Aloha and happy Holidays to everyone!
Here is my tech / gear question. I would like to expand my sonic choices with my guitar (YJM Strat). The pickups are very low output. I like the way they sound, I can get clear, clean tones and they dirty up well. It depends on the distortion that I use (Vox tonlab LE/ Randall amp). Here is my question, If I would like (at times) to get more of the pinch harmonics (and bite), would a Boost pedal, or Tube Screamer, or what help me to do that? Would I need to start with the pickups@ the very beginning of the signal? or could I find a pedal that would give the option to turn this "effect" on and off, which is the option I'd prefer since then I can add it or not when I want too
A boost pedal can only get you so far, it simply pushes the amp more but in most cases the amps gain isn't even maxed out.
The low output singlecoils are the problem. More output will make harmonics easier and switching to a humbucker would make your sound even fatter and the harmonics even meaner but you would loose the clarity and the clean tones.
You can either go for one extreme (keep the coils; go for a humbucker) or try to find a pickup that can do both fairly well.
For the second option, try a Dimarzio Chopper. It is a single coil sized humbucker that works really well as an allrounder.
Nothing really to add, except that if You already got a Tonelab and can't get enough gain out of that, a tube screamer or booster wouldn'nt help either.... but also keep in mind that in order to have the "bite" and make the pinch harmonics work, fresh strings is a must, old stirngs really kill all harmonics. However, I find it a little strange, since I have no problem to get enough gain out of my strats.. but of course its a matter of what sound You're after.
//Staffay
Thanxz for the replies this helps me try to figure out what I might do. Staffy it's not that I can't get serious gain, it's just that I can't seem to get the "squeal" in the pinch harmonics that will really ring with sustain... the Tone lab is great, and gives me serious distortion. It's possible that I don't have my pickups set to the optimal height, or maybe it's something else I haven't though of I change strings about every 2 months, so they are not too worn out. Perhaps my real question should be how do I get that high pitch ringing sustain with the pinch harmonics? I'm under the impression that Hot /high output pickups are designed to produce these types of overdrive sounds... If I have low / vintage style pickups... how do I get the sounds I'm looking for? Again thanks for all the suggestions and guitar Education, I don't have a lot of money to spend on my music so when I do, I want to get the most bang for my buck
I am happy with the sounds I've got... I just want MORE
No offense here but it might be your playing style...
To get screaming harmonics you don't just need the perfect gear, it also requires a flawless technique of hitting the pinch harmonic clearly, at the right spot and a heavy vibrato on the left hand to make it squeal!
The right equipment sure helps but it should be possible to get some nice harmonics from your gear.
How is it when you play another guitar? Can you get your desired PH sound on other gear?
Zakk,
"No offense here but it might be your playing style... " You know that crossed my mind As I was writing my questions I thought maybe I need to work on my technique
If I can get the sounds I'm looking for with the equipment I have... well that's the best answer yet! I will see if I can check my equipment with other guitars, and in the meantime I will look @ my technique (any suggestions for help in this area?)
Of course I think I'm always looking for an excuse to buy a new toy...
For those Zakk-wylde-Dimebag-Darrell types of harmonics you have to have lots of gain. And check that they both use humbuckers and high gain amps.
Check Slipknot's guitarist. He uses a Telecaster but he changed the pick ups to humbuckers. They really use pinched harmonics.
http://www.gear-vault.com/jim-root-fender-telecaster-of-slipknot-and-stone-sour-review/
Hmmm, I wouldn't put humbuckers on a strat, I'd rather buy another type of guitar since the necks are screwed and not optimized for sustain as for instance Gibsons are.... Telecasters is more massive though, but still the neck is screwed.... But maybe that makes no difference if You play loud enough anyway!!!
//Staffay
I like this thread... it is an interesting discussion! I love tone!!! and plenty of it Here is the real question:
Keeping my strat SSS, what can I do to increase the harmonics and bite of my tone? I currently have the HS (humbucking stack) pickups that are low output. Zakk suggested I look at my technique as well as dimarzio Choppers (which I have an eye on). Both are good suggestions. Victor is right, the theory behind the HS-3 is that it can deliver both clean and driven tones that don't get muddy. So far that is what I've found with them. I guess...I want to get a bit more from my sound... and was wondering if a pedal could help drive the signal like a hotter pickup would? or if I have to choose between my current pickups or new ones if I want the sounds I described
I agree with Staffy, if what I really want is full sized humbuckers, then I would find a different guitar for that sound.
I will look at my playing and compare other guitars on my rig and see also, (I have friend with a '78 les paul)
I also have a 335, and an old solid body that may help.
Thanks everybody, this is an area I don't know much, about but I feel like I'm learning!
Randall amp is perfectly capable of producing harmonics on it's own. And YJM strat is good enough guitar too. Just crank the gain, and try to find the sweet spot. It seems to me you didn't quite mastered the harmonics technique yet, they can be usually done anyway you like. Crank the gain and volume for sustain, and rehearse.
Thank you all for your input!
Alright I'm going to practice, practice and practice my pinch harmonics Listen for them in my next collaboration I'm a "Tone Hound" and always looking for the best sounds. I'm sure I have the equipment I need, now it's up to me. I learned a lot through the thread so thanks again for all the help, you guys ROCK !!!
And as soon as I post my Festival Challenge I'll replace my strings!!! (by the way there is a nice review of the Sonic Maximizer in our GMC Library ;}
Basically, all guitars & basses have microphones with a hi-Z output that matches a hi-Z input on the amp. Line level signals (ot a normal microphone signal) are lo-Z. That means that You could not plug Your guitar straight into a recording console for instance (or a soundcard without hi-Z inputs, thats really why most people think computer amp simulators suck...) So before the pre-amp in a guitar amp the signal will be Hi-Z, and is preffered to be that all the way in terms of pedals etc. But in a studio environment the balanced lo-Z signals are preferred,
So when I record... I run through an Audio Kontrol 1 sound card/ interface... does that turn my signal into low Z for the recording software (Reaper)? I pulled up the input and output specifications just to see if I could find this "hi-z" but don't see it? Iis it the difference between the input signal and the output signal below? I've included the link http://www.native-instruments.com/#/en/products/producer/audio-kontrol-1/?page=385
since it didn't quite post properly THannk You!!!
Input (A/D) Output (D/A)
Channels 2 4
Sampling Rate 44.1, 48, 96, 192 KHz 44.1, 48, 96, 192 KHz
Bit Resolution 16, 24 16, 24
Converter Cirrus Logic Cirrus Logic
Input Specifications
Line Microphone Instrument
Impedance 44 kOhms
Balanced 3.6 kOhms
Balanced 1 MOhm
Unbalanced
Full Scale Level (max. gain) +2 dBu -40 dBu -4 dBu
Maximum Input Level +16 dBu +10 dBu +10 dBu
THD + N 0.006 %
0.007 %
0.006 %
SNR 100 dB
(A-weighted) 100 dB
(A-weighted) 100 dB
(A-weighted)
Frequency Response 20 - 20000 Hz
±0.5 dB 20 - 20000 Hz
±0.5 dB 20 - 20000 Hz
±0.5 dB
Equivalent Input Noise N/A -128 dBu (A-weighted) N/A
Output Specifications
Line Headphone
Impedance 100 Ohms Unbalanced
200 Ohms Balanced 8... 600 Ohms (Load)
Maximum Output Level +13 dBu 4.26 V rms,
100 mW @ 100 Ohms
SNR 103 dB
(A-weighted) 102.5 dB
(A-weighted)
THD + N 0.005 %
0.006 %
Frequency Response 20 - 20000 Hz
±0.5 dB 20 - 20000 Hz
±0.5 dB
Thanks Staffy and everyone for tons of help! I don't know where else I could get so much information and all of my questions answered. You guys ROCK... in fact GMC ROCKS!
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