Sizzling Country Sound

[j_royall]

I have a question, and I'm not even sure how to put this because we're talking about sound here... but I want to get that sizzling, crackling country sound- the kind that almost sounds like metal, only it's not metal, but it's also not just classic overdrive, because that starts to sound too much like a classic rock tone. It's the sound where your telecaster sounds like it's outputting pure crackling electricity. It's not too much, it's not too little. But when done right, it sounds like the end of the world.

Take for example the guitar work on Charlie Robison's "Poor Man's Son" and other songs on that "first" record. OD pedals dont' give me that, distortion pedals don't seem to be the answer, and it can't be all amp!

Anyone know what I'm talking about? Or how to get it??

Thanks,

J.R. Royall
The Hot Rockin' Fonzies
www.myspace.com/hotrockinfonzies

[Jef]

Dr.Z or Vox or other bright el84 amp and a lot of compression

[Guran]

Brand new strings gotta be important.

[j_royall]

I already have a blues JR, which is an el84 amp. I guess then that a compressor is the only thing that stands between sizzling crackling big sound, and the thin, whispy sound I already get out of this amp?

[WickedGTR]

You might check under 'Distorted Rock Sound" and you might get more accurate results.

[do not be afraid]

i don't know... i get it pretty easy, really, without any compression, and with strings as old and icky as i can get 'em! and it is all in the amp, or, rather, how you set the amp. you do need a decent tube amp, or tube amp "emulation", and it has to be pretty gainy in the clean channel (so no Twins!), but, it seems like you've already got that. i don't have a Blues Junior myself, but if i got one, i'd probably start off with settings around this, and go from there:

volume: 6.
treble: 12.
bass: 6.
mids: 9.
master volume: 12.
reverb: 6.

the real "secret" in these settings is the two volume controls: you're (slightly) overdriving the power amp and not the preamp — and no pedal can replicate that (an overdrive will just push the preamp more, and that's what you don't what!) the "EQ" is probably the most variable from guitar to guitar, and amp to amp, so fiddle around with it, and see what works best for you! you basically want it as bright as you can get it without getting ice-picky (the mid control is great for getting extra cut without extra pain!)

i'd probably put some slap-back echo in there (and pretty much any echo works fine for splapback!), but that's about it.

[j_royall]

Originally Posted by WickedGTR

You might check under 'Distorted Rock Sound" and you might get more accurate results.

Not sure what you mean, but I'm actually a fan so please explain! Unless you were just smarting off, in which case FORGET YOU WILSEY! :)

[fierce_carrot]

If you listen really closely to the tone, you just might find that its a very clean one, and just turned up and letting the entire amp do it's thing. AC/DC's tone is pure rock, and yet it's incredibly clean. It's amazing how great a tone you can get with clean sounds, just turned up. Pure killer stuff

[sudancat]

Tube and speaker breakup is what your looking or the Brad Paisley sound.Tube amp,compression pedal and tube screamer pedal.TS pedal pushes the tube amp just a little harder to get it where you want it without having to turn some amps wide open to get that sound. My PV classic 50 on the clean channel needs no TS pedal, but my Twin does.

[octatonic]

I plug into a 1962 fender bassman head with no pedals into a 2x12.
Get the gain to about 5-6 and you get a wonderful glassy tone that is just right for a tele- it is hellishly loud though- the only mod I have made to the the bassman is a 1/2 power switch, which keeps me from being kicked out of bands.
It tends to be quite speaker dependant- 75 celestions don't cut it for me but V30's/greenbacks do just fine.

[WickedGTR]

Originally Posted by j_royall

Not sure what you mean, but I'm actually a fan so please explain! Unless you were just smarting off, in which case FORGET YOU WILSEY! :)

I was alluding to the fact that what used to be regarded as a 'rock' sound is now what passes for 'country' sound.

It's the same thing, but now with a complimentary crunched up cowboy hat on it.

And yes, I was smarting off....

[j_royall]

Well guys, I actually found exactly what I was looking for. After trying out about 8 or 9 pedals, the BBE Green Screamer did me just right. They say it's based on a tubescreamer, but I don't hear that at all. It's very light. You have to crank the gain up to about 6 or 7 before it starts sounding distorted. What that means for me is 6 other levels of slightly crunchy, but still very sparkly sizzle that sounded exactly like the tone in my head. I added a Soul Preacher Compressor to it, and it was all over. Thanks for all the tips!

[Tim73]

Originally Posted by fierce_carrot

If you listen really closely to the tone, you just might find that its a very clean one, and just turned up and letting the entire amp do it's thing. AC/DC's tone is pure rock, and yet it's incredibly clean. It's amazing how great a tone you can get with clean sounds, just turned up. Pure killer stuff

I had an amazing sound off a solid state Fender amp which was set at clean & turned up, so I'd agree with that. Must confess to being a Blues Junior fan now - some interesting points in this thread

[Gunslinger]

I know what you mean by your discription, its the sound (I think*) started with BSM in the late 80s, based on a Tele through a driven Deluxe Reverb, Sparkle drive, bit of compression.

However, I believe if you can play like that, you will sound like that. A lot of it is to do with right hand finesse IMHO.

Oi, you there wilsey!.... stop smarting off, or we'll take away your reverb units!

Scotty

(* I may be wrong)