Question:
Ok, I don't know if this is a thread already, but I didn't see it, so I assume it isn't.
What kind of effects/pedals/whatever do you use to get a 'unique' sound, or just something you like? And what instrument is it used for?
All I have is a Boss Metal Zone and I plan on getting a dunlop cry baby wah pedal soon. This is used for my Electric guitars. I love the crunch, and the wicked awesomeness of the palm mutting sound.
Answer:
well, Multi-effects pedals can give very unique sounds...but not really that great for live performances

I'd say go to a local music store and try out the phasers, flangers, delay pedals, and especially the Whammy pedal if they have it
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generally i like to combine effects to get a unique sound...for example wah + delay.
but i also find their functionality in the context of where i'm playing guitar (sunday morning church) rather limited.
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Unique tone and perfect tone are usually two very different things since perfect tone is usually a conglomeration in your head of all the best sounding tones you've ever heard.
A unique tone has to be built completely from scratch. Ground up. Forget everything you think you know about how guitars are supposed to sound. Disconnect all your pedals and set all your knobs to zero. But here's some tools that can help.
First, try to find unique sounding distortion pedals. If you use a tubescream, or any boss distortion, you'll doomed to sound generic. Experiment with overdrive and distortion and fuzz (which is overlooked by many guitarists today). Or try to come up with rich or aggressive sounds that don't use a distortion pedal.
Also, try getting ahold of an EQ pedal to create drastically different response curves. Typically, metal is played with scooped mids & boosted highs and lows. Blues always has a fat, warm midrange. Try extreme EQ settings both before and after distortion.
there are no rules dictating where pedals must go in your fx chain. Ever heard a post-distortion wah? Or a predisortion chorus? And like somebody else already mentioned, combine effects in weird ways.
Reverb and Compression are both effects. Both can drastically change tone. Don't be afraid to use them to extremes or to create contrast... such as setting your reverb to max settings on the verse of a song the switching it off completely on the chorus.
But also keep in mind that sometimes less is more, even when trying to sound unique.
Answer:
Originally Posted by jbm222 Or try to come up with rich or aggressive sounds that don't use a distortion pedal.
But also keep in mind that sometimes less is more, even when trying to sound unique. yep...one of the most agressive sounds i've ben able to develop is a hard quick strum of clean guitar through a delay...especially when you'v got a bright sounding guitar.
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I use my hands and my mind to get unique sounds. Techniques with your fingers are usually what will make you sound really unique.
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Someone finally mentions an EQ pedal! If you dont have an EQ you dont have anything...its a must have for any good guitar player.
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Originally Posted by SoapbarII Someone finally mentions an EQ pedal! If you dont have an EQ you dont have anything...its a must have for any good guitar player. does that mean before the invention of the EQ pedal there weren't any good guitar players
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I tend to beleive that the only thing a good gutiar player NEEDS is a guitar and an amp (or an acoustic guitar).
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Originally Posted by jbm222 I tend to beleive that the only thing a good gutiar player NEEDS is a guitar and an amp (or an acoustic guitar). Right on man.
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I tend to beleive that the only thing a good gutiar player NEEDS is a guitar and an amp (or an acoustic guitar).
And talent.
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Ok, that's cool and all, but to the first couple guys who posted, I asked what YOU use, not how to get a sweet sound, though it was interesting and all, it was unnessecary. The whole less can be more thing, exactly, I only use my "Metal" distortion pedal, with 4 EQ knobs, volume and of course distortion level. It's called metal, but if you crank the knobs just right (I have done this before so I know what I"m talking about), you can get anywhere from the heaviest of metal, to the corniest of country. And by adding a wah pedal to my gear, I plan to add some varitey to my solos.
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I love my combo of Line 6 DM-4 Distortion Modeler and Boss BD-2 Blues Driver.
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Originally Posted by jbm222 I tend to beleive that the only thing a good gutiar player NEEDS is a guitar and an amp (or an acoustic guitar). It also helps if it is a very good amp, such as a framus or Mesa
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Originally Posted by SSj Guitarist Ok, that's cool and all, but to the first couple guys who posted, I asked what YOU use, not how to get a sweet sound, though it was interesting and all, it was unnessecary. The whole less can be more thing, exactly, I only use my "Metal" distortion pedal, with 4 EQ knobs, volume and of course distortion level. It's called metal, but if you crank the knobs just right (I have done this before so I know what I"m talking about), you can get anywhere from the heaviest of metal, to the corniest of country. And by adding a wah pedal to my gear, I plan to add some varitey to my solos. ah...i thought you meant "you" universally, not "you" personally.