Brett Garsed Discussion

[ajay_265]

Hey guys,
Would anyone give me some suggestions of what would be the ideal way to EQ an amp to get close to Brett's lead tone on his REH instructional Rock Fusion?I know he was using his Hughes&Kettner Access preamp at that time(with his EMG equipped Steinberger).I really love the tone on that video(and on QPQ).
Unfortunately I can't afford an "all-tube"amp at the moment and will probably be going for a Roland Cube 30X(...I know Blasphemy!!).Any suggestions would be most welcome.I was thinking of using the amp on its own...do you think I'd need an OD/Dist stompbox to complement the lead tone?...thanks
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Its not what you play, but how you play it...

[swampthang]

Hi Ajay, Id recommend getting the MI audio distortion pedal that has been discussed on this forum. Brett uses it exclusively for his tone and uses volume adjustments on the guitar and pickup selections for his other sounds.

[Big Kev]

[bretto212]

Best "bang for buck" option would be the Tube Zone in my opinion. You could run it into pretty much any clean amp and you'll be able to have a good tone. I just took it with me for my clinics in the UK and France and used it quite a few times. I did use a Cornford stack at two of the UK events. It was actually THE amp that Richie Kotzen had at his studio and Guthrie used it to record most of "Erotic Cakes" with.
I had a great currie and far too many fine ales with Guthrie and Paul Cornford on my last night in the UK. What a great bunch of blokes!

[Melodic Dreamer]

[JJW]

The guitar also plays a bloody big part in the tone shaping.My parker with its high tech carbon glass epoxy fretboard sounds (imo)just like Bretts when i use it on my digitech2120 preamps or Pod Pro's.
The pedal Brett uses from time to time i expect will get you close-but to be honest any decent modelling amp should get you the same results
As for the eq'ng-you have to use your ears mate and just dial in the sound that is closest
A lot of the tone comes from brett as well!his hybrid playing with the use of fingers on the picking hand on his runs/arps-hell most licks if you watch him on vid mellow out his runs-but of course the dude can get alternate picking with the best of them for that in your face compressed pick sound.
I think that roland cube thingy should get you close to his REH/Quid tone

[ajay_265]

thanks JJW.I'm sure a lot of it is Brett's hands.There is absolutely no doubt that his tone has significantly changed from the early 90s.I loved his tone on QPQ and the REH video.It become quite "woody" on Exempt and then onwards(dunno if he changed anything on his rig).Any pointers on "clockface" settings for drive,bass,mids&treble??

I'm getting a custom electric guitar made(should get it by May)..dense Swamp Ash body(with brian Moore style contours),bolt-on Mahogany neck with Ebony fingerboard.EMG-85(bridge) and EMG-SA(neck)pickups(ala Brett's Steinberger).Would've considered a graphite neck&board but I think they are very costly and tough to maintain
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Its not what you play, but how you play it...

[JJW]

Actualy the ebony boards are close to the feel of a graphite board unplugged.My Jackson has an ebony board and its a slippery beast that feels compararable to the Fly

seriously if you like a less woody sounding guitar Ajay,then check out the Parker Fly Deluxe in one of your local music shops.The deluxe models have a bright synthetic tone that works surprisingly well,and the onboard elecronics are amazing.great accoustic tone and a bright liquid plastic rock tone.

as for brett tones shaping?perhaps the good man himself can explain his EQ shape at some stage when he gets the time

I tend to drop the treb a bit,wack up the bass,then mid-and adjust the treb for a hint of presence.its good to have a fat tone(in the right settings-if playing thrash metal then the mids go down a lot)but i find having large bass and mids gets a smiling rock tone:)

who is making your custom guitar then?

[stratcat]

Yeah the Parkers are great guitars i have two Nitefly's myself (best electrics i've owned) love to own a deluxe but the old budget wont stretch that far!
Also the tube zone is great but you need to spend a bit of time with it,i found it quite bassy to start with.

[ajay_265]

Hey JJW,
My custom guitar is being built by Bob Johnson of Legra guitars(Leigh-On-Sea,Essex).
www.legraguitars.co.uk

My design has been inspired by Brett's Steinberger(wood pickups),the Brian Moore i8(shape&contours) and the Gibson Les Paul Swamp Ash special(wood choices).
I've opted for a 25"scale length(a la PRS) and a Schaller 455 fixed bridge.
Can't wait!!!
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Its not what you play, but how you play it...

[JJW]

seems like a good builder,i do like his traditional stylings on his models.

what are the prices of his average custom ?had a quick flick on his site and i couldnt see prices

[ajay_265]

I think his customs start at £850-900.
Mine is £1551.00(I initially thought about a Mahogany or Alder body w/flame maple top but that would be £100-200 more.
I'm going for a dense Swamp Ash body with a high gloss polyester paintjob(Pearl Redbusrt like a Petrucci JP6 Musicman).Have asked for Sperzel locking tuners and Brian Moore style headstock(2+4).The external shape&lines of the guitar is totally based on the Brian Moore i8.I've opted for the 25"scale length&medium frets due to my smallish hands
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Its not what you play, but how you play it...

[ilovemusic]

it's not enough to get a good sound IMO, you have to get a sound that fits the way you play...my amp has a 3 band eq and i use economy picking mainly, and the two settings i like are LOW 5 MID 3 HIGH 0
and LOW 0 MID 0 HIGH 2...
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