Danny-B
Hi, I'm new to the forum. I've always read it and finally took the plunge and joined...
Anyways, I own(or soon to be used to) a BOSS GT-8, a unit I'm sure you're all familar with. I ran into some cash after I sold one of my guitars and found myself in the wonderful land of Jo'burg(I live in Durban) where I bought a MI Audio Tube Zone stompbox. Let me just say that it is a wonderful box, with an enormous amount of really decent tones, without sounding fake. This box brought about an epiphany, the epiphany being that for one I only use slight distortion and a little bit of wah, the other being that I actually don't like the tones that come out of my GT-8. So, I've deceided to sell my GT-8 and acquire another overdrive box and a Wah.
I was looking at the Dunlop 535Q wah and the Ibanez Tube King or TS-9. I use an Ibanez AR300 Re-issue and an Epiphone Dot(ES-335) into a Roland JC-120.
Could you guys offer your expertise? I'm working with around 3 grand.
Thanks ?
Danny B
AlanRatcliffe
I'm not much of a pedal user anymore, but there have been a few discussions on wahs:
http://www.guitarforum.co.za/effects/bestworst-wah/
http://www.guitarforum.co.za/effects/budda-budwah/
http://www.guitarforum.co.za/effects/wah-cry-boutique-or-full-range/
http://www.guitarforum.co.za/effects/satch%27s-big-bad-wah/
If you have the Tube zone, do you need another overdrive? Wouldn't a nice phaser make more sense? I posted a lot of info on booster/overdrives here:
http://www.guitarforum.co.za/effects/for-the-pedalholics-around-here/
I also think that using a JC-120, you may have to try these things for yourself where possible - the JC is a very particular amp and will make a lot of drive pedals sound extremely harsh. Gorgeous punchy cleans and chorus sounds though ?
Danny-B
The reason for a second overdrive is purely for a boost or just that little bit extra. And when it comes to effects I use hardly any, not because of the lack of them - the GT-8 has nearly every effect under the sun - but because they don't appeal to me.
And yes, the JC is a wonderful amp! Its volume still scares me... ???
matta
Hey Danny,
First off, welcome to the Forum!
I like many others also have a disdain for multi-effects... while for many they are great having the option of putting together your own chain is a great one and having instant access to the features/functions (that said it is great to see the multi-effects of the last decade having HANDS ON knobs instead of trying to fish through a deep editing menu system).
While I love the JC sound it really doesn't do all that well with fuzz/distortion or overdrives in front of it, it wasn't what it was designed to do... not that is sounds bad, just not as good as some other combos.
You mention the Tube Screamer, again the output of the pedal was designed to drive a loaded valve amp with an high input impedance, it drives the amp harder, and I guess it in part why it's name is so apt, but can good great in front of some solid state amps.
If you go the TS-9 route I'd HIGHLY recommend to charge the circuit back to the original / classic TS808 specs.
The same with the Wah. I personally like the 535Q and it is modder's delight. You can play with the taper, changes the vowel sounds, tone mods along with just basic 'quality' component upgrades and even the addition of a bypass switch (even when off the circuit still suck tones out of your guitar).
Tone is such a personal thing, so the only way to REALLY find your voice is to listen to what YOU want it to sound like.
Cheers
Matt
Danny-B
Thanks!
I actually ended up getting an Ibanez Tube King, which has a 12AX7 tube in it. It sounds sweet! I use it basically as a preamp, then use the Tube Zone to fatten up the tone. I also purchased the 535Q, which is awesome! Love the variety! With the Tube King at the end of my chain, everything sounds nice and warm. I traded one of my guitars lying around for a BOSS BCB60, one of those pedal boards with power and all. Included in the deal was a BOSS flanger and chorus, which was a nice surprise!
With regards to the tone suck from the wah, I did an A/B with the wah and then straight into the JC, and there was a very slight difference in bypass, nothing serious in terms of a tonal loss. I enjoy dabbling in jazz, and I still get the clean tone I want through my amp when going through my chain.
All in all, a very sucessful swop from multi-effects to stomp boxes!
kayDUB
Stompboxes - 1; multi effects - nil :yup:
Enjoy!
