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Topic: Search for "acceptable" tone, an experiment |
Howard Parker
From:
Maryland
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Posted 12 Aug 2009 11:58 am |
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Over the last year I've come to be mildly dissatisfied with my tone. I place much of the blame on myself because I'm primarily a bluegrass dobro journeyman and it's tough not to "rip" tone out of the guitar 
That being said I'd like to get closer to my perception of "real acceptable" steel tone. With the help of Mike Auldridge and brother Tommy (he doesn't realize what a help he was..) we managed to take my modest rig and really change the character of the guitar with some very modest adjustment, and learn a few interesting things along the way.
My Rig:
Carter D-10 w/BCT(stock pups)==>Goodrich Pot==>Boss DD6==>Boss RV5==>NV112
Mikes Rig:
Zum Hybrid==>Emmons Pot==>Sarno Black Box==>ProfexII==>Art Power amp(?)==>Marrs 15in. cabs
Mike had Tommy's NV112 settings and they were very close to mine. That being said I was sounding fairly shrill compared to Mike. We made some _VERY_ minor "presence" and "high" changes to tame overall sound and the guitar became much more balanced up and down the neck.
The dramatic changes came as we dialed in the delay settings. The guitar took on a remarkable depth as I increased the delay from 300ms to 800ms and adjusted feedback and level controls to compensate. The guitar that had been an "upright piano" was now a "concert grand".
Mike and I did a lot of A/B listening over three hours and we were really happy with the rig. It had never sounded so lush and was comparing very favorably with Mikes rig.
We next plugged Mike's guitar directly into my rig. Results...Not too bad We didn't have the time to tweak.
The Carter guitar was then plugged into Mike's rig via the Black Box. Sounded like crap. Made a few changes to the BB and the world came back. I'm sure we could have dialed it in if we had had time.
Took Mike's Black Box an inserted into my signal chain......WHOA NELLIE!!!!!! That was awesome!!!
For the final test of the day Mike and I switched off on my guitar. We were thrilled the way it sounded when I played it. When Mike played it...we founded it to be a tad lacking.
In this instance it would seem that tone is in the hands, my hands to be precise. My rig and personalized setup.
Conclusions?
1. Reinforced my belief that any well built guitar, however modest can be dialed in to sound terrific.
2. The NV112 IS an awesome amp. It's weight will probably add years to my performing life (such as it is).
3. Sarno Black Box..Hey the rig sounded just great without it, but subtly "majestic" with it.
3. Tone is in the hands. My rig, my hands. Play it at your own risk.
Finally...It's good to have friends. I wanted to take a picture of Mike carrying my gear...It didn't happen.
h
_________________
Howard Parker
03\' Carter D-10
70\'s Dekley D-10
52\' Fender Custom
Many guitars by Paul Beard
Listowner Resoguit-L
Last edited by Howard Parker on 12 Aug 2009 4:23 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Lee Baucum
From:
McAllen, Texas (Extreme South) The Final Frontier
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Posted 12 Aug 2009 2:52 pm
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| Howard - You said you increased the delay out to 800ms and adjusted the feedback. Were you using more than one repeat or did you adjust it where there were several repeats? |
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Howard Parker
From:
Maryland
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Posted 12 Aug 2009 2:59 pm
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We ended up with one repeat with just a faint hint of a second one starting.
_________________
Howard Parker
03\' Carter D-10
70\'s Dekley D-10
52\' Fender Custom
Many guitars by Paul Beard
Listowner Resoguit-L |
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Mike Schwartzman
From:
Maryland, USA
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Posted 12 Aug 2009 3:11 pm
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Howard...I had the pleasure of hearing Mike's rig about one or two yrs. ago during a lesson (Mike's a great teacher too).
If your rig sounded anything like Mike's...it's tone is beautiful for sure. Thanks for posting your results.
_________________
Emmons Push Pull, BMI, Session 400, Home of the Slimcaster Tele. |
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Lee Baucum
From:
McAllen, Texas (Extreme South) The Final Frontier
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Posted 12 Aug 2009 3:17 pm
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| Thanks, Howard. Does Mike (or do you) use that long of a delay on up-tempo tunes? |
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Howard Parker
From:
Maryland
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Posted 12 Aug 2009 3:21 pm
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I personally don't, nor do I use it on most C6 stuff.
_________________
Howard Parker
03\' Carter D-10
70\'s Dekley D-10
52\' Fender Custom
Many guitars by Paul Beard
Listowner Resoguit-L |
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Howard Parker
From:
Maryland
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Posted 12 Aug 2009 3:27 pm
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As for the delay setting, I really don't hear the delay unless I abruptly stop a note. On long phrases/ballads it comes across as "fat" tone.
This is a new approach for me. I'm used to setting back the delay to 300ms and cranking up the feedback.
So far, it makes _this_ guitar sound very "open".
h
_________________
Howard Parker
03\' Carter D-10
70\'s Dekley D-10
52\' Fender Custom
Many guitars by Paul Beard
Listowner Resoguit-L |
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Danny Naccarato
From:
Burleson, Texas
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Posted 12 Aug 2009 4:13 pm
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Something to think about Howard... Typically the Reverb is after the Delay in the chain. You might try swapping them to see what kind of results you get...
Danny |
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Howard Parker
From:
Maryland
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Posted 12 Aug 2009 4:22 pm
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Thanks...My diagram was reversed. It should read DD6==>RV5.
Thanks for the heads up. I'll make the change.
h
_________________
Howard Parker
03\' Carter D-10
70\'s Dekley D-10
52\' Fender Custom
Many guitars by Paul Beard
Listowner Resoguit-L |
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Mike Schwartzman
From:
Maryland, USA
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Posted 12 Aug 2009 6:53 pm
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Well Lee, I've been using the Digitech X Series Digidelay through the effects loop of an Evans Amp. I've really enjoyed the "Tape Delay" setting with the slower tempo tunes, but I'll turn it off or switch the selector to the short MS setting on the more up tempo tunes. Reverb is onboard in the Evans Amp.
_________________
Emmons Push Pull, BMI, Session 400, Home of the Slimcaster Tele. |
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b0b
From:
Cloverdale, CA, USA
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