What's everyone using for their lead tones?

Brit Silver with the gain up is awesome. Dynamic, and works well over any style of music. If I want something a little shreddier, HBE or either FAS Lead.
 
Assuming you mean gainy lead, a glance over my presets shows:

Shiver LD
CA3+ Lead
Brit Pre
Friedman BE with a tube screamer
 
Comp(slight) - USA IIC+ BRT/DP - FCab 100(NON-URes) - Reverb w/HQ setting - guitar volume 3-ish
 
An EQ with the "upside-down smiley" on the end of the grid, and/or the same thing with a significant level boost before the amp, mimicking the Tubescreamer lo- and hi-cut. A nice kick around 800hz before the amp!
 
Might be because my previous rig was centered around a TriAxis, but I really like the smooth and liquid sound of the USA Pre LD2 Grn and the USA Pre LD2 Ylw.
 
I can't say this enough: learn how to properly use an EQ and a compressor and ANY sound can become a lead tone! Have fun with your axeFxII!!


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 
Misfit74 said:
Can you 'time' effects/scene changes for specified durations ahead of time for during live playing of a song, or is a midi foot controller mandatory for this?
Click to expand...
Timing your tone changes would be a recipe for disaster in a live situation. If the band plays the song at a tempo that's off by even a tiny fraction, your tone changes will be off.

But you can use a computer to send MIDI commands to your Axe-Fx at the proper times, provided the band is playing to a click track generated by the computer.
 
Most often an Soldano SLO preset. I have presets using the 59 Plexi and 5150 amps for certain songs. I have a null filter for a boost on every preset in case I just want a louder vesion of what I am already playing for a solo sound (clean solos, etc). For pedals, I have found the Eternal Love pedal in front of the Maz 38 makes a great mid gain tone, I use it for Eagles style stuff.
 
HBE about 90% of the time for "gainy" leads since FW6 or whenever it came out. I have been using the JVM, AFD, 5153 Reds occasionally. There's just something creamily good about the HBE that suits my ears. I have run it through an atomic reactor, JBL 515s, and for the last 6 months or so Focal monitors for the FRFR and fxlooped to a port city 212OS (dry with just the head usually). It always sounds good no matter what I run it through.
 
5153Red… screams

I also like to mess with a MkIIC with the MV post PI.. cos it goes nuts..
the JCM800 also goes nuts with the same mod
 
  • Like
Reactions: J.C
How many of you non-metal players rely on the characteristics of the amp distortion vs. using a relatively clean amp sound with a drive pedal in front? I mostly play clean or close-to-breakup type sounds for classic rock or countryish stuff, no AC-DC or heavier stuff. I have better luck for what I'm after, using the drive pedals rather than making tones that rely on the amp for most or all of the distortion when I want a lead tone. For a mostly clean tone, I get those with no drive, just rely on the amp settings.
 
Last edited:
6stringscott said:
How many of you non-metal players rely on the characteristics of the amp distortion vs. using a relatively clean amp sound with a drive pedal in front? I mostly play clean or close-to-breakup type sounds for classic rock or countryish stuff, no AC-DC or heavier stuff. I have better luck for what I'm after, using the drive pedals rather than making tones that rely on the amp for most or all of the distortion when I want a lead tone. For a mostly clean tone, I get those with no drive, just rely on the amp settings.
Click to expand...
For me, even though I don't record much non-metal, it really depends on the amp and the song. Both options are great, but it just boils down to what's best for the mix.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom