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Author
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Topic: Systematic Methodology to Dial in Tone
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Bill McCloskey
Member From:
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posted 16 April 2005 03:55 PM
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I have my Peavey 112 and my MSA Millennium and now I'm experimenting trying to find my own tone. I did the standard Peavey recommended settings, but I figured there must be a systemtic methodology to finding the tone that is right for me. For instance, turning all the knobs to the left and then starting on bass, slowly crank it up a notch until I find a setting that seems to work, then moving on to the mids, presence, treble, reverb. Then once I'm all they way through starting again at the left hand side and making my way again. But I'm not sure this is the best way to go about it. Anyone ever thought about this? What methods have you used to discover your perfect setting for your ear: random twisting of dials? Replicating your hero's setup? |
Bill McCloskey
Member From:
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posted 16 April 2005 03:58 PM
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Actually I should have posted this in Electronics instead I guess. Feel free to move Bob. |
Donny Hinson
Member From: Balto., Md. U.S.A.
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posted 16 April 2005 04:36 PM
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I'd start with bass at 10, mids at 0, and treble at 0. (If you have a shift, start that at 600.) Now increase the treble until you get some bite on just the high strings. Now bring up the mids until the middle strings begin to get clear and "snappy". Then play the bottom strings while you roll back the bass. You want to get rid of the "woof" without losing the smoothness on the bottom end.Lastly, play all strings and advance or decrease the mids until you get the right definition. The mid control will have a very narrow "break point", and if you exceed that, you'll lose all the sweet lows and the mids will get "honky", losing definition and string seperation. If you have a "presence" control or "brite" switch, adjust to your own taste. Once I get all my controls "set" for the best overall tone from the guitar, I regulate all of the tone with just the treble control. This makes my tone changes between songs very quick and precise. The usual treble setting is between 3 and 4 for Green and Emmons' stuff. One or two numbers higher goes into "Brumley and Mooney territory", and one or two numbers lower is "Chalker territory". Using this method, I can dial in "my" sound in about a minute with any guitar or amp.[This message was edited by Donny Hinson on 16 April 2005 at 04:42 PM.] |
Larry Bell
Member From: Englewood, Florida
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posted 16 April 2005 05:18 PM
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I do something similar to what Donny describes, but I start in the middle. I dial everything at 12 o'clock. I start with the bass and turn it up until it 'woofs' then back off slightly. I set the mid shift at about 800 Hz and cut that frequency slightly. A slight cut between 600 and 1000 Hz will sometimes clean up the midrange. Then I'll turn the treble up until it gets too brittle, then back off slightly. I usually adjust presence to about that same setting.I'll often still be adjusting on the first song since things change when other instruments are in the sonic space, but the procedure above gets me into the ballpark. Like Donny, most of my adjustment is the treble control, but sometimes the mids will become too muddy for your guitar to cut through, requiring a slight tweak. All guitars, amps, and rooms have their own characteristics. The way you play also enters into the equation, but once you get a handle on the bass (full but not woofy) and the mids (not cluttered sounding), it's pretty easy to fine tune the sound. Don't assume it will always be the same. When a room fills with people the characteristics of the room will change, for example. Hope this helps you sort it out. ------------------
Larry Bell - email: larry@larrybell.org - gigs - Home Page
2003 Fessenden S/D-12 8x8, 1969 Emmons S-12 6x6, 1971 Dobro, Standel and Peavey Amps [This message was edited by Larry Bell on 16 April 2005 at 05:19 PM.]
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Jack Stoner
Sysop From: Inverness, Florida
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posted 17 April 2005 03:21 AM
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I do pretty much like Larry. On my 112, I have the low at +9, Mid -2.5 and shift at 800Hz, both High and Presence at +2. But that's the starting point and depending on the location, it may have to be adjusted for the room's accoustics. I have a Nashville 1000 and it's set basically the same since the preamp/EQ section in the 112 is the same. The particular guitar, pickups, type of strings, volume pedal, etc also play a part in setting the EQ. Finally, individual preference on tone is the major consideration. What sounds great to one person may sound like crap to someone else. |
George Kimery
Member From: Limestone, TN, USA
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posted 17 April 2005 04:45 AM
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I have a related question: On mixing consoles, if your setting is at 12 0'clock, you are in a "neutral" position, neither cutting or boosting. Is it the same on amp controls? |
Bob Metzger
Member From: Waltham (Boston), MA, USA
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posted 17 April 2005 08:49 AM
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When I get an amp, I either remove all the numbers or knobs, whatever is easier. Then I adjust the controls thusly: If it's too bassy, I turn down the bass. If it's not bassy enough, I turn up the bass. If it's too trebly, I turn down the treble. If it's not trebly enough, I turn up the treble. If there are too many mids, I turn them down. If they're aren't enough mids, I turn them up. If it's too soft, I turn up the volume. If it's too loud, I turn down the volume.
If it still doesn't sound good, I get another amp. But I find this always works. Just let your ears guide you to what sounds right for you.Bob M. |
Larry Bell
Member From: Englewood, Florida
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posted 17 April 2005 08:49 AM
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George,
It all depends on the amp.
Some have all 'active' controls (like some of the newer Peavey amps) that cut and boost, so 12 o'clock is the starting point. Some have passive controls (like old Fender amps) so that all the way to the left is the starting point and it only boosts. If your contro has '0' at 12 o'clock it is probably an active control. Some amps have both types of control.It all depends on the circuitry and how the filter caps interact to determine frequency ranges and cutoffs. Bottom line: If it SOUNDS right it IS right. Bob,
Some people don't know which band of EQ is off. Sometimes it's not obvious whether your muddy sound is coming from the mids or the highs. Having a method to the madness is an important step, I think. Otherwise you are almost randomly twisting knobs.
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Larry Bell - email: larry@larrybell.org - gigs - Home Page
2003 Fessenden S/D-12 8x8, 1969 Emmons S-12 6x6, 1971 Dobro, Standel and Peavey Amps [This message was edited by Larry Bell on 17 April 2005 at 08:53 AM.]
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Bob Hoffnar
Member From: Brooklyn, NY
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posted 17 April 2005 10:31 AM
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Bill,
I end up playing through all sorts of amps at rehearsal studios or whatever I end up with from a rental company on road gigs. Often I have no time to mess with tone controls. The rule of thumb I use is to turn down a frequency to bring out another frequency that I want. If I need more bass or mids in the sound I turn off the brite switch or notch down the treble a hair.I often don't even look at the tone controls to be honest unless something sounds annoying to me. I adjust my tone with my picking. Getting your right hand together will do more for finding your tone than anything else. As a matter of fact if you don't get your picking together no amount of EQ control will ever work. ------------------
Bob
intonation help
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Ron Randall
Member From: Dallas, Texas, USA
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posted 20 April 2005 10:18 PM
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IT also depends on the room you are in. Every room is different. |
David Wren
Member From: Placerville, California, USA
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posted 21 April 2005 03:32 PM
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Can't disagree with anything here, all very good points, esp. that all rooms are different, and the amount of people in a room will change the sound of your amp, as the crowd changes... this makes the idea of getting set, then using just small adjustment of the treble to fine tune a real good practice. The crowd factor will also have a huge impact on your effects, esp. reverb (I loved my clipon remote reverb control that came with my session 500, until I lost it at a massive concert, bands on, bands off).Here's something I do however, that I haven't heard yet.... when setting my bass I put my volume pedal towards max, mute the bass sting (12 string Universal, so it's a biggn)and the I try to dial in a percussive sounds similar to a very dry kick drum... seems if I get this right, all else folow nicely. ------------------
Dave Wren
'95Carter S12-E9/B6,7X7; Session500; Hilton Pedal
www.ameechapman.com | |
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