Happy with Your sound?

Billy Murdoch · Post by **Billy Murdoch** » 28 Dec 2004 1:27 pm

Hi All,
Be honest,How many of the players out there can dial in a sound that they can say they are happy with?
I play small time venues and only occasionally do I get a sound that really pleases me.I play the same place two nights each week and my tone changes constantly from night to night,the problem is me,it must be.
For many years I thought that the big time players recorded in the studio and then the sound people worked majic and we heard the end product being a heavenly tone etc.,
Then to ruin it all you hear these guys playing LIVE and getting a sound you would kill for.
I guess the most important ingredient has got to be "the hands"and technique.The equipment must come second.I suppose a good ear is important too.
Anyone got a spare pair of hands and a good ear or two for sale?
Thanks for listening
Seasons Greetings
Billy

Ricky Davis · Post by **Ricky Davis** » 28 Dec 2004 1:34 pm

I had that problem for years when I played a solid state amp(sounds diff. in all places).
Now my sound is the same in every situation and I never touch the dials on my tube amp and it sounds great and the same, everytime I play.
Ricky

Andy Greatrix · Post by **Andy Greatrix** » 28 Dec 2004 2:06 pm

Also, the power in the wall outlets may vary, (less the 120)causing you to lose highs and get a boxy midrange. A voltage regulater would help.

Kevin Hatton · Post by **Kevin Hatton** » 28 Dec 2004 2:48 pm

Excellent point Andy. We run into that situation quite often. After switching to a ZB Custom guitar and Webb 614-E amp years ago
I am getting the exact sound that I was looking for.

Jim Simon · Post by **Jim Simon** » 28 Dec 2004 3:06 pm

Billy:

It ain't you Partner. Everybody has or has had the same problem. For 21 years we played casuals. 115 different spots a year. Finally we realized that we could not control the room, number of people, etc. Our solution was to create a bubble on stage with the placement of amps and monitors. We bi-amped and eq'd everything. Provide for plenty of headroom (very important). Then created as closely as possible the same sound on stage every nite. When you kick the first song everything is familiar. Set the room sound last. Andy's comment was good advice. Discovered doing outdoor stuff with extension cords strung to far. Voltage fluctuation is real and a real problem. Your amps suck the power on low frequencies and sacrifice the highs. I use a Furman power conditioner in my rack. Never had a problem since adding it. Hope this helps.

Bobby Lee · Post by **Bobby Lee** » 28 Dec 2004 3:11 pm

I've been happy with my sound for many years, but I don't let that keep me from changing it every 6 months or so.

Stephen Dorocke · Post by **Stephen Dorocke** » 28 Dec 2004 4:22 pm

What Ricky D. said. For me, it's steel>3 ft cord>volume pedal>3 ft cord>Victoria TUBE amp. No muss, no fuss.

Archie Nicol R.I.P. · Post by **Archie Nicol R.I.P.** » 28 Dec 2004 5:09 pm

Hi Billy Boy.
Don't you work at a power station in Scotland?
Advice from our U.S. friends won't help us, power supply wise. So it surely must be our own lugs that have the final say.
Don't `Bi-amp`, keep it Hetro'.
Cheers. Arch.

Larry Robbins · Post by **Larry Robbins** » 28 Dec 2004 5:25 pm

My two Sho~Buds:73 ProII and 79 ProIII,
Hilton pedal and Fender Steelking amp.
I'm in hog heaven! I smile Every time i sit down to play!

This IS the sound for me!

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Sho-Bud ProII, Pro III custom,
Fender Steelking,Hilton pedal,Tut Taylor "Virginian"

Charlie Moore · Post by **Charlie Moore** » 28 Dec 2004 5:53 pm

Billy what i have learned in 24 year's what we think is great tone to one's ear's may be terrible to other's...go with what sound's good to you,i use to carry two amp's pro fex,pre amp,needed a semi...now it's 78 push pull,nv400,one little stomp box delay,that's it...JMO..Charlie....

Gary Preston · Post by **Gary Preston** » 28 Dec 2004 6:22 pm

I have to agree with Ricky . It's hard to get the same sound in every venue that you play because of one reason or another . If you did the sound man wouldn't be a bald guy from pulling his hair out trying to get the right sound . ( just some fun ) . Just be happy you are playing . Gary .

Leslie Ehrlich · Post by **Leslie Ehrlich** » 28 Dec 2004 10:57 pm

Not quite. I have to do some eq'ing when I record the steel (i.e. more mids), and whenever I played live I found that the amp had too much upper mid (i.e. the distortion was a little on the 'thuddy' side). What I would really like is a compact amp that is voiced to simulate the honky midrangey growl of a late 1970s Marshall half stack.

Actually, a 'steel' amp with a British-voiced drive channel and a Celestion speaker would be ideal. I could get a decent clean sound and sweet sounding overdrive with the flick of a switch. Unfortunately there is no such thing and likely never will be. The steel guitar market seems to be dominated by country pickers who want a clean amp that won't distort at all.

John Davis · Post by **John Davis** » 28 Dec 2004 11:03 pm

I`m with Ricky on this one,My old dual showman always sounds sweet, but I always have to put the bottles back in it when I get to the gig!!

Gabriel Aaron Wynne · Post by **Gabriel Aaron Wynne** » 29 Dec 2004 12:09 am

Nice to see that some are satisfied.

Bill C. Buntin · Post by **Bill C. Buntin** » 31 Dec 2004 5:07 am

Billy, Archie,

I'm curious if the 50 Hz power makes some difference as to how the amp plays. I'd like to know how some of the players who have traveled abroad feel about the difference between our 60 cycle power system in the US vs the 50 cycles in Europe in regard to amplifiers and tone.

Ricky Davis is right. The tube amp helps regardless of what room you are in. However, I've started using a new Nashville 1000 and 112. I've not had the tone issue in quite some time. It may be my ears. But
I'd say touch is the most important thing as far as keeping a nice tone. [This message was edited by Bill C. Buntin on 31 December 2004 at 05:11 AM.]

Webb Kline · Post by **Webb Kline** » 31 Dec 2004 6:28 am

What Andy said.

Voltage has a lot to do with it. That problem is not as prominant as it used to be. But, there were some rural clubs we used to play where the sound got better around 11 - 11:30 PM. As people started going to bed the voltage would creep back up.

David Mullis · Post by **David Mullis** » 31 Dec 2004 8:22 am

I'm very happy with my sound. 1971 Fat Back Emmons D-10, Hilton Vol Pedal going to 2 Evans amps, one LV small cab and one HV large cab. Amps up on 2 chairs right behind me, sounds HUGE without being too loud. Sometimes depending on my mood, I'll run through my rack which consists of a Digitech 2112 and a Lexicon MPX100.

Billy Murdoch · Post by **Billy Murdoch** » 31 Dec 2004 8:50 am

Thanks everyone for your replys.
Bill,
The difference in the electrics is negligable as far as I am concerned,I have never heard any British players or visitors from U.S.A. complain.
Votage fluctuation is not very common here,The stuff I bring home with me from the power station has usually fizzled out by the time I get home though.
I am presently working hard on my technique and(at home)I notice that I am getting an improvement in tone.Look out Big E.
I recall someone saying to a very famous golfer about how lucky he was,The golfer replied "yes I guess I am and the more I practise the luckier I get."
Lets all get lucky.
Best regards
Billy

Farris Currie · Post by **Farris Currie** » 31 Dec 2004 11:59 am

I love what Webb said,sound gets better 11:00 to 11:30,not meant the way he said it though,why after 12:00 i am a star!!ha ha,
here i am drunk again!!! farris

Smiley Roberts · Post by **Smiley Roberts** » 1 Jan 2005 2:44 am

Listen,when the "Big E" comes up & tells you your gettin' a great sound,don't mess with it!! (ProFex setting # 14,"Buddy")

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<pre> ~ ~
©¿© It don't mean a thang,
mm if it ain't got that twang.
www.ntsga.com</pre>

Bill C. Buntin · Post by **Bill C. Buntin** » 1 Jan 2005 4:48 am

Billy, I work at a power station here in TX. I'm like you, the stuff I try to take home with me just won't stay in the bucket.

One time we actually got a young engineer to walk 3 flights of stairs trying to get a bucket of steam. He finally caught on. HA.

Webb Kline · Post by **Webb Kline** » 1 Jan 2005 9:03 am

Farris maybe you're right. Back in those days I consumed a lot of "voltage enhancement."

We played last night and my steel sounded great for the first 2 sets. The last set, I couldn't take enough highs off. It was piercing and thin. And,Farris, I don't drink anymore, so that rules that out.

Tim Harr · Post by **Tim Harr** » 2 Jan 2005 1:46 am

I am happy with my sound ..totally
Carter (BL-705)->Hilton Vol Ped->Peavey Transtubefex->Peavey Valvex Tube Mixer->Webb 6-14E

I play a Tele into the Transtubefex also through the Peavey Tube Mixer

It sounds sweet and I get a lot of great comments on my tone and sound with this set up when I play out live. At home I just go direct into a Nashville 400.

Tim[This message was edited by Tim Harr on 02 January 2005 at 01:47 AM.]

Gerald Menke · Post by **Gerald Menke** » 7 Jan 2005 11:48 am

A very good question. I have noticed that the more I practice intonation and picking, the better my gear sounds! When I get too busy with work and gigs to do the hardcore nuts and bolts-type practice, I immediately start thinking the gear is the problem. I am into saving money right now, so instead of buying new gear or wasting time in music stores I just stay at home, turn on the metronome and practice harmonics for an hour, or play along with Bob Hoffnar's drone CD. Gear problem solved!

Ron Sodos · Post by **Ron Sodos** » 7 Jan 2005 12:52 pm

The truth is I wish I could clone myself and be onstage playing and in the audience listening at the same time...........

Then I could actually know what I sound like.