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Topic: Tone question |
Landon Johnson
From:
Washington, USA
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Posted 29 Sep 2019 8:05 am |
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Hi, recently acquired a Peavey Session 2000 amp - great improvement over the VOX AC-5 I was using 
So... my question about this amp, and tone in general, is:
How do you set up your basic tone when at home in the studio, by yourself, so it will sound good in the mix?
From my work with Mellotrons in another life, I've learned that what sounds good solo generally sounds rough in a mix, and what sounds good in a mix generally is not optimal solo.
(when I say 'solo' I mean the instrument alone, not a solo instrumental for example)
It's been trial and error for months and despite getting a sound I like by myself I cannot dial in a sound that plays well in a full band.
Any suggestions? |
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Georg Sørtun
From:
Mandal, Agder, Norway
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Posted 29 Sep 2019 10:41 am
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Unless you play at more or less the exact same level (volume) in all situations and venues, it will never sound the same. And thank God for that … or our ears natural sensitivity-curves.
In a complex setting - in a band for instance, it is most often best to find the frequency range where the steel doesn't compete too much with the other instruments. That's usually the mid-range.
FWIW: regardless of amp; I rarely ever modify tone-settings away from neutral (flat), and if it doesn't sound to my liking the equipment is either broken or my playing is to blame. Changing playing-style to suit the situation usually works better for me than turning knobs. |
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Rick Abbott
From:
Indiana, USA
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Posted 29 Sep 2019 5:39 pm Re: Tone question
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| Landon Johnson wrote: |
It's been trial and error for months and despite getting a sound I like by myself I cannot dial in a sound that plays well in a full band.
Any suggestions? |
Is it that you have heard recordings and don't like the tone, or what you hear as you play is off in some way? Record a show if you haven't.
I play an old Sho~Bud through a variety of amps, but my tone is always very much like the guitar player's tone. He plays a Tele into a small tube amp. My point is, you might determine how you need to fit into the mix and then set about creating that tone. My sound is sort of tele-like and the guitar player and I either stay completely away from each other, meaning he's playing or I am, OR we attempt to fill the space together in a melding of our styles. One person told me that they couldn't figure out who was playing what much of the time, but they liked it.
I like clean lows, strong mids and rolled off highs. What do you like? Answer that, learn to use the mid-shift and you'll be golden! Just my two cents, FWIW.
_________________
RICK ABBOTT
Sho~Bud D-10 Professional #7962
Remington T-8, Sehy #112
1975 Peavey Pacer |
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