Ever get good tone from cheap gear?

latinjem7vwh · #1 06-15-2004, 01:02 AM

I'm sure some of you, if not most or all have done this. I recently got a SCREAMIN VAI tone out of a Korg Pandora PX3 and a Fender Bullet Reverb(yes, a 15 watt, single 10 inch speaker)! I'm not even joking (I have GOT to get a mike from someone so I can show what I am talking about. Of course playing with a JEM7VWH helps A LOT, but the tone is awesome nonetheless, considering what the sound is coming out of. If some of you have similar gear, try knocking back the amp treble to about 2.5, mids to 8, bass to 7. Gain should be around 3. Reverb should be pretty high ( I like reverb). On the PX3, set the distortion to SCREAM on Max. On the EQ settings set the lows to about 10, and the highs to about 15. Set the Delay to about 400 and on 14. The speakers to 4 x 10 up to 30. NR shoud be at 16. Level to 16. I love this setting. This is more like the "natural modern Vai tone", like the tone found in the Vai and Satch jam video. If you have a PX3, PLEASE give some pointers to getting other great tones

trajectory fish · #2 06-15-2004, 09:54 AM

I get a pretty good sound playing an AX 7221 through a Fedner Amp Can (15 watts, 6" speaker, 12v battery power). Its great for playing in alleyways. :P

-Bennett

davester1234 · #3 06-15-2004, 11:02 AM

yeah, I've got some pretty good sounds out of cheap equipment.

I've had no choice!
But you have to be very careful with your attack to bring it out in a suitable way.

this is a cover of 'Touching Tongues' I did a while back [which I've posted here before]. It was done with a 30 watt peavey backstage plus amp, and a jmp1, and the re-issue whammy.

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/2/davidsmusic.htm

geetarmonkey · #4 06-15-2004, 12:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davester1234

yeah, I've got some pretty good sounds out of cheap equipment.

I've had no choice!
But you have to be very careful with your attack to bring it out in a suitable way.

this is a cover of 'Touching Tongues' I did a while back [which I've posted here before]. It was done with a 30 watt peavey backstage plus amp, and a jmp1, and the re-issue whammy.

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/2/davidsmusic.htm

Wow, that was freakin amazing! That was seriously you playing?

davester1234 · #5 06-15-2004, 12:44 PM

yes sir, I'm glad you like it

the.godfather · #6 06-15-2004, 01:19 PM

Yeah that was seriously good. Loved that tone you had. I dont know how to describe it though.....it was a "ballsy" tone almost. It had depth.
Sounded mucho very good indeed!

It just goes to show, you dont need a mahoosive rack or stack to get a superb tone.

Did ya use your 7VWH by the way?
Gary - The.Godfather

davester1234 · #7 06-15-2004, 01:21 PM

Thanks Gary

Actually, this was done before the 7vwh. The 777vbk was used, its stock with no mods (except a few dings

).

geetarmonkey · #8 06-15-2004, 03:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davester1234

yes sir, I'm glad you like it

I've never heard that particular Vai song, but it sounds like you didn't even make a mistake...man, I need to practice more...maybe if I know how old you are, it'll make me feel better

Two hands31 · #9 06-15-2004, 04:26 PM

My main guitars are a Squier Strat w/ an old, used DiMarzio Super Distortion in the bridge spot and a Schecter Revenger-7. My bass rig is a Fender Jazz Bass V (Nice

), a Korg AX-1G (yes, guitar pedal), and a Yorkville 50-watt, 1x10 combo.

You tell me

davester1234 · #10 06-15-2004, 04:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by geetarmonkey

maybe if I know how old you are, it'll make me feel better

LOL I was 23 when I made that

spencer096 · #11 06-15-2004, 05:02 PM

i really liked my tone out of my friends crate practice amp with chorus (ooo

) and his bottom of the line epiphone SG. a lotta other people liked it too, yet when he played it, it didnt sound that good.

TONE IS IN THE PLAYER!!!!!!!!!!

kent · #12 06-15-2004, 05:48 PM

I love the tone of my Vox Brian May amp ($150.00). I run it as a preamp into my Mesa 2:90 and it sounds great. It gets a great, organic, hollow and funky sound that I can't get out of any of the tube modules in my Randall RM4 preamp. I love the Randall, it's just that the Vox has its own thing going on. In fact, I'm about to have my sound engineer mount the chassis of two Vox BM1s in a rack that I can switch with my GCX switcher so I can have a clean and dirty.

RSVampire · #13 06-16-2004, 12:56 AM

I get great tones from my cheap squire strat. screamin deamon bridge, hot rails mid, lil 59 neck. guitar + pickups cost for me......$79 bux.

HIS ROYAL DARKNESS · #14 06-16-2004, 01:10 AM

When I was 15, I had a Peavey Patriot into an Ibanez PT5 (that I actually worked a month for to buy, at that time it WAS $250.00) and into a Peavey Bandit amp. Yes, you guessed it, I ROCKED!

Wish the gear I had now was that cheap.

Texter · #15 06-16-2004, 06:53 AM

I use a 15 Watt DOD Grunge amp (translates to $75) most of the time...people who visit usually tell me it sounds great. The cheapest guitar I have is an Ibanez Talman which sounds great as well. I'll get a decent tone out of most guitars, but acceptable playability and good tuners are often lacking on ultra cheap instruments. I like harsh sounding practise amps, though.