Getting THAT lead tone...

  • Thread starter Thread starter lespaul3013
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lespaul3013

lespaul3013

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How can I get my lead tones to "flow" properly...??

I should clarify by saying I am the type of player who uses clean amps and pedals to get OD tones.
My clean is great, crunch is nice and crisp, but my leads just don't have the sustain and smoothness I would like.

I'm using an OCD for my crunch tones and I LOVE the tones I get in the crunch department. I run the volume high and gain low which sounds awesome when I dig into huge chords, but when I go for a solo it just sounds okay --- there's just something missing...is there an OD or boost that will stack well with the OCD for a little more smoothness, or do I need another seperate OD or distortion (or even fuzz) that will create better leads?

I've really been into the 80's Eric Johnson live tones lately...so I guess I'm just going for something really smooth, but not TOO dark and I don't really want to lose any agressiveness. Like I said, the OCD sounds great for chords, but its just a little to brittle and bright for a solo.

Thanks guys
Jordan :rock:
 
You could try a compressor. Set it just above unity to give you a small boost, and dial in a moderate amount of compression for that smooth singing sustain. Nice thing about using a good compressor is your tone wont really change at all, but the feel will. Hard to explain, you have to try a couple out...
I use a Rothwell Love Squeeze, but there are lots of great comps on the market like Keeley, and Diamond.
 
I did the whole pedal lead-tone chase for years. Never could quite get what I wanted from them though. Didn't like the OCD for leads at all. Way too scooped and grainy. BB+ preamp and Lovepedal Eternity work really well for smooth sustaining lead tones, but

Nothing comes close to an amp with a great lead tone! Of course, there have been exceptional lead tones pulled off with fuzzes and other dirt boxes (Gilmour, for example)

If you're sticking with pedals, maybe try a Wampler SLO or Pinnacle.
 
Interesting. In all my years playing I've never played an amp lead tone that could touch my stacked pedal setup. Not even close. :no:
 
Check out an Xotic AC Booster Custom Shop model with a built in compressor you can select. Works well for smoothing out the edges and adding a little squash to things where needed.

Steve
Mr. Clean
 
Badronald":qpz02vsg said:
Interesting. In all my years playing I've never played an amp lead tone that could touch my stacked pedal setup not even close. :no:
Click to expand...

I felt the same way when I had my recto. Crushing rhythm on that thing but leads were not so great. Throw in the shitty loop and it was a no-go for leads. But now the Mark is killing it for leads. Sounds so great, sustains forever and I can dial in a near perfect tone and just get lost in it. Bogner XTC did that for me also. VH4 was cool too. Very fluid, but a bit of a "stinging" type of lead sound.

I still dig pedals too, depending on the amp. My drummer's grandpa has an old Fender 410 combo (bassman, I think) that takes pedals like a champ! Throw a fuzz face on and it's hard to stop playing.
 
As already suggested, I'd boost the OCD with a tubescreamer. I've always gotten good results with a tubescreamer kicking a slightly overdriven thing - be it another pedal or an amp. Seems to me to get plenty of sustain and "cleaner" sound at the same time.
 
Himestrutz Fetto boosted by the Under/Over is damn near untouchable in my book.
 
If you want to stack pedals, either a god old TS9 or a BB Pre would work very well. If you want a whole new pedal to dance with, I would check out the Wampler Pinnacle, the Crunch Box or the Jeckle & Hyde. Some of the best recorded live tones that I have ever gotten were the Jeckle & Hyde through a Vox AC30.
 
The Zvex Super Hard On stacks very well with the OCD. That's what I use into a '68 Deluxe Reverb.
 
rcm78":2j97ogpo said:
You could try a compressor. Set it just above unity to give you a small boost, and dial in a moderate amount of compression for that smooth singing sustain. Nice thing about using a good compressor is your tone wont really change at all, but the feel will. Hard to explain, you have to try a couple out...
I use a Rothwell Love Squeeze, but there are lots of great comps on the market like Keeley, and Diamond.
Click to expand...

Interesting idea...I'll have to try that.
I've never actually used a comp live so I should probably give it a try.
 
glassjaw7":15d7809c said:
I did the whole pedal lead-tone chase for years. Never could quite get what I wanted from them though. Didn't like the OCD for leads at all. Way too scooped and grainy. BB+ preamp and Lovepedal Eternity work really well for smooth sustaining lead tones, but

Nothing comes close to an amp with a great lead tone! Of course, there have been exceptional lead tones pulled off with fuzzes and other dirt boxes (Gilmour, for example)

If you're sticking with pedals, maybe try a Wampler SLO or Pinnacle.
Click to expand...

I already thought about the Wamp SLO...just wasn't sure if it would be smooth enough.
 
steve_k":3g0ookln said:
Check out an Xotic AC Booster Custom Shop model with a built in compressor you can select. Works well for smoothing out the edges and adding a little squash to things where needed.

Steve
Mr. Clean
Click to expand...

Interesting...I'll look into it!
 
Alright...looks like I should try:

-a comp
-some type of TS
-Xotic AC
-Wampler SLO

I'll do some more research on these and hopefully play a couple.

Anyone else??
 
i use my barber tone press with my mid gain channel on my mark V and t gets a great sounding lead tone that really sings
 
ACShreds":q40p7eyj said:
i use my barber tone press with my mid gain channel on my mark V and t gets a great sounding lead tone that really sings
Click to expand...

Interesting...I really do need to look into a comp from the sound of things!
 
Maxon OD808 is what you want for cut and smooth at the same time. This is using a more fuller sounding overdrive for rhythm tones and switching to OD808 for leads, listen to how the leads pop easily over the rhythms but aren't harsh at all.

 
JakeAC5253":nfgdxe3a said:
Maxon OD808 is what you want for cut and smooth at the same time. This is using a more fuller sounding overdrive for rhythm tones and switching to OD808 for leads, listen to how the leads pop easily over the rhythms but aren't harsh at all.

Click to expand...

Yea...I like that, the lead tone really jumps out, but at the same time sits nicely in the pocket.
I'll check it out.

Right now the main contenders are:

-Maxon OD808 for the TS type of thing
-Xotic AC Comp for a different flavor of drive altogether

Heck...maybe I'll just get both :lol: :LOL:
 
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