Posted: 3/20/2014 7:48:36 PM EDT
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Greetings fellas,
I have a question. I received a PRS SC-245 for a graduation gift, and I am using my dad's old Ampeg tube amp he used in his highschool bands. The pedal I am using is an RP 155. It's ok for the most part. However, I'm not fully satisfied with the sound I get out of the pedal, as if its almost too artificial. Also, no matter how hard or soft I strum the strings I always get a constant volume. Is there a special setting that I'm not aware of that allows for a dynamic volume so to speak or is it just the lack of capability from the pedal? Also, I may be looking to pick up some new pedals in the distant future, but really have no idea what I should be looking for. I really like to play classic rock stuff, so sounds like ACDC, Led Zeppelin, G&R, some Metallica, Black Sabbath, ZZ Top, SRV, etc. I cant afford to get a new amp just yet, so what pedals/ combination of pedals would get me closer to the sounds that I am looking for? Thanks in advance, Mister_Sir |
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I received some great advice in the following thread: Pedal questions
I have purchased an Ibanez Tubescreamer TS-9 and am enjoying it. I also have a Dunlop CryBaby Wah I'm starting to have fun with. Looking at other options now. |
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Quoted:
Greetings fellas, I have a question. I received a PRS SC-245 for a graduation gift, and I am using my dad's old Ampeg tube amp he used in his highschool bands. The pedal I am using is an RP 155. It's ok for the most part. However, I'm not fully satisfied with the sound I get out of the pedal, as if its almost too artificial. Also, no matter how hard or soft I strum the strings I always get a constant volume. Is there a special setting that I'm not aware of that allows for a dynamic volume so to speak or is it just the lack of capability from the pedal? Also, I may be looking to pick up some new pedals in the distant future, but really have no idea what I should be looking for. I really like to play classic rock stuff, so sounds like ACDC, Led Zeppelin, G&R, some Metallica, Black Sabbath, ZZ Top, SRV, etc. I cant afford to get a new amp just yet, so what pedals/ combination of pedals would get me closer to the sounds that I am looking for? Thanks in advance, Mister_Sir What model of Ampeg amp is it? All you may need to do is turn it up... 
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Quoted:
What model of Ampeg amp is it? All you may need to do is turn it up... Quoted:
Quoted:
Greetings fellas, I have a question. I received a PRS SC-245 for a graduation gift, and I am using my dad's old Ampeg tube amp he used in his highschool bands. The pedal I am using is an RP 155. It's ok for the most part. However, I'm not fully satisfied with the sound I get out of the pedal, as if its almost too artificial. Also, no matter how hard or soft I strum the strings I always get a constant volume. Is there a special setting that I'm not aware of that allows for a dynamic volume so to speak or is it just the lack of capability from the pedal? Also, I may be looking to pick up some new pedals in the distant future, but really have no idea what I should be looking for. I really like to play classic rock stuff, so sounds like ACDC, Led Zeppelin, G&R, some Metallica, Black Sabbath, ZZ Top, SRV, etc. I cant afford to get a new amp just yet, so what pedals/ combination of pedals would get me closer to the sounds that I am looking for? Thanks in advance, Mister_Sir What model of Ampeg amp is it? All you may need to do is turn it up... Totally missed that part. 
Tube amp of good make of vintage age?... Yeah, I'd be inclined to stick with that if it functions properly. Throw a pedal or two in there and close your eyes and play.
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If I were in your shoes, either of the Bogner Extasy pedals would be at the top of my list. I tried out a Red in front of a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe's clean channel and Gawd it sounded great! I couldn't fimd a bad tone with that pedal. Modern tones, classic Marshall tones, ect. And even though I haven't heard one in person an Amptweaker Big Rock or Big Rock Pro would be a close second. The clips I've heard sound really, really good. And I realize that I'm talking about $300 pedals, but you get what you pay for with them, imho. |
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Google "tone tips" or "gear" for each of the guys you want to try to sound like, and see what kind of gear and settings they use when they play.
You'll end up finding stuff like this all over the Internet. ETA: Be prepared to be overwhelmed, professional musicians have a seemingly endless supply of gear to play around with . . . |
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Amp modeling pedals (especially the digitech series) do sound artificial if you are using the modeling features.
They do have descent digital effects that sound better than nothing at all, myself I prefer hardware over software (analog over digital). The RP stuff does sound better at loud volumes.... The compressor and noise gates in the RP series work, but not very well. Depending which mode you are using, play with turning on/off the compressor effect and/or it's settings. I have RP 155 that I have for 3rd back up rig. Never used it, in fact it's been in the box for the last 3 years. I had the RP 500 & an RP 1000. I never used the amp modeling features, I devised a wiring scheme where I just used the effects and ran it through the effects loop of the head. While it sounded great, it was a 4 cord pain in the ass and I eventually got rid of it for a simpler system. |
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Those Digitech pedals sound too digital to me. Too much circuitry for the guitar signal to go through.
I run a Ibanez TS-9 into my Marshall. My friend has a TS-808 that's 30+ years old that sounds even better. I've got a cheap Boss pedal that I use sometimes as well. |
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Quoted:
I never understood what people mean when they say something sounds digital. Too bright or brittle? To me, when I describe something as sounding too digital, it sounds 'clipped'... highs and lows don't seem to have full response. Somewhat like the tonal difference between a tube amp and a digital model of the same amp. |
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With the bands you listed, you'll need at least two separate dirt pedals.
There are Marshall tones, fuzz tones, Mesa mark tones, tube screamer tones, etc. Cheap and simple, I would go maxon od808 into proco whiteface reissue rat. Slightly Expensive and simple, analogman ts808 into bogner ecstasy red. Fancy and nice, analogman ts808, skreddy screwdriver, catalinbread dirty little secret, wampler slostortion. For ACDC and guns and roses, check out the vids for the catalinbread dirty little secret. |
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I never understood what people mean when they say something sounds digital. Too bright or brittle? Kinda like porn...you'll know it when ya see it... I don't mind digital for delay, but chorus, compressors, reverbs, all sound better analog... Simulators all sound fake. I hate all the on-board effects in the digital recorders... The digital stuff just sounds like its missing frequencies, there are no higher order harmonics to fill the sound spectrum. Digital & solid state: a pinpoint precise sound. Analog and tubes: A wall of sound. "The Tone" |
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I'm in agreement with the others. You just need your amp and some sort of pedal to hit the input of the amp harder. All of the other suggestions are excellent but if you are short on funds you might want to look at a used Boss DS-1. It may not nail the specific tones you want but it will get you closer than you are now for $40.
Depending on the specific Ampeg you have you may be able to get AC/DC just by removing the RP-155 and turning the amp up loud to get the power amp to distort. That's how Angus does it. Unfortunately, most of us don't have a place to do that w/o damaging our hearing or upsetting the neighbors. 
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Quoted:
I'm in agreement with the others. You just need your amp and some sort of pedal to hit the input of the amp harder. All of the other suggestions are excellent but if you are short on funds you might want to look at a used Boss DS-1. It may not nail the specific tones you want but it will get you closer than you are now for $40. Depending on the specific Ampeg you have you may be able to get AC/DC just by removing the RP-155 and turning the amp up loud to get the power amp to distort. That's how Angus does it. Unfortunately, most of us don't have a place to do that w/o damaging our hearing or upsetting the neighbors. I'm pretty sure some of my tinnitus can be traced to standing between a crash cymbal and my old 100w of EL84 power amp goodness running wide open into a 4x12. It was pant leg ruffling classic rock grit. Now when it's quiet, I get the nice high frequency sound that video games & TV shows do after explosions, and that's not musically delicious. 
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Quoted:
I'm pretty sure some of my tinnitus can be traced to standing between a crash cymbal and my old 100w of EL84 power amp goodness running wide open into a 4x12. It was pant leg ruffling classic rock grit. Now when it's quiet, I get the nice high frequency sound that video games & TV shows do after explosions, and that's not musically delicious. Quoted:
Quoted:
I'm in agreement with the others. You just need your amp and some sort of pedal to hit the input of the amp harder. All of the other suggestions are excellent but if you are short on funds you might want to look at a used Boss DS-1. It may not nail the specific tones you want but it will get you closer than you are now for $40. Depending on the specific Ampeg you have you may be able to get AC/DC just by removing the RP-155 and turning the amp up loud to get the power amp to distort. That's how Angus does it. Unfortunately, most of us don't have a place to do that w/o damaging our hearing or upsetting the neighbors. I'm pretty sure some of my tinnitus can be traced to standing between a crash cymbal and my old 100w of EL84 power amp goodness running wide open into a 4x12. It was pant leg ruffling classic rock grit. Now when it's quiet, I get the nice high frequency sound that video games & TV shows do after explosions, and that's not musically delicious. I suffer from the same problem. I've taken to religiously wearing hearing protection when I play even slightly loud. I wear protection at my son's drum lessons too and I make him wear protection too. It's great to "feel" the music but it sucks at an older age when your wife gets pissed off because she's repeated the same thing three times now and you still don't understand what she said.
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1) If you do not play in a band, buy or build a 5 watt tube amp. Turn it up to 11. Add an OVERDRIVE pedal, such as a tube screamer, if that is not enough gain for you. A clean boost may also work. 2) If you play in a band that does small gigs, get a 10-30 watt tube amp. Do the above for gigs, and then either buy a 5 watt tube amp for practice or a speaker attenuator. I currently use a Maxon TS9 ish pedal for practice. I just got notification that my weber attenuator has shipped. I have a 12 watt amp that sounds like a million bucks that I picked up as a basket case on ebay to fix up. If I buy another amp, I may just get another one. It's not THAT loud, but it is too loud to turn up in an apartment complex.  |
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Quoted: 1) If you do not play in a band, buy or build a 5 watt tube amp. Turn it up to 11. Add an OVERDRIVE pedal, such as a tube screamer, if that is not enough gain for you. A clean boost may also work. 2) If you play in a band that does small gigs, get a 10-30 watt tube amp. Do the above for gigs, and then either buy a 5 watt tube amp for practice or a speaker attenuator. I currently use a Maxon TS9 ish pedal for practice. I just got notification that my weber attenuator has shipped. I have a 12 watt amp that sounds like a million bucks that I picked up as a basket case on ebay to fix up. If I buy another amp, I may just get another one. It's not THAT loud, but it is too loud to turn up in an apartment complex. Or a guy could run an Eminence Reignmaker or Maverick. Sorry, I completely forgot how to embed: http://youtu.be/3fvZ01QeKUg |
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Hmm. First time I'd heard of those speakers. I run a Bad Cat Leash for attenuation to tame my 60w tube combos.
Somewhat related, I dragged out my old roadworn Mesa 50 Cal+. It needs to get its million mile checkup because the reverb is shot, the pull knob for lead is broken, and it intermittently crackles & changes power. Despite that, it nailed the tones for some old .38 Special and Joan Jett without needing a pedal. You can often pick those old dogs up very cheaply, since they get lost in the shuffle between the Marks and Rectos. IIRC, they have the same preamp section as the coveted Studio preamps. |
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Quoted: Or a guy could run an Eminence Reignmaker or Maverick. Quoted: Quoted: 1) If you do not play in a band, buy or build a 5 watt tube amp. Turn it up to 11. Add an OVERDRIVE pedal, such as a tube screamer, if that is not enough gain for you. A clean boost may also work. 2) If you play in a band that does small gigs, get a 10-30 watt tube amp. Do the above for gigs, and then either buy a 5 watt tube amp for practice or a speaker attenuator. I currently use a Maxon TS9 ish pedal for practice. I just got notification that my weber attenuator has shipped. I have a 12 watt amp that sounds like a million bucks that I picked up as a basket case on ebay to fix up. If I buy another amp, I may just get another one. It's not THAT loud, but it is too loud to turn up in an apartment complex. Or a guy could run an Eminence Reignmaker or Maverick. Sorry, I completely forgot how to embed: http://youtu.be/3fvZ01QeKUg |
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Quoted:
Sorry, I completely forgot how to embed: http://youtu.be/3fvZ01QeKUg That's actually really cool. I went with a weber signature ceramic 12'' that was dirt cheap. It sounds very good, but I wish I sprung for the AlNiCo, since my amp is already extremely touch sensitive and the ceramic speaker doesn't help. Quoted:
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1) If you do not play in a band, buy or build a 5 watt tube amp. Turn it up to 11. Add an OVERDRIVE pedal, such as a tube screamer, if that is not enough gain for you. A clean boost may also work. 2) If you play in a band that does small gigs, get a 10-30 watt tube amp. Do the above for gigs, and then either buy a 5 watt tube amp for practice or a speaker attenuator. I currently use a Maxon TS9 ish pedal for practice. I just got notification that my weber attenuator has shipped. I have a 12 watt amp that sounds like a million bucks that I picked up as a basket case on ebay to fix up. If I buy another amp, I may just get another one. It's not THAT loud, but it is too loud to turn up in an apartment complex. Or a guy could run an Eminence Reignmaker or Maverick. Sorry, I completely forgot how to embed: http://youtu.be/3fvZ01QeKUg That's actually really cool. I went with a weber signature ceramic 12'' that was dirt cheap. It sounds very good, but I wish I sprung for the AlNiCo, since my amp is already extremely touch sensitive and the ceramic speaker doesn't help. I thought that was a good thing. 
Maybe a compressor pedal would tame the touch sensitivity for less money. |
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Quoted: I thought that was a good thing. Maybe a compressor pedal would tame the touch sensitivity for less money. Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: 1) If you do not play in a band, buy or build a 5 watt tube amp. Turn it up to 11. Add an OVERDRIVE pedal, such as a tube screamer, if that is not enough gain for you. A clean boost may also work. 2) If you play in a band that does small gigs, get a 10-30 watt tube amp. Do the above for gigs, and then either buy a 5 watt tube amp for practice or a speaker attenuator. I currently use a Maxon TS9 ish pedal for practice. I just got notification that my weber attenuator has shipped. I have a 12 watt amp that sounds like a million bucks that I picked up as a basket case on ebay to fix up. If I buy another amp, I may just get another one. It's not THAT loud, but it is too loud to turn up in an apartment complex. Or a guy could run an Eminence Reignmaker or Maverick. Sorry, I completely forgot how to embed: http://youtu.be/3fvZ01QeKUg That's actually really cool. I went with a weber signature ceramic 12'' that was dirt cheap. It sounds very good, but I wish I sprung for the AlNiCo, since my amp is already extremely touch sensitive and the ceramic speaker doesn't help. I thought that was a good thing. Maybe a compressor pedal would tame the touch sensitivity for less money. |
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