New gear (ps. Peter is right)

[Osceana]

I just got a new amp (a Fender Bassman 10- the greatest sounding amp i've ever heard, aside from maybe the Diezel [see "Stand Inside Your Love"]) and i bought some effects for it. The only effects i reguarly use are reverb, delay, and, of course, distortion. So i tried out the Electro Harmonix Stereo Memory Man (it came highly recommended from a good friend of mine) and a Electro Harmonix USA Big Muff Pi. Long story short: horrible pedals.

I've heard the Memory Man lauded as if it were sent straight from Heaven. It's pretty horrible to me. The delay isn't long enough and there's this consistent feedback from the pedal itself that you can't seem to get rid of. So i sold that on eBay. The Big Muff Pi actually sounds good- but not when i use it. I bought it because i heard that it was a modded version of the Creamy Dreamer pedal which was used on "Siamese Dream". There's absolutely no high end while playing chords. For me that's bad because i play a lot with my pinky and so i need that high end.

Anyway, i won't bore everyone.... I went back to my tried and trues: Boss. I got a Boss Metal Zone (MT-2) distortion pedal which is the best distortion i've heard (again, aside from the stock distortion on the Diezel). It's not muddy or too fuzzy or too treble-y. It's just right. I'm getting a Boss Reverb/Delay (RV-3)- amazing pedals. Stereoed out to two different amps, one using stock tremolo, it sounds INSANELY good. Try it out kids.

Also, if you're looking for a good vocal mic, believe Pete, go with the Audio Technica 3035- it's phenomenal.

Does anyone else think that EH is just living in the past with flaccid effects? Maybe it's just me....

[Six Ways]

Ok, muff tips: I would try boosting the treble on the amp and cutting the mids a lot, gets a lot closer to the siamese dream sound, plus have the tone knob quite far up. I think the creamy dreamer also chunks up the bottom end somehow, cos I've never been quite able to get that siamese dream sound with EQs etc.

As for the memory man, Idunno, I never used it, but there must be something to be done about the feedback, cos if everyone had it, no-one would like it (and a helluva lotta people do).

[Six Ways]

Oh, also, DO NOT USE A BIG MUFF IN YOUR EFFECTS LOOP!!! It kills the sound something awful. If it is in the loop, try it in front and be amazed.

[Fab]

Wasn't the Creamy Dreamer a modded big muff, not the other way round? Also, didn't they not use Creamy Dreamers on Siamese Dream on account of them not being invented yet?

[Osceana]

Originally posted by Fab
Wasn't the Creamy Dreamer a modded big muff, not the other way round? Also, didn't they not use Creamy Dreamers on Siamese Dream on account of them not being invented yet?

Yes, that's what i meant, the Creamy Dreamer is a mod of the Big Muff. Sorry. And you are correct again, the Dreamer didn't come out until about '99, but, again, technically you could say it was used on SD since it's practically the same pedal (i've read schematic comparisons that prove it's pretty much the exact same pedal- a tad more gain is the only difference.)

[Wiggy]

The dreamer was a rip from the black russian muffs.

[spguitar]

Please say you have an EQ after the Metal Zone. Everyone i've heard using one live sounded like: SSSSSSSSSSSSsssssssssssssSSSSSSSSSSS
I also have one that i never use :(

[Six Ways]

Hey bitch! Did you try my suggestions? YOU BETTER HAVE DONE!

Pwntd.

[hurdy gurdy mann]

Originally posted by Osceana

Does anyone else think that EH is just living in the past with flaccid effects?

no. i love the memory man. it sounds to me like you aren't much of an analog delay type of person. i like the big muff, but like any other distortion/overdrive pedal, i think it sounds like shit on chords. i only like pedals for single note stuff, unless its a tube pedal. its true that mr corgan used the big muff on SD, but he also used it in front of an overdriven marshall, and most the rhythm tracks were quadrupled tracked, which will sound drastically different than anything you can do in real time.

i don't think eh is the ultimate pedal company, but i do think they have some cool stuff.

[Osceana]

Originally posted by Six Ways
Hey bitch! Did you try my suggestions? YOU BETTER HAVE DONE!

Pwntd.

I couldn't, sorry. It's already been sold. I don't use an EQ after my MT-2, although i've been considering it, just because i like the idea of using EQs. I don't really need to. I've actually achieved a very "Sometimes" (My Bloody Valentine) kind of sound that i love. It sustains all the right notes too. It sounds like an overdriven classical guitar, which is what i've been looking for.

[Osceana]

Originally posted by hurdy gurdy mann
no. i love the memory man. it sounds to me like you aren't much of an analog delay type of person. i like the big muff, but like any other distortion/overdrive pedal, i think it sounds like shit on chords. i only like pedals for single note stuff, unless its a tube pedal. its true that mr corgan used the big muff on SD, but he also used it in front of an overdriven marshall, and most the rhythm tracks were quadrupled tracked, which will sound drastically different than anything you can do in real time.

i don't think eh is the ultimate pedal company, but i do think they have some cool stuff.

Very good reply. Very informative.

[hurdy gurdy mann]

Originally posted by Six Ways
Oh, also, DO NOT USE A BIG MUFF IN YOUR EFFECTS LOOP!!! It kills the sound something awful. If it is in the loop, try it in front and be amazed.

the same can be said for about any distortion pedal. effects loops work better for delays, phasers, chorus, flangers, etc. gain driven effects like wah's and distortions sound better in front of the amp.

[sad machines]

The Big Muff Pi is a great pedal but it is not very versitile. It all depends on how you play when you use it. When I first tried it, I thought it was terrible and I couldn't believe that it was the "secret" to the Siamese Dream sound. But eventually I learned how to play in order to get the best out of it. Now it is probably my favorite pedal.

But as soon as my friends and I start dicking around with a Metallica tune or something, you can bet I would never try to use the Muff. It is pretty terrible for metal and "intricate" kind of playing.

[Six Ways]

Hurdy Gurdy man - Yeah, but not to the same extent.

Sad Machines - I generally use it with a helluva lotta eq-ing. Not just my amp eq either, I mean a real rackmount. I think personally the secret is basically cut the 1K. You can give the bass end more beef too, and bring out the fuzz at the top, but for instant gratification I cut the 1K. Sounds like it's a bit extreme, but it actually sounds great.

[Fab]

i think we should buy some line selectors for using the eq and muff with, because i don't want to kill the clean tone... i don't know why i dopn't email this because no one else care but shut up/

[Six Ways]

Are you drunik? Or rather, by the time you read this, were you drunik?

[Peter]

WHEN'S UR ALBUM COMING OUT U GUYZ??

[Fab]

Originally posted by Six Ways
Are you drunik? Or rather, by the time you read this, were you drunik? i was, yes.

Peter, I can't tell if you're being a breast or not.

[Peter]

Originally posted by Fab
i was, yes.

Peter, I can't tell if you're being a breast or not.

No, seriously. I want to hear it.

[Fab]

oh, ok then. we don't have one, we're not planning on recording one any time soon, either. at the moment we have one EP that we're going to sell at gigs. then we're going to record some more EPs in the new year.

[Six Ways]

I think it's whoring time, Franko.

www.myspace.com/thepeppermintandroids

We'll soon-ishly be doing a real website, but that's not done yet.

EDIT: BTW, that was not for Peter's sake, I'm not retarded, I know he's on our myspace. It's for everyone else. So go there, bitches! Also, note that we DO have more songs than that, we just dont wanna put em all up at once.

[revgoozen]

Originally posted by Osceana
"Sometimes" (My Bloody Valentine) kind of sound that i love. KS used a fender blender on that, i believe... although, some people might scoff, i'm a fan of the ibanez ts-9... it's an extremely effective distortion pedal. the m2 sounds too processed for my liking (i also found it to be a little noisy), but i like boss pedals in general.

[revgoozen]

Originally posted by hurdy gurdy mann
the same can be said for about any distortion pedal. effects loops work better for delays, phasers, chorus, flangers, etc. gain driven effects like wah's and distortions sound better in front of the amp.

rightly said.

[Peter]

I always find it odd when I go to shows and the guitarist is standing in front of a huge Marshall 4x12 with a JMP900 head and plugging his guitar into a distortion box. I just want to grab him by the neck and scream, "WHAT?! THE MARSHALL DISTORTION ISN'T GOOD ENOUGH FOR YOU??!!"

Seriously, people. Marshall distortion cranked to 11 is the bollocks.

[sad machines]

I've been reading a debate about amp vs. pedal distortion at another forum. It seems to me that it's pretty split. The people who love classic rock, metal, blues, etc., will always argue for amp distortion. The people who like indy, alternative, progressive, will argue for pedals.

Personally, I side with pedals. Not because I think they are "superior", but I like the originality of them. Most everyone who plays a Marshall sounds like they are playing a Marshall.

[revgoozen]

Originally posted by Peter
I always find it odd when I go to shows and the guitarist is standing in front of a huge Marshall 4x12 with a JMP900 head and plugging his guitar into a distortion box. I just want to grab him by the neck and scream, "WHAT?! THE MARSHALL DISTORTION ISN'T GOOD ENOUGH FOR YOU??!!"

Seriously, people. Marshall distortion cranked to 11 is the bollocks.

it depends on the venue. when my band was playing in chicago, i never got to turn my dinky 2X12 fender deville above 5 which was not really loud enough to produce natural distortion. i remember taking this cool class a hiwatt amp to thurstons in chicago and the sound guy just losing it, because the thing only had two options - really loud and really soft...

i mean, if you are at the double door or the metro, i can see you being able to crank a marshall, but at the hideout, empty bottle, beat kitchen, etc... i don't think it's reasonable.

[revgoozen]

Originally posted by sad machines
I've been reading a debate about amp vs. pedal distortion at another forum. It seems to me that it's pretty split. The people who love classic rock, metal, blues, etc., will always argue for amp distortion.

really? i guess i've noticed this in the case of blues players, but when i think metal, i either think of high school kids with those horrible digitech pedal boards or of arena rockers with a shitload of rackmounted gear.

Originally posted by sad machines

The people who like indy, alternative, progressive, will argue for pedals.

Personally, I side with pedals. Not because I think they are "superior", but I like the originality of them. Most everyone who plays a Marshall sounds like they are playing a Marshall.

again, i think it depends on the band. generally speaking, i'd say that most bands date themselves with the overuse of effects. whether you like siamese dream or not, there's no getting around the fact that it sounds like something that came out of the 90's...

[hurdy gurdy mann]

Originally posted by revgoozen
it depends on the venue. when my band was playing in chicago, i never got to turn my dinky 2X12 fender deville above 5 which was not really loud enough to produce natural distortion. i remember taking this cool class a hiwatt amp to thurstons in chicago and the sound guy just losing it, because the thing only had two options - really loud and really soft...

i mean, if you are at the double door or the metro, i can see you being able to crank a marshall, but at the hideout, empty bottle, beat kitchen, etc... i don't think it's reasonable.

you just need one of these!! (http://www.thdelectronics.com/products/hotplate.htm)

i can't pimp these things enough. they're pricey but well worth it. i use one and it is awesome to be able to crank my amp and still have it at a reasonable volume.

[hurdy gurdy mann]

Originally posted by Peter
I always find it odd when I go to shows and the guitarist is standing in front of a huge Marshall 4x12 with a JMP900 head and plugging his guitar into a distortion box. I just want to grab him by the neck and scream, "WHAT?! THE MARSHALL DISTORTION ISN'T GOOD ENOUGH FOR YOU??!!"

Seriously, people. Marshall distortion cranked to 11 is the bollocks.

here's one for you, peter. this guy in a local band in my neck of the woods had a VHT half stack and used a big muff for his dirty parts. didn't use anything but the clean channel. why even fucking bother? he now has a ac-30. not just any ac-30, but some stupid limited edition blonde tolex thing and he USES A BOSS METAL ZONE WITH IT. a boss metal zone with an ac-30!!

[Peter]

Originally posted by hurdy gurdy mann
here's one for you, peter. this guy in a local band in my neck of the woods had a VHT half stack and used a big muff for his dirty parts. didn't use anything but the clean channel. why even fucking bother? he now has a ac-30. not just any ac-30, but some stupid limited edition blonde tolex thing and he USES A BOSS METAL ZONE WITH IT. a boss metal zone with an ac-30!!

the guitar gods will send this guy to hell, so I'm not worried about it. But that is COMPLETELY ridiculous. And as far as "people who use marshall distortion sound like they're using marshall distortion" goes, well...YEAH. but marshall distortion sounds FUCKING AWESOME. It can be super heavy or more crunchy but it always keeps the guitar sounding articulate. Not like some pedals that just make it sound all fuzzy and poopy.

[hurdy gurdy mann]

Originally posted by Peter
as far as "people who use marshall distortion sound like they're using marshall distortion" goes, well...YEAH. but marshall distortion sounds FUCKING AWESOME.

exactly. there's a reason so many people use marshalls.

oh yeah, peter, that band i was talking about, they're actually from seattle. the guy was in a band in redding for a while, though. ever heard of the myriad?

[Peter]

Originally posted by hurdy gurdy mann
exactly. there's a reason so many people use marshalls.

oh yeah, peter, that band i was talking about, they're actually from seattle. the guy was in a band in redding for a while, though. ever heard of the myriad?

can't say that I've ever heard of myriad.

[(sniff)]

if you want nice distortion, Ibanez stomp boxes are king. They have repeatedly won awards for 'distortion box of the year' and such. I have the Ibanez SM7 tube screamer, and it is a great pedal. Rated the number one distortion pedal of the year in 2004. Ibanez's pedals are all metal construction, super high quality, and have a sound you cant beat. And the price is nice too....definitely beats Boss in all aspects of playing.

[Fab]

you didn't mention your store in that post!

[(sniff)]

haha, sorry....

we sell Ibanez stomp boxes, as well as boss ones at my store