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Post subject: Signal processing?
Posted: Tue Aug 26, 2008 2:23 pm
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There was an interview with, I think, Alan Holdsworth in Guitar Player magazine some months ago and they got into a discussion of the things he plugs his guitar into-- the things between the strings and the speakers. It required a rather complex diagram to make it all comprehensible to me.

With so many effects, does it really matter what guitar is being played?

It's not a complaint or a rant, it's just a matter of curiosity.


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Post subject: Re: Signal processing?
Posted: Tue Aug 26, 2008 2:31 pm
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RudyH wrote:
There was an interview with, I think, Alan Holdsworth in Guitar Player magazine some months ago and they got into a discussion of the things he plugs his guitar into-- the things between the strings and the speakers. It required a rather complex diagram to make it all comprehensible to me.

With so many effects, does it really matter what guitar is being played?

It's not a complaint or a rant, it's just a matter of curiosity.


Depends on the quality of the gear (true bypass or not) and how much of it your using at any given time. I mean if you've got 7 stomps active your going to lose some of your guitars personality.

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Post subject: Re: Signal processing?
Posted: Tue Aug 26, 2008 4:53 pm
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RudyH wrote:
With so many effects, does it really matter what guitar is being played?


I've often wondered about that myself. With layers of distortion, reverb/delay, and modulation could the average guitarist tell a Strat from an LP? I never used a lot of effects, but I'm dusting off my pedals and experimenting more with them.

Similarly, I think that we as guitarists spend too much time and effort tweaking our rigs to get the "perfect" tone when our listeners probably can't tell the difference. They're usually listening to a song being played rather than trying to guage how much compression we've applied to our signal.


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Post subject: Re: Signal processing?
Posted: Tue Aug 26, 2008 5:02 pm
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stratmansteve wrote:
RudyH wrote:
With so many effects, does it really matter what guitar is being played?


I've often wondered about that myself. With layers of distortion, reverb/delay, and modulation could the average guitarist tell a Strat from an LP? I never used a lot of effects, but I'm dusting off my pedals and experimenting more with them.

Similarly, I think that we as guitarists spend too much time and effort tweaking our rigs to get the "perfect" tone when our listeners probably can't tell the difference. They're usually listening to a song being played rather than trying to guage how much compression we've applied to our signal.


Couldn't agree more. Your average axe slinger doesn't need more then a few simple fx to cover a lot of tonal ground. Delay, chorus, OD, comp, tube amp. That'll get ya where you want to go most of the time. Maybe you can add a phaser too but I'm not a fan of running more then one modulating effect.

I've noticed around here that every time I mention a compressor I get deadly silence in response. Doesn't anyone use a compressor anymore? I keep seeing these threads where people are asking about sustain, yet no one mentions compression as a remedy. Compressor's rock people!

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Post subject: Re: Signal processing?
Posted: Tue Aug 26, 2008 5:15 pm
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cryingstrat wrote:
stratmansteve wrote:
RudyH wrote:
With so many effects, does it really matter what guitar is being played?


I've often wondered about that myself. With layers of distortion, reverb/delay, and modulation could the average guitarist tell a Strat from an LP? I never used a lot of effects, but I'm dusting off my pedals and experimenting more with them.

Similarly, I think that we as guitarists spend too much time and effort tweaking our rigs to get the "perfect" tone when our listeners probably can't tell the difference. They're usually listening to a song being played rather than trying to guage how much compression we've applied to our signal.


Couldn't agree more. Your average axe slinger doesn't need more then a few simple fx to cover a lot of tonal ground. Delay, chorus, OD, comp, tube amp. That'll get ya where you want to go most of the time. Maybe you can add a phaser too but I'm not a fan of running more then one modulating effect.

I've noticed around here that every time I mention a compressor I get deadly silence in response. Doesn't anyone use a compressor anymore? I keep seeing these threads where people are asking about sustain, yet no one mentions compression as a remedy. Compressor's rock people!


An MXR Dyna-Comp and a little spring reverb have been the only constants in my rig for the last three years or so.


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Post subject: Re: Signal processing?
Posted: Tue Aug 26, 2008 5:16 pm
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cryingstrat wrote:
I've noticed around here that every time I mention a compressor I get deadly silence in response. Doesn't anyone use a compressor anymore? I keep seeing these threads where people are asking about sustain, yet no one mentions compression as a remedy. Compressor's rock people!


Yes! Though I use a compressor mainly to get an early Straits sound, rather than for wild gain-sustain. But that's good too!

Cheers - C


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Post subject:
Posted: Wed Aug 27, 2008 8:37 am
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Compressor and overdrive are the main ones that I use in an effects loop, but I try to avoid using anything if possible. (except for recording :wink: )

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Post subject:
Posted: Wed Aug 27, 2008 4:57 pm
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So far it seems that most of us agree that less is more in effects.

Lately I just gig with a couple of guitars and a tube amp. No effects.
Even though effects can sound good, I find that it gets in the way of my playing. "Should I use this effect? Oh, maybe this one" instead of just playing from the heart. I have considered adding a cry-baby or uni-vibe, however. Effects are great, but they have to be used with taste.

I have never tried a compressor pedal in my signal chain. Nothing against them, just haven't. But I use a mid-boost (built-in on guitar) to add overdrive for solos, so it probably wouldn't do me much good.


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Post subject:
Posted: Wed Aug 27, 2008 6:13 pm
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I really don't think that it is necessary to have more than 5, maybe 6 effects. A lot of players go without any. Jimi Hendrix had four later in his career:

vox v848 modified- dallas arbiter silicon transistor fuzz face- univox univibe- octavia.

Although, if there were more, he would probably get them. I really think i only need 3 for what i play, and i have a certain wish list.

GCB-95 Crybaby wah- Dan'o D-1 Fab distortion- Dan'o Chicken Salad Vibrato (it's a leslie effect pedal)

WHen distortion has the tone up and level up, it sounds a bit like fuzz, which is what i wanna get. I have overdrive, distortion, metal, and metal stack on my lead channel, but i don't wanna walk over to the amp to switch it.

Effects can really color up your sound, but it can also cover up your sand. It should be like seasoning; a dash here and there can make your food exciting- but to much, it is gonna be something hard to swallow.

-The Screamin' J

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