Gear for 2 guitar bands

[ChadVanHalen]

So hard rock/heavy metal bands with 2 guitar players... What's the rule of thumb for gear? Should both players play similar guitars/pickups/amps or try to be as different as possible? I know both the dudes in Ratt play Soldanos, the dudes in Maiden play Strats or Gibbys in Marshalls, the dudes in Kix both play JCM900's I noticed opening for them a few weeks ago...
I'm trying to help my friend upgrade his rig while trying to get him in the other guitar spot in my band so I don't know what sort of amp to point him towards. All of my guitars have JBs and go into my Splawn, don't know if he should get something similarly boosted Marshall sounding or go something Mesa-y

 

[moltenmetalburn]

I prefer to have the rythym guy play a low mid focused amp and the lead guy high mid focused like your splawn.

Even with identical rigs you will sound different.

 

[jsp]

There isn't really a right or wrong way to do it. Some bands like Meshuggah or Lamb of God will play very similar gear. But, one of the best live guitar tones I've heard was from Unearth a long time ago, one of the dudes was playing a Framus Cobra (very saturated, modern voiced), and the other was playing a Dragon (more upper-mid focused, less gainy), and they had distinct different and distinct tones but together they sounded amazing.

I think your friend will be better off getting a rig that he likes and fits his playing (good for rhythm or lead, right amount of gain, tightness or fatness, etc), rather than being fixed into a particular voicing (boosted Marshall or whatever). As long as his amp sounds right for his playing, and sits in the right place sonically in the mix, the band will sound better overall. Just my 2 cents.

 

[ChadVanHalen]

Ok, so he's a lot more of an old school bluesy rock player, big on Les Pauls and SGs and the such so I'll probably set him up with an 800 or something and since I'm lead 90% of the time we'll keep his mids down

I always thought different guys should play different stuff (one guy with a Paul and Marshall, one guy with a Strat and Fender sorta thing) but thinking about it a lot of bands I'm a fan of stay very similar in guitars and amps... As for EQ, lead should keep the mids/high and gain up, should the predominant rhythm keep gain a little lower, less mids, maybe more bass?

 

[maddnotez]

Ok, so he's a lot more of an old school bluesy rock player, big on Les Pauls and SGs and the such so I'll probably set him up with an 800 or something and since I'm lead 90% of the time we'll keep his mids down

I always thought different guys should play different stuff (one guy with a Paul and Marshall, one guy with a Strat and Fender sorta thing) but thinking about it a lot of bands I'm a fan of stay very similar in guitars and amps... As for EQ, lead should keep the mids/high and gain up, should the predominant rhythm keep gain a little lower, less mids, maybe more bass?

Do you use any pedals for the leads?

If no then I would do as you stated.

Generally speaking some amps do not mesh well that would normally sound great by themselves.

You can also get good results from what you least expect.

You just have to experiment. If the 800 doesn't work out something to keep in mind, 6505's usually sound good next to any amp.

 

[jabps]

Ok, so he's a lot more of an old school bluesy rock player, big on Les Pauls and SGs and the such so I'll probably set him up with an 800 or something and since I'm lead 90% of the time we'll keep his mids down

I always thought different guys should play different stuff (one guy with a Paul and Marshall, one guy with a Strat and Fender sorta thing) but thinking about it a lot of bands I'm a fan of stay very similar in guitars and amps... As for EQ, lead should keep the mids/high and gain up, should the predominant rhythm keep gain a little lower, less mids, maybe more bass?

Not really man...let the other guy do his thing amp/guitar wise. Just like no two guitars sound alike, no two players sound alike. The best sounding band I ever played in...both of us used Les Pauls and Marshall...about as basic as you could get and we sounded completely different.

The most important thing for me in playing in a two guitar band is meshing with the other guy...each guy knowing what he's supposed to bring to the table. Nothing better than a great two guitar band that meshes and nothing worse than one that doesn't. For that very reason, I refused to play in a two guitar band until my last one...of which I had more fun than at any time I was the lone guitarist. And I wished I had done it years ago personally.

If you guys mesh as players...the rest will fall into place.

 

[maddnotez]

Well, the ultimate two guitar band ever is ACDC, so looking at their formula would reveal one guy with a super solid (lower gain) fat strings rhythm tone, and the other with all the gain and lead tone.

Agreed, the only thing I would question:

He said hard rock/heavy metal.

Which one is it?

I assume you are not talking about brutal death/extreme metal.

Otherwise you would both want gain.

 

[primerib]

you're overthinking it. just use a good amp and play it like you stole it.

 

[Lord Toneking]

I don't think it matters really. You could have the same exact setup and it would sound different just by technique, guitar woods, and eq settings. Everyone has their own technique, tone and set of ears

 

[craftm1]

I agree with a couple of the responses...............don't over think it!!!! What ever he connects with and play loud and like you mean it!

 

[iplayloudly]

The best live tone I've ever heard from a 2-guitar band was a mesa dual recto and a marshall JMP 50 (i think). Pretty opposite, but sounded HUGE

 

[maddnotez]

I am sorry but there is no such thing as over thinking when it comes to tone

 

[ibenhad]

Some want to blend some want to compliment. All in what kind of sound you are looking for. I prefer to both cover different frequencies or ranges. The last 2 guitar band I was in of classic and hard rock had me playing a Les Paul into a VHT Deliverance 120 and the other guy using a 5150 3 with a JEM 7 wh. It was weird when I brought my Uberschall the 2 amps (Uber/5150) stepped all over each other. Not the sound we were looking for. Tough question to answer and obviously each person here has their own opinion as to what will work best. You just have to try it. Have him get something with a 30 day return policy. If they don't mesh send it the hell back.... Good luck.

 

[155]

I play in a 2 guitar hard rock/metal band and both of our sounds are completely different but sound great together, I like to mix a el34 amp with a 6l6 amp..fyi we have a 5153 and jsx with el34..

 

[bish0p34]

I've mixed Peavey Ultras, 6505s, H&K Switchblades, Triamps, Mesa Rectos, Sovtek's and Red Bears. The right players can mix just about anything.

The only time I've had problems is when the other guy used a Line 6 Flextone 2. My Peavey Ultra shit all over it, and the sound guy had to work twice as hard to get him to cut through the mix.

 

[Mesa\Kramer]

Recto's and Marshall's sound great together, so I would imagine a Recto would pair well with your Splawn

 

[GtarLover]

Your Splawn will cut through regardless. Maybe a bit of volume boost via the solo option on your foot controller. However, that should be good for leads.
I agree with Reza, less gain will get better results, IMO.
You can boost gain and volume for leads, but rhythm is better served with a bit less gain.

My last 2 guitar band I used a Diezel Herbert and the 2nd guitar used a Mesa Roadster.
They meshed well and it sounded amazing.

Just play your ass off and all is well

 

[supersonic]

There are no rules, guitar tones should also fit the drum tuning/ playing.

 

[JimmyBlind]

What's your friend currently playing through? When you say upgrade...?

For hard rock & metal & without breaking the bank, i'd be looking at a Peavey 5150 II.

 

[maddnotez]

I am still awaiting to find out what exactly a hard rock/metal band consists of.

They are two completely different things to me.