The problem with turning down the gain...

[SFW]

Here lately, I've been seriously reworking my tones. Moving more to a plexi style of tones. Dialing back the gain on my 5153 and going for that illusive brownish sound. I've gotten my ears adjusted to the extra brightness, and have been really happy with how it has made me focus more on my technique. However, I have notice that this tone is not forgiving towards a poor sounding guitar. My Les Paul sounds great. The parts caster that I built recently sounds and feels dead. I have prettying narrowed it down to a dead body. I guess that's what you get for buying the cheapest on you can find. Lol

 

[Mailman1971]

Well.....crank that amp up!! Let the gain and presence work for you.
Thats what its there for. Some guitars need an extra 'push'...
No shame in that game my friend.

 

[Shark Diver]

Yeah, but the LPs still working

Too much gain can be a bad crutch.

 

[Mark Day]

Yeah, but the LPs still working

Too much gain can be a bad crutch.

I work the crutch, baby!

Speaking of crutches, what did you do to yourself? Dave said you hurt yourself?

Mark

 

[Shark Diver]

Yeah, but the LPs still working

Too much gain can be a bad crutch.

I work the crutch, baby!

Speaking of crutches, what did you do to yourself? Dave said you hurt yourself?

Mark

80% torn achilles. Surgery Monday.

But I won the game

 

[Mark Day]

Yeah, but the LPs still working

Too much gain can be a bad crutch.

I work the crutch, baby!

Speaking of crutches, what did you do to yourself? Dave said you hurt yourself?

Mark

80% torn achilles. Surgery Monday.

But I won the game

Shit good luck buddy. Speedy recovery!

 

[glpg80]

But I won the game

Thats all that matters - it was worth it

Cheers to a speedy recovery

 

[jcj]

If your gain goes down, turn up the volume

Makes everything feel better until you're used to it

 

[Mailman1971]

If your gain goes down, turn up the volume

Makes everything feel better until you're used to it

For sure!! Alot of times I run the gain less then half and its super defined crush tone for sure when kicked up.
But again....let the amp do the work. Some guitars are just 'stronger' then others in the tone dept..... especially Les Pauls.

 

[guitarman967]

Ive found that some super high gain amps dont really sound legit for lower gain tones by simply turning down the gain in my experience. It just castrates them and thins them out. Soldanos are an exception.
I ended up just buying a JMP to get legit mid gain rock tones. 800's work great for that tone too. Just my 2 cents.

 

[nevusofota]

This is where I like to use a boost with my evh. I turn channel 2 gain way down, about 9-10:00 and use a Maxon OD9 with the gain on 0 and the level on 10. You would think this would be the same as just increasing the amp gain but it isn't. Gives a low gain tone but keeps the punch and sustain.

 

[Devilinside]

Yeah I've battled hard over the years because the more gain I used the better I thought it sounded. In reality to me anyway, many of the popular recordings heard are using much less gain than one would think other than really modern metal which is pretty gained out.

I've grown to really love dynamics in the last two years and less gain makes things more dynamic and me actually play better. Don't get me wrong I still love gain but more in the form of massive crunch and clarity with a vintage flavor, but that can still track fast for thrashy type stuff if needed.
Just my .02

 

[leib10]

Just adjust depending on the guitar. Whatever sounds best with that particular setup is how you should dial it in. I back off the gain a LOT when I'm playing with active pickups, for instance. Some guitars whose pickups aren't as hot need a bit more gain. Simple as that.

 

[Ventura]

Yep, gain is a great mask. Down the gain, and articulation goes sky high...not always a good thing.

80% torn achilles. Surgery Monday.

But I won the game

Yo M'Man... Good luck on Monday. I had my 6 week post-op yesterday, awesome tests and xrays. Been "bootin' it" since yesterday afternoon. Feels great to be "crutch free". I'm a happy man!! Seriously - good luck and heal fast

Mo

 

[Heritage Softail]

Some decrepit bitchez on here....

Get well youngsters.

 

[Badronald]

Do what sounds good for the application.
Boost pedals help tremendously when you are unable to crank an amp.

 

[SFW]

I was actually referring to the fact that when the gain comes down, cheap guitars sound cheap. You don't have gobs of gain to mask crap wood.

 

[nevusofota]

I also think the importance of good pickups increase with less gain.

 

[LP Freak]

I've noticed as my age went up.....the gain came down. I also like the effect of a boost pedal better with lower amounts of gain.

 

[Devilinside]

I've noticed as my age went up.....the gain came down. I also like the effect of a boost pedal better with lower amounts of gain.

Yep