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Samples were recorded, that were well suited for each particular type of pedal. The guitars used were a stock Gibson Les Paul, and a Fender Stratocaster w/ single coil pick ups. These are the most popular, well known, amplified guitar sounds on Earth.
For Newer, Younger Players:
If you're not familiar with these classic, archytypical, (the essence of what followed), instruments sound like, you might want to go listen to them, before wading into a deep range of effects comparisons. This isn't a big barrier to learning; a couple field trips to friendly music stores, will present a basic orientation to LP, and Strat tones.
Touch them, plink on each before you plug in and hear the differences, see how they're made, the weight, feel, etc., then listen through an Amp that's not totally distorted. Thank the salesman for his help too, but don't feel guilty for not buying: He'll "catch you later". You're going to be paying him all kinds of money before long, you'll see! However; if you feel like picking up on some of what we're offering here, you could save a lot of money & effort over time.
No matter what anyone says: most need to experience that fire really is hot. With some prior knowledge, you might be a little more careful, and not get burned, (like we did)!
New Samples, Recording Background:
Ample time was set aside for nothing but recording. There was no hurrying, no bands leaving/arriving during the sessions, and no Midnight to Dawn sessions. Some of you "old guys" are smiling, you've played those shit sessions too, we salute you! Lastly, no obsessing over performances! If a riff brought out good stuff from the gear, we used it.
Many of you guys know what it's like to record: you'll feel right at home hearing the familiar clicks, sliding fingers, etc. We normally edit out, or re-take for "lay audiences". We're among our own now.you wanna hear what it's really like? This is what it's really like!
Pairs samples:
Occasionaly,
you'll hear a riff on the Stratocaster, then immediately repeated
on the Les Paul. Some of these "pairs" worked out well, and are
used side by side, to deepen the comparison. The "Golden Ears" among
you will identify these quickly, the rest of us may improve our
ability to discern.
Another idea you'll encounter; is a representation of extremes: Twist tests, check it out: Preferences for suturation/drive/ EQ & volume are subjective. Every one of you guys get the family car to yourself one day. Every one of you will wonder, "how fast can this thing really go"? Some of us will moisten our undies at 80 miles per hour, while some will prove that a 1999 Chevy can sustain 116 MPH for "a while", before it throws a rod. :-)
It takes all kinds! The point is: since you couldn't be here to test the extremes of the effects, we set out to do it for you. The "Twist Tests" help address a range of tastes: They are usually placed at the beginning of each effect's samples demonstrating the attack & sustain of an effect: A triad is struck in the first position and allowed to sustain, and decay four times. Three of the cord strikes are played through Strat pickup settings, number three of the four, is a Les Paul pickup mounted in the bridge position of a Strat. This guitar, (on this one test), was felt to produce a meaningful contrast between Fender and Gibson pickup sounds. It's also a very popular configuration for many Strat/Stratoid hybrid players.
This alerts those interested, to any difference in sound from our other samples using a stock Fender, and Gibson. The volume and effect intensity were usually increased as this test progresses; from moderate early on, to more of everything, over time. Every attempt was made to make the adjustments during slience. We hope we twisted softer, and louder than most would want.
Later; the dials, sliders, are adjusted on the fly while playing is in progress. This lets you hear some of the places "in between", we missed. Some of you may thrill to a tone we couldn't appreciate, we've tried not to saddle you with our tastes. You may hear something for three seconds, only in this sample, and that's the sound you've always wanted. Eureka you found it! All of you couldn't be there to spin the nobs at these sessions, so we tried to do it for you. From that point on; most of the samples represent a progression, from moderate volume & effect settings, often growing in intensity. We tried to match varied styles to sounds, and set the effects as soft, and loud as most would like. Again: we hope we overdid the "range" of expression occasionally. Straight up folks: one man's bad taste, is another man's hit record!
In closing:
This approach is thorough: you will
know how the effects sound. There is a reasonable basis for comparison,
represented in a familiar signal chain. The unavoidable coloration
of numerous electronic devices, and environments has been minimized.
You'll hear that some pieces have a larger, or smaller variety of
neat sounds. You'll hear most effects, across the range of sound
they produce. We hope you enjoy, and benefit from our effort. Thanks!
Tools For Recording/Testing Purposes:
The samples you'll hear, recorded the direct guitar signal from the Strat, and Les Paul guitars, into a SEKD, 96KHz, 24 Bit hard disk recorder. When testing an effect, this recorded direct signal is fed through the output of the effect, into a Line6 POD set for clean. The mono output of the POD is then recorded onto the same SEKD, (96 KHz, 24 Bit) hard disk recorder. Cables used: Monster Studio. Power Supply: Fulltone "Black Box". AC Only units: Straight into a power conditioner. Hundreds of hours were spent trying to create some meaningful information about amplified guitar, and effect sounds, and tone. Thanks for reading folks. Tonefrenzy.com
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