Three basic sounds?

Iamnobody

Ok. Like a few of you I play in rehearsal rooms where you don't know what amp you will get from week to week.

With this in mind all I realistically expect is enough clean headroom to compete with drums and use pedals for everything.

The problem is I'm a lazy fucker and can't be arsed with a massive pedal board.

So what would you use to achieve these basics:

Overdriven rhythm
Lead boost
Solo boost

There's two guitars so I'm dropping in and out of rhythm and lead depending on the song so I have to try and keep volumes consistent.

Stick a Wah and a tuner in and I'm done. Maybe a delay...

Currently using an ME-50 with another OD pedal but open to suggestions.

Simpler the better!

Cheers

GIJoe

I use a Timmy and a Zen drive clone, Timmy does light o/d, Zen does a nice thick drive, both together for the lead!

But then I do run my amps on the hot side 

timmysoft

Im using the line6 m5. You ciuld hook up a midi mouse to switch the presets.I use mine to get those exact sounds usually through solid state clean channels

citizen68

One good drive pedal (I like the Xotic BB) and use your guitar volume for different levels of gain

steamabacus

I'm a big fan of the Award-Session JD10 . They're discontinued but come up pretty regularly second hand for £50 - £100.

It's a fully 'preamp' style pedal, full 3-band eq, clean-to-heavy distiotion. Has switchable speaker emulation for direct-to-desk use as well. It's really good at edge of break-up and low gain settings (cleans up well on the guitar's volume pot) and can be driven by other boosts/overdrives.

I have one on my board set just starting to break up, with clean boost, overdrive and distortion set up in front for varied levels and flavours of dirt in different combinations.

citizen68

Forgot I still have one of those, beaten up looking but still working fine. I used to use it as my 'amp' for 2 piece work a while back - great unit

John_P

Before I bought the zenamp to cover rehearsals I used a mini board with a dg stomp +vol & wah (still in my bag as a backup)

For rehearsing if you're more concerned with arrangements and a quick setup then I think a cheap multi might serve you better than pedals or something like the tech21 tri-ac.

EricTheWeary

I used to use the clean from the rehearsal room amp and a Zvex Distortron as a dirty Marshall. It colours whatever you plug it into. Maybe a BOR instead as that would give you boost as well.

Iamnobody

citizen68;279037" said:

One good drive pedal (I like the Xotic BB) and use your guitar volume for different levels of gain

I've never been fleet fingered enough to do that mid song! And if there's a change of pickup in there as well -forget it!

Plus with two guitars it's important to me to get the vols just right or someone is drowned out in the mix.

Am I the only one who finds it difficult?!

meltedbuzzbox

Iamnobody said:

citizen68;279037" said:

One good drive pedal (I like the Xotic BB) and use your guitar volume for different levels of gain

Plus with two guitars it's important to me to get the vols just right or someone is drowned out in the mix.

Am I the only one who finds it difficult?!

most guitarists arent that considerate.

steamabacus

Iamnobody said:

citizen68;279037" said:

One good drive pedal (I like the Xotic BB) and use your guitar volume for different levels of gain

I've never been fleet fingered enough to do that mid song! And if there's a change of pickup in there as well -forget it!

Plus with two guitars it's important to me to get the vols just right or someone is drowned out in the mix.

Am I the only one who finds it difficult?!

This is why I always like to use a volume pedal these days - just make sure you have a bit more volume than you need on the amp and then reign it back to what is needed with the volume pedal. You can even use a volume pedal for your lead/rhythm changes.

xwolf5150

Why not use your own rig all the time ???
Surely its better to get used to your rig inside and out in case you need to fault find plus you know your tone better when its time to gig it ?

Iamnobody

wolf5150;279121" said:

Why not use your own rig all the time ???
Surely its better to get used to your rig inside and out in case you need to fault find plus you know your tone better when its time to gig it ?

There is no rig! Sold it after my original band disbanded.

We just play for fun now - and dragging a full setup out every week wouldn't be much fun!

ICBM

A good TS/SD-1-type overdrive into a good Rat/DS-1-type distortion.

Distortion for crunch, overdrive for lead, both for solo.

Iamnobody

ICBM;279148" said:

A good TS/SD-1-type overdrive into a good Rat/DS-1-type distortion.

Distortion for crunch, overdrive for lead, both for solo.

I like the idea of this and it would be easy to engage both pedals if two 'Boss' type pedals where next to each other.

I've got a TS9 and Amazon have Digitech pedals for £22 - would you recommend their Grunge or Screaming Blues pedal at all?

Bearing in mind I'm not too fussy!

Cheers

steamabacus

The Screaming Blues is more like a BD-2. The Hothead is similar to a DS-1.

JDE

steamabacus;279244" said:

The Screaming Blues is more like a BD-2. The Hothead is similar to a DS-1.

And both are great at those tones IMO. What style of music are you playing?

Iamnobody

We play quite a varied mix. But broadly pop/indie through to 60's Brit Blues.

Nothing I would class as heavy.

Another thought crossed my mind though:


http://www.hotroxuk.com/tech-21-sansamp-fly-rig-5-mini-multi-effects.html?utm_source=GoogleBase&utm_medium=organic&gclid=CNTTpIqenb8CFSLmwgodi7YAzg

It's got the simplicity I'm looking for...

monquixote

I would say get a jekyll and Hyde as a one box solution

It's a shred master on one channel which will get you a chunky rock rhythm and a ts on the other which will do blues lead on its own and shred meltdown when stacked

They usually cost beans on eBay etc and they are well made.

If you want to do it with two pedals you can't go wrong with a riot or distortron being goosed by a badass od

hugbot

Iamnobody said:

ICBM;279148" said:

A good TS/SD-1-type overdrive into a good Rat/DS-1-type distortion.

Distortion for crunch, overdrive for lead, both for solo.

I like the idea of this and it would be easy to engage both pedals if two 'Boss' type pedals where next to each other.

I've got a TS9 and Amazon have Digitech pedals for £22 - would you recommend their Grunge or Screaming Blues pedal at all?

Bearing in mind I'm not too fussy!

Cheers

The screaming blues sure, the grunge is a joke.

monquixote

Just noticed the Hardwire Overdrive is £46 on Amazon. That is a straight up bargain right there. 

Would be an awesome pick for an OD. 

I was also thinking of suggesting the Marshall Guv'nor+ or Jackhammer. Both are really great pedals with loads of EQ and can be had for under £20 on Ebay.