Hi.
Been playing for years and doing open mics mostly playing acoustic. Joined a band playing mainly dad rock, we're all in our 50's. Playing stuff from The Clash to Free to ZZ Top.
So, I'm a bit of an electric novice. Got a Telecaster which is my sons and his amp which is a Marshall G80RCD. I'm reasonably competent at playing the songs and have no reservations about getting up there but want my guitar sound to be as rock as possible. I'm strictly rhythm, I don't want to make it cry or sing. Just want to deliver the chords in a good raunchy way.
Do I need an overdrive pedal?
Thank you in advance and apologies in advance for sounding such a novice.
Comments
Assuming it sounds similar to my Valvestate, you don't need an external pedal and especially for a first gig I'd keep it simple. Particularly as you have a Tele (I assume with single coil pickups) I'd suggest you use OD2 for your rock tone set maybe to half gain. Live in a band mix, you'll usually need less gain than you might think as compared to home playing. Half way on OD2 gives you better control than e.g. maxing out OD1, with the option to up the gain if you need to or even lower it a tad if needed. Assuming similar to my Valvestate, OD1 with single coils might not have quite enough balls!
With regards clean tone it depends on how pristine you like your cleans or whether you want a little hair on it. You might want to start with clean but possibly switch it to the crunch option with gain at say half, if it's too sterile. I'm mindful here that it's solid state so you won't get the compression of a valve amp. Alternatively, use the crunch setting and your Tele volume to tame it if you need to.
A lot depends on your experience and how comfortable you are with using your guitar's volume and tone controls to alter your tone.
Assuming you are not micing up the amp and are using it as backline, I'd suggest not to have the amp on the floor but raise it up a good 18 inches e.g. on a beer crate, chair etc. This will help hugely with your sound projection out to the audience. The other suggestion is not to overdo the reverb. You'll likely need some, but there will be some natural reverb from the venue.
Sorry to state the obvious, but playing live in a band mix at volume is a bit different to playing at home, so hope these tips are helpful.
Most important, just be relaxed and enjoy it, and don't be overly worried about your tone as the audience won't be bothered! And if you should make any mistakes, the audience won't notice! If you should lose your way, don't worry, just stop playing for a moment or two and then hook back in once you've picked up the groove again. It happens to the best of us!!
Good luck and let us know how it went!
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If you are just doing standard rhythm rocky stuff I'd just get an all purpose crunchy sound and go straight to the amp. Teles are great for this. You can go both pickups for the mellower jangly stuff, bridge for crunchy AC/DC and neck for anything jazzier. If you need anything cleaner you can just go a tiny touch down on the volume, or even just pick gently.
The only really need for channel switching is if you need a loud pure clean for a country or funk number or you are getting into the heavier territory like Green Day, or Foo Fighters where you will need a full on saturated rock sound.
As someone else said as well.. there is a sound argument for making the most of what you already have and getting to know it inside out.
Telecaster (with .15s on top string- yes that's right .15s...) into Marshall / Vox amps and 4x12 cabs.
Pedals - he had this custom footswitch on the floor - 3 buttons - basically a mute switch, something to make it go louder (for occasional solos (activating a Boss GE-7) and something to make it go wibbly wobbly (which was some kinda flanger / chorus patch on a rack unit) - which he used on intro to Whatever You Want and a couple others?
That's it.
Rhythm guitar in a rock band in a nutshell.