[stuh84]

I think you are right about the noise gate. Try setting the threshold lower on that, then it doesn't cut your sustain so much. What noise gate are you using out of interest anyway?

[pulse]

im using an mxr smart gate.
my threshold is on at about half. but if i go less, it gives me feedback :[

[stuh84]

Hmm, do the notes sort of just cut off out of nowhere, un-naturally, or do they just naturally fade out in a short amount of time?

If its the un-natural cutting, I'd consider trying different noise gates in this case. Have you tried using the gate in the loop? The only thing I'm thinking is that the Roadster has a channel assignable effects loop if I'm not mistaken, so you could use a different channel for leads, and then have the noise gate back in on the rhythm channel, to cut out unwanted rubbish.

[budda]

Originally Posted by pulse

my pickups are as high as i can get with no buzz.
i just dislike the lack of sustain, but i think its just my noise gate. i did EQ with my drummer and keyboardist today. i should probably direct my cab out like a show though, rather than in toward the drummer. i hate feedback! and the hizzzz i get when im not playing.

what kind of settings are best for a lead tone??

*chuckles*

actually, if your pickups are as high as you can get them without buzz, they are robbing you of sustain. if the pickups are too close, the magnets inside the pickups will stop the strings from vibrating as long as they otherwise would.

lower your pickups.

actually, just get your guitar set up by a professional.

lead tone: not too much bass, a wack of mids, and a fair bit of treble. not a whole lot of gain, either - you want clarity and sustain, not "fzzzz".

my jsx has active EQ and the response is different then a mesa, BUT - i run 7-7-7 EQ for my lead channel, with the gain backed off to about 5 (it'd do rock w/o the boost, metal with the boost). I get a nice, very full tone with great sustain and clarity. it's also great for chest-thumping rhythm playing.

[chavhunter]

It may be due to my pickups and pedals etc. but I scoop the mids on my Roadster and think its sound best that way. Everyone uses different gear, so I dont really care what all the numbers are saying: I use my ears, and whatever sounds good, I go with it.

[budda]

Originally Posted by Crucified

extend hand, grasp mid knob, rotate clockwise.

follow this advice

[pulse]

that may be why my neck pickup sounds squashy. i highered it a lot the other day. should probably lower it then. i think when i used emgs back in the day i was told that they should be high up, so i went the same on these passives.
yeah im thinking i should buy a decimator.. its an un natural stop, it's not too bad. i think i should take some more time tomorrow fiddiling with this stuff. im sure ill find something great. ill start by buying a longer speaker cable. my amp and my cab are next to each other in cases.. and maybe if i put my head on the other side of the room, im farther away and that can help with feedback. and i can move my cab rather than being directly towards me. appreciate the help guys.

[kmanick]

I know what you mean about the "lack of sustain"
I went thru this myself when I first got my Rectoverb.
Rectos are stiff amps they're not "fluid" like a JSX. or a 5150.
It took me quite a while to dial in my Rectoverb, but I finally did.
I had to play around with the Output level VS channel level and the
gain on the amp vs the gain from my SD-1.
I also found I like El34's better (at gigging levels I may not but at home I do).
I'm actually playing better now becuase the Rectoverb makes me play more precise and forces
me to make my own sustain (vibrato) while I'm playing.
I'm feeling the notes better now and my legato sounds smoother,
and when I switch back to my JSX I can really fly.
I would pull the stuff out of your loop and see if it sounds any different.
My Rectoverb sounds much clearer with nothing in the loop.

[pulse]

dont have anything in the loop, but yeah, i agree totally. i can hear the stiffness.
i might tryout the "spongy" rather than "bold" next time too. and messing with the volumes is another thing i didnt try.

[budda]

it takes time to get a good tone, eh?