• From: Rainy Wiltshire, UK
  • Registered: 2011-10-12
  • Posts: 131

Re: EJ Fuzz Face coming next year!

dalandan wrote:
HoosierRock wrote:

I know what you are saying.  I have ran into the same thing with my Butler Tube Driver. I work so hard getting the big violin tone dialed in only to have it get lost in the mix in a two guitar band situation.  But it sure is a fun tone to use solo with a drum machine.

Mids. Mids. Mids. That's the problem I see. If your fuzz or Tube Driver is lost in the mix, especially when there's another guitar player out there, you don't have enough mids in your tone. It may not sound so good when you're playing all alone in your living room or basement but a sound with an "A" shaped EQ will make you stand out.


That's primarily why all of Joe's variable amps have an "A" shaped EQ. The Jub takes care of the bass and treble. It has that rock tone that is perfect for what he does. He adds in a Plexi clone with a mid boost, or any of the two Dumble inspired circuits to hit certain midrange frequencies. That allows him to be heard even if he plays with a dozen guitar players.


+1 on the mids - I used to run an old 1984 (year, not model) Marshall JCM800 head, 50W non MV, 4 input (just like a plexi) with a Fulldrive and a silicon FF for a nice big violin tone. Turned up to band practice all proud of my great tone, and bam - the other guys are saying they can't hear me and to be honest I can't hear myself either. The problem? Too midrangey. I think even Eric himself finds this sometimes, I've heard people who have been to his shows saying his tone was somewhat muffled-sounding. Great on record, but live is a whole different thing....

I run an Earthquaker Devices Chrysalis OD into a Fender HRD now with my Strat...there's no losing that sound in the mix  lol

'What's the use in gettin' sober......when you're gonna get drunk again' - Louis Jordan
Guitars - Gibson VOS R8 LP, Custom built Telecaster w/Bare Knuckle and Duncan pickups, 60's/70's Kay Tulip  (for slide)
Amps n ting -1966 Fender Deluxe Reverb, 1961 Gibson GA30 Invader, Fredric Effects Golden Eagle, Wampler Faux Analog Echo
  • From: York, PA
  • Registered: 2010-08-27
  • Posts: 1,749

Re: EJ Fuzz Face coming next year!

Yeah Mids is always the way to make sure you're heard but Eric is obviously is only competing with a rather flat sounding bass player, so he can get away with having some bottom to his tone.  I always thought most of his stuff was muffled sounding, I like it though.  Even when he was on the G3 tour with Satch and Vai, they are polite enough to back off when each of the others plays a lead.  His tone does vary though and sometimes its sharper than others.

  • From: Rainy Wiltshire, UK
  • Registered: 2011-10-12
  • Posts: 131

Re: EJ Fuzz Face coming next year!

helrazr84 wrote:

Yeah Mids is always the way to make sure you're heard but Eric is obviously is only competing with a rather flat sounding bass player, so he can get away with having some bottom to his tone.  I always thought most of his stuff was muffled sounding, I like it though.  Even when he was on the G3 tour with Satch and Vai, they are polite enough to back off when each of the others plays a lead.  His tone does vary though and sometimes its sharper than others.

Indeed, sometimes when he's using the FF for leads it's a little sharper...also he uses a tone on the 'Live From Austin TX' CD/DVD that I never heard him use before or since that was also quite sharp...he switches between this 'mystery tone' , his sparkly Twin+TC chorus clean tone and his usual thicker-than-a-swamp-of-chocolate Tube Driver tone all through the set...anyone have any idea what that tone is? I'm ruling out the Dumble because I believe he'd stopped using it at that point...

'What's the use in gettin' sober......when you're gonna get drunk again' - Louis Jordan
Guitars - Gibson VOS R8 LP, Custom built Telecaster w/Bare Knuckle and Duncan pickups, 60's/70's Kay Tulip  (for slide)
Amps n ting -1966 Fender Deluxe Reverb, 1961 Gibson GA30 Invader, Fredric Effects Golden Eagle, Wampler Faux Analog Echo
  • Registered: 2009-10-10
  • Posts: 438

Re: EJ Fuzz Face coming next year!

James Davis wrote:
helrazr84 wrote:

Yeah Mids is always the way to make sure you're heard but Eric is obviously is only competing with a rather flat sounding bass player, so he can get away with having some bottom to his tone.  I always thought most of his stuff was muffled sounding, I like it though.  Even when he was on the G3 tour with Satch and Vai, they are polite enough to back off when each of the others plays a lead.  His tone does vary though and sometimes its sharper than others.

Indeed, sometimes when he's using the FF for leads it's a little sharper...also he uses a tone on the 'Live From Austin TX' CD/DVD that I never heard him use before or since that was also quite sharp...he switches between this 'mystery tone' , his sparkly Twin+TC chorus clean tone and his usual thicker-than-a-swamp-of-chocolate Tube Driver tone all through the set...anyone have any idea what that tone is? I'm ruling out the Dumble because I believe he'd stopped using it at that point...

I believe it is the Dumble if I am thinking of the right video.  I am thinking there is a scene or two where he adjusts an amp behind his other amps and it is the Dumble.

  • From: Rainy Wiltshire, UK
  • Registered: 2011-10-12
  • Posts: 131

Re: EJ Fuzz Face coming next year!

Ah ok...actually yes, that would make sense as I believe that show was recorded in '89 or '90...before 'Ah Via Musicom'...so he would have still been using the Dumble. Still prefer the sound he gets from the Marshalls and the Tube Driver though....some 'holy grail' Dumble tones just don't quite do it for me (Robben Ford's 'Talk To Your Daughter' era tone being one of them - ugh)  lol

'What's the use in gettin' sober......when you're gonna get drunk again' - Louis Jordan
Guitars - Gibson VOS R8 LP, Custom built Telecaster w/Bare Knuckle and Duncan pickups, 60's/70's Kay Tulip  (for slide)
Amps n ting -1966 Fender Deluxe Reverb, 1961 Gibson GA30 Invader, Fredric Effects Golden Eagle, Wampler Faux Analog Echo