Dirt nitpicking

[Gearmond]

aight so i never really got the thing about picking through Axe FX settings for the best dirt sound, or which mod to use on an HM-2 or whatever. I always figured "meh, a decent fuzz'll do"

but i guess I was spoiled with the Algal Bloom, and when I got my superfuzz and realized I couldn't play anything that wasn't 2 notes or a power chord, it all clicked, or... clipped as it were ( '-')

but going back to Axe FX and all the djent guys wanking around with tone settings that I used to think was hella dumb, and its like i finally get it... i think. i mean its sorta dumb, but i kinda see a purpose to it.

so what effect nitpicking do you not get/never used to get until something clicked?

[Mudfuzz]

so what effect nitpicking do you not get/never used to get until something clicked?

Hmmm.. I'd say there are no types of dirt I dislike because I have perspective. I accept that some things only sound good for certain sounds and uses and only play well with certain gear... that doesn't bother me, for me that is the fun part.

The only nitpicking I do really is if I find the sound it gives you [after trying it with different amps and instruments] is lifeless or boring if you will. Most metal pedals do this for me as "for the most part" they sound like RATs with different colorings and clipping amounts.. most though are basically sonic wonderbread on their own and when you find one that is good you start thinking... "it's like a RAT" my big nictpick is though is most don't have enough gain... they take you to the McTallicA level at best but that's it... and when you turn the gain real low it's flat sounding...

[D.o.S.]

Rolling back the volume knob.

I turn on a pedal and roll the volume up to get that "wave of feedback" thing, but IMO most of the Big Muffs (my holy grail circuit) I've played/used/tried sound like shit with the volume rolled back.

[Mudfuzz]

Rolling back the volume knob.

I turn on a pedal and roll the volume up to get that "wave of feedback" thing, but IMO most of the Big Muffs (my holy grail circuit) I've played/used/tried sound like shit with the volume rolled back.

I have sort'a noticed this... but I can't tell because to me all my amps sound like shit with most dirt boxes inless I'm at a "good" volume

[coldbrightsunlight]

I don't understand trying tons of 'transparent' overdrive pedals to find the one that's JUST right, when they all sound pretty good and maybe you should just settle for one and get some other pedals to do different stuff. I pretty much think the same thing about the millions of muff variants. It's like, if it sounds like a muff, you're probably good to go for muff sounds? I only really bother differentiating between pedals with a significant differences in sound, like I have one heavy fuzz, one for overdrivy low gain sounds and one which is insane. I guess this is pretty much the same point Gearmond made, that making tiny adjustments to get the perfect sound is boring.

And the volume knob thing definitely is about what gear you're using, I love how it cleans up my TAFM and Arc Flash, but with my amp it's basically an on or off thing until I turn it up to gig levels, when it makes a huge difference to the sound.

[Mudfuzz]

I pretty much think the same thing about the millions of muff variants. It's like, if it sounds like a muff, you're probably good to go for muff sounds?

Well it's like chocolate... sometimes you want normal dark, sometimes, milk, nuts, mint, coffee beans, orange, sometimes you want 80% vs 75%... I have five muff variants I think... I think with "tranz" ODs it's the same deal... you are after a curtain texture in the way it clips and how it reacts to how and what you are playing and if you are the type of person the has "this sound in their head" I think you can drive yourself nutz... For me dirt pedals are like paint brushes... that's why I have so many and see one I payed $30 for as useful as one I payed $200-300 for if I can get a sound I find interesting from it

[D.o.S.]

I don't understand trying tons of 'transparent' overdrive pedals to find the one that's JUST right, when they all sound pretty good and maybe you should just settle for one and get some other pedals to do different stuff. I pretty much think the same thing about the millions of muff variants. It's like, if it sounds like a muff, you're probably good to go for muff sounds? I only really bother differentiating between pedals with a significant differences in sound, like I have one heavy fuzz, one for overdrivy low gain sounds and one which is insane. I guess this is pretty much the same point Gearmond made, that making tiny adjustments to get the perfect sound is boring.

And the volume knob thing definitely is about what gear you're using, I love how it cleans up my TAFM and Arc Flash, but with my amp it's basically an on or off thing until I turn it up to gig levels, when it makes a huge difference to the sound.

I bought my Grey 'Stache as a backup to my Supercollider, since the SC was getting discontinued (for the first time). Not to get all cork-sniffy, but there are definitely flavors of muff I prefer.

[coldbrightsunlight]

I pretty much think the same thing about the millions of muff variants. It's like, if it sounds like a muff, you're probably good to go for muff sounds?

Well it's like chocolate... sometimes you want normal dark, sometimes, milk, nuts, mint, coffee beans, orange, sometimes you want 80% vs 75%... I have five muff variants I think... I think with "tranz" ODs it's the same deal... you are after a curtain texture in the way it clips and how it reacts to how and what you are playing and if you are the type of person the has "this sound in their head" I think you can drive yourself nutz... For me dirt pedals are like paint brushes... that's why I have so many and see one I payed $30 for as useful as one I payed $200-300 for if I can get a sound I find interesting from it

Bad example, I don't really care about chocolate. Actually can't really think of anything I'm that picky about... Personally with music gear I go more for 'feel' and response than super-specific sounds, and I'd rather have more broad options than several flavours of a similar thing. That was a good explanation though, I get where you're coming from.

[Gearmond]

I think my thing is, and i used to not agree with this, is that its one of those things that musicians notice, but the audience doesn't give a shit.

like the guys jabbering with you after a show about gear always seem to go after the cool stuff on your board, rather than like "hey i dig how you used that"

i mean, five bucks says i'd get more gear talk out of my sea machine and AB than i would with my custom whammy thinger on my digitech.

the idea of having like "a little of everything" and not doing the TGP/Bonnemossa thing of having 4 different amps for different levels of dirt (all are the same amp more or less). like I doubt i'll get any more fuzz than my super and AB, or if i'll even get any dirt (the vox im after has a decent dirt, but i know y'all like fuzz with dirt BEFORE fuzz, so i might pick up something cheap.) or the nitpickiness that i think ILF is guilty of (besides fuzz), delay. the only pedals I might end up stocking up on would be loopers, and thats because of basic functionality rather than "it does X sound in a way that i think fits more with X amount of songs, but not all" or whatever.

[DarkAxel]

Tubescreamers

srsly what's the deal? sounds stupid to me... am i the only one who hears the clean blend? am i the only one who hears the muffled sound? AM I THE ONLY ONE WHO MINDS?

[GardenoftheDead]

Tubescreamers

srsly what's the deal? sounds stupid to me... am i the only one who hears the clean blend? am i the only one who hears the muffled sound? AM I THE ONLY ONE WHO MINDS?

Ever play a Tube Screamer amp? I swore something was wrong with it until I realized it was blending in my clean tone.

[DarkAxel]

Yes i did, didn't really differ from pedal TSs to me

the clean ch. was fine

[snipelfritz]

Hey, if plants can be picky about dirt, so can I.

But it totally depends on the dirt. My muff: I'll put the volume just past noon, sustain at 12 o'clock and tone at 3 o'clock. Gets a nice heavy buzzy noise. OD and classic fuzz, I'll pretty much crank the gain.

[modernage]

Hey, if plants can be picky about dirt, so can I.

SIG'D!

[Gearmond]

i like to think that i'm above plants.

unless its a tree. then they kinda have me on life experience