The New Tone Thread

[Lt. Bob]

that sound a little thin to me compared to your usual tones.

What's a PPIMV?

 

[Greg_L]

that sound a little thin to me compared to your usual tones.

What's a PPIMV?

Ya think? I can't really tell. I'm clogged. It's my lame ass attempt at a VH sound.

PPIMV - Post Phase Inverter Master Volume.

 

[minerman]

Here ya go minerman, some early VH-ish sound maybe? Short little clip. I don't know, you know I'm not a VH kind of fella. I guess it's kind of close maybe? I did this with the Plexi almost cranked, but I had the PPIMV pretty low. This was maybe like jamming a stereo at home loud. Louder than watching TV, but not loud enough to get the cops called or not loud enough to jam with a band or do a gig. I guess the MV was like 25-30%.

So, the Gerg's playing VH at minerman sound levels huh????You're killing me with all this plexi talk, especially the PPIMV dude, & the kicker is "maybe like jamming a stereo at home loud, louder than watching TV, but not loud enough to jam with a band"....I bet I could use an amp like that with my ISO cab & get by with it....

Cool man!!! It actually sounds pretty good, like Bob mentioned, might be a little thin in the lows....It's a little fizzy in the top end too...I always thought the VH tone on that song was a lot meatier/chunkier than the other records....

You could probably add some 'verb in the daw, pan it all the way right, then pan the guitar about 50-75% left & it'd be close enough dude....If you wanted to get really technical about it, you could probably move the mic toward the edge of the speaker a hair to kill a little of the fizz & add some bottom.....But, I know you're just fucking around, just like I am right now, killing time before I head out the door...

Man, I figured you'd be over that cold by now, how long have you had that shit???? Might wanna go see a doctor & get some meds to get rid of that shit dude, ya know???

I had all intentions of recording some bass tones with my DSL last night, but after I got a shower & something to eat, it just felt really good to lay on the couch & relax....Couple more days & I'll have the weekend, like I've mentioned, last week off has ruined me...

Sounds good dude, can't belive you're over there copping VH tones though, maybe you're being slowly converted over to the shit I listen to....

 

[Greg_L]

Haha, no I'm not trying any more. I was just fucking around this morning and thought "this kind of sounds Van Halen-ish" so I recorded it. I didn't compare it to the original, I'm not even sure I played it even close to right. I just remember there being some flanger or a phaser on it.

This was the worst cold/flu whatever it was I've ever had in my life. I'm a healthy guy. I never get sick. I haven't run a fever or been laid up since I don't know when. Then right after the superbowl, it hit. I was sick as hell for like 4 days, then I just said fuck it and started getting up around, still sick, but forcing myself into doing things. My fever broke and I sweated for like 2 more days. I literally soaked through sweatshirts and shit. Since then I've physically felt better, but the crud and phlegm and snot and goo is still slowly working it's way out. It's all up in my sinuses and those ear tube things. Everything sounds like it's out of phase. Lol. I went to the doc the other day. Had chest x-rays and shit done. There's a lot of crap in there, but no infection or anything. I'm just taking shit to treat the symptoms.

 

[minerman]

Haha, no I'm not trying any more. I was just fucking around this morning and thought "this kind of sounds Van Halen-ish" so I recorded it. I didn't compare it to the original, I'm not even sure I played it even close to right. I just remember there being some flanger or a phaser on it.

LOL, I knew dude, I was just messing with ya...LOL....To be honest, it's pretty close sounding to me, & that's how I roll my clips dude, just shit off the top of my head, basically fucking around from memory...The only clip I've ever looked up the chords was the Rush 2112 thing I did a while back, but the others, fuck it, just play how I thought it went...LOL...

This was the worst cold/flu whatever it was I've ever had in my life. I'm a healthy guy. I never get sick. I haven't run a fever or been laid up since I don't know when. Then right after the superbowl, it hit. I was sick as hell for like 4 days, then I just said fuck it and started getting up around, still sick, but forcing myself into doing things. My fever broke and I sweated for like 2 more days. I literally soaked through sweatshirts and shit. Since then I've physically felt better, but the crud and phlegm and snot and goo is still slowly working it's way out. It's all up in my sinuses and those ear tube things. Everything sounds like it's out of phase. Lol. I went to the doc the other day. Had chest x-rays and shit done. There's a lot of crap in there, but no infection or anything. I'm just taking shit to treat the symptoms.

You know something dude, you're making me feel like a bastard over here, sounds like the exact same thing I had for a week or so (especially the feeling better physically, but all the shit in your chest/sinus/ears..)...I went to work feeling like that man, never missed a lick on anything, but didn't know if I'd make it or not, I felt so bad a couple times while in the mine, I felt like I was gonna pass out...They would've thought I was ok, as everybody else (pretty much) are dopeheads, & they'd figured I was just hammered/fucked up on something...LOL...
Maybe the speaker I sent you had germs or something on it, & you caught that shit from me??? I sure as fuck hope not, don't even know if that's possible or not, but your symptoms sound exactly like what was going around here...Sorry if I did man, Lysol the fuck out of that speaker..LOL....I feel like such a fuckin' turd dude, please tell me I didn't cause that shit...


One more fuckin' shift, & I get 2 big days off, & it can't come fast enough guys....I'm getting to the point where I hate coal mining, I've did it for so long, the same old shit, day in, day out, I just fuckin' hate it....I wish I could just quit, but I like to eat too much to do that...

 

[Greg_L]

Lol, dude, I didn't catch anything from your speaker. Don't be silly. I got it from our singer. We had a practice and he was sick. I remember it too; I was playing his guitar and singing into his mic and he has this mic-stand drink holder with a long straw that goes up next to the mic. I'm always careful to NEVER put my mouth on anyone's mic, but that night his straw brushed my lip, and I immediately thought to myself GERMS! Not to mention having my hands all over his guitar which was probably covered in sneezes, coughs, and God only knows what else. Two days later I was down for the count. All of my issues and symptoms were the exact same as his. It's amazing how much punch one tiny ass little microscopic germ can put on a grown man. So no, your speaker has been installed and had the shit blasted out of it for way too long already. No germ can withstand what I've put it through.

 

[minerman]

Lol, dude, I didn't catch anything from your speaker. No germ can withstand what I've put it through.

You know dude, when I was packing that speaker up, I told it that it'd be going to a good home, that it was gonna get to do what it always wanted to, but it's comfort filled, plush days of easy living with the little 1 watter were over.....

 

[Greg_L]

You know dude, when I was packing that speaker up, I told it that it'd be going to a good home, that it was gonna get to do what it always wanted to, but it's comfort filled, plush days of easy living with the little 1 watter were over.....

Haha, and you know, it has really sweetened up nicely. When I got it from you, it was still stiff. I could tell. Both yours and the other one I got were both still stiff and not broken in. I've sinced fixed that!

So which one of you is the smoker? You? The wife? Both? Cuz when I opened your box it smelled like the Marlboro Man had been living in there.

 

[minerman]

I told you that speaker probably wasn't broken in dude, I really hadn't used it a lot to be honest, & when I did, it was just tickling it with one of my low-watters compared to kickin' it's ass with your amps....Cool though that you're happy with it, I really like the T-75 I got from you, wish I'd gotten one to begin with, instead of the GB, but, live & learn...But, it's all worked out pretty good for me, I've got 3 pretty well known speakers to choose from, I still wanna get a '65 (probably a WGS), & maybe another or two different ones eventually...The T-75 is the best match for the DSL-1 IMO, while the Tweaker sounds better with the GB...

I'm the smoker dude, my wife hates it, & honestly, I do too now, but it's my nerve medication...I actually smoke like a fuckin' chimney while I'm at home, but I go at least 8 hours a day without one (smoking in the mine will get you put in prison btw)....FWIW, I've been smoking since I was about 13, 30+ years dude....I've been talking to my doctor, & he's gonna hook me up with some meds to quit, but he told me last week (last Friday to be exact), that I still need to wait just a little while becuase of my Dad's passing (he was Dad's regular doctor too, that guy's been our family doctor as long as I can remember), that I might go off the deep-end...He's the one who got me off those pain killers a few years ago, so, the guy knows what he's doing, he's afraid I'd relapse or start back on the pills...I could never do that though, as me & my Dad had a talk before he passed away, & let's just say I made a promise I intend to keep.....It was kinda funny, the doc told me "I know this goes against everything I took an oath for, but you need to keep smoking for just a little while longer"...So hopefully in a couple more/few months I can stop that shit....

Gonna go fire up the daw for about an hour & listen to my drum shit, it's been a couple days since I've messed with 'em, so my ears should be kinda fresh & hopefully I'm getting my kit sounds dialed in....The kit(s) I've been saving are named....are you ready??? The Greg_L Frankenkit (1, 2, 3, etc)...You know I'm using your clips to kinda ape your drum sounds, right??? Not really copy/ape 'em, just get in the ballpark of what my samples should sound like raw....Maybe Toontrack will come out with a Greg_L expansion pack for Superior/EZ Drummer & name it "Greg_L's Super-Fantastic Fuckin' Punk Rock Pack", with different kit presets like "Vaginasuarus Rex Kit" or "No Fuckin' Room Mics".....

 

[Greg_L]

The T-75 is the best match for the DSL-1 IMO,

That makes sense because that was the main Marshall speaker when the DSL was designed. Can you imagine how many of those things are around? 30+ years of 1960 cabs have had G12T-75s in them, and they still pump them out to this day. They do take those things into consideration.

I'm the smoker dude, my wife hates it, & honestly, I do too now, but it's my nerve medication...I actually smoke like a fuckin' chimney while I'm at home, but I go at least 8 hours a day without one (smoking in the mine will get you put in prison btw)....FWIW, I've been smoking since I was about 13, 30+ years dude....I've been talking to my doctor, & he's gonna hook me up with some meds to quit, but he told me last week (last Friday to be exact), that I still need to wait just a little while becuase of my Dad's passing (he was Dad's regular doctor too, that guy's been our family doctor as long as I can remember), that I might go off the deep-end...He's the one who got me off those pain killers a few years ago, so, the guy knows what he's doing, he's afraid I'd relapse or start back on the pills...I could never do that though, as me & my Dad had a talk before he passed away, & let's just say I made a promise I intend to keep.....It was kinda funny, the doc told me "I know this goes against everything I took an oath for, but you need to keep smoking for just a little while longer"...So hopefully in a couple more/few months I can stop that shit....

Yeah man, quitting smoking only works on your own time table anyway. No one quits until they're 100% mentally committed to it. People always halfass it because they don't really want to quit. They think they should, someone else wants them to, etc. But you gotta want it for you because you really want to. Just don't replace one habit with another.....unless it's a good habit.

Gonna go fire up the daw for about an hour & listen to my drum shit, it's been a couple days since I've messed with 'em, so my ears should be kinda fresh & hopefully I'm getting my kit sounds dialed in....The kit(s) I've been saving are named....are you ready??? The Greg_L Frankenkit (1, 2, 3, etc)...You know I'm using your clips to kinda ape your drum sounds, right??? Not really copy/ape 'em, just get in the ballpark of what my samples should sound like raw....Maybe Toontrack will come out with a Greg_L expansion pack for Superior/EZ Drummer & name it "Greg_L's Super-Fantastic Fuckin' Punk Rock Pack", with different kit presets like "Vaginasuarus Rex Kit" or "No Fuckin' Room Mics".....

Lol. That's very funny and quite flattering. I'm glad you think my drums are good enough to use as a guide. I've spent a lot of time, effort, and money trying to get good sounds in this little room with mediocre mics. Now I just need to learn how to play. I can do my one thing very well. But that's all I got. I have little to no drumming chops vocabulary. It's like guitar. I got to a point in which I can play my own kind of music very well, and that's it. I'm as good now on drums and guitar as I was at 18. I guess that's great for 18yr old Greg, not so great for 40 yr old Greg.

 

[Lt. Bob]

Now I just need to learn how to play. I can do my one thing very well. But that's all I got. I have little to no drumming chops vocabulary. It's like guitar. I got to a point in which I can play my own kind of music very well, and that's it. I'm as good now on drums and guitar as I was at 18. I guess that's great for 18yr old Greg, not so great for 40 yr old Greg.

meh, I've told you before that you've got chops.
All you gotta do is decide to increase your musical vocabulary and you will. It'll come easy to ya' 'cause you've got chops and, as much as you hate the term, you've got a 'feel' for it.
At any time you wish you can do that ......... on guitar too.
It'll be interesting to watch if you ever do get that urge .



In other news the Ampeg GVT-5 is a bad-ass little amp.
5 watts my ass!
I'm gonna try it tomorrow night with a full band and we don't mic amps. That's how loud the little fucker is.

And an absolutely lovely blackface sorta clean.
I wish I'd bought two.
I promise I'll get some clips this weekend.

 

[Greg_L]

That's bad ass that you like that little amp so much. It must be a killer. I wanna hear it.

I appreciate the kind words, Lt. I don't know, sometime I frustrate myself that I'm so stunted by my own hang-ups, but then other times I'm really happy and satisfied with being just how I am. Even though I'm constantly surrounded by better guitarists than me, I'm never envious of anyone else's abilities. I respect good players and ooooh and ahhh at what they can do, but it doesn't inspire me at all. All time greats that everyone knows and loves just don't do anything for me. I know Eddie Van Halen is one of the most innovative and influential modern guitarists of all time. But I hate his songs so I can't sit there and get anything out of it. Drummers are different for me. I can listen to good drummers and wish that I could come up with patterns and parts that good drummers do like it's nothing.

 

[Sky Blue Lou]

I can listen to good drummers and wish that I could come up with patterns and parts that good drummers do like it's nothing.

I think the key word there is "like". It may appear like nothing but there's blood, sweat and tears behind that appearance. Even the very best virtuosi can fall into the ruts of what they already know and can do. Breaking out into new territory isn't effortless. The real top dogs just make it look that way. Like it's easy.

 

[Greg_L]

I think the key word there is "like". It may appear like nothing but there's blood, sweat and tears behind that appearance. Even the very best virtuosi can fall into the ruts of what they already know and can do. Breaking out into new territory isn't effortless. The real top dogs just make it look that way. Like it's easy.

Yeah I know. My problem is the way I learn. I can't sit and practice something. Guitar scales, drum rudiments, I won't do it. I know they're the foundation of better things for sure, but I can't do it like that. Tapping rudiments on a drum pad does nothing for me. I've tried. I have to see a practical application and just try to do it until I get it. People telling me "rudiments will make you better" doesn't do jack shit for me. This is my crossroads. I won't do standard practice, and I don't listen to or get inspired by music that is above my pay grade, so I'm just stuck. And I guess that's okay. On the plus side, I've never dreamed up a drum part that I couldn't play. When I get an idea for something, I can execute it on drums. Guitar is a different story. I hear leads in my head that my fingers can't play.

 

[Greg_L]

In other news I'm digging into my JMP 2204 to do some maintenance and restoration. I don't wanna take my amps into techs anymore. I like my Steamboat guy, but I don't think any of them will pay attention to the details I want them to. I found out that there is a key feature of this amp that isn't there, but should be. These amps have a treble peaking cap, and a bright cap. Many people snip both of them out because the amp is "too bright". One of mine is snipped out - the more important one - and this amp is nowhere near bright. Fucking hell. Two techs, and neither of them noticed. I'm a little pissed. I need to learn this shit for myself. I HATE to pay money for something and just have to totally take their word for it. Both guys did make improvements, but not enough. This amp is fun and I like it, I use it all the time at band practices, and it doesn't sound bad, but I know something is off. Something just aint right, and after much research, I'm gonna start replacing shit. So I'm reinstalling the bright cap, I'm replacing the 35 year old filter caps and bias feed caps. Gonna replace every tube and bias this bitch down to the nearest .0000000000000000000000001 mv. Yup. It's gonna be that precise, because I'm the only motherfucker that will do it. So far everything else looks to be okay according to pics and schematics. Fuuuuuck.

 

[Sky Blue Lou]

Yeah I know. My problem is the way I learn. I can't sit and practice something. Guitar scales, drum rudiments, I won't do it. I know they're the foundation of better things for sure, but I can't do it like that. Tapping rudiments on a drum pad does nothing for me. I've tried. I have to see a practical application and just try to do it until I get it. People telling me "rudiments will make you better" doesn't do jack shit for me. This is my crossroads. I won't do standard practice...so I'm just stuck. And I guess that's okay.

Did you read my book? lol If I had written one that's what it would say.

 

[minerman]

Greg: Don't give me that shit that "I can't really play guitar, drums, or bass"....pfft....You can play dude, no question about that....

I think I'm in the same rut as you are on practicing, I can't sit & play a scale over & over, unless I'm gonna be able to use it in the real world, you know??? I'm sure it'd make me improve, but, if I can't find a use for it like really quick, I won't do it...I'm actually a pretty sloppy guitar player guys, I just keep recording take after take after take, until I think it's tight/good enough...That's the beauty of recording, you can fix your fuck ups...Live, well, that's another animal altogether....I used to be a lot better than I am now, because I did 2 gigs a week, & had band practice a couple days before the gigs...That's been way over 10 years ago now, & I actually stopped playing altogether for almost 7 years...

On the drum kits, that's what I'm naming 'em dude, honestly, I'll take a screenshot later & upload it for ya...I'm not just using your drums though, I'm using those Rock Band things for ideas/how shit should sound too, but the last week or so, I've been on your sounds pretty hard...LOL....

While I'm at it, what reverb did you use on the clip you sent me, & how are you setting it up man, it makes a huge difference, & I can't quite get there....I'm pretty sure you said it was the "large chamber" IR file you sent, but again, I can't quite dial it in...My 'verbs are either too "honky" & long, or faint & not enough...Lemme know if you don't mind dude, no biggie if you don't though...I'm still going through my kick & snare sounds, once I settle on a couple of those, I'm gonna do the hi-hats, I was listening to a cd tonight on the way home, & my hat sounds are terrible compared to some of the stuff I heard tonight...Of course, those are real hats, played by a real drummer, in a real studio, but I have to be able to get mine sounding better than they are...

Lou: Good to see you around Lou, hang out with us man, I'm off work until Monday....

Bob: Clips dude!!!!! We want clips of your 5w beast!!!!

Gonna grab a shower & something to eat, it's been a long week guys....

 

[Lt. Bob]

In other news I'm digging into my JMP 2204 to do some maintenance and restoration. I don't wanna take my amps into techs anymore. I like my Steamboat guy, but I don't think any of them will pay attention to the details I want them to. I found out that there is a key feature of this amp that isn't there, but should be. These amps have a treble peaking cap, and a bright cap. Many people snip both of them out because the amp is "too bright". One of mine is snipped out - the more important one - and this amp is nowhere near bright. Fucking hell. Two techs, and neither of them noticed. I'm a little pissed. I need to learn this shit for myself. I HATE to pay money for something and just have to totally take their word for it. Both guys did make improvements, but not enough. This amp is fun and I like it, I use it all the time at band practices, and it doesn't sound bad, but I know something is off. Something just aint right, and after much research, I'm gonna start replacing shit. So I'm reinstalling the bright cap, I'm replacing the 35 year old filter caps and bias feed caps. Gonna replace every tube and bias this bitch down to the nearest .0000000000000000000000001 mv. Yup. It's gonna be that precise, because I'm the only motherfucker that will do it. So far everything else looks to be okay according to pics and schematics. Fuuuuuck.

good for you mang! You're gonna be the tube amp guy!
The stuff is really pretty straightforward and you have a back ground in working on stuff.
So you're gonna buy a few tools and a good meter I'm guessing?

 

[Greg_L]

On the drum kits, that's what I'm naming 'em dude, honestly, I'll take a screenshot later & upload it for ya...I'm not just using your drums though, I'm using those Rock Band things for ideas/how shit should sound too, but the last week or so, I've been on your sounds pretty hard...LOL....

While I'm at it, what reverb did you use on the clip you sent me, & how are you setting it up man, it makes a huge difference, & I can't quite get there....I'm pretty sure you said it was the "large chamber" IR file you sent, but again, I can't quite dial it in...My 'verbs are either too "honky" & long, or faint & not enough...Lemme know if you don't mind dude, no biggie if you don't though...I'm still going through my kick & snare sounds, once I settle on a couple of those, I'm gonna do the hi-hats, I was listening to a cd tonight on the way home, & my hat sounds are terrible compared to some of the stuff I heard tonight...Of course, those are real hats, played by a real drummer, in a real studio, but I have to be able to get mine sounding better than they are...
.

I used "large chamber" for that song.



Full dry, -19.4 db wet. It's a big reverb, but I just use a little of it. I like "wide chamber" too. It's humongous, but just use a little. I personally don't want to hear tails and decay on reverb. I like the sound of drums in a big space, but I don't want to hear it in the mix. Reverb to make things gel and add dimension is good to me. It has to be balanced though. I don't like big reverb tails on drums but the guitars and everything else is dry.

 

[Greg_L]

good for you mang! You're gonna be the tube amp guy!
The stuff is really pretty straightforward and you have a back ground in working on stuff.
So you're gonna buy a few tools and a good meter I'm guessing?

Lol. I don't think I'll ever be the tube amp guy. I just wanna be able to understand and fix or mod my own amps. I have a good multimeter, soldering equipment, but I really have no idea how any of this shit works in an amp though. It's like, I can read plate voltage and set my bias according to a formula, but I have no idea why I need to or what it's actually doing. I want to get an understanding of why electrons moving around inside of my amp makes sound. I'll be looking for some books and online stuff to get my study on. I'm gonna *gasp* go to the library today and check out some electrical theory books. Looking at schematics is tough for me, but having my amp cracked open and comparing it to the schematics has already got the ball rolling.