Why does my rig sound so bad?!

ScareRaven · 10-04-2007, 06:54 PM

Heys guys, I know this is a very common question, but I'm not much of a gearhead and I'm having a lot of trouble figuring out why my rig sounds so bad.
I've got a D-activator 7 bridge and stock neck pup in my S7. From there, I run it through a Boss Metal Zone and into a Randall RG200...

Everything about it sounds bad... The leads are all fizzy and they hardly ring at all when I play something with soft picking. I mean... I hardly even play with my amp! I just can't! :P It sounds like shit! It sounds like either the amp is screwed or the pickups are reallllly fucked.

I was looking for some tight low-end with some sinister, singing highs... but I have no clue how to achieve? I'd love to work on some melodic death/doom, but maybe I've just got all of the wrong parts... It sounds soooo horrible. The tone might be good for a horrible black metal album.

Thanks!

Stitch · 10-04-2007, 07:01 PM

Get rid of the Metal Zone. Its 94% of your problem.

You're lack of an Engl is the other 6%

Metal Ken · 10-04-2007, 07:02 PM

I think that the metal zone might be part of the problem there... They're often described as a 'box of bees'. Really trebley and whatnot... tried playing without it?

ScareRaven · 10-04-2007, 07:16 PM

Yeah, the Randall sounds even weaker without the Metal Zone. I get the most disgusting sound from this amp... it sounds extremely busted! Can the Metal Zone sound better with leads when complimenting it with something else?

bobbyretelle · 10-04-2007, 07:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stitch216

Get rid of the Metal Zone. Its 94% of your problem.

You're lack of an Engl is the other 6%

+1 haha

i agree though, replace the metal zone with something with some more balls....like anything.... unless you get it modded!

Psychoface · 10-04-2007, 07:19 PM

Try playing without the pedal, see how that works for you...
hopefully you should look like this -->

TheMissing · 10-04-2007, 07:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScareRaven

Can the Metal Zone sound better with leads when complimenting it with something else?

No way, the metal zone will sill crap it up.

If you want to 'compliment' it to sound better, get an overdrive pedal and mix the two together, like an ibanez tube screamer.

Or go to Bodenhamer Electronics and get LordOvChaoS to mod your MT-2 so it sounds better.

Leon · 10-04-2007, 07:46 PM

have you played through many other amplifiers? like something that made you go, "THIS is what i need!" ?

TomAwesome · 10-04-2007, 08:03 PM

Unless you want to drop the coin for another amp, I see two options available to you.

The Metal Zone isn't really as bad as people make it out to be. If you take the time to get to know the pedal and how it reacts to your guitar and amp, you can make it work pretty decently. It does, however, have a buzzy high end, and the D-Activators probably don't help with that too much. If you like the overall character of the MT-2 minus the noise, get Joe Bodenhamer to mod it, like TheMissing said.

The other option is, of course, to replace the pedal. Depending on your budget, there are lots of options. For around $100US, you can get a Line 6 Uber Metal. It's the heart of all the heavy patches in my current rig, and I must say it's thoroughly brutal, and I can still hear chords clearly. The built in noise gate is pretty decent, too.

The MT-2 mod will be cheaper, and from what I've heard from the one or two people here that have one, it turns the MT-2 into a fantastic unit. I'm planning to send my MT-2 over to him at some point.

zimbloth · 10-04-2007, 10:43 PM

Metal Zone. Randall. D-Activator. A surefire reciple for a losing guitar tone.

Use a tube screamer variant, will definitely help. The Metal Zone is workable as a clean boost, my bandmate used it for a while, but as soon as he switched to a tube screamer it was a huge improvement.

The D-Activator is a decent pickup but very bland and lacking character or heaviness. Depending on the guitar you're using, I'd recommend something else, such as the DiMarzio Evolution.

Randalls IMO sound very artificial and lame to me also. I'd look into a different amp if I were you...even if it's something inexpensive there's better options I think.

10-04-2007, 06:54 PM	#1
ScareRaven The Golden Raven Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Zentral Xanada Posts: 86 Real Name: Nicholas Main Seven: "Karyan, Knife ov the God Rig: Randall RG200 Thanked: 0	Why does my rig sound so bad?! Heys guys, I know this is a very common question, but I'm not much of a gearhead and I'm having a lot of trouble figuring out why my rig sounds so bad. I've got a D-activator 7 bridge and stock neck pup in my S7. From there, I run it through a Boss Metal Zone and into a Randall RG200... Everything about it sounds bad... The leads are all fizzy and they hardly ring at all when I play something with soft picking. I mean... I hardly even play with my amp! I just can't! :P It sounds like shit! It sounds like either the amp is screwed or the pickups are reallllly fucked. I was looking for some tight low-end with some sinister, singing highs... but I have no clue how to achieve? I'd love to work on some melodic death/doom, but maybe I've just got all of the wrong parts... It sounds soooo horrible. The tone might be good for a horrible black metal album. Thanks! ,;Talent hits a target no one else can hit; Genius hits a target no one else can see. [A. Schopenhauer] ,;Human beings, vegetables, or cosmic dust, we all dance to a mysterious tune, intoned in the distance by an invisible player. [A. Einstein]

10-04-2007, 07:02 PM	#3
Metal Ken Dissident Aggressor • Super Moderator • Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Florida Posts: 16,302 Real Name: Legion Main Seven: Loomis, C7HR, Giannini 7 Rig: Mesa Rectoverb 50 Thanked: 72	I think that the metal zone might be part of the problem there... They're often described as a 'box of bees'. Really trebley and whatnot... tried playing without it? Glory and praise to Thee, Satan, on high, Where Thou didst reign, in Hell where Thou dost lie, Vanquished, silent, dreaming eternally. Grant that my soul some day rest close to Thee Under the Tree of Knowledge which shall spread Its branches like a Temple overhead. ~Charles Baudelaire http://www.myspace.com/impurity Brutal Skullfucking Death Metal

10-04-2007, 07:46 PM	#8
Leon {##[====:::. • Super Moderator • Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: The Ohio Crew Posts: 11,718 Main Seven: RG7620 of Doom Rig: Mesa / Sovtek Thanked: 78	have you played through many other amplifiers? like something that made you go, "THIS is what i need!" ? I have a radical idea. The door swings both ways, we could reverse the particle flow through the gate. We'll cross the streams.

10-04-2007, 08:03 PM	#9
TomAwesome I LIKE JUICE!!! Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 4,649 Real Name: Tom Main Seven: Ibanez RG 7421 Rig: POD X3L & poweramp Thanked: 18	Unless you want to drop the coin for another amp, I see two options available to you. The Metal Zone isn't really as bad as people make it out to be. If you take the time to get to know the pedal and how it reacts to your guitar and amp, you can make it work pretty decently. It does, however, have a buzzy high end, and the D-Activators probably don't help with that too much. If you like the overall character of the MT-2 minus the noise, get Joe Bodenhamer to mod it, like TheMissing said. The other option is, of course, to replace the pedal. Depending on your budget, there are lots of options. For around $100US, you can get a Line 6 Uber Metal. It's the heart of all the heavy patches in my current rig, and I must say it's thoroughly brutal, and I can still hear chords clearly. The built in noise gate is pretty decent, too. The MT-2 mod will be cheaper, and from what I've heard from the one or two people here that have one, it turns the MT-2 into a fantastic unit. I'm planning to send my MT-2 over to him at some point. "Tom, you're like 1 part a serious dork, and 2 parts the most awesome fucking guy ever." - guitargeek.com style rig diagram Pics of my gear Virtual studio tech testing ground Last.FM

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10-04-2007, 07:01 PM	#2
Stitch Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Edinburgh, Scotland Posts: 6,899 Real Name: Simon Main Seven: Ibanez RG7420 & S7420FMTW Main ERG: Orion OG8 Rig: Peavey 6505 Thanked: 110	Get rid of the Metal Zone. Its 94% of your problem. You're lack of an Engl is the other 6%

10-04-2007, 07:16 PM	#4
ScareRaven The Golden Raven Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Zentral Xanada Posts: 86 Real Name: Nicholas Main Seven: "Karyan, Knife ov the God Rig: Randall RG200 Thanked: 0	Yeah, the Randall sounds even weaker without the Metal Zone. I get the most disgusting sound from this amp... it sounds extremely busted! Can the Metal Zone sound better with leads when complimenting it with something else?

10-04-2007, 07:19 PM	#6
Psychoface SS.org Addict Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 526 Real Name: Yves Main Seven: Ibanez RG7321 Thanked: 5	Try playing without the pedal, see how that works for you... hopefully you should look like this -->

10-04-2007, 10:43 PM	#10
zimbloth Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Boston Posts: 11,246 Real Name: Nick Main Seven: Rico Jr Customs Main ERG: Ibanez 8 Rig: VHT Pittbull UL Thanked: 67	Metal Zone. Randall. D-Activator. A surefire reciple for a losing guitar tone. Use a tube screamer variant, will definitely help. The Metal Zone is workable as a clean boost, my bandmate used it for a while, but as soon as he switched to a tube screamer it was a huge improvement. The D-Activator is a decent pickup but very bland and lacking character or heaviness. Depending on the guitar you're using, I'd recommend something else, such as the DiMarzio Evolution. Randalls IMO sound very artificial and lame to me also. I'd look into a different amp if I were you...even if it's something inexpensive there's better options I think.


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Why does my rig sound so bad?!