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best pedz for killer lead tones

Posted: Fri Feb 14, 2014 2:32 pm
by John Matrix
Between my amp and my pedals I've got "raw and nasty" and "huge and fuzzy" totally covered. I'm looking for something that can take me to the realm of smooth, infinite, singing sustain. I wanna be able to whip out the Top Gun theme and have it send my soul up into the clouds with Goose and Maverick. I want the tones that will make grown men weep. When I bend a note I want my face to involuntarily contort into that face that's somewhere between "What's that smell?" and "I'm about to jizz everywhere." What have you got for me?

Re: best pedz for killer lead tones

Posted: Fri Feb 14, 2014 4:33 pm
by retinal orbita
Hmmm, that sustain thing is where I turn to a Muff....

Re: best pedz for killer lead tones

Posted: Fri Feb 14, 2014 4:40 pm
by Tristan
There's several options, I usually do both at the same time.
1. Use a delay (the right kind of delay) for your lead sound (I use a Deluxe Memory Man for this purpose)
2. Put a (dirty) boost and/or a compressor in front of your main drive / fuzz (I use a Amp 50 or Philosopher King for this purpose)

Re: best pedz for killer lead tones

Posted: Fri Feb 14, 2014 4:58 pm
by friendship
you know what you need don't you

look in your heart

you know it to be true

Re: best pedz for killer lead tones

Posted: Fri Feb 14, 2014 7:49 pm
by Casavettes
TAFM

Re: best pedz for killer lead tones

Posted: Fri Feb 14, 2014 8:04 pm
by O Drones
Fuck-Pharoah-Win

Re: best pedz for killer lead tones

Posted: Fri Feb 14, 2014 8:30 pm
by rfurtkamp
That's as much the right delay and verb as the gain choices.

All three will vary radically based on your guitar and amp choices too.

Re: best pedz for killer lead tones

Posted: Fri Feb 14, 2014 9:09 pm
by John Matrix
I've got some good delay goin on and that def helps a lot. I have plenty of gain happening between my pedals and my amp, the hard part is making the lead parts cut in the mix. A clean boost might be what I really need.

Re: best pedz for killer lead tones

Posted: Fri Feb 14, 2014 9:10 pm
by coldbrightsunlight
Casavettes wrote:TAFM
Can totally do that. Also see muffs wit mids! eg LSTR

Re: best pedz for killer lead tones

Posted: Fri Feb 14, 2014 9:13 pm
by Casavettes
John Matrix wrote:I've got some good delay goin on and that def helps a lot. I have plenty of gain happening between my pedals and my amp, the hard part is making the lead parts cut in the mix. A clean boost might be what I really need.
at least for me
when im not cutting through a mix its because of EQ issues and too much gain happening rather than the actual volume
then i boost the insane amount of gain happening and it ends up overpowering everything
unless thats what you're going for!
boost could help too, but figured i'd throw that out there.

Re: best pedz for killer lead tones

Posted: Fri Feb 14, 2014 9:16 pm
by rfurtkamp
Yea, and a lot of those studio-type lead tones (or significantly pro live stuff) is any one or more of: good sound tech/mixing, EQ as mentioned, rest of the band staying out of the way of everything, controlled volume.

The actual pedal can get you there but it's more than that.

An example of what you're looking for would be helpful as well to narrow it down, plus what you're currently using.

Re: best pedz for killer lead tones

Posted: Fri Feb 14, 2014 9:22 pm
by sonidero
friendship wrote:you know what you need don't you

look in your heart

you know it to be true
TS...

Get a Mini-Fuck... :thumb:

Re: best pedz for killer lead tones

Posted: Fri Feb 14, 2014 11:27 pm
by tjlong
on the rare occasion i want to play "rock lead guitar" i.e. overdriven but not fuzzy, that 80s buttery, slightly gritty lead sound with the sustain:
any bridge humbucker > EP Booster (most clean boosts work too, but i like the EP best) > amp with gain and EQ dialed in just right