| Author |
Topic: Gfi expo tone chasing suggestions? |
Daniel McCombe
From:
Pennsylvania, USA
|
Posted 3 Mar 2014 7:22 am |
|
Hey everyone I'm trying to find the right direction in getting a better tone. I wanted some advice before I go spending the little money I have. Here's my rig; gfi expo with alumnitone pu, to Goodrich to analog man compressor (helped with tone) to Mesa boogie nomad 55 tube amp. Would the black box help much for adding headroom. I have a Goodrich matchbox with a new 9v almost does nothing at all except give me a tone and volume control. What about a di or preamps? Do I need more headroom and if so, what's the best and most affordable way to do it?
Thanks
Dan |
|
|
|
Billy McCombs
From:
Bakersfield California, USA
|
Posted 3 Mar 2014 7:40 am
|
|
You're using a Tube Amp so you don't need a Black Box. Get your self a Lil Izzy.
_________________
78 Emmons PP,Great tone.82 Emmons SKH #56 |
|
|
|
Jack Stoner
From:
Kansas City, MO
|
Posted 3 Mar 2014 7:48 am
|
|
| I've seen good and bad reports about the alumitone pickup. My wife has a GFI Expo S-10 and it has the stock pickup on it, a GFI II which is basically a George L's E-66 pickup. Properly setup amp and her GFI sounds very good. I've even used it on a recording session instead of unpacking my Franklin and using it. |
|
|
|
Lane Gray
From:
Topeka, KS
|
Posted 3 Mar 2014 7:50 am
|
|
Also, what are your settings on the Boogie?
And the pickup is pretty hot, it might be getting distortion from the input stage
_________________
2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects |
|
|
|
Mike Perlowin
From:
Los Angeles CA
|
Posted 3 Mar 2014 7:58 am
|
|
Your problem might be that various controls on your amp aren't set up for the best steel tone. Before you buy anything, have a friend twiddle with your settings while you play.
_________________
Please visit my web site and Soundcloud page and listen to the music posted there.
http://www.mikeperlowin.com http://soundcloud.com/mike-perlowin |
|
|
|
Daniel McCombe
From:
Pennsylvania, USA
|
Posted 3 Mar 2014 8:04 am
|
|
| Billy first things first you gotta a great last name. The ill izzy is similar to a matchbox? My matchbox does nothing to help the tone actually gonna unload it soon. To me it's just a 9v eating deadweight. To the other yes I've tried all tonal configurations on the amp. I still have the gfi 11 pickup but have head mixed reviews of it. I need more sparkle and less lows/mids. The expo seems to be probe to have that bass heavy sound not like a carter I had which had much glassier and warmer highs. |
|
|
|
Mike Wheeler
From:
Delaware, Ohio, USA
|
Posted 3 Mar 2014 8:45 am
|
|
I think you might want to pull that compressor out of the loop. I would start with using just the guitar directly into the amp, then play with the amp controls, and pickup height, to find the settings that get you closest to your desired tone. After that, add in the volume pedal to see how it affects things.
The Alumitone pickup will get you closest to a glassy high end. The only other variable is your amp (and possibly the VP). Could you try another amp? Maybe attend a jam where other pickers' amps are available, and try a few. Maybe even have a couple good pickers play your guitar and offer suggestions. Or maybe have them play through your amp to see how it sounds with their guitar.
Different guitars will sound different when using the same amp setup. That's why there are lots of varying opinions about what equipment sounds best. A given guitar may require a different amp to bring out it's best qualities.
_________________
Best regards,
Mike |
|
|
|
Mike Perlowin
From:
Los Angeles CA
|
|
|
|
Jack Hargraves
From:
Missouri, USA
|
Posted 3 Mar 2014 9:26 am Gfi
|
|
I have a GFI Expo SD-10 with the stock GFI-11 pick up, and It seems to work out well for me with my Peavey Deuce or my Crate 30. I just go from the steel to my volume pedal, to a Deltafex for a little delay to the amp. I had to experiment with my amp settings with some help from the guys on the Forum.
_________________
GFI Expo SD10, Nashville 112, Steelers choice Pak-a- seat, Carter vol. pedal, Stage one vol. pedal, Peavey Deltafex. Goodrich volume pedal. |
|
|
|
Donny Hinson
From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
|
Posted 3 Mar 2014 9:39 am
|
|
If you're using a powered volume pedal, matching devices won't help much. They're mainly designed to isolate your pickup from a pot pedal so the pickup sees a fixed (high) impedance.
My first suggestion would be to ditch the gizmos, lower your mids, and turn the amp up...way up! I suspect you're overdriving the amp, and that's causing distortion. Lose the compressor (it's robbing you of dynamics). The volume pedal is all the compressor you need.  |
|
|
|
Lane Gray
From:
Topeka, KS
|
Posted 3 Mar 2014 9:58 am
|
|
An Izzy on the output of the volume pedal could help restore tone suck from the cable.
Otherwise, I'd listen to Donny. He's pretty hip.
_________________
2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects |
|
|
|
