Guys who play "Clean"...help me.

[marshallmel]

Just got a new cover band gig playing pop 80's stuff. Lots of INXS, Men at Work, U2,and the like. I don't have any multiple channel amps, just single channel amps that I run crunchy and then roll the guitar volume down for a clean sound and step on a pedal or two for my dirty stuff. My problem is that when I go to the clean stuff it's just kinda dead sounding and doesn't really jump out. I notice that all the guys who play a lot of clean stuff are using a compressor. Maybe that would help me? Here's the setup I'll be using....

AMPS....3rd Power Dream Plexi with 3rd Power Dream 1x12" can, or a '68 DRRI
GUITARS...Suhr Classic Pro, Les Paul Std.
PEDALS....OCD, Soul Food, EP Boost, HOF, Carbon Copy, Corona Chorus

Help a "clean noob" out. 15 years in a Hair Metal Tribute band has ruined me.

 

[reverymike]

I love rolling back the volume to clean up. . .hit it with a little chorus maybe to add some sparkle to it.

Volume is key for this. If you aren't playing loud enough, when you roll back, you'll not have enough headroom to get a decent tone. It'll feel flat.

 

[tripstan]

Does your amp have a loop? Try a clean boost or parallel compressor (or one the has a blend knob) in the loop. Back your guitar volume down to get it clean hit the boost/comp to bring the level back up. I do this when I use a Dirty Shirley. The DRRI with a compressor and the Suhr Classic should totally get you there.
Ego comp and Barber Parallel Comp are 2 of my favs. Bogner Harlow is another great one, it has a Rupert Neve designed transformer in it.

 

[SavageRiffer]

Use a clean boost or dial in just a tiny bit of grit. It's that transparent midrange you need I think. Cleans are usually set with more bass and treble and less mids, so you need that transparent midrange to cut through, and that's what the clean boost will give you. There are far more knowledgeable people who can probably explain this better, but my experience is when you try to add midrange to your clean channel, it doesn't sound the same, but somehow whatever midrange frequencies the boost adds, it does just enough to help it cut through.

 

[4406cuda]

DRRI, Single Coils, and Compressor

 

[mixn4him]

Compressor with those bands and style will make a big difference for you.

 

[moltenmetalburn]

First things first, if rolling down the pot for cleans do you have a treble bleed installed? I would.

https://rowbinet.co.uk/2011/10/02/guita ... leed-mods/

Once that issue is mitigated I would agree compression is the way to go for a punchier more cohesive tone.

I suggest the keeley gc-2 limiting amplifier personally.

 

[stdio]

Check out the Toxic EQ that Paul Gilbert uses/endorses. Works pretty good for that.

 

[Badronald]

Boss CE-2 or CH-1 and Xotic SP Compressor

 

[marshallmel]

Thanks for the input. I'm leaning toward the SP Compressor from what I've seen and heard so far. I'm a bit out of my element with some of this material but it's a fun challenge.