rushfanNlv

Alex is very good a phrasing. You'll notice that his solos often have sections to them. Listen to Chemistry for example. I consider the first two bars of the solo one section and then the next two bars a section and so on. Maybe you would benefit from dissecting the solos into sections and practicing those until they are perfect in lieu of trying to learn the whole thing at once.

And +1000 to what PW_Guitarist said. I can't stress enough the importance of learning the solos at a slower speed and feeling comfortable with your fingering and then speeding it up. Believe me, once you've mastered the solo or passage at slow speed, you'll have no problem speeding it up because your brain will already have the fingering and picking memorized. You'll be able to play it without thinking of it too much.

GOod luck man. I still have trouble with Alex's solos. I would say that I know 10 to 12 solos all the way through and "parts" of the rest of them. I keep learning though.

The ultimate "head turn" while playing drums award has to go to the drummer for Night Ranger in the Sister Christian video. After the guitar solo there is a little drum break and then he turns his head all dramatically to the mac. I just always thought that was so funny.

But yeah, I know what your talking about and I think all drummers do it.

Auction ended!

Mods, Please delete this thread.

Thanks.

Here is the Ebay link.

I'm selling a Fulltone Fulldrive II overdrive pedal. The pedal has three overdrive mods and a boost for solos. The boost doesn't boost volume but rather, balls! A lot of people will say that this is Tubescreamer clone but I disagree. Yes it can sound like a Tubescreamer (made popular by the late SRV) but it is much more than that.

Here are some reviews of the pedal. It works best with a tube amp. If anyone is interested, let me know.

Thanks.

MOD EDIT: Auction is over. Thread closed.

I think you will get close but obviously, not the exact same sound Alex gets on MP. The line 6 stuff is pretty damn good a simulating tube amps, as CygnusX-1Bk2 stated, but nothing beats the real thing. I use my volume knob a lot to change the way my guitar sounds throughout a song and the Line 6 units that I have experienced don't clean up like a tube amp will. But then again, you could just set up a different patch with the distortion rolled back to simulate the same thing......simulate.

I read the reviews on your amp and they were mixed. I suggest running the POD through the clean channel with the EQ set flat. Let the POD's EQ do it's job.

Good luck.

ALRIGHT ALREADY!!!!

The PODXT is a good unit. Will you sound like Alex using it....somewhat. Those types of pedals create models of popular amps (amps that Alex used) but they are still just models. It is my opinion that good tone comes from the interaction between the guitarist, his volume knob, and the electricity that is running through the amp he is using. But with those models and the built in effects, yes. You will be able to come close to the sound that Alex gets. I strongly suggest that you run the pedal through an all tube amp or a tube power amp to take the digital edge of the signal. You have to remember that effects are only a small percentage of where the tone comes from. The foundation of any guitarists tone is his amp. Your guitar and amp should create a certain amount of distortion that appeals to you and then your effects should build upon that tone IMO. Using amp models with a tube amp is going to sound better than with a Solid State amp IMO so go all tube.

I can recommend some low priced, small amps if you want. Check out the Peavey Classic series, the Traynor stuff as well as the Fender line of amps.

It sounds to me like the POD will be the best solution for you. One stop shopping.

Nice score! The guitar is beautiful. Congratulations.

That's one hell of a wah pedal too.

When you go to Disneyland and get "RUSH" put on your Mickey Mouse Ears.

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Part of the experience is doing the homework and deciding for yourself what to get. I can tell you what Alex used to get his tones but as far as suggesting what equipment to get to approximate his sound, I think that's best for you to decide. I will say that IMO, analog effects and amps are going to sound better than digital stuff. Stay away from anything with the word "modeling" associated with it unless you are willing to spend the money for the good stuff. Don't expect to buy a $100.00 multi effects unit with 10 different amp models and 12 effects and then sound like Alex.

I've always liked the older analog Maxon and Ibanez stuff. The 9 series is the best IMO. Also look at companies like Fulltone, T.C. Electronics, Visualsounds and EHX.

Thanks! I work hard at getting that Alex sound so I appreciate the comment. Yeah, do that one whenever you get a chance. That would be awesome.

Do you hear chorus on the guitar in the intro and general riff of the song? I don't. I hear chorus during the "Living in the limelight" parts and then the ending run but not in the rest of the song. Yet when I hear other bands do limelight, they always have chorus on the guitar throughout the whole song. When I play the song, I'm just running the amps distortion with a booster in front of it. I kick on the chorus and delay and roll back the guitars volume for the cleaner parts but that's it. To my ears it sounds very similar to the ESL recordings. I'll try to post a clip of it.

Am I hearing this wrong? The only chorus I hear on the studio recording in the above mentioned parts of the song is the natural chorus sound of Alex quadrupling himself with multiple tracks.

What is your opinion?

I haven't played the valve king but I have played the classic series. The classics are great amps. Nice, tube tone and lots of gain. You may consider this series as well.

Here are some reviews of the valve king on Harmonycentral which is usually a great source of reviews when looking at buying new gear. They also have reviews on the head and cabinet version. Also check out www.guitargeek.com and www.thegearpage.net for more reviews.

Bottom line IMO is that Peavey makes a great product. It's considered a working mans type company and that seems about right to me.

Good to see some other fans around.

I really like Blue Bell Knoll. That's the album that got me hooked.