Boosting Leads Over The Mix

Turn the volume up on your guitar before u go into a solo. If your guitar volume is already maxed out, lower it, and turn up your amp a bit, so u can turn up the guitar for the solo. Or get a volume pedal, that would work as well.

Thanks for the quick reply Taso.

I've tried both...but the tone on my guitar (Gibson) goes away when I turn it down (knob or volume pedal). I want to keep the tone...AND boost the volume. My amp is a Marshall DSL 401, and it has a boost on it which is great for distorted tones, but when you are playing "Margaritaville" through the clean channel and I play the lead part I don't want to hit the lead channel (dirty) just to get the volume boost over the mix.

Well, thier are a few boost pedals out their, seymour duncan makes one that people seem to like.

Also, buying an EQ like the Danelectro Fish and chips would work. Just keep levels all even and towards the top, and turn it on for your solos.

So you've got options.

I own a DSL401, if you turn Gain way down you can get a clean tone.

Probably the biggest secret to cutting through the mix is push your Mids up. You could easily do this with an EQ pedal. Most EQ pedals have a Volume control as well, so use the EQ for a volume and Mids boost. This will get you heard.

But you can do this with your amp. Use the OD1 or OD2 with Mids pushed up and volume a little as well. Just bring Gain way down to get a clean tone.

Thanks for the imput Duffmaster & Wes, I will try boosting the Mids with low gain first and click between the OD 1 & 2. Sounds like it should work (in theory). Besides my wife will be happy I don't need to buy more guitar "stuff" to fix the problem. Overall a "win-win" situation:)

Sounds good. I didn't want to get into your amp as I havn't used that specific marshall before. Thanks wes for jumping in with that.

If you still have trouble betting clean tones, the Danelectro Fish and Chips EQ is the cheapest out there, last I checked 30 bucks.

30 bucks...hmmmm, maybe I could use some more stuff after all :) I'm sure my wife won't miss $30 out of her purse.

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Danelectro-DJ14-Fish-and-Chips-7Band-EQ-Pedal?sku=151873

I have the Dano Fish and Chips and am very happy with it. I would invest in the AC adaptor though, Dano pedals do seem to use batteries. I use mine on a pedalboard, so no problems.

Behringer has just come out with a new line of very inexpensive pedals including a 7 Band EQ. Just $19 I believe. I own a lot of B gear and it has always been good to me.

But first try eq'ing your OD1 channel to get the same tone as your clean channel (or the tone you want for your solo). Turn Gain way down on the OD1 channel, but turn Volume way up on the OD1 channel. You will be able to get a good clean lead tone.

turn down the volumes on the other instruments and yours, then you have that little bit extra when ya want it by turning yours back up.

raise the mids.
EQ boost is excellent.
volume pedal makes it all good.

Thanks to everyone who responded. I will work on it by increasing the mids and volume on my amp. I never really thought of using OD 1 with a clean tone because I already have a clean channel on it, but it does make sense.

The "Fish & Chips" pedal sounds intriguing as well. Wes, do you use this for all of your songs and not just for boosting over the mix? If so, maybe I will try it out. I'm very happy with sound I have now...but maybe a little bit of enhancement would be nice. I used to have a POD and it just took away the tone of my amp so I don't want to screw with that.

Leads over mix solutions:

1. Sound man boosts that channel during solos (He knows when you solo and your amp is mic'd - give that you have a soundman)

2. You have a 2 or 3-channel amp with one channel used only for solos that has independent volume control - turn this channel up (Mark IV, Bogner, Deizel, Fuchs etc...)

3. You have boost pedal that you use just for solos (numerous ones on the market)

Soultions 2 and 3 are the only way to solve your problem if you do not have a sound man.

I have owned a Mesa Mark IV combo since '92 - hearing my solo problem solved...

I've not used an EQ pedal myself, but I've known a few players who do the reverse - they leave the EQ pedal on for rhythm to lower the volume (by having EQ cut, not boost), and then they turn the EQ pedal off for lead volume level. Think it's less noisy that way...

When I used a rack mount preamp (one of those ADA tube pres), I simply programmed different settings that I called from a midi foot pedal. When I went to simpler system, I used a Boss OD3 overdrive pedal...gain min, volume max. I don't play out much any more, so not sure what I'd do now...