compressor for boosts on solos. Probably one of my best gigging set-ups to memory.
Hope it helps.

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[Late2party]

You're overthinking it. Just like my schoolteachers told me.

Play what you want to play and let the effects take care of themselves. They don't define you, Ronny J. Dio, they enhance you. Relax. You are a good player, and that will show regardless of whatever digital digeridoos you employ to make you sound phatter.

OK, now everyone chime in.

[KCfromDC]

My turn...

I have been playing and collecting guitars and amps for the last 15 years or so. Believe me when I say I have done (read: overdone) it all, from recreating Eddie Van Halen's entire rig, to building custom effects at home. I have since seen the light, and ramped my live rig down to a '69 Gretsch with just a pickup selector and master volume, a Tube Screamer, and a 40 watt all tube Fender Vibrolux. Really occasionally. I'll throw in a little Ibannez DE-7 echo.

Now, here's why. The electric guitar was PERFECTED sometime around 1952, when Fender broke the mold with the Telecaster. This means that in 50 years, no one has made any major improvements, other than better materials, and workmanship. The electonics could not be simpler. A metal string vibrates across a magnetic field, and is amplified electronically. The purest sound you will ever hear is the path of least resistance. Adding all of these other effects (especially AC powered boxes) does nothing but corrupt the signal, under the effect's claim to "enhance" it.

Anyways, back to the original question. If you must have a multi-effects, or anything AC powered, other than your amp, the best bet is to invest in a Furman Power Conditioner that ensures that all of your gear is getting regulated voltage. If you still hear humming, try grounding all of your units to a common chasis.

Sorry for the rant, but you hit me in my very favorite arena.
KC

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This message was edited by KCfromDC on 1-27-04 @ 12:24 AM

[FUNKMAN]

Sorry for the rant, but you hit me in my very favorite arena.


KC,

no apologies necessary, love the passion...

Thanks for sharing your experience! I'm going to experiment with the advice provided by everyone and hope i'm able to obtain a sound i'm happy with.

i'm learning how important the sound can be, if you are 'very happy' with the sound then you seem to play so much better...

<img src="http://64.177.177.182/katylina/funkmansig.jpg">
i got sig'd about two weeks ago by the sweetest Kat...

[Zipgun]

The electric guitar was PERFECTED sometime around 1952, when Fender broke the mold with the Telecaster.



1948 actually, however, I wouldn't quite say it was perfected. The Les Paul is a much more efficient guitar.

I had a really long post and went into detail chronicling the history of the electric guitar, but some weird shit happened and the window closed. Consider yourselves lucky you didn't have to sit though it. I was even boring myself.


I have two rigs, but the one I use primarily gets me a great range of tones. A Marshall JCM900 50 Watt Hi-Gain Dual Reverb Head, with a 1971 Orange 4X12 Cabinet. I prefer the 50 Watt instead of the 100 Watt, because the clean channel has warmer bell-like tones, and the gain channel is just as mean as the 100 Watt and if you're playing a small club, there's no need for 100 Watts. So basically, I don't even really need a distortion pedal anymore, I just switch channels. The gain channel is so mean, that even if I do use a distortion pedal, the pedal's level can't match the output the amp has and the volume actually decreases. The only pedal I use is an MXR Phase 90. If you do have to use a distortion pedal, I agree, the TS-9 is as good as it gets. I'm also a fan of the Big Muff, but that's like the AK-47 of distortion pedals, it makes a very distinct sound when fired at you.

My other rig is a Line6 Flextone 60 watt 1X12 combo. Real sweet at getting different amp modeling sounds, but I'm still trying to wrestle with it and harness it at higher volumes without getting feedback and still keeping the tone I want. It's great for recording though when you don't have to overdrive it to get the sound you're looking for and can just adjust the levels in the board.

I used to use a Peavey Deuce but it died on me. I loved that combo amp.

A good idea to get a feel for what you want, and how to make it work is to go to shows and check out how other players have their rigs set up. And it never hurts to ask a guy how he gets his sound. You may find an asshole who doesn't want to talk about it, but more likely, gearheads love talking about that shit.

Feel free to come to my gig on Saturday 1/31 @ 9pm at The Brookwood in Jackson N.J. and hear it for yourself.




The Brookwood is located in the shopping center on the corner of County Line Road & South Prospect Road in Jackson, about 2 miles west of Route 9.

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This message was edited by skidmark on 1-27-04 @ 1:27 AM

[DC Reed]

Tube Amps are made to have more distortion when thier louder. Its a characteristic of them. Tubes your really not supposed to overload with effects as far as im concerened.

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Reed 0 Fallon 2
Dolphins vs Patriots


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[Zipgun]

Indeed.

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[FUNKMAN]

Feel free to come to my gig on Saturday 1/31 @ 9pm at The Brookwood in Jackson N.J. and hear it for yourself.


I know exactly where it's at, my wife goes there sometimes with a friend to do karaoke... all I can say is "fuck'... I work Saturday nights and would have loved to see and hear you play. It's fucking a half mile from my house...

I've got to get off of weekends one of these years...

Good Luck with the gig!

<img src="http://64.177.177.182/katylina/funkmansig.jpg">
i got sig'd about two weeks ago by the sweetest Kat...

[KCfromDC]

The Les Paul is a much more efficient guitar.


I'll leave that as a friendly debate for another time :) , but my point still stands. The Les Paul was also perfected in the 50's. There's just not that much that digital technology can improve on a wooden instrument with steel srings.

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[Zipgun]

There's just not that much that digital technology can improve on a wooden instrument with steel srings



Well, the "not much" part is true, but there are still things that can be refined. Digital technology can be helpful in construction to get better accuracy for measurements. There are some guitar makers who could completely disagree, but they tend to make guitars that are either too obstructive to play comfortably or just stupid (like the Parker Fly). Some top players will swear by a Parker Fly, but I personally hate playing one. And don't forget the whole MIDI introduction from the 80's. Not my taste, but hey, someone else might think it's great.

For me, I'm an old school vintage fan, practically a snob about it actually. I'm still in shock that I own an amp without tubes.

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This message was edited by skidmark on 1-27-04 @ 12:38 PM

[JustJon]

bring back the keytar!

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[sdimarco]

I have a Boss FS-5L pedal. it doesn't seem to work for me. i am trying ot use it a s a channel selector for my Peavy 5150. but it does not change the channel for me, when i have it plugged into my "remote switch" jack. Dose anyone know what i can do or try????

[TheRealEddie]

Funkman,

Are you plugging your pedal board into the guitar jack on your tube amp?

This input is "designed" (impedence matched) to have a guitar plugged into it which is a low voltage signal. Your pedal board is probably putting out "line voltage" which is a beefier signal. You are most likely overloading the preamp on your tube amp which is causing the distortion. It could be a slight distortion which is why you don't hear it until you turn up the amp. Try lowering the output on your pedal box, or lowering the preamp gain on your amp.

If you are only using your pedal box for post effects like chorus, delays, reverbs, etc and not preamp effects like distortion or pre-eq'ing, I would suggest plugging your pedal box into the effects loop of your amp if it has one. Also, if you use your pedal box to set your tone completely, you may want to see if your Peavy amp has a power amp in where you would be bypassing the amps pre-amp completely. I have an old Peavy Bandit 112 that has this feature....

One last note, if you don't recognize that a Fender Strat and a Les Paul are two COMPLETELY different animals when it comes to tone and feel, I'd suggest doing more research on the subject :).

-e

Big A.S.S. #20261

<img src="http://www.princeton.edu/~eddie/webpics/eddiesig.gif">

[Mike Teacher]

Tubes are awesome, but if you're not convinced on solid state amps/effects, come over and plug in to this and have a listen. The neighbors love it.

And their neighbors.

http://members.aol.com/miketeachr/bass

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This message was edited by Mike Teacher on 11-30-04 @ 10:33 AM

[fezident]

Funk,
Everyone here pretty much nailed it.
Make sure you are using the clean channel and that ANYTHING controlling gain, distortion, and volume is set to a reasonably low level. This will eliminate variables.

Clean Boss sound + distorted Amp= distortion
Distorted Boss sound + Clean Amp= distortion
In other words: Distortion always "wins".

I know you already know this...but check every setting in the chain anyway. Pedal Input Level, Pedal Output Level, PreAmp, Distortion, & Volume etc etc...

Let us know what, ultimately, was the problem.

Aboot that Ibanez distortion pedal, YES! It's a great one. They made a newer version that has a "turbo" setting that is very rich. If you use the Turbo setting with very low gain, you can get a really nice grind.
Also... the TS9 and 808 works REALLY well on Bass Guitar. Nothing beats the SansAmp but, the Ibanez does the job quite nicely.



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"I'm looking for the 'Make Believe Ballroom'....Don't get fresh, Buddy!"

Fez for Prez in 2008

[fezident]

BTW...
Mike, love the Rick. Love it.

<IMG SRC=http://www.davezdyrko.com/images/vida_7a.jpg>
"I'm looking for the 'Make Believe Ballroom'....Don't get fresh, Buddy!"

Fez for Prez in 2008

[FUNKMAN]

turns out i've been just using my Boss GT-6 and it has been serving me well. For nice distortion i've been using the Big Fiber effect, a Spacy Clean effect that works really well with songs like One by U2, Black Velvet by Alannah Myles, and Let It Be and a Clean effect for Bobby McGhee or any other acoustic/doable tune...

but I just got a new Ibanez TS-9 for X-mas and i began reading up on it today. It turns out 'from what i read' that the new TS-9-reissue uses a different chip than the original and alot of people say it's not as good. There are some people on the web who will also modify the TS-9 reissue to sound like the original TS-808 which supposedly had the best/smoothest sound. This guy 'analogman' does it for around 50 bucks.

I know a couple of you guys spoke of the TS-9 and was wondering what your experiences with the TS-9'original', TS-808, and TS-9'reissue' have been.

And whether i should get my new TS-9 modified to sound like a TS-808...

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[sr71blackbird]

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[Zipgun]

It turns out 'from what i read' that the new TS-9-reissue uses a different chip than the original and alot of people say it's not as good. There are some people on the web who will also modify the TS-9 reissue to sound like the original TS-808 which supposedly had the best/smoothest sound.


Yes. These people are called "snobs". They thrive on anything vintage and will denounce anything made after 1979 or with digital technology. I know of what I speak, for I am one of them.

An original TS-808 has the JRC4558P chip and is very rare and expensive. I saw one on eBay currently going for about $350 (not including shipping), so a $50 mod isn't all that bad.

While it would be nice to have an old or modified one, if I got a new TS-9 I'd be happy with it. Bear in mind, a pedal is just a pedal. A metal box with circuits, knobs and a switch. It's the player that makes the real difference. Sure, it can give you great sustain, overdrive, etc... but unless you're really getting up there and wailing like SRV, you probably won't notice much difference between the new TS-9 and the old. Not to mention that those sustains and overdrives that are so heralded, are coming out of well maintained amplifiers at a volume that is going to be too big for most small clubs.

If you want to go ahead with the mod, I'd suggest you go see the guy, bring your TS-9, play a snipet of what you'd normally play through it while you're there, and then play the same thing through a modded TS-9. Listen if you can really hear enough of a difference to make it worth it. I mean really listen. Don't get caught up in the moment and let your psyche get the best of you. If you feel it's worth it, go ahead. But don't let the snobs get the best of you.

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[color=White]

[FUNKMAN]

Thanks for the feedback Skid!!!

Much Appreciated and I'm gonna hold off on any 'modding' and see how she sounds.

I'll be honest with you as i always try to be with myself. I'm just an average guitar player who knows his limitations because i've played amongst a bunch of better players. Most have been playing since they were young kids where i started when i was 30 and they've earned their skills.

I just play what i can handle and just feel if my timing is good and my sense of rhythm then i can just add a little something to the overall sound of the band. It seems from my brief experience that certain effects can make or break a song. Especially when you're playing a mix of ballads, light rock, and some heavy rock.

The lead guitarist in the band we are trying to get gigging had always played only Heavy Metal/Randy Rhoades type music and now he is playing Sheryl Crowe, U2, and Beatles and he said it was much easier playing one type of music where there was little 'effect changes' going on between songs. He's still figuring out the transitioning he needs to do in his big Digitech effect box.

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