Hi guys,
I started playing the guitar a while ago and have thusfar been playing with a clean sound. Due to wanting to play with headphones I got myself a Digitech RP1000 effect pedal. After playing for a while I found out it's pretty undoable to start off playing with headphones if you suck, so I got myself a small amp for home practice (Laney Cub 10).
I've been playing with clean sound as I said, and mostly "acoustic" songs so to speak, because I have no clue which effects do what and which song uses something. This thing has a retarded amount of effects built in, so is there anywhere you can find what you need to enable to get the right sound for a song? For example: "Are you gonna go my way" requires overdrive, distortion or something like that? I could always ask on the forum I guess but that'd be quite annoying for people always having to answer (was looking for "Are you gonna go my way" and "You give love a bad name).
I have:
- Guitar: Yamaha Pacifica (PAC 112J)
- Amp: Laney Cub 10
- Effects Pedal: Digitech RP 1000 ( http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/DigiTech-RP1000-Guitar-Multi-Effects-Pedal-with-Integrated-Switching?sku=150613 )
remember, with effects, less is more.
to understand effects and what goes with what I would start with a note pad and pen. jot down the effect name and any dials moved in tuning in a sound. that way you have reference for when you do discover an effect and setting. it is very easy to get lost when working with a multi effect pedal.
what effect for what song? in my mind that is very subjective, unless you are going for the exact sound on a CD. that is a tall order actually, because we have no clear idea what was done in the studio. we can come close.
there is a site on line that describes what each effect does; ie, flanger, overdrive, chorus, etc.
lastly, effects can be great, but they can quickly destroy a guitar's sound turning it to mud.
less is more.
Some guitar magazines publish effect settings along with alternate tunings and tabs in the five or so songs they feature every issue. It is becoming their niche although I suppose it won't be long before the Tab sites pick up on that service and start adding it as they have with the built in key transposers.
