The New Tone Thread

[Lt. Bob]

GOT IT!! .... yay, got the Media Player to work and upload files!
alrite ..... let's see if Windows media player wants to work. It hasn't been and if it's broke it'll be the last thing I ever post musically 'cause I'm not gonna bother to fix it!edit ... fixed

this is the Pico on the 2 watt setting with the gain amd master dimed. Treble on 8 .... bright switch off ... bass on 6 mids on 6 .........
The little pico sounded decent and it was really quiet for being dimed. I think you could get away with this in even a quiet environment.
.

 

[minerman]

Greg: I just couldn't help myself fucking with Groovy, I've still got some more too, if he wants .... I almost did that a while back, when we were all trying to get him to either leave or post some tones....

Marshall's coming out with some new amps, here's a link to a 5w combo, I've heard there's a head version too.....

Marshall DSL5C 5w Valve Guitar Amplifier | Andertons

And, here's something I copied/pasted from another website:

New handwired amps from Marshall due soon...
Marshall Amplification is pleased to announce 4 new additions to our classic Handwired range. These models join the 1959HW, 2061X and 1974X in the Marshall Handwired family, providing authentic vintage Marshall tone, build quality and authenticity.

These four ‘new’ units are based on some of the more rare models released in the companies first decade of business, and have never been released by us on a full production level, until now.

The additions to the Handwired Range are as follows:

• 1962HW – A Handwired version of the 1962 ‘Bluesbreaker’ combo. At 30 watts output, this is possibly the ultimate classic valve combo. Featuring 4xECC83 & 2xKT66 valves, Celestion G12-C speakers, GZ34 valve rectifier and classic 4 inputs, all of the nostalgic tone from the original ‘Bluesbreaker’ and more is featured here.
• JTM45THW – A Handwired JTM45 Tremolo Head. Based on the classic JTM45, this version not only features a hand wired turret board but also a valve driven tremolo for authenticity. Also featuring 30 watts output, 4xECC83 and 2xKT66 valves, GZ34 valve rectifier and classic 4 inputs.
• 1958X – An 18 watt combo featuring two Celestion 10” G10-F15 Speakers. Essentially a 2x10” version of the classic 1974X, the amp features 3xECC83 and 2xEL84 valves, an EZ81 valve rectifier, valve driven tremolo, Volume & Tone controls, and two channels (Normal & Tremolo) each with high/low inputs.

• 1973X – An 18 watt combo featuring two Celestion 12” 1221 ‘Greenback’ Speakers. This 2x12” version of the 1974X provides a massive tone along with 3xECC83 and 2xEL84 valve power, valve tremolo circuit, an EZ81 valve rectifier and two channels (Normal & Tremolo) each with Volume & Tone controls and high/low inputs.
As well as each amplifier having its own character, common features across the range include:

• Handwired Tag Board Circuits
• Tremolo Feature (footswitch included with all models)
• Vintage Toggle Switches, power indicators and cosmetic styling
• Made in the UK
• Voltage and Impedance Selector Switch
• Volume, Tone Control and 2 separate channels (1958X and 1973X only)
• Full EQ section and 4 inputs (1962HW and JTM45THW only)

Of course, I'll probably not buy any of these amps (especially the handwired, those will be expensive I'd say, & the 5w DSL is basically what I already have here), but will wait & see what else they have coming out....

 

[minerman]

Sounds pretty good Bob, it's a little "flubby" sounding, but that could be dialed out with eq, or, tightened up with a dirt pedal IMO....Of course, tone is subjective, what you might like, I might not, etc....But for a $100 amp, I think you did well, very well with the 'lil Pico Valve...

Did you upload that clip with Dropbox??? Just wondering, as I've had a Dropbox account for a couple/few years now, but for the life of me, I can't get my clips to open like yours (or Greg's) did. I've changed the folder to "public", & did everything I could think of, but no luck....

Clip sounds good though Bob, has kind of a vintage-y vibe/sound to it...

 

[Lt. Bob]

Did you upload that clip with Dropbox??? ...

no . just uploaded it direct from my puter

 

[Lt. Bob]

Sounds pretty good Bob, it's a little "flubby" sounding, but that could be dialed out with eq, or, tightened up with a dirt pedal IMO....Of course, tone is subjective, what you might like, I might not, etc....But for a $100 amp, I think you did well, very well with the 'lil Pico Valve...
...

thanks mang, I"m not particularly concerned about it .... it's a cheap little amp that I bought to toss in the truck and never give a thought about after that. If it blows up I don't care ..... if someone steals it I don't care ..... if it gets rained on I don't care. That's what it's mainly for ..... there's virtually no chance I'll ever use it turned up like that ever again and just did it since greg asked.

But I'll get all my distortion with that amp from pedals.

If I want to get picky about tone I have $10,000 worth of amps in the next room.

 

[Greg_L]

I think it sounds pretty cool. Real raunchy like garage rock tone or something. Has an almost "vintage" kind of dirty sound to it. I like.

 

[Greg_L]

Greg: I just couldn't help myself fucking with Groovy, I've still got some more too, if he wants .... I almost did that a while back, when we were all trying to get him to either leave or post some tones....

Marshall's coming out with some new amps, here's a link to a 5w combo, I've heard there's a head version too.....

Marshall DSL5C 5w Valve Guitar Amplifier | Andertons

And, here's something I copied/pasted from another website:

New handwired amps from Marshall due soon...
Marshall Amplification is pleased to announce 4 new additions to our classic Handwired range. These models join the 1959HW, 2061X and 1974X in the Marshall Handwired family, providing authentic vintage Marshall tone, build quality and authenticity.

These four ‘new’ units are based on some of the more rare models released in the companies first decade of business, and have never been released by us on a full production level, until now.

The additions to the Handwired Range are as follows:

• 1962HW – A Handwired version of the 1962 ‘Bluesbreaker’ combo. At 30 watts output, this is possibly the ultimate classic valve combo. Featuring 4xECC83 & 2xKT66 valves, Celestion G12-C speakers, GZ34 valve rectifier and classic 4 inputs, all of the nostalgic tone from the original ‘Bluesbreaker’ and more is featured here.
• JTM45THW – A Handwired JTM45 Tremolo Head. Based on the classic JTM45, this version not only features a hand wired turret board but also a valve driven tremolo for authenticity. Also featuring 30 watts output, 4xECC83 and 2xKT66 valves, GZ34 valve rectifier and classic 4 inputs.
• 1958X – An 18 watt combo featuring two Celestion 10” G10-F15 Speakers. Essentially a 2x10” version of the classic 1974X, the amp features 3xECC83 and 2xEL84 valves, an EZ81 valve rectifier, valve driven tremolo, Volume & Tone controls, and two channels (Normal & Tremolo) each with high/low inputs.

• 1973X – An 18 watt combo featuring two Celestion 12” 1221 ‘Greenback’ Speakers. This 2x12” version of the 1974X provides a massive tone along with 3xECC83 and 2xEL84 valve power, valve tremolo circuit, an EZ81 valve rectifier and two channels (Normal & Tremolo) each with Volume & Tone controls and high/low inputs.
As well as each amplifier having its own character, common features across the range include:

• Handwired Tag Board Circuits
• Tremolo Feature (footswitch included with all models)
• Vintage Toggle Switches, power indicators and cosmetic styling
• Made in the UK
• Voltage and Impedance Selector Switch
• Volume, Tone Control and 2 separate channels (1958X and 1973X only)
• Full EQ section and 4 inputs (1962HW and JTM45THW only)

Of course, I'll probably not buy any of these amps (especially the handwired, those will be expensive I'd say, & the 5w DSL is basically what I already have here), but will wait & see what else they have coming out....

Meh, none of that sounds too interesting to me. I think I'll stand pat with the JVM and JMP.

 

[Lt. Bob]

I think it sounds pretty cool. Real raunchy like garage rock tone or something. Has an almost "vintage" kind of dirty sound to it. I like.

Thanks ..... I actually kinda liked it too ...... might have some uses for it.

I don't really try to duplicate other guys' tones too much (at all ) ..... I just work with whatever tones I happen to have.

Now, the tones I have will influence what I play and how I play but that's sorta what I'm looking for.
If I try too hard to dial in say a Hendrix tone ..... I'm also gonna play like that.
I don't much want to play like anyone else and that starts with not trying to duplicate tones. I kinda take what I have and go from there.
That's part of why I don't freak out if I have to deal with subpar gear or a gig with crappy sound ..... to me it's kinda " 'meh' .... let's see what I can do with this"

Don't misunderstand me ..... I admire ya'lls' tones and sometimes wish I had them but it's just not how I work. While there are times when I wish I did things a little differently I think, after 49 years, I've developed a pattern!






Plus my thing is primarily live playing which is a far different thing than recording. Not as critical on sounds ..... more critical on making stuff up on the fly.

 

[Greg_L]

Yeah besides Johnny Ramone, none of the guys I like have any kind of signature sound or anything. Most of the music I listen to has pretty much the same basic guitar tone. I like trying to cop tones for the fun of it, but I never sit down and say, "okay this song has to have a Johnny Thunders sound". I don't have anything special about my tones. I just dial in something I like and get after it.

 

[Lt. Bob]

Yeah besides Johnny Ramone, none of the guys I like have any kind of signature sound or anything. Most of the music I listen to has pretty much the same basic guitar tone. I like trying to cop tones for the fun of it, but I never sit down and say, "okay this song has to have a Johnny Thunders sound". I don't have anything special about my tones. I just dial in something I like and get after it.

Yeah BUT ..... when you record you have an arsenal of sounds you've discovered that you can pull up at will ...... that's a major benefit you get from the tone chasing .... it makes those sounds available to you.

Truthfully, I plan to start working on writing an album and when it gets time to record it I really need to be doing that aspect of things more like you do. You get great sounds ..... maybe it's from learning to tune drums which really requires serious listening ability to do right. So maybe your ear got started being trained by that but you have an insane ability to dial in tones.

So I think it might be time to start setting up a wall of amps and have 3 or 4 sounds dialed in ready to go at a moments notice.

 

[minerman]

Oh, I understand about trying to sound like other people, it's basically just fun for me too....While it is cool to say I've gotten close to some of my heroes' sounds, if I'm working on a song of mine, it's gonna sound like me no matter what, tone wise & playing wise....The tone chase thing is really helpful about dialing in specific types of sounds though (to me anyway....), & again, it's fun for me to try & sound like the guys I grew up listening to....I do have to admit Greg's really good at this shit too, I've learned tons from him in the last year or so, wish my hearning/ears were as good as his. I think that's got a lot to do with my trouble dialing in certain sounds, fuck, I've been around that noisy mining machinery for 25 years, & I know it's affected my hearing....Plus, when I did play in bands, I had more than one drummer to tell me "you're the loudest fuckin' guitar player I've ever played with", so yeah, I'd say my hearing ain't what it used to be....

I did like the tone Bob, it's just a little different than what I'd go for personally, that's the beauty of music, there is no right/wrong way really, only what one likes & sounds good....

On the new Marshalls: meh....not interested in any of 'em one bit, I just thought you guys might like to read up on what they're coming out with....I think my next "big" purchase will be either a 2x12 or 4x12 & just take it as it comes....I'm gonna try to order at least one of the JOYO pedals this weekend though, probably the Plexi thing, & maybe something else....

Hopefully, one more shift & I get a couple days off......tomorrow's gonna be a long day, got a doctor's appointment @ 8 am, so I gotta get my ass in the bed...

 

[Greg_L]

Yeah BUT ..... when you record you have an arsenal of sounds you've discovered that you can pull up at will ...... that's a major benefit you get from the tone chasing .... it makes those sounds available to you.

Truthfully, I plan to start working on writing an album and when it gets time to record it I really need to be doing that aspect of things more like you do. You get great sounds ..... maybe it's from learning to tune drums which really requires serious listening ability to do right. So maybe your ear got started being trained by that but you have an insane ability to dial in tones.

So I think it might be time to start setting up a wall of amps and have 3 or 4 sounds dialed in ready to go at a moments notice.

Oh, I understand about trying to sound like other people, it's basically just fun for me too....While it is cool to say I've gotten close to some of my heroes' sounds, if I'm working on a song of mine, it's gonna sound like me no matter what, tone wise & playing wise....The tone chase thing is really helpful about dialing in specific types of sounds though (to me anyway....), & again, it's fun for me to try & sound like the guys I grew up listening to....I do have to admit Greg's really good at this shit too, I've learned tons from him in the last year or so, wish my hearning/ears were as good as his. I think that's got a lot to do with my trouble dialing in certain sounds, fuck, I've been around that noisy mining machinery for 25 years, & I know it's affected my hearing....Plus, when I did play in bands, I had more than one drummer to tell me "you're the loudest fuckin' guitar player I've ever played with", so yeah, I'd say my hearing ain't what it used to be....

I did like the tone Bob, it's just a little different than what I'd go for personally, that's the beauty of music, there is no right/wrong way really, only what one likes & sounds good....

On the new Marshalls: meh....not interested in any of 'em one bit, I just thought you guys might like to read up on what they're coming out with....I think my next "big" purchase will be either a 2x12 or 4x12 & just take it as it comes....I'm gonna try to order at least one of the JOYO pedals this weekend though, probably the Plexi thing, & maybe something else....

Hopefully, one more shift & I get a couple days off......tomorrow's gonna be a long day, got a doctor's appointment @ 8 am, so I gotta get my ass in the bed...

Haha, thanks for the kind words and compliments guys. I do appreciate it, and it does mean something to me coming from you guys. If I get good tones sometimes, and I'm mostly pretty happy with what I get, I think it's more about the equipment I've been using than my good ears or anything. I've been very fortunate to record with killer amps and cabs over the past several years now. Killer for me, anyway. For my kind of sound. I'd love to sit here and feel good about myself, but I know you gotta be a real dummy to fuck up with a Les Paul plugged into a quality tube driven Marshall. Lol. I wouldn't go trying to record jazz with these things, but the JVM could probably do it. I've gotten pretty tuned in with a Marshall sound. Put me in front of a Mesa and I'm pretty lost. Lol.

 

[Lt. Bob]

I did like the tone Bob, it's just a little different than what I'd go for personally, ...

lol ..... it's different than what I'd go for personally too!

That's the thing ....... I think it's hard for other folks here to quite understand just how much I don't care ...... ........
I've played thru crummy sounding amps and I've played thru great sounding amps ......
I've played better than I could have ever imagined I'd be and I've played worse than your 3 year old.
I've done gigs for 30,000 people and I've played gigs for the bartender.

It's all the same to me ..... so as long as you don't say something like "Your tone sucks 'cause you're stupid" or "Your crappy tone is Obama's fault" you really don't have to be gentle with me. It's ok to just say " I don't like that".

I dunno where I'm going musically or tone-wise .... I really don't.
For the first time in a long career I'm struggling to find my muse and it's frustrating. It's one of the reasons I do like to hear you and gregs' tone clips.
I find ya'lls enthusiasm catching a little bit and I really need that. So you guys help me more than you can know.
But still, I'm having a hard time finding that kernel of excitement for playing my instruments that you really need to record anything worthwhile and I'm thrashing about wildly trying to find it.

Currently I'm intrigued by trying to have the guitar not sound like a guitar. I have a POG I'm diddling around with and a few other bizarre toys I'm trying in hopes of something catching my ears.
Certainly any album is gonna have to have a certain amount of standard type git tones and that's where I wish I had the library of tones you and Greg have.
But I'm not being inspired by any of that ...... ......... it may well be that after 49 years of playing I've just finally become too blasé about the whole music thing to get excited about it anymore ....... I hope not but these things happen.

I'm rambling here but my point is ..... it's ok to say you think a tone of mine sucks.
You'll prolly be right and either way I won't take offense.

 

[Greg_L]

Well I thought your dirty pico tone was cool. I'd use that tone.

 

[Lt. Bob]

Well I thought your dirty pico tone was cool. I'd use that tone.

I'm gonna gig with the thing tonight.

It's kinda raw sounding and I do like that ..... not refined like my Mesas. It has this feeling of 'Push me a little harder and I'm gonna blow up' that I don't get with most of my amps. The 5 watt setting is a bit rawer than the 2 watt so maybe I need some clips of that.
The Orange Tiny Terror is kinda raw too, but it gets stupid loud for a small amp so you can't really crank it like you can with the Pico.

Tonight I'll have a pedalboard in front of it so we'll see how it handles pedals but I do think that I'll lost some of that edgy sound because the pedals will take over a lot.
we'll see ......... I'll let you know tomorrow ...... I'll try to remember to stick my DR-5 in front of it and record what happens.

 

[minerman]

lol ..... it's different than what I'd go for personally too!

Oh man, I did like the tone/sound, but you know I'm an 80's (cock-rock as Greg calls it..) tone guy, it's just different than what I would've went for....

That's the thing ....... I think it's hard for other folks here to quite understand just how much I don't care ...... ........
I've played thru crummy sounding amps and I've played thru great sounding amps ......
I've played better than I could have ever imagined I'd be and I've played worse than your 3 year old.
I've done gigs for 30,000 people and I've played gigs for the bartender.

I remember my gig days, & I've been there, done that (except the 30,000 people thing, I guess the biggest crowd I've been in front of was about 8-10,000, just guessing...)...The first real band I was in (that played in public, not just bedroom/garage jamming) had a regular gig at a local bar (2 weekends a month), we got 100% of the door...many times I went home not making a cent, but it wasn't about the $$$, it was about playing live, anywhere, anytime...I actually miss those days in a way, but I had zero responsibilities (single, living at home with Mom & Dad, no job), & it'd be hard for me to do now, really impossible with my work hours....I do envy you for making your living from you music Bob, you're actually living your (and my) dream dude, I always wanted to just be a musician, but life gets in the way....Again though, my hat's off to you man, I know it's a lot harder than folks imagine too, but keep at it man, you're living the life...

I too have had some shitty amps, & some good amps (I gigged with a Gorilla for a couple months...and I had a white Jubilee full-stack that I foolishly sold a few months after my parents bought it for me....), along with some shitty guitars & some great guitars, pedals, rack fx, etc.....As far as what I have now, I've got a great little recording setup, I can get some pretty good & useable tones out of my gear, but there's always gonna be the GAS thing, that'll never end...I tried to explain that to my wife, & the only way she could understand was for me to compare my gear to her shoes/pocketbooks/clothes...

It's all the same to me ..... so as long as you don't say something like "Your tone sucks 'cause you're stupid" or "Your crappy tone is Obama's fault" you really don't have to be gentle with me. It's ok to just say " I don't like that".

Right on dude!!! No need in being "gentle" as you'd call it, especially on the 'net, when you're asking for people's opinions...

I dunno where I'm going musically or tone-wise .... I really don't.
For the first time in a long career I'm struggling to find my muse and it's frustrating. It's one of the reasons I do like to hear you and gregs' tone clips.
I find ya'lls enthusiasm catching a little bit and I really need that. So you guys help me more than you can know.
But still, I'm having a hard time finding that kernel of excitement for playing my instruments that you really need to record anything worthwhile and I'm thrashing about wildly trying to find it.

That's cool we're helping you dude, as I've learned so much about guitar tones in this forum than any of the other forums I visit combined. Most people just don't "get" what I'm asking, except here....This is basically the only place I post in this whole forum, & specifically because of this thread!!! Anything I can do to help, lemme know dude, anytime....I've been in a rut myself for months now, I've just gotten into the tone chase thing so much, it's killed my song-finishing skills. I need to get back in the swing with my songs, I've got way over an album's worth of material, finishing 'em is the problem....But, there's a lot going on in my life too, work, wife's health (which is still giving her problems), my Dad (lung cancer, gave him 2 years to live 14 months ago), but I still need to get off my ass & finish these songs...

Currently I'm intrigued by trying to have the guitar not sound like a guitar. I have a POG I'm diddling around with and a few other bizarre toys I'm trying in hopes of something catching my ears.
Certainly any album is gonna have to have a certain amount of standard type git tones and that's where I wish I had the library of tones you and Greg have.
But I'm not being inspired by any of that ...... ......... it may well be that after 49 years of playing I've just finally become too blasé about the whole music thing to get excited about it anymore ....... I hope not but these things happen.

Again, I've been in a rut, creativity-wise for months now, I just can't seem to get motivated enough to finish these 12-15 songs I've written...Maybe I'm burned out on it a little, as I've been going at this shit for almost 5 years now, non-stop, night & day...Who knows, but, again, I need to make myself finish these fuckin' songs....

I'm rambling here but my point is ..... it's ok to say you think a tone of mine sucks.
You'll prolly be right and either way I won't take offense.

Don't get me wrong Bob, if I thought something you posted sucked, I'd say so, really. I do try to be pretty nice (except with Groovy...dumbfuck...it'd be different if he actually contributed here...), but I also try to be honest too. What good would it do if "Joe" posted a tone that actually sucked, then everyone told him "it's great man". He'd think it was good, & wouldn't do anything to improve...

FWIW, I did like the tone you posted dude, especially the opening riff, actually sounded pretty vintage-y & gritty to me, very useable, but like I mentioned, I'm an 80's cock-rock tone guy, so I like my tones a little tighter, with more gain (of course)....

Post up some tones with some different dirt pedals running through the Pico dude, I'm pretty curious to hear that little amp boosted...

One more shift, & I get a couple days off...I hope....

 

[minerman]

Bob: Oh yeah, be sure to let us know how the Pico takes pedals....If you want any tubes dude, lemme know, while I don't have a vast/great collection, I do have some decent glass I'd be happy to send your way....Maybe trade for a pedal or something, or if you just wanna try the tubes, lemme know dude....

 

[Lt. Bob]

Well, the Pico gigged well and took pedals well. It definitely was better than the Epi Valve Jr. because of having tone controls.
I'd say it was a bit louder than the Epi but not much ....... very little headroom as you'd expect from 5 watts but, once again, a little more than the Epi and enough .... at the end of the night when I was picking with more force as the naked dancing ladies caught my attention I noticed that it was definitely done with being clean!
But, all in all, a decent little amp .......... one of the few times I can remember something sounding better on the gig than it did in the house.

 

[minerman]

Cool Bob,
That's good about the new amp, makes me wish I'd gotten one, but, I'm good to go all around really. I probably need another mic or two more than anything, & maybe a couple different pedals, but gonna have to wait (as usual) a little while...

The "naked dancing ladies" comment made me laugh, I remember those days myself....

 

[Greg_L]

That's cool Boob. For 99 bucks it sounds like it's usefulness far outweighs it's price, and that's always a good thing.

I gave the OCD back to my buddy. Sorry I couldn't get clips up for you guys. I wanted to but I've been having to do a bunch of drums lately. I might be able to get it back one of these days pretty soon.