jakjak
Hi,
I have been messing about with my ibanez ex350. The question i have is how should i go about getting a blues sound from my roland cube 30.
It seems that everything i try i just can't get a decent blues sound out of my guitar /amp combo.
Also, i have been trying to learn some chili peppers stuff and also can't seem to get their sound.
My intent here is to get a similar sound, i understand the pro's have expensive gear, the question is can i get a decent blues or funk sound out of my ibanez, or is it just not doable with my current gear.
LMinnie
I have the same problem...
Iam trying to replicate the Travelling Wilbury's bluesey sound with no success....
I think it might hav esomething to do with teh construction or type of guitar they use.
Alan?
AlanRatcliffe
Which blues sound? ?
Gary Moore LP/Marshall blues sound?
Gary Moore Fender/Marshall blues sound?
BB King ES-335/Gibson Lab amp blues sound?
SRV Strat/Tubescreamer/Fender blues sound?
Robert Johnson Delta blues sound?
Eric Johnson Strat/Tubescreamer/Fender blues sound?
Eric Clapton Bluesbreaker Gibson/Marshall blues sound?
Eric Clapton Fender/Fender blues sound?
Point is, there are as many "Blues sounds" as there are players. Blues is more about the player than the gear - you'll notice that Johnson and SRV have similar setups - but they sound completely different. Some players go for thick distorted tones, others go for clean. Some go for warmer tones others are thin and "icepicky". You don't find many blues players with Ibanez guitars, but that's more a matter of convention.
LMinnie
Think Roy Orbison.....
Does it have anything to do with the Blues guitars that these guys play?
Squonk
I think Alan is right, I can hardly tell that Eric Johnson is using a Gibson SG on "Alien Love Child"
It's definately in your makeup.
Even listening to Brian May on "too much love will kill you", its acoustic but completely Brian May.
Lawrence I'm sure with that Zoom pedal you should get some kind of a good blues sound.
AlanRatcliffe
Orbison's stuff tends to be more Rock 'n Roll - acoustic guitars and Gretsch electric guitars into Fender amps with spring reverb. Slapback echoes (about 50 ms or so).
Wilburys are an interesting case - a band made entirely out of guitarists. They have Rock 'n Roll and blues as a common influence, but all bring something unique to the table (you can immediately tell who wrote what).
Petty's actually interesting as he's a huge collector of gear (Mike Campbell too) and any Heartbreakers show you will see a huge array of Fenders, Gibsons, Danelectros, Gretches, Rickenbackers and acoustics - but somehow they always sound pretty much like the Heartbreakers, with a "chime" to the sound, whether they use Rickys into Vox amps (the essence of chime) or not.
Anyway those sounds are all coming from valve amps on the verge of overdrive - play 'em hard they crunch, play 'em soft or turn the guitars volume down a bit and they are clean - along with the notes you play, that's the essence of the Blues for me.
I was fortunate enough to be in the front row when Queen played Sun City (a few metres away from Brian May!) and was completely blown away by the fact that in one song May played a Telecaster - and sounded just like Brian May, only a bit more trebly. I'd always associated his sound with the oddball guitar he and his dad made. That was the thing that first brought home for me that it's the player that shapes the sound more than anything else.
AlanRatcliffe
Johnson's another one. If you've ever seen the Total Electric Guitar video, you'll know he can absolutely nail any other guitarist's tone with a Strat, A Tubescreamer and a Fender amp. While he's talking about the way the different players bend for instance, he'll play a few of their riffs and if you close your eyes and listen... he makes that same rig sound like Hendrix, Cream-era Clapton, BB King and everyone else!
jakjak
Okay before we solve the blues problem. How can i get this sound.
Perhaps you guys can help with my amp settings. I'm very new to anything electric based.
I'll find a vid for the blues sound im looking for.
jakjak
I have been learning some basic blues stuff from justinguitar.com . Here is a vid he done on a few basic blues licks.
It'll illustrate the sound im trying to get.
Must say, as a beginner i find his site potentially one of the best on the net. Highly recommended for any other beginners who may be reading this.
Epibluesman
I have a cube 30 myself, the black panel is a model of the same amp the peppers use, so will suggest that, not too much bass and no delay or very little reverb, depends on the song you want to play. As for a blues sound; have been trying to get that myself for a while, again depends on the sound you are looking for, but definitely A LOT of reverb, I prefer the JC CLEAN channel but if you want a dirtier sound, like white stripes, go for the tweed (which is a fender model) or the brit combo (think it's off the VOX, not too sure though). A fair amount of middle and bass too. Well please share if youfind something cool yourself. Oh and put your guitar on the rythme switch.
jakjak
Epibluesman wrote:
I have a cube 30 myself, the black panel is a model of the same amp the peppers use, so will suggest that, not too much bass and no delay or very little reverb, depends on the song you want to play. As for a blues sound; have been trying to get that myself for a while, again depends on the sound you are looking for, but definitely A LOT of reverb, I prefer the JC CLEAN channel but if you want a dirtier sound, like white stripes, go for the tweed (which is a fender model) or the brit combo (think it's off the VOX, not too sure though). A fair amount of middle and bass too. Well please share if youfind something cool yourself. Oh and put your guitar on the rythme switch.
Thanks for the tips, it definitely helps.
I'm sure ill eventually find the sound im looking for, you suggestions have definitely helped, Thanks.
If i find it i'll be sure to share.
If anyone knows, what is the blues sound in vid above, generally made up of in terms of sound. What defines it. I'ts early days for me so im still developing my ear.
NorioDS
Something that was said very recently (maybe in this thread, I'm too lazy to check) is that the sound comes from the player.
I've found that it's easy to get a good chunky blues sound by easing back on the distortion/overdrive and throwing in some double-stops and 1/2 bends. Of course, you want to bend from the right notes but it's great.
For a jazzier sound, I just throw in a lot of chromatic stuff.
There are a lot of little cheats like this that help get you something similar to what you want and they're good to get you inspired to learn everything that's behind it.
Remember, you can sound bluesy with any set up, it's how you play that makes it the blues.
Martyr
the only advice i can give you is play around with your tone ALOT!! You could maybe even find the settings on the internet if you look hard enough...
i'm still looking for my tone i want,it takes a lot of time
andrewjbryson
ERIC JOHNSON ... "If you've ever seen the Total Electric Guitar video"
I think the one of him called "Opening Licks"
absolutely crystal clear tone and amazing playing ....
This guy is my hero
jakjak
Thanks for all the tips.
I understand blues is a style of playing rather than just settings on an amp.
Well im messing about successfully with the various blues playing techniques, my question regarding amp settings is more to understand what is generally used by blues players.
But in saying that, i guess a guitarist is always in search of his sound.
I will keep serching, i'm sure google will eventually throw up what i want.
AlanRatcliffe
The point is, there is no "generally used" setting.
In the examples you gave above, the amp selections sound more Marshally to me (although I hate judging from YouTube clips). Of more importance is you are playing an Ibanez with humbucking pickups and both the clips above feature single-coil tones.
jakjak
Alan Ratcliffe wrote:
The point is, there is no "generally used" setting.
In the examples you gave above, the amp selections sound more Marshally to me (although I hate judging from YouTube clips). Of more importance is you are playing an Ibanez with humbucking pickups and both the clips above feature single-coil tones.
Without jumping the gun, which guitars are prefered by blues players, and would you recommend a different guitar than the one i got to get the tone i am after. Or is my ibanez good enough for most styles.
Or is it more my amp.
This is all very helpful, thanks.
I understand the term "blues" is a very broad term.
AlanRatcliffe
Strats, Teles, Les Pauls and ES-335s are all popular with blues players but any guitar can be used. The IBZ is good for now - you'll form more concrete ideas on exactly what you want given time, a bit more experience and after checking out what guitars are making the sounds you want to get.
In your situation, I'd probably just have a coil cut (switch or a push-pull pot) fitted to turn both humbuckers into single-coils, then I could get a single-coil sound from the neck or the bridge pickup. That'll give you a range of nine different sounds from one guitar and still be easy to operate.
ralley
Hi Jakjak,
I get where everyone is coming from with the "What blues tone?" and "It's all in the fingers" sort of responses but get the idea you just want some sort of starting point. Bear in mind that I'm no great shakes as a player and my gear is very different from yours (Strat or Les Paul copy into a Mesa Boogie valve amp), but here goes:
1) Use less gain (aka distortion, drive) on your amp that you think. Most beginning players use far too much distortion and the blues especially tends to not be massively overdriven (though Gary Moore is an exception).
2) Make sure you don't have the mids "scooped" on your amplifier (metal style), if anything give them a bit of a boost to cut through. The ibanez tube screamer pedal much loved by many blues/rock guitarists is famous for it's mid boost.
3) I like to use the neck pickup, tends to be less biting than the bridge
4) If you are using some sort of modelling amp try and set if for a Fender type amp (might be called something like blackface, silverface, twin etc.) possibly with a Tube screamer or something pushing it (remember moderation here).
Whilst an Ibanez like yours tends to have higher output pickups designed to cut through with distortion you certainly can get a decent blues tone out of it. Years ago in Aus. I saw one of the guys from Rose Tattoo in his solo band and the bluesy tone he got out of an Ibanez and Marshall was orgasmic.
Work on your bending and vibrato as well - this is where a lot of the personality of blues players comes from.
Rob.
Riaan
Somewhat of topic: I have a Roland BluesCube 30 watt (BC-30). How does this amp differ from the Roland Cube?
