As a guitarist, how I approach the sound? Here is the chain of effects I currently use, both on stage and in rehearsal with the Alchemic Journey Band:
My Mexican Fender Strat from 1995. Red Color! We can consider it's a Vintage Model now! My second guitarist also lends me his in rehearsal and in concert too, a superb Fender Stratocaster replica model 57. But.. More about Guitars, next time..
Here is my effects chain:
From the Fender Stratocaster Guitar (I use two that are totally different in pickup sound and tone range).
I use the Boss Blues Driver BD2 pedal as a first effect to boost the signal of the Fender Deluxe Tube Amp. Around 40/45% of Drive gain, sometimes even less. This allows me to have a sound going from a very warm Clear to a Crunchy, to a good Rock/Blues Overdrive. All this is managed by the volume of the guitar and the dynamics of the pick play.
The second effect on the chain is an Overdrive pedal too, the Screamin' Blues one from Digitech, the boost for solos*, and some more saturated parts. Means the two Overdrive are "On"! The treble tone is at 0 (i.e. 7pm) and the bass tone at about 2am. Very important to get a warm and round overdrive with my sound configuration. Kind of Vintage sound for the two Overdrive pedals.
Then I go to the Modulations pedal, a brilliant Donner Pedal with 7 different modulation types: Chorus (2 modes), Phaser, Tremolo, Vibrato, Flanger, etc.. I only use 2 or 3 of these: mainly the Flanger but only to give a deph, not a full Flanger sound.. and the Tremolo. I like the Tremolo on some specific parts. I also use the Vibrato effect to detune a little to give a small "space bubble effect" on one track. Playing Arpeggios. The Pedal is set of the manner I just have to select the right effect, and It's good!
To the Donner Delay now, which I specifically use only on a few pieces, and judiciously. Very simple to adjust and effective. Good quality/price.
And finally, I plug into a Digitech Digital Reverb, depending on the track I use different settings: Hall Short, Plate Short, Hall Long, etc. And I play with the level of reverberation depending on the track. Always very short reverb with the exception of one or two tracks, with a very long reflection reverb for the colour of the song.
*Ok, I have one more, and in fact before all these.. It's a Wah Behringer Pedal, a very versatil Wah pedal. I use it as Wah, yes, but I mainly use it as a Treble Booster when I'm chorusing. This one is very important because just plugged in it , it give a special tone I have since years. It also allows me to control feedback perfectly! And I love that. :0)
Then to the Tube Amp. The Fender Deluxe is set with a volume between 1 and 2 following the environment, if you push it more, you can bye bye to your ears! haha..
I will detail in another article the setup I use in Home Studio Works, based on Ik Multimedia Fender Amps. Sometimes used on stage too.
In short, I like what is simple but effective. The multi-effects all integrated distort the dynamics of the sound quite a bit, in my opinion.
Do you play guitar too? Let Me know what kind of stuff you use.. :0)
See you.. soon! BCH Friends Rockers! :0)
#AlchemicJourney #carnetderoute
Super interesting. I used to produce electronic music with Reason. I know nothing about Guitars. But about chaining delays, reverbs, chorus-flanger, distort, ... the "Effects Chain" as you call it. Very interesting read. Keep doing music, its very good to listen to.