What is the best set up for a solo blues artist
Hi everyone, I own a Burns Marquee electric guitar, a Epiphone Les Paul, and a Young Chang 80s Telecater, I play through a Marshall Valve State 100 combo, and a Marshall Acoustic 50AC amp, I am trying to pick a good setup, including peddels to use, just for my own solo performance, as any of you blues members got any adive, I do write all my own songs and music and play live, but i'm really from a country music back ground, can you help, i'm just trying to get a feel for my change of direction into a more blues sound. cheers Dave,
Tags: amps, and, best, blues, effects, guitars, to, use
Views: 161
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Chad Nordhoff on -
I just plug an acoustic/electric into whatever PA or amp is available. I may use an EQ pedal just for added control from my seat. That's usually it. If I get paid more, or am expected to provide dance music, I add drums/percussion under my feet. I carry a 60w Fender Princeton amp and a small mixer if I need a more Rock sound or just need to be heard over crowd noise.
I only bring effects pedals if I'm playing in a typically non-blues venue and if the gig is more than 3 hours, just to add a little extra flavor. Even then I don't often use them.
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Permalink Reply by vladimir yarovinsky on -
blues is in your fingers does not matter what gear you use, learn to listen,and learn to play one note ,that means something to you, thanks
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Permalink Reply by Jake Green on -
Sure, blues is in the fingers (or voice, or whatever), but since you want people to listen to it, it doesn't hurt to think a little about your tone - and gear affects your tone. =)
One thing about your setup I cannot agree on is the Valve state Marshall... Using a valve state amp is in my opinion a bit of a shame when blues and Tube amps go so beautifully together. I used to have a Marshall valvestate 80 combo - before I knew better. =)
A good amp is one of your primary tools. A lot of people don't realize this, but its really true. Many people spend fortunes on their guitar and pedals, and then plug into a bad sounding amp.
If you put a 5000 dollar guitar through a crappy amp, it will sound crappy.
If you put a 100 dollar guitar through a great sounding amp, it will sound the very best that 100 dollar guitar can sound - and probably sound a lot better than the 5000 dollar guitar that you had hooked up to the crappy amp. =)
But ok, some people like the valvestates and if its a concious choice, I'm not gonna argue. But take your Epiphone Les Paul and go down to the guitar dealers and plug it into a good, solid 15-30watt tube amp. Fender blues junior, Laney LC15, Peavey classic 30. Basicly anything as long as its fullbred tube amp and a 12" speaker.
The trick with using a small tube amp (though a 15 watt tube will play as loud as your 100 watt valvestate) instead of a big 50-100watt tube amp, is that you get the natural overdrive tone when you crank up a small tube amp - and if you're playing on a big stage you just mic it to the PA.
My advice is: Forget effects untill you've found a good sounding tube amp. They're only spices - and your need good meat first. =)
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Permalink Reply by Dave Ciarella Murray on
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Thanks for the feedback Jack, I'll try a few amps out you mentoned at my local store, called EBGB'S, i agree with you no use paying a small fortune for a good guitar then play it through a crap amp, its nice to hear from several members bout my question, this is a top site. cheers Dave
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Permalink Reply by Chad Nordhoff on
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Dave,
Do you know where you'll be playing solo? Jake's right about the valvestate vs tube amp thing. If you're playing in a quiet coffeshop, a valvestate might be OK but if you have to turn it up it could sound terrible.
After standing in an alley in the rain, walking thru a crowded wet kitchen, down some wet stairs, and thru a crowd of people carrying a 90lb (41kg) tube amp, a small lightweight valvestate starts sounding better. ;-)
Jake,
I guess my use of an electric/acoustic sort of compensates for the loss of tone that you're talking about. I lose all the sustain of course. I just often find that an electric guitar sounds naked as a solo instrument when used for a long show.
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Permalink Reply by Barton Katz on -
Hi Check out the cusak screamer. John cusak makes them in hollnd MI. you can get them at Rit Music in Holland Mi. He does have a web site. They have a creamey smooth ruff sound.
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I will check the website out, cheers for information Barton, cheers Dave
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Permalink Reply by Jake Green on
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Heheh, well Chad, you play a 60w Princeton... Go figure. =)
My 15watt custom modded Laney LC15 weighs in at 30lbs (14kg) and its light enough for taking on the buss if needed, and can easily play loud enough for a 150 people venue. I usually have my guitar in a gigbag, my amp in one hand and my pedal case (small one I built into my grandfathers old film trunk) in the other.
The problem is when you get on bigger stages or play outdoors - but usually there's a PA present, so you just mic up the amp and turn up the PA.
With a 60watt you can't get the good crunchy tone that tube amps deliver so nicely without blowing the heads off the first 3 rows - and theres no way you can play at that volume in a small blues bar. The 15 watt can.
Besides if you were to find a valvestate that could match the Priunceton, it would have to be over 150watt - and heavy to match. =)
Yeah, I think if I was to play a lot of solo gigs (which I don't usually do) I'd either go for an acoustic guitar and amp, or use my new 335 copy and find a jazzy tube amp with a 15" speaker to get more body on the sound. I have a ported 12" cabinet that pretty much sounds like my 2x12" Matchless cabinet (which sounds good), so a ported cabinet might be a solution too.
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Permalink Reply by Chad Nordhoff on
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My 30w Marshall Valvestate is just a bedroom amp. I've played gigs with it but it's just too wimpy. I Love my good old Peavey Heritage, 120w 2x12" but it's very tempermental. My Crate Vintage Club 50 is a great sounding amp for all occasions but isn't much fun to lug around.
The Princeton has a 'line-in' input on it as well. I've used it with a Behringer mixer as the WHOLE P.A. even playing and singing over drums and bass. I got the Princeton for Christmas. For me anyway, the trade off in tone and texture is worth it. I use mainly a clean sound anyway.
The Fender FR50CE resonator guitar has a stereo output. Sometimes I run the tele pickup thru an amp for clarity and dynamic control. I'll put the acoustic pickup thru the PA for a full body sound. Then I can mix and match the two with the knobs on the guitar. It's great to be rockin' out then suddenly break it down to an all acoustic sound.
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seem you have a really good understanding of amps, im glad i asked the members for advice as it as given me the right information to be loaded with when i ask the music shop owner, i like the idea of the 15-30 watt amp with a 12" speaker, i think i will have a look at a fender amp, cheers Dave
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thanks for that Jake, it is a mine field when it comes to getting the sound right, I will use all your really good information to get the right amp, I agree regarding a big venue there will b a PA there so to DI, will be no bother, cheers Dave
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Permalink Reply by billy freedom on -
i use a cheap acoustic guitar or a harmonica, sometimes homemade mics.
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