• Registered: 2007-04-19
  • Posts: 24

Topic: Recommended Tone Generators- R8 Gibson Les Paul w/Marshall Bluesbreak

As the topic states I have an R8 Gibson Les Paul and a Marshall Bluesbreak.

I get a really good sound out of this combo. Nice and articulate notes.

I have a dozen pedals that I currently use since I can't crank the amp where I live.

Without disclosing what I already have I am interested in getting your recommendations for pedals and attenuators that are pretty transparent. 

I really want my Les Paul to sound like a Les Paul when I hit that pedal!

To quote Eric Johnson. not word for word but.   "I like effect pedals that leave the guitar tone intact but not necessary the best for their effect type." If I remeber correctly he was talking about a compressor / sustainer. 

The typical Blues break up, a warmer classic rock, an edgy hard rock and some percussive metal tones.

Besides Mr. Bonamassa's tone I am also looking to get close to Buckcherry's sound from their "15" album.

Thanks in advance

On a side note - a longtime fan of Joe.   Purchased Bloodline when it came out.

I wondered what had happened to the band or that guitar player. Well getting ready for work one day, a morning show had a piece on Joe and his first solo album. His manager was saying he was the ten year veteran that no one had heard of, yet. Boy he was right!

2 Reply by stratpaulguy86 (edited by stratpaulguy86 2009-03-27 22:16:47)

  • From: Florida, USA
  • Registered: 2008-06-04
  • Posts: 1,420

Re: Recommended Tone Generators- R8 Gibson Les Paul w/Marshall Bluesbreak

You probably have all the pedals you need if you have "a dozen"of them.  That being said, for a "Joe type" tone an overdrive, reverb, delay, and maybe a chorus would be recommended.  Don't forget, a lot of Joe's sound is because he uses more than one amp at the same time, so possibly getting another combo FIRST before dropping hundreds on pedals would be a better way to go.  I'd possibly humor the idea of getting a Budda Superdrive 30 combo to go with your Bluesbreaker.  That would cover Joe and Buckcherry (they use them).  As far as overdrives go, I recommend the TS808 RI, Fulltone Fulldrive II, and Fulltone OCD.  You don't have to get fancy for delay, a Boss DD3 will do the job (Joe's #1 choice for delay).  Some nice attenuators are the THD Hotplate (Joe uses one for his low watt home rig), the Ultimate Attenuator (probably the most transpartent but UBER bucks), and the Weber Mass Unit.  I own the Weber Mass and thinks it's fantastic, it allows me to finally crank my Vintage Bassman at whisper volumes.  Keep in mind that it may be hard to get the two tones you described from the same rig.  Joe's tone is very midrange-focused while Buckcherry is more hard rock slightly midrange-scooped.  Good luck on your tone quest I hope this helps!

'67 and '74 Fender Twin Reverbs, '74 Marshall 1987 lead mkII, Metro Superlead 100. Pedals from TC Electronic, Ibanez, Dunlop, BK Butler, Electro-Harmonix, Fulltone, Maestro/Gibson, Loopmaster switching, VoodooLab, Boss. Gibson and Fender guitars, Dimarzio pickups.
  • From: North Carolina
  • Registered: 2008-10-26
  • Posts: 2,926

Re: Recommended Tone Generators- R8 Gibson Les Paul w/Marshall Bluesbreak

How about a nice Range Master Treble boost pedal.  You'll then have the guitar the amp and the pedal Clapton used during the Bluesbreakers beano album.

AD3THREE's Website

  • From: Detroit
  • Registered: 2006-06-02
  • Posts: 5,807

Re: Recommended Tone Generators- R8 Gibson Les Paul w/Marshall Bluesbreak

as long as that amp is turned down, you'll never get the full sound out of it. Crank it up!

- Nic from Detroit... posting on JB's Forum since 6-2-2006
Ask me about my handwound Great Lakes Guitar Pickups
Since 2010, Bonamassa fans have taken advantage of my JB friend discount = my cost + shipping. cool
  • From: Was NY now FL/GA line
  • Registered: 2007-12-16
  • Posts: 2,855

Re: Recommended Tone Generators- R8 Gibson Les Paul w/Marshall Bluesbreak

I would recommend a Tube Driver and a TS-808 preferably a Keeley modded.

  • From: Vilnius / Lithuania / Europe
  • Registered: 2009-03-16
  • Posts: 35

Re: Recommended Tone Generators- R8 Gibson Les Paul w/Marshall Bluesbreak

also you may consider some other TubeScreamer based variations, e.g. Lovekraft Mojo Drive - I've got one for cheap secondhand and now its my main thing, does everything what you may possibly need.

Rock.This.Planet!

Siaip Ciuvas's Website

7 Reply by Dragonsoni (edited by Dragonsoni 2009-04-01 00:15:54)

  • Registered: 2007-04-19
  • Posts: 24

Re: Recommended Tone Generators- R8 Gibson Les Paul w/Marshall Bluesbreak

Great replys. Thanks!

I just got a BBE Freq Boost ordered (circuit board version of a treble booster)- great deal worth a shot.

Also I was checking threads on the Vintage Amp BB and there was pretty interesting suggestion.

Since the Bluebreaker is a 4 hole amp the channels can be blended with a jumper cable. They recommended running the guitar straight into the amp and instead of a short jumper cable to the next channnel for blending, adding the effects then into the sencond channel. Kind of a psuedo effect loop.

I was thinking I could be able to run my dirt pedals from the guitar to smack the preamp without reverb or delays in the way and then adding the reverb and delay in this jumper loop.

I understand distortion will come out into the jumper and still hit the effects but an Overdrive and Treble Booster should work better with the reverb and delay out of the way initially.

Thoughts?

8 Reply by stratpaulguy86 (edited by stratpaulguy86 2009-03-31 02:32:49)

  • From: Florida, USA
  • Registered: 2008-06-04
  • Posts: 1,420

Re: Recommended Tone Generators- R8 Gibson Les Paul w/Marshall Bluesbreak

They do make external effects loops that you can easily fit on to a pedal board http://www.tonebone.com/re-bigshot-efx.htm
I think that would be more practical and probably have a better overall sound.

'67 and '74 Fender Twin Reverbs, '74 Marshall 1987 lead mkII, Metro Superlead 100. Pedals from TC Electronic, Ibanez, Dunlop, BK Butler, Electro-Harmonix, Fulltone, Maestro/Gibson, Loopmaster switching, VoodooLab, Boss. Gibson and Fender guitars, Dimarzio pickups.
  • Registered: 2007-04-19
  • Posts: 24

Re: Recommended Tone Generators- R8 Gibson Les Paul w/Marshall Bluesbreak

AD3THREE wrote:

How about a nice Range Master Treble boost pedal.  You'll then have the guitar the amp and the pedal Clapton used during the Bluesbreakers beano album.



The BBE Freq Boost - Treble Booster did the trick.

Even through a Boss DD-6 delay and a Boss RV-5 reverb.

Using it to Boost a MI Audio Crunch Box V2 and a Fulltone OCD V3 also provided better than expected results!

This also matched well to my Vox AC30CC1.

I will still check the effect looping pedals - to set each amp up with a dedicated chain of effects. But right now I don't need the volume or the textures.

This is great to place to hang out and it does honor an awesome musician Mr. Bonamassa.

Thanks again for all of the great advice.