Author Topic: Alembic guitars and overdrive/distortion (Read 519 times)

dtrice · « **Reply #15 on:** July 02, 2007, 08:05:45 AM »

If you want a more Skynyrd sound. Use a Les Paul (or Explorer, Firebird, or Strat depending on which guitarist) with boosted Mids. Gary Rossington only used a Phase 90 (Tuesday's Gone, etc.) through his marshalls. Allen Collins only used a Wah (Needle and the Spoon) through his Marshalls (and/or Hiwatts live). Ed King preferred to go straight into a Fender Reverb, but also a Marshall onstage. Skynyrd was never a band that used a lot pedals for their guitar sound.

terryc · « **Reply #16 on:** July 02, 2007, 08:07:39 AM »

Once put my MK signature bass thru' my old Colorsound Tonebender fuzz, sounds really good with loads of rich harmonics and sustain.
They say that silicon/germanium transistor fuzz units give the best sound.

tom_z · « **Reply #17 on:** July 02, 2007, 10:09:11 AM »

Germanium units sound fantastic, but are sensitive to heat and can become unstable and unpredictable. So, if you're playing outdoors this summer, keep that in mind.

Peace
Tom

hydrargyrum · « **Reply #18 on:** July 03, 2007, 06:34:15 AM »

I had terrible results whenever I tried to use germanium fuzzes with either my Orion or Skylark. Right now I am using a DOD grunge pedal with my Orion for a super saturated sound. Funny enough, I hadn't used this pedal in years, and was planning on selling it, having always hated its sound with my other guitars. I plugged in my Orion and the pedal seemed to have a new life. I would really like to try a Zvex Box of Rock as a substitute, as he claims that they are active electronics friendly, but he also says it really is intended to be used through a Marshall for best results. Tom did your friend have an Alembic, or was it a guitar with passive electronics? I am considering a Blackstone as an alternative to the Zvex, but need to be reassured that it won't be unfriendly to the Alembic guts.

dnburgess · « **Reply #19 on:** July 03, 2007, 07:13:46 AM »

Have you guys that are having difficulties with solid state fuzz boxes tried genuine tube distortion? In particular, does anyone have experience using the two channels of an F2B in series - i.e. using the first channel to overdrive the second channel?

olieoliver · « **Reply #20 on:** July 03, 2007, 07:21:18 AM »

Good point David. IMHO distortion from over driven tubes sounds the best.

Olie

lidon2001 · « **Reply #21 on:** July 03, 2007, 08:27:27 AM »

Here's my example of knowing the Alembic preamps are really hot. In the 1.5 years I was using my Eden WT300 with my Jazz bass with EMG's, the fan never went on. I plug my Alembic in, and the second time I play it, the fan comes on. And I'm not even playing loud.

Knowing that, I get my Skylark, and my fuzz's sound bad. But, it makes my old Bassman head just sing with overdrive at about 4 or 5. There's no way my Strat nor Paul are going to make that head sing at the same level. So if my Skylark is doing that to my Bassman, what is it doing to my fuzz boxes? Of course they can't handle the output of the preamps.

I plugged my Strat into my head, put it on the bridge pickup, strummed it hard, and got a level. Plugged my Skylark in, bridge pickup, strummed - defintely louder. Turn down the preamp to match. They are turned ever so slightly from off. Because the preamps are designed correctly, you don't lose any tone from playing them at that low of a level. Plug in my boxes, they all work.

Make it as difficult or complicated as you want, but this is not rocket science. Just a little logic from my experiences with the preamps.

hydrargyrum · « **Reply #22 on:** July 03, 2007, 09:32:11 AM »

Tubes work fine, and of course are the standard, but I simply can't push my amps that hard in a home setting (my son is going on four weeks old now). Aside from that, fuzzes have a different character than a tube that sometimes is desirable.

hydrargyrum · « **Reply #23 on:** July 03, 2007, 09:33:50 AM »

Oh, and I tried adjusting preamp levels with my skylark, and couldn't get it to sound good either. It may have just been my gear.

olieoliver · « **Reply #24 on:** July 03, 2007, 09:45:10 AM »

If it has a Master and Channel volume controls I have no problem getting distortion at low volumes.
The best over driven guitar sound I've ever had was with a mid-60's 100 watt Marshall head I used to own. Great sound BUT, it had no master volume so you really had to crank it to make it sing.

bracheen · « **Reply #25 on:** July 03, 2007, 10:32:45 AM »

Naive guitar question, most bass amps come with seperate passive/active channels. Is this also true of guitar amps?

Sam

hydrargyrum · « **Reply #26 on:** July 03, 2007, 10:43:48 AM »

I don't think I have ever seen an amp with an active input for guitar.

82daion · « **Reply #27 on:** July 03, 2007, 10:46:48 AM »

Sam,

I don't know of any guitar amp out there with a passive/active channel or pad-the incidence of active guitars is so rare that I don't think that any manufacturer has deemed it necessary to incorporate such a feature.

I know of many guitar amps with multiple inputs/channels, but none designed specifically for active or passive instruments.

Chris

dannobasso · « **Reply #28 on:** July 03, 2007, 11:09:58 AM »

GC and Ash are doing 15 months this week. I know we all have our experiences with these companies but it does make for a less painful way to get a nice piece of gear. This thread has me thinking about a nice tube head. Most are over a grand (even used). So I'm a going a lookin' on the 4th! Any brand suggestions?

bsee · « **Reply #29 on:** July 03, 2007, 11:55:32 AM »

Danno, that always depends on what tone you're looking for. I've always loved the tone of the big Mesa heads, but it may be too warm and buttery for your gig. It seems like the SVT and variants have always been popular with the guys who play heavier stuff. Then there's always the boutique stuff.

Personally, I never went in for owning any of it since I don't have the luxury of roadies and was gigging too often. Carrying a tube head plus backup is just more gear than I want to deal with on a regular basis in spite of the effortless and wonderful tone. I find a good tube preamp with solid state amplification lets me get a good tone for live work at a variety of volume levels.

I'd wait to hear the opinions of Alembic players that use tubes as well. One thing I noticed was that every bass I tried through a Mesa rig (400+ into a 2x15 cab) sounded pretty good, but pretty similar. I wonder if the impact of full-out tubes might hide some of the Alembic character?