Want to get that bluesy biting sound

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Looking for some help with effects. I have been playing guitar for a long time but have never used any type of effects. I am in a jazz quartet now and play mostly an ES-175 but I have a Dean EVO for some songs.

We play some blues, maybe a few a night. I really love some of the biting sounds I hear commin from many blues players, actually from some country players too.

I bought a Marshall Blues Breaker (BB2) but it just sound like a fuzz tone to me and that is the last sound I want.

I am sure I either have the wrong pedal or have it set wrong.

Any help on reaching this goal would be appreciated. Is there a better pedal or what settings on this should I try?

Thanks
 
Are you wanting to get a classic Blues sound or a modern Blues sound? The old sound was a hollow body or simi hollow body guitar through a small amp. Most of the modern players use solid body guitars and larger amps.

A good Blues sound is on the "edge." You want the amp to just start to break up so that when you really dig in you've got some crunch and the high notes scream, but when you play softer it sounds clean.

I've found that the best way to get that kind of sound is to drive the power tubes harder and the pre-amp tubes less. In other words you have to play loud.
 
There are a few ways you can go. One is with a Fender Deluxe amp, that would pretty much nail the sound you're talking about (especially when you're talking both blues and country). I've also heard some killer sounds out of the fender DeVille series.
Another way to go is with an overdrive (not distortion) pedal. There are a million out there, probably half of which are based on the original Ibanez Tube Screamer. A good place to look is Music Toys pedal selection (http://www.musictoyz.com/newpedals.htm). Many of these pedals have audio samples, which is very helpful. It would be nice to be able to play a bunch of pedals and pick one out, but unfortunately very few guitar shops carry anything but the most basic selection.
Good luck!
 
classic blues biting sound=strat through a fender tube amp

i am a big fan of SRV and i liked his sound which is thick with overdrive most of the time (texas flood), but he didn't really have that biting classic blues tone on most of his tunes (don't get me wrong, he could get it when he wanted to).

that classic tone is pretty much a clean sound with the amps tubes barley starting to break up and those old blues men (albert collins, albert king, muddy waters ect...) used their bare finger tips to "pluck" certain notes and that gives a "biting" sound and that note will break up the tubes a little more. you can't get that sound by using a pick on everything...you have to use your bare fingers in conjunction with a guitar pick.
 
That's what I want, CRUNCH, Shredding CRUNCH...

So I have to buy a new amp and guitar...sheese, its never easy. Playing guitar is almost like being a healthcare professional. Everything is a specialty.

Crunch..you need to see Drs Strat and Fender
Jazz...you need to see Drs Gibson and Polytone
Blues...you need to see Drs. Fender and Fender
Rock..you need to see Drs. PRS and Marshall

Well, I guess I will just have to wait it out.

Thanks
 
I've got an old Gibson Skylark that has a pretty decent blues tone. I've seen them relatively cheap on ebay, in local shops etc...

If you're considering spending $100+ on a pedal, $200 for an old 30 watt amp should'nt be out of the question. I'd look around for something that "has the sound". You probably won't get it with a pedal anyhow.
 
What amp are you running your 175 into and how big are the venues you're playing?

What exactly is a Dean EVO? Solid, semi, hollow, bolt on or set neck, how many pickups? Single coil or h'buckers?

Be specific about the sound you want.
Who would you like to sound like and on which song?

foo
 
I'd say your guitars are fine for blues (although a strat might get you closer to that desired sound).

I ditto other people here...what you may want to try is a Fender combo amp less than 50W. Lots of models to choose, but any of the older 50w amps (Bassman, Super Reverb, Pro Rev, VibroluxRev). I think its a slightly overdriven tone (it doesnt arrive until after around 4 on the Volume control - which is very loud on one of these amps).

I like the older small tube combos too, but they can be a little lacking on the low end (I too have an old Gibson Skylark! They can cop more of an older blues sound, especially with that Gibson.
 
The EVO is a single-cut set neck solidbody. Most have a hum-hum pickup config.
 
If you go for an amp, get one that has 2x10 are 1x12 at least. Without that you just can't get the low end you want.

If you go for a pedal, the tube screamer is a good one, but I'm fond of the Danelectro Daddy-O. jimistone was recommending the Boss Blues Driver in another thread. Most any pedal will do, but you don't want to use too much distortion or it'll sound muddy.

The truth is that the more stuff you use, the harder it is to get a good Blues sound.
 
Hey Guys:

Sorry I haven't been around the last couple of days but I had to get a unit test ready for my class. I am giving the test today so I was going crazy last couple of days getting it ready.

I stopped in Sam Ash the other day to look around. There are as many fender amps as there are notes on a guitar. Saw some gorgeous Les Pauls there but I know everyone seems to say strat and besides the LPs weigh more than me.

What kind of wattage am I looking for? I am not worried about the size of the venue because we have a full sound system so at bigger places I can mic the amp.

I know there are a lot of jazz guys that play thru a fender so maybe I can get one that will allow me to do both.

I am playing through a Fishman Performer Pro right now. Its mainly designed for acoustic guitars.

I wish I could give you some ideas of songs that would more closely approximated the sound but I usually listen to talk radio and only get to hear what I like sometimes when I watch CMT or catch it on a radio somewhere. But I know it when I hear it and I do want it. I just love that sustain.

How about ZZ Top? They have a good crunchy sound. I will see if I can find some songs.

Thanks for the info so far. So should I get rid of my marshall Blues Breaker? Maybe I can trade it in at the store I bought it against an amp...hmmm

Later
 
An acoustic amp is not going to have the kind of mid-range boost that you need, and which all 'electric' guitar amps inherantly have.

My suggestion would be a small (say 35 watts or smaller) tweed re-issue type of tube amp with 1 x 12 or 2 x 10 speakers.

There are several companies that make them - cost effective ways (read: less expensive) are eBay and look for Peavey Classics or a Carvin product (or your local store if you live in a large urban area).

If you want to spend more, then a re-issue Fender Bassman or something similar will definately take care of business for you. There are also a whole slew of non-tweed Fender amps which will fill the bill. Depends on your budget.

foo
 
Lots of modern Blues players use Marshall amps. Although, I would go with a Fender or something like it. You might look into Sov-Tech amps.

ZZ Top huh? That's a very distorted sound by Blues standards. Billy Gibbons uses a pedal called the "Expandora." I have never tried one out, but I've heard very good things about them. He also uses a fair amount of chorus. If that's the sound you really want, you'll need a guitar with a humbucker at the bridge.
 
ZZ's tone was SWEET during the 70's.

Billy has played gazillions of different rigs...a lot of Marshall combos

Anyone seen the ZZ guitars at the Rock'n Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland made out of casted metal parts? Too cool. I think they played them in the "Recycler" videos maybe?
 
when i was in the virgin islands this past summer i went to the hard rock cafe on st thomas and was looking at various artists guitars hanging on the wall. there was a black les paul that had "billy gibbons" name plate under it....i went for a closer look and it was an Electra. i was surprized :eek:
 
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