how to update my set up?

  • Thread starter Thread starter oh_the_blood
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oh_the_blood

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so i have a crate GT500H all tube head.
a cab that goes with it
a korean made fender that says squier series on it in really small letters in the headstock, but its nice and heavy.
and thats about it.

how can i approve my overrall tone?

should i replace the tubes? theyve never been replaced and i think its been a good 2 years?

should i get a new guitar?

or just eff it all and buy something new?

please help, thank you!
 
any one please?
im kinda stuck and i need your expert opinion!
 
I think we need more specifics, such as:

1: what kind of tone are you getting now?
2: what do you like/dislike about your current sound?
3: what sound are you looking for?
 
Maybe try doubling your guitar tracks and panning them to 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock. That would thicken it up alot on record and not cost money. If you are going for the FYP kind of sound I think you guys nailed it. Maybe also raise your guitar volume on the track a bit more.

For live I don't know what to say...you want "crunch"? Like lowend like modern AFI? That is a Mesa and that is how you get that. Plain and simple. No ifs and or buts.
 
A Squier into an all tube Crate? Uprgrade your axe man.

Get a Fender fat strat (the ones with bridge humbuckers) and replace the humbucker if you don't like that sound. My friend has a Duncan Invader in his strat, and he plays similar music (but he has a different amp).

A nice, cheap (read: free) way to get a better sound is to fool around with what you have for a bit. Change the EQ on your amp, change the gain settings, fool around with the tone knob on your guitar. If you haven't made any adjustments to your guitar since you got it, then check out www.projectguitar.com and click on tutorials. You can find all sorts of stuff on how to adjust your guitar so it plays better for you (i.e. intonate, adjust action, adjust truss rod, etc.). You can take your Squier into near-Fender quality by following some of those tutorials. I still highly suggest you get a new axe though, it's like a crime to play a Squier through a tube amp. I yelled at my friend for playing his Squier through a triple rect. until he got a new guitar. ;)

You can also use some pedals to thicken up your sound as well. An EQ pedal will help immensely, and then maybe a compresser (if you can get a cheap one). You could probably also throw a tube screamer in there to give you extra harmonics.

After saying all that, I don't think you have that bad of a tone, especially for the type of music you play. And no one really cares how thick your tone is when you play live anyway, it's all usually way too loud for the venue and all the other noises will cover up any small changes you made to your setup.

Good luck!
 
awesome guys thank you.
i was defnitely looking at a new axe.
im still thinkin a flying v.
haha i dont know why i want it so bad.

but ill defnitely look into another strat.

should i change the tubes at all?
im surprised i thought that would be the first thing.
 
Ya, Flying V's are very *ahem* "Heavy Metal" *ahem* :D

Your tubes are two years old?
How often do you play the amp? ....Nightly?

I would also guess that if that is the case, new tubes would be a priority...
 
axe it is.
im thinking one of those sweet old style gretchs.
but who knows.
any reccomendations other than a boring ol strat?
 
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