Great Tone from Vintage Amps (Keep it Simple)

[soundog]

I'm going back to square one to create some meat & potatoes HX Stomp tones for recording. I'm focusing on a few vintage amps (Deluxe Reverb, Princeton, AC30, Matchstick stuff, with associated IRs/Cabs. My goal is simple, consistent, and predictable presets so I can use them all with the same MIDI controller knobs, and tweak tones quickly without much fuss. So:

 

A couple of blocks in front (eg, Wah, OD) ---> Amp/IR or Cab ----> A few blocks after (eg delay, reverb, studio compression). I usually leave all of the "after blocks" out when recording, adding stuff back in during mixing.

 

It can be easy to develop Block-Head Syndrome (paralysis from too many block choices). But tone mostly comes down to getting your guitar, the amp block, and IR/Cab block to work together. While working on this pandemic project, I came across this old Forum thread, and wanted to share it because its turned out to be really useful.

 

 

 

[codamedia]

Amen.... that is a great approach. 

 

I am a firm believer that those who struggle most with the Helix (any modeler for that matter) have failed to develop a core tone they are satisfied with first. They pile effect on top of effect trying to solve problems instead of going back to "Amp > Cab > Mic Choice & distance" to get it right. It all starts there! 

 

I look at it this way. You wouldn't set up an amp in your room then try to fix the tone with pedals. You would get the amp RIGHT, then sweeten it with pedals.

[DunedinDragon]

3 hours ago, codamedia said:

I am a firm believer that those who struggle most with the Helix (any modeler for that matter) have failed to develop a core tone they are satisfied with first. They pile effect on top of effect trying to solve problems instead of going back to "Amp > Cab > Mic Choice & distance" to get it right. It all starts there! 

 

I look at it this way. You wouldn't set up an amp in your room then try to fix the tone with pedals. You would get the amp RIGHT, then sweeten it with pedals.

...or worse yet...trying to solve every problem with EQ.  Try going to the basics first (amp/cab/mic/mic positions)...then see if you REALLY need all the EQ you've been dialing in.

[amsdenj]

All very good advice. For me the complexity of my patches isn't in the basic tone, but in the effects I use to cover a broad range of song needs. The essential tone is pretty simple, which provide a basis for building the required flexibility to fit the songs.