Just can't get that gutsy driving sound...

[64Firebird]

Hey 64Firebird, this thread indicates that you know how to get great tones .....out of a J-station.

I use one as well, and have been "mostly" happy with the thing, actually, I really love the damn thing, especially since I hooked up a Behringer FCB1010 controller for it so that I can adjust any parameter of the J on the fly. I also play it through a little Fender Frontman 25R amp, which when I have the cab simulation and amp sims off, I love the J just as an effects unit. For recording I take it direct, using both the digital out (spdif) and the analog outs, and do a bit of mixing of the two, but I am still missing a few classic tones. I play an Epiphone Wildkat: semihollow body with P90 pickups.

1) Mark Knopfler, as in stuff from his Sailing to Philadelphia album: especially the first track "what it is" , or say "Brothers in arms" tone: thick and creamy, subtle breakup/overdrive

2) something along the lines of Peter Gabriel style sound (ie on his latest, UP, the track Growing Up has gorgeous clean harmonics and delay in it)

3) If you have heard Lucinda Williams "Essence" album produced by Charlie Sexton, some similar tones to Mark Knopfler: thick, creamy and just beginning to break up/rumbly. The lead guitarist with Natalie Merchant also really uses this same tone.

I have found putting a threshold of -20dB on the compressor with a ratio of 15:1 or higher with the Blackface model works pretty well, but it just isn't quite there. I am also well aware that my playing style itself is part of the issue, and I tend to play with my fingers more than a pick. Any recommendations or patches would be most welcome.

Well, you've just asked about people that I've never really looked into and I don't have any of their music. But, I'll tell you the way I do it.

When I'm trying to dial in a tone with my J-Station I try to find a sample of that sound on a CD where nothing else is playing. Just a second or so is all that's needed. Then I use a spectrum analyzer and look at it. Then I start tweaking the knobs on the J-Station and looking at it with the the SA. I start by seeing what amp and speaker combination gets me the closest, then I add distortion and twist the EQ around. Remember to make the changes slowly. After I get the basic tone, I start adding the effects and then tweak the EQ again. It's time consuming, but it works. You may be able to speed up the whole process if you have a good EQ to run your J-Station through.

 

[Freudian Slip]

Ive used tube, solid state, expensive processors and I think out of them all I like either amp the best. I actualy lean tward solid state because I like the type of saturation I can get. Some of the tube stuff I have used seams to have that very chunky saturation. Processors always seem a bit thin and just unnatural to me.

either way I like an amp.

I have never used a pod or j-station though just korg & digitech.

F.S.

 

[bongolation]

> I get great sounds out of my J-Station and I'm not the only one
> that thinks so.

You also probably use J-Edit.

Anyone who gripes about the J-Station and hasn't done the programming in J-Edit is to be dismissed out of hand. Period.

 

[64Firebird]

> I get great sounds out of my J-Station and I'm not the only one
> that thinks so.

You also probably use J-Edit.

Anyone who gripes about the J-Station and hasn't done the programming in J-Edit is to be dismissed out of hand. Period.

You're right I do use it and I didn't get good results until I started using it.

 

[cstockdale]

> I get great sounds out of my J-Station and I'm not the only one
> that thinks so.

You also probably use J-Edit.

Anyone who gripes about the J-Station and hasn't done the programming in J-Edit is to be dismissed out of hand. Period.

I have to third this statement. The compressor and noise gate are awesome on the J-station, but they take a lot of tweaking that is very difficult to do in a constructive way using deep-editing alone, the J-edit interface allows for amazing custom building for tones. I have found that using a good MIDI floorboard makes a big difference too, as I have mine programmed to adjust most of the J parameters on the fly.

64Firebird: thanks for the tip on how you dial in on a specific tone, I had never thought of approaching it that way!

 

[64Firebird]

64Firebird: thanks for the tip on how you dial in on a specific tone, I had never thought of approaching it that way!

No prob, glad to help.

 

[sonusman]

I want these tones:

AC/DC
Van Halen
Stevie Ray Vahn
Heart
Montrose

That covers a decent range of "gutsy" and "driving" tones.

I await links to examples of emulator tones that rival them, but I ain't holding my breath til that day that will never come.

Ed

 

[64Firebird]

I want these tones:

AC/DC
Van Halen
Stevie Ray Vahn
Heart
Montrose

That covers a decent range of "gutsy" and "driving" tones.

I await links to examples of emulator tones that rival them, but I ain't holding my breath til that day that will never come.

Ed

I've already got an SRV patch. I'll see if I can get something posted for your judgment. Maybe this Sunday.

 

[sonusman]

??? It is monday now.

Ed

 

[64Firebird]

I recorded something Sunday and I should have it up someplace for your judgment by tonight.

 

[64Firebird]

I'm sorry to say that I still don't have a link. The guy I did this with still hasn't put it on the net. When he does, I'll post a link.