You Wanted the Best, You Got the Best!

[ClaudeBenjamin]

Now that I have your attention...big Ace Frehley fan and proud owner of a Mid-90s Peavey Classic 50 head. I'm running it through a late 1980's Peavey MS412 cab with celestion speakers. I'm struggling to get the Ace Frehley tone down right (yes, I have the Les Paul with the DiMarzio Super Distortion in the bridge). Any suggestions on settings to get me there or am I simply using the wrong amp to achieve the tone I'm looking for?

[misterdetail]

Big Ace fan here too! Although he's always seen with Marshall El34 tube based amps, Ace has also used Fender tweed amps in the studio. To my ears, his classic lead tones are pretty clean, not distorted. Whether that's from the Marshall or Fenders I'm not sure, but you're not going to want anything really distorted. I read somewhere he set the knobs on his Marshalls all at noon, but that might be folklore. His tone since the '96 Kiss reunion has been much more distorted, too. I prefer the early tone myself. But anyway, you have a great amp but you'll probably need to tweak a lot to match the Ace. Good luck!

[scottp]

I saw Ace on that metal show and it was mentioned he set his eq straight up

[Enzo]

There is a whole lot more to the sound equation than just the amp.

[JamesPaul]

Enzo is spot on. Playing style has a big effect.

[JamesPaul]

Ah yes, here it is:

"It really is about the fingers. All of this stuff helps get you through what you want to do, but I learned that lesson a long time ago when I plugged into Eddie Van Halen’s rig.

“He asked me to play and I couldn’t wait: ‘Finally, I’m going to sound like one of my biggest influences! I’m using his amp, his guitar, there’s no excuse now.’ I was really disappointed when I plugged in; it sounded just like me. I thought, ‘Aha - that’s where it comes from.’ What a disappointment! The dream was over quickly!”

http://www.musicradar.com/news/guitars/ ... urt-609306

[ClaudeBenjamin]

Ah yes, here it is:

"It really is about the fingers. All of this stuff helps get you through what you want to do, but I learned that lesson a long time ago when I plugged into Eddie Van Halen’s rig.

“He asked me to play and I couldn’t wait: ‘Finally, I’m going to sound like one of my biggest influences! I’m using his amp, his guitar, there’s no excuse now.’ I was really disappointed when I plugged in; it sounded just like me. I thought, ‘Aha - that’s where it comes from.’ What a disappointment! The dream was over quickly!”

http://www.musicradar.com/news/guitars/ ... urt-609306

So, you're saying I'm always going to sound lousy no matter what?

[ClaudeBenjamin]

Big Ace fan here too! Although he's always seen with Marshall El34 tube based amps, Ace has also used Fender tweed amps in the studio. To my ears, his classic lead tones are pretty clean, not distorted. Whether that's from the Marshall or Fenders I'm not sure, but you're not going to want anything really distorted. I read somewhere he set the knobs on his Marshalls all at noon, but that might be folklore. His tone since the '96 Kiss reunion has been much more distorted, too. I prefer the early tone myself. But anyway, you have a great amp but you'll probably need to tweak a lot to match the Ace. Good luck!

I've read his EQ settings were always in the middle, which I've always thought was really interesting. I just got the amp back from the shop yesterday, new tubes, bias, resoldered all connections, cleaned the pots..it is one rip, roaring rocking machine for sure. With the Les Paul/Dimarzios and tweaking some settings, it sounds really nice to my ears and since no one else is listening, I guess that's good enough.

[dalrymple]

More is in the fingers than the rig. Clapton playing thru a Rage would still sound like Clapton. Clapton playing through a Crate, Line 6, etc.. would sound just like Clapton. You playing the Badge solo through Clapton's rig would not sound like Clapton.

I play through a Vypyr. Loaded with different tonal palettes allowing you to sound like you have a room full of different amps and effects.
I still sound like me, no matter how much I might try to sound like someone else's tone. The fingers still sound like me. You can get better. You can buy many new amps.

You will always sound like you. If that isn't all that, change it. Practice. Make yourself sound better, not different. Steal from the best to become the best you can be. Learn the fundamentals needed to play well in your ultimate style. Integrate what you steal and make it yours. Then it IS yours.
Dalrymple

[misterdetail]

Playing style is unique to the player, but tone isn't. That's why I can dial in a Van Halen 1 tone on my Vypyr 30 and get in the ballpark tonewise. Obviously not his style or playing, though. So to the OP, don't stop chasing Ace's tone if that's what you're after. Be a tone chaser, as EVH says! It's frustrating but fun.