Clean guitar tone from pod

  • Thread starter Thread starter VirtualSamana
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VirtualSamana

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When I record clean guitar it sounds too harsh. I've tweeked to hell and still can't get a good clean sound. Forget fixing it in the mix it's beyond that! Granted I don't have an amazing guitar (Ibanez RG with standard pickups) but I believe that it's possible to get something acceptable. Any tips?
 
Use a mic'd amp or go direct.... I've got nothing against the POD (actually the POD Pro), but I've never gotten anything close to a decent clean sound out of it.......

Bruce
 
Well, like I've always said....

nah, I'll keep my mouth shut :)

Slackmaster 2000
 
"If ya cant say something nice, dont say nothin at all"....

quote from Thumper in the movie Bambi
 
I get really good clean sounds out of my POD. Try the neck pickup on your RG, the bridges and RGs are all about metal.

Try the Matchless sound, or the Marshall JTM-45 sound, gain less than halfway. I also get a really nice sound out of the Vox AC-15 model, but I haven't really found a place to use it yet. Also, the POD Clean setting isn't half bad. For any clean sound, start with the tone controls centered, and the reverb and effects off. Also, note that on some models the eq knobs work in weird ways...

I always use my POD clean, and for distortion, I use distortion pedals, like I would with a real amp. I find it works better this way, YMMV.
 
My G & L F100 sounds GREAT running clean through my POD.

Alot of it has to do with the guitar itself.
Getting a sweet, clean sound from an RG is certainly not that guitar's forte'.... it's made to play Metal and Hard Rock.

Now, if you had an all-original '62 Strat, it would be nearly impossible to make THAT guitar sound bad. Even with a POD.
 
Hate to disagree with ya Buck, but.....

...I have an American Deluxe Strat, Guild Starfire semi, and a Godin LGX -- all top-notch instruments. None of them give me satisfactory clean sounds thru the POD....

Mic'd-up amp or DI, no problem though......

Bruce
 
RE: Mic'd-up amp or DI, no problem though......

Any suggestions on DI boxes?
 
im lucky...im using a korg d1600 and it has a fantastic built in clean guitar sound. i recorded a gospel group doing "people get ready" and used this "clean guitar" effect and their guitarist loved it (the fact that he also had fantastic touch and a very soulful "little wing" style of guitar playing didn't hurt either). This group does all original tunes...in that old motown style. they are so tight and blended that you just hit "record" and get solid gold! man, they are fun to record.

i recorded a blues number last week and i ran my guitar through a solid state pevey "studio pro" (amazing amp...and under 300 bucks) mic'd with a SP C-1 into a joe meek pre. i captured the most elusive guitar tone that i've tried to nail, where your guitar is clean....but has balls and sustain. I ended up with just about the best blues tone you could ever ask for. I only had one problem....the magic tone was there....my performance SUCKED. I didn't write all the settings down and i doubt if i'll ever get tone that good again.
:mad:
 
amiableOne said:
RE: Mic'd-up amp or DI, no problem though......

Any suggestions on DI boxes?
Click to expand...
A Radial JDI is an excellent choice - made in Canada by Radial Engineering. The Countryman DI is another excellent choice. I personally use the Radial...

Another option is some flavour of SansAmp...

Bruce
 
Samana,

Are you using the POD 2.0? I agree the clean souds are almost un-useable, but I have noticed version 2.0 to be a little more flexible. I also play an RG. Though, I use Seymour Duncan pickups. I would take Bears advice and find a good DI. Good Luck!

Fangar
 
I have a freind who uses a boom box ,plugs a Pod like box into it and gets some pretty decent results..not very loud and moves just enough air to get a better tone...Close mics it with a 57 and it works pretty well for him


Don
 
A bunch has to do with the mixing and recording also. Remember that Dweezil Zappa album "Confessions"? He used a ZOOM 9002 processor for the whole thing with what I thought were overall great results. I used to have one. Sounded pretty god but was very noisy. Whatever works I guess.

Fangar
 
Thanks!

Blue Bear:

Thanks I will experiment w/ going direct. Do you think the ART Tube MP would make a decent sub for a direct box?

Gidge:

What would you suggest for a neck pickup?

Fangar:

I use the POD 1.0. How do like the sound your getting out of your Duncan's?
 
VirtualSamana said:


...I use the POD 1.0. How do like the sound your getting out of your Duncan's?
Click to expand...

Samana,

I like the sound. I use a Custom - Custom in the bridge position (TB-11) and a Jazz (SH-2) in the neck position. I have a 5 way switch that breaks up the two pickup configuration quite nicely.
5= Rear Humbucker
4= Front coil of rear humbucker only.
3= Front coil of rear humbucker and rear coil of front humbucker.
2= Rear coil of Front Humbucker
1= Front Humbucker.

Pretty versitile. Be sure that if you decide to purchase a new Seymour Duncan humbucker for the rear position, that you get one with a model number starting in (TB). This designates it as a "Trem Bucker" which is F-spaced and designed for the different string spacing at the bridge of a Floyd or other floating trem system. Most manufactures have two models available for this application.

http://www.seymourduncan.com/

Good luck,

Fangar
 
Gidge:

I have an RG270 which has two humbuckers and no single coil. The RG has a feature which allows you to simulate a single coil pickup by somehow splitting the humbucker in two electrically. (I found that this setting really doesn't sound too good though) How would a fit a single coil into the top pickup cut out?

Fangar:

Thanks for the info. If I buy a Seymour Duncan humbucker for the neck position will my 5 way switch still operate correctly. How do you think this would compare to say just getting a single coil for the neck position.
 
VirtualSamana said:
Gidge:

I have an RG270 which has two humbuckers and no single coil...

...Thanks for the info. If I buy a Seymour Duncan humbucker for the neck position will my 5 way switch still operate correctly. How do you think this would compare to say just getting a single coil for the neck position ...
Click to expand...

Samana,

You will have to buy a humbucker to fill the hole unless you want a big goofy hole where one used to be. Also, you will be able to get more versatility out of a humbucker as you will be able to split the coils anway. If you install the pickup correctly, you can wire the 5 way switch any number of ways. I would recommend paying the 15-25 bucks to get it installed by your local guitar shop. This way you don't ground something out and fry the switch, potentiometers (or POTS the volume and tone controls) or anything else. Also, something to check before you change your pickups out is the spacing from the strings. Fiddle with the height of the front pickup a bit and see what happens. You may have the front pickup way too far from the strings. Also keep in mind that the RG270 has a basswood body which is fine, but will not produce the finest of tones. I have the RG 520QS which is Mahognany. Here is the wiring diagram you will need.

http://www.ibanez.com/wiring/W97033.gif

When you look at it, you will see why I suggest that you have a tech do it. =).

Good Luck.

Fangar
 
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