Guitar Vs. Effects When Playing Live...

PJ-Sin

Guitars, amps and effects are all personal preferences which we could have a 100 page disscusion about. The most important thing (which I think someone already said) is just being a good musician and being able to play with the whole band. Because even if you have the best sound in the world, it doesnt mean shit if you can't play.

PJ-Sin

howmuchdifference wrote:

But, there always seems to be something a little lacking -- especially in my solos.

Try to use a little delay or chorus when you go into the solo. This is what I do and it works pretty well.

howmuchdifference

PJ-Sin wrote:

Try to use a little delay or chorus when you go into the solo. This is what I do and it works pretty well.

Thanks. I usually use have my TS-9 on all the time and then punch in some extra distortion on my Korg board during the solo. That seems to help a little, too. Chorus is something I hadn't considered though...

who's_pearljam?

I guess I misread your original question! I thought you were talking about playing in big places.

Well, the whole tuning, timing, tone and listening to the band thing still applies, but you probably don't need a big amp. Like Enharmonic said,,, big amps are overpowering in most clubs.
If most of the places you play are small, and have a PA system and you can mike it, then a small 25 watter or less is usually fine.

I think the FIRST question is:

What do you have that you like?
If the Squier plays well, and you're comfortable with it, then maybe a pickup change would be in order. Pickups are one of the most important things in the tone chain and you can get a big bang for your buck. Maybe a hotter set of pickups if you don't feel like you're getting ooomph from them.
Do you like your amp with anyone elses guitar? If the amp has potential, then maybe you can keep it. If it's old, maybe a tube change. If not, then a new amp should help.

I would play around with different guitars through that amp,,, and vica versa. Play the guitars you have through other amps and see what strikes you.

Also, when you're playing onstage in small places, keep your amp near you if you can. If you keep it on a stand and aim it towards you a bit, you can hear yourself better. Play around with your amp's volume settings and find the sweet spot. Every amp has one where your pickups and it have a nice balance and punch.
I like rolling back on the volume while playing rhthym and rolling it up to ten in a solo, so that sweet spot is there.
If you're close to your amp, you can keep it on the edge of feeding back more easily when you're soloing,,,,,



IF it's not too loud for the sound guy!!!! If you're amp's too powerful, then you might not be able to crank it up enough to get those power tubes humming!

Also, in soloing, work on your picking technique. You can get a lot of dynamic with your pick or fingers that can really affect the amp's sound.

It sounds like you have decent pedals, and maybe a little color like a chorus or delay would help, too, like pj-sin said.


Ha ha,,,,, what was the question again?

howmuchdifference

chiefojibwa wrote:

i see no reason to get rid of that silvertone.

I'm going to listen to it with a couple of other guitars first, but I think you're right. Although I might invest in a couple 12" celestions... It has that vintage tube sound because it's--well, vintage! And it's definitely loud enough for the rooms that I play.

I'd put a couple of new pickups in my Squire, but the neck rod is broken in it, so I won't be investing in it anymore... Maybe I'll try out my Hamer Duotone a little more with its Duncan pickups...

Thanks for all the ideas... priceless...