How do I cut through 5 guitars?

[JeradP]

Have them all plug into one power strip and "accidentally" turn it off come solo time... ;)

Electro HArmonix's Linear Power Booster is a nice boost pedal.

[Agitator]

Chainsaw.

[bigben55]

I play at a local blues jam every week and often there's 3-4 guitars and either a sax or a harmonica player up there at once. I've never had an issue being heard. All 3-4 amps are quatity 18 watters and are are dimed. No pedals. Everyone just turns the guitar volume down for rhythm and cranks it for their solos. If that don't work, tele+bridge pickup+hard pick attack will get you heard. The only problem would be if the other amps overpowered the one you plug into. Or if the other guys just don't understand picking dynamics at all.

[slapshot]

chainsaw?

[jazztele]

Originally Posted by bigben55

All 3-4 amps are quatity 18 watters and are are dimed.

Is it a good jam?

Sorry.

IS IT A GOOD JAM?

[Impulse]

Originally Posted by slapshot

chainsaw?

Bingo.

[vedt]

Thanks for the suggestions. A couple of comments:

1. Playing a Tele into a Blues Jr., using the bridge pickup.

2. For the rhythm section, I'm using my FD2 only, with the guitar volume rolled back to about 7, and then I turn it up to 10 for the solo.

3. For solo time, instead of hitting the OCD with high gain, I'm going to take your advice and roll the gain back a bit on the OCD, but turn the volume up. I think the clean(er) tone should hopefully push through.

4. The biggest problem is that all 5 guitarists are trying to overpower each other, so I'm not sure I'm going to get them to back off for solo time. Nobody else is playing a Tele, so I guess I've got that going for me (they're playing LP's, and semi-hollow body Gibson's & Epi's).

5. If I could, I would use a more standard clean boost (Micro Amp, LPB-1). But, mine is currently being hand-made by the fine folks at JHS Pedals and hasn't yet shipped. I'm hopefully going to have it before gig time.

I have a few weeks of rehearsal to try this out, so...

[sax4blues]

What everyone said AND....

Position your amp so it is directed straight at the ears of the people you want to hear you. Make sure there is no obstruction (including you) between the audience and the amp. When in doubt, a little higher is better than lower.

[HonenShonin]

Half-cocked wah! Choose the most unoccupied frequency with your foot.

It pains me to hear that there will be so many guitarists playing at once. In my experience, three is always too many, two is frequently too many, and one is just about right most of the time. :)

[Jupiter]

I'd like to hear the story of how there got to be 6 guitars in this short set!

[garyd5158]

I'm not sure what he means but, Carlos Santana says when he is playing with several others guitarists, he zigs when they zag and he plays down if they are playing up.

[driver8]

Get an EQ and boost the mids liberally and the gain as needed. I don't think the OCD will help much to cut through if you're using it for OD. Stick with the FD2, but use the vintage mode, not flat mids.

Just read your other post - those semi hollows could provide some tough competition. Boosting the mids alone is probably not going to be enough - you're probably going to need even more volume on top of EQing/boosting. Looks like earplugs might be the best investment for this gig.

[Tim Armstrong]

Have you considered talking to the other guys about maybe backing off a touch during your solos?

Tim

[Colt W. Knight]

You could do it like a bluegrass show, and just use one mic. Everybody takes turns. hehe

[aunchaki]

Originally Posted by Tim Armstrong

Have you considered talking to the other guys about maybe backing off a touch during your solos?

GASP!

[Thin69]

I am with the camp that recommends less distortion or gain to help cut through the mix. Five guitars though!! Good luck brother! Can't beat a Tele bridge to take to battle but it would be nice if your fellows would back down a beat. This sounds like a case of tinnitus on the way, be careful.

[Tim Armstrong]

Originally Posted by aunchaki

GASP!

Tim

[schenkadere]

just play better than the rest of them.

[Ragtime Dan]

Use a slide and go an octave above them, like Greg Allman.

[donh]

gas axe!