pedal for classic rock/thin lizzy-ish distortion

[BRIEFCASEMANX]

If it's possible to get something close to that kind of sound from a pedal and not solely from the amp/speaker combo, can you guys help. I really like that awesome sustain and overall sound of the opening chords of "the boyz r back n town". I was thinking of a big muff, since that thing sustains like crazy, but I don't know SHIT about guitar so I'm probably off bass. Help if possible.

I'm buying a peavey classic 30 and an Agile les paul standard clone, if that helps.

[dave.....]

try a ibanez tube screamer

[Greg_L]

The Rat.

[Micter]

IMO? No. It's a very cool tone but trying to get it from a pedal isn't going to work. That era was cranked Marshall JCM 800's all the way. People have been trying to duplicate those tones and failing miserably for over 30 years. Sorry to burst your bubble. If all you want is a facimile of that tone and not exact I would suggest you look at pure distortion pedals as apposed to overdrives. I have a modded DOD Supra Distortion that sounds good (kinda grainy though) for that style but if you compare that to a cranked Marshall on tape it will not even be close.

[TelePaul]

I think your spolied for choice these days. Most pedals will give you what you want, it's more down to your choice of guitar. Without getting specific, humbuckers will be the choice here, and you're buying an LP clone so thats that base covered. I dunno about a tubescreamer unless you have a valve amp. And the Big Muffs are good, though I've heard they're not the most durable. Look at a Boss DS 1 or DS 2 as well.

[BRIEFCASEMANX]

what's the sound diff between a rat and a muff? I know corgan used a muff on siamese dream and I really like that guitar sound, but i'm pretty sure kevin shields used a rat, along with 800,000 other things, but i like MBV shit too. I'm also pretty sure both thin lizzy and corgan were using old marshall amps so that probably had a lot to do with those sounds. I am an idiot.

[BRIEFCASEMANX]

Originally Posted by Micter

IMO? No. It's a very cool tone but trying to get it from a pedal isn't going to work. That era was cranked Marshall JCM 800's all the way. People have been trying to duplicate those tones and failing miserably for over 30 years. Sorry to burst your bubble. If all you want is a facimile of that tone and not exact I would suggest you look at pure distortion pedals as apposed to overdrives. I have a modded DOD Supra Distortion that sounds good (kinda grainy though) for that style but if you compare that to a cranked Marshall on tape it will not even be close.

well, there's no way that I will be able to capture those awesome tones exactly, but something along those lines would be nice if possible.

[Micter]

Originally Posted by BRIEFCASEMANX

well, there's no way that I will be able to capture those awesome tones exactly, but something along those lines would be nice if possible.

Marshall Jackhammer, an "old" MXR Distortion are two I'd look at. In the Boss line none that I have even come close. Again I have a modded DOD Supra Distortion that is pretty nasty. It was the DIY indyguitarist mod kit if you are interested.

[TelePaul]

Originally Posted by Micter

Marshall Jackhammer, an "old" MXR Distortion are two I'd look at. In the Boss line none that I have even come close. Again I have a modded DOD Supra Distortion that is pretty nasty. It was the DIY indyguitarist mod kit if you are interested.

Boss SD1->DS2. Use the OD as a boost, great sustain.

I agree with the MXR, but I owned a Marshall Jackhammer and a Supervibe. Build quality on both was attrocious, didn't last.

[MadMax]

A big part of that sound is a Marshall thru a 4-12 cab. But to get that overdriven sound without the ear splitting volume, I've had good luck with the Boss BD-2 pedal into a Marshall head/cab.

[Tadpui]

I think that your LP clone through your Classic 30 will at least get you in the neighborhood. If your tubes are in good shape, your gain staging on the Classic 30 is set about right (low pre, high post), and the pickups in your LP copy are decent, you'll at least be in the general ballpark of that sound.

Ideally a good double-humbucker setup thru a cranked vintage Marshall would be the ticket, but where these people are getting these setups (or at least the money for them) is beyond me.

[Thurgood]

A muff will NOT do it. To fuzzy. Output tube distortion is where the lizzy tone is at. If you are a DIY'er go to GeneralGuitarGadgets.com and look at their JCM 800 style pre-amp/stompbox clone. PS Love Thin Lizzy tone.

[notCardio]

what I would recommend, is that you wait until you get the guitar and amp and see what they sound like first. You may already be close enough for your goals. If that doesn't cut it, I'd look into amp modelers like the Line6 PODs or Behringer V-Amp stuff. A lot of music stores will have those hooked up with headphones that you can try, or if not, ask if you can.

I don't buy into the whole Marshal stack thing for one main reason. Almost every major guitar player during that time period was playing an LP through a Marshal stack. Did they all sound the same? No. Similar, maybe, but no more similar than a modeler or pedal will get you.

A lot of this depends on how picky you are, and from the sound of it, I don't think you're as picky as some here might be.

I don't think the Lizzy sound ought to be that hard to come close to. Sounds very solid state to me, others may disagree. I will say I don't think a Fuzz Face will do it, unless there's a tweak that I don't remember. A Rat probably will get you closer. I'ver got an old transistor amp that I think might do, but you can't have it. It was my first one, and it was from a dime store, which would be the early 70's equivalent of a Wal-Mart. It's a piece of crap, but it was my first piece of crap, and I develop sentimental attachments to just about everything.

I've also got an old Univox Super Fuzz, that might be close, but I'm sure you can't find them either. Sorry

Enough reminiscing. Like I said, hear what you're getting sounds like first, then go from there. If I get time (and I probably won't until at least after Christmas), I'll put the Boys back on and dig out my stuff and see how close I can get without going through an amp (which would skew the results). If I find something, I'll let you know and maybe shoot you a sample or two. You know I just realized I don't have a dual humbucker anymore! Guess I'll have to get one. Lucky for you, if I do, It'll probably be an Agile also. I keep waiting for them to get a tobacco sunburst in the 3000 line (which Kurt said was in the works), but at some point I guess I'll have to stop waiting.


The funny thing is, I think that the chord dies off too quickly and doesn't have enough sustain.

[notCardio]

Just read your bio.

I see we have the same hobby.

[Big Kenny]

Metal zone, lots of distortion and a great eq for sweeping freq's, I have two if you want to try one, I'll send it to ya for awhile, you pay shipping. Ya like it, pay me later

[BRIEFCASEMANX]

Originally Posted by notCardio

The funny thing is, I think that the chord dies off too quickly and doesn't have enough sustain.

I'm just thinking from memory, so maybe I'm not remembering it right as far as sustain. However, I know that every time I hear that song I freaking love the guitar sound.

[TelePaul]

food for thought; here's Brian Robertsons rig.

http://guitargeek.com/rigview/603/

[notCardio]

Originally Posted by TelePaul

food for thought; here's Brian Robertsons rig.

http://guitargeek.com/rigview/603/

as it said, the validity cannot be guaranteed. And what he used on the recording is not necessarily what he used live. You'll notice it claims the guy from Whitesnake used the same model amp in '97, yet my guess is they didn't sound too much alike.

I still say it sounds solid state to me, but I could definitely be wrong.

[TelePaul]

Originally Posted by notCardio

as it said, the validity cannot be guaranteed. And what he used on the recording is not necessarily what he used live. You'll notice it claims the guy from Whitesnake used the same model amp in '97, yet my guess is they didn't sound too much alike.

I still say it sounds solid state to me, but I could definitely be wrong.

Well I know the tape delay is right; I have an interview with Scott Gorman who references is it. You're right about the validity of it, but some of the rigs i've seen analysed in guitar buyer's 'tone zone'

[Bondo]

As far as a cool stompbox, the muff is great, but too fuzzy, notwhat you will prolly want. I just got a Zakk Wilde MXR. It has an absulote killer tone. That and the muff are the only boxes I have ever gotten to sound cool. If you can find one, check it out. I definately prefer it over the tube screamer, at least for what I do. Has a very good raw classic rock sound, no metal really, and it adds sustain. Also a great boost pedal, as opposed to most of them I have tried that cut the head off your sounds.

[BRIEFCASEMANX]

Originally Posted by Bondo

As far as a cool stompbox, the muff is great, but too fuzzy, notwhat you will prolly want. I just got a Zakk Wilde MXR. It has an absulote killer tone. That and the muff are the only boxes I have ever gotten to sound cool. If you can find one, check it out. I definately prefer it over the tube screamer, at least for what I do. Has a very good raw classic rock sound, no metal really, and it adds sustain. Also a great boost pedal, as opposed to most of them I have tried that cut the head off your sounds.

what is the diff between fuzz and dist? More bass?

[Codmate]

Originally Posted by BRIEFCASEMANX

what is the diff between fuzz and dist? More bass?

Fuzz sounds more like a wasp-in-a-bottle.

[gcapel]

I second the tube screamer. I would try and find an ts-9 from the 80's/90's.
If for sustain look for a compressor like boss cs-2. If you want mojo look at the Fulltone fulldrive 2 and the Keeley compressor.