Simuanalog

[Sascha Franck]

thanks! do bass guitars need that too?

Not as much. Especially since a lot of them are active anyways.
But every passive bass will defenitely benefit as well.

[stayne]

I guess it's off to GC again for me then. There are no hi-z or instrument inputs. Just line-in.

Thank you all very much.

[stayne]

I don't know jack about DI boxes. How's this one? Maybe I'll skip GC and use Ebay...

http://cgi.ebay.com/BEHRINGER-ULTRA-DI- ... dZViewItem

[AndrewSimon]

I guess it's off to GC again for me then. There are no hi-z or instrument inputs. Just line-in.

Thank you all very much.

Ohh and of course not all Hi-Z DI's are created equal.
Try to get one with as high impedance as possible.
1 Mohm would be nice, 5 Mohm is tops.

[jens]

thanks! do bass guitars need that too?

if they're passive the answer is 'yes'

[AndrewSimon]

I guess it's off to GC again for me then. There are no hi-z or instrument inputs. Just line-in.

Thank you all very much.

Ohh and of course not all Hi-Z DI's are created equal.
Try to get one with as high impedance as possible.
1 Mohm would be nice, 5 Mohm is tops.

The impedance load has a direct effect on the frequency response of the pickups, don't over look this.
The higher the impedance the more character and responsiveness is retained.
Also a good low impedance cable (as short as possible, 6 feet?)
can also have a huge impact especially on high frequencies.
May I suggest an inexpensive one:(you will hear the difference)
http://www.guitarelectronics.com/product/GACPCR

Last but no least, know your enemies, Fluorescent lights, nasty light dimmers and CRT monitors like your computer monitor.
Move away from the monitor and turn away from it in a 90 degree angle.

There are many other things you can do but they all cost big bux.(hundreds)
If interested let me know and I'll help.

[susiwong]

"I don't know what to make of all this" is my nice way of saying this thread has turned into 75% "I know more than you know" and 25% helpful information. That's to be expected though, guitar tone is a very debatable topic (and great fuel for ego-induced banter).

Mark, while you're correct about the *offtopic" thing , to me these heated debates are part of the fun here @ kvr, and I don't regard it so much as "I know more than you know" but more as sharing knowledge. Good for me, since most of what I know is stuff I heard or read somewhere and then tried out myself.
I'm learning so much from you guys every day, often in threads where I don't post myself since I don't feel I have something useful to contribute.
Cheers, susiwong

[susiwong]

AndrewSimon wrote:

Also a good low impedance cable (as short as possible, 6 feet?)
can also have a huge impact especially on high frequencies.

You're absolutely correct here.
But there are players who actually used this principle in reverse. Johnny Guitar Watson, Buddy Guy, Stan Webb all said they like to use extremely long cables because they reduce some of the unwanted high frequencies and give them a smoother tone.
Of course there weren't even many stompboxes around back then ...
Cheers, susiwong

[Hink]

yeah but I'll never be as good as a professional

As if that'd matter.
I mean, you're using some other professional items as well - why not go for PUs used in most professional environments as well?

because that was sarcasm... I know you don't believe it, but I actually know how to play a guitar, wire a guitar and actually do have some intelligence...instead of looking down on me constantly, perhaps if you took the time to listen too me once in a while you might actually be surprised by what you might discover. Your elitist comments barely deserve sarcasm, let alone taking them serious.

[Hink]

AndrewSimon wrote:

Also a good low impedance cable (as short as possible, 6 feet?)
can also have a huge impact especially on high frequencies.

You're absolutely correct here.
But there are players who actually used this principle in reverse. Johnny Guitar Watson, Buddy Guy, Stan Webb all said they like to use extremely long cables because they reduce some of the unwanted high frequencies and give them a smoother tone.
Of course there weren't even many stompboxes around back then ...
Cheers, susiwong

The rule of thumb is six feet but I have seen tests done that show signal loss at a little over 5 1/2 feet...the problem is that if you're using an amp with a large transformer you replace signal loss with transformer hum as well when getting closer to it...so by using longer cables some of the lower frequencies are not competing with hum either.

FWIW an EMG PA2 at 30 bux with it's trim pot from 0-20db (don't ask me why zero ) is also a very good solution for longer runs...they work awesome with active and passive pick-ups, in fact you can have a hybrid...

[susiwong]

Hi Sascha,
looks like I'll have to try that Duncan booster, thanks !
And while I mostly agree to your comments about onboard electronics, the guitar I enjoy playing live the most is a Strat with the Clapton electronics and noiseless pickups (Tele/Strat/Strat) into a cheap Peavey Classic 50. All the nuances from crystal clear to screaming leads are there, all controlled from the guitar.
Gives me more time to concentrate on the music and having fun onstage !
Cheers, susiwong

[stayne]

Where should compression go in the effects chain? For instance:

Simuanalog Tube Screamer
Simuanalog JCM900
Classic Compresser
Classic EQ
Classic Chorus
Classic Delay
Ambience Reverb

Does that about right?

[jens]

depends... (situation, you tastes, etc.) - but I usually like the eq (or at lest a low-cut) before the compressor - also delay and reverb are usually sends in my setups... just play around...

[susiwong]

Where should compression go in the effects chain? For instance:

Simuanalog Tube Screamer
Simuanalog JCM900
Classic Compresser
Classic EQ
Classic Chorus
Classic Delay
Ambience Reverb

That's one of the classic chains, the compressor simulates the "feel" of a hard driven tube power amp here.
Many guitar players use a (stompbox) compressor first in the chain to control the attack, to give longer sustain or even boost the amp (instead of the TS ?).
Basically the same for EQ, in front of the amp you change the distortion intensity @ different frequencies, after the amp you eq the already distorted signal.
Whatever the song needs - experiment and have fun !
The only thing I always hated is reverb in front of an overdriven amp, everything else is worth a try !
Cheers, susiwong

[stayne]

Thanks. I left out two things: Green Gate and a Stereo Simulator.

Chorus... Stereo Simulator... I can't decide yet. Chorus just doesn't sound right on rhythym guitar, but on lead it sounds great.