Hmmmmm....im not sure I do any of those things.
In this new band (we are a 6 piece now) i have a certain tone i have developed over time that i use 100% of the time. We are a hard rock band. The "cleanest" song we play is 'Rock Me' by Great White.
I'm just not into performing with a clean tone, and we avoid those selections, although I do sometimes play clean at home. People who hire us want a riot.
I use one amp - period - the 40 watt tube DSL40C. Practice amp or performance amp, one amp is all you need. For large venues or outdoor events, I add a 1985 Jackson 4x12 cabinet. I just recently scored a second DSL40C (in vintage regalia) through a sweet trade deal with a TTR chum.
I run over 60 feet of cable total and it's all Monprice balanced/shielded 4 conductor and the rig is quiet enough to record with. Best cables period. As good or better on a recording as Mogami and all those other boutique cables.
My guitar volume is always wide-open. I may roll off tone a bit - perhaps 7 or 8 - but that's about as far as guitar adjustments go. The bridge gets wimpy and then when volume is rolled off.
The tone is always the same. I dont really change anything but volume. Guys tell me about all these tweaks needed for this club or this type of flooring...and I'm like, Huh???
I'm no great guitar God, but I get more questions and comments on my tone now than when I was running a 2203 and 2034 cabinet
Gain is always about halfway to 1pm (Red channel Lead 1 tone shift in) and I use a TS-9 to boost the clean signal. A GE-7, CS-3, & CE-5 are integrated components of my tone and are never switched off. (Lynch and Faulkner are the originators of this technique AFAIK)
My tone sounds like it has more gain than it really has....but it has amazing clarity and I can alter my volume and gain with pick attack.
Amp volume is always at 2pm (about 7 on the dial) and we rehearse at stage volume. I use a Boss FV30L volume pedal in the FX loop so I can turn the amp down and still retain my tone.
It may sound complex, but it's really a simple rig. Takes me 10 minutes to setup. Even if I dont soundcheck, it doesn't matter because I know its gonna be right.
All the Les Paul's are setup exactly the same...same pickups, same strings, same action height, same strings. Instead of stopping the train for a tuning check, I switch guitars.
Worry free...Consistency...
Bones crushed while you listen...
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