Distortion Problems

[ElPredicador]

I have a Korg Toneworks AX300G, and the distortion sounds like crap!! I have tried everything, boosting bass, treble, mids, everything, but it doesn't seem to sound better. I really don't know what to do.
The leads aren't a problem, because you can cover the sound a bit with chorus, a bit of reverb and the lead pickup, but how can i make the riffs sound good? It sounds like if you where playing with the lead pickup, and if you try adding treble or lowering basses, it is like a needle in your ears, if you know what I mean. Any Suggestions?

 

[Sunbane]

What pickups do you have and how does the guitar sound straight through an amp?

 

[ElPredicador]

It does sound quite well directly on an amp, at least better than with the pedal. I have an Ibanez RG270DX, with two humbuckers and a single one, but I don't know the brand. but as they sound ok on the amp alone, why should it sound badly with the pedal??

 

[Sunbane]

Could be that the pedal is cr*p. Look at it again to make sure there's no controls that you missed. Multi-effect pedals often have several different types of distortion to choose from, where usually one sounds good and the rest as cr*p.

If your guitar sounds good through an amp, your pickups are ok.

 

[Darkenelf]

Originally posted by ElPredicador
I have a Korg Toneworks AX300G, and the distortion sounds like crap!! I have tried everything, boosting bass, treble, mids, everything, but it doesn't seem to sound better. I really don't know what to do.
The leads aren't a problem, because you can cover the sound a bit with chorus, a bit of reverb and the lead pickup, but how can i make the riffs sound good? It sounds like if you where playing with the lead pickup, and if you try adding treble or lowering basses, it is like a needle in your ears, if you know what I mean. Any Suggestions?

I have the same pedal, but I have no problems with it.
it has really nice distortion sounds.

tell me how your pedal is tuned:
need all the stuff like:
- chain edits
- various chain edits
- distortion sound
- gain
- treble
- mid gain
- bass
- trim gain
- attack
- depth
- feedback
- use pitchshifter yes or no
- reverb yes or no
- wah yes or no
- all the rest of the stuff.

Maybe i can find out, what you do wrong.

Maybe you can look at this site as well for patches:

http://egnatia.ee.auth.gr/~nalevrid/ax/

 

[ElPredicador]

Well I have:

-Compressor: sensitivity 50, level 44, attack 40
-Distortion 1: Studio, gain 50, level 23, treble -4
-3 band equalizer: bass 4.5, mid freq 4khz, mid gain 4.5, treble 0.0, trim gain 0
-Chorus: speed 0.02, depth 50
-Noise reduction: 14
-Total Level: 50

Output: full
Input: about a quarter


This is the best I've got, but it still doesn't sound as I expect.

 

[union9]

Get a METAL ZONE...it is the only decent distortion pedal that i know of...METAL ZONE and a PEAVEY 5150 2.

 

[Soul Conspiracy]

I got a Korg AX (then sold it), they are a bit weak unless you're playing heavy rock. Get a Marshall shredmaster they sound good and are relatively cheap (I sold mine but I want it back) it's one of the truest metal sounds about in my opinion. I also bought a digitech genesis 1 it's an amp simulator and it makes the sound really full especially with just the tiniest bit of chorus. Metal Zone is also a good pedal.

 

[Dead Winter]

Just bought a Zoom GFX-8...sounds pretty damn cool. The built in distortion isn't that great with the effects it has going into it, but if you customize it, it sounds fucking wicked. I also have a Metal Zone, and it sounds even better than my metal zone.

 

[union9]

Originally posted by thrashmetal78
Just bought a Zoom GFX-8...sounds pretty damn cool. The built in distortion isn't that great with the effects it has going into it, but if you customize it, it sounds fucking wicked. I also have a Metal Zone, and it sounds even better than my metal zone.

Cool man.I'm fairly backward on effects and stuff,but i was wondering if you could give me an insight into your set up and explain how you got such a wicked sound out of your Zoom.I saw a local band who's guitarist had the same unit(i think...i'm sure)and i must admit,was a killer sound.Didn't get a chance to chat to him though.

 

[hydrogrind]

get metalzone from boss, and use hughes and kettnerr head and amp!
d r y and h e a v y

 

[xenophobe]

If you have a H&K or 5150, you shouldn't need a Metal Zone...

The metal zone sounds like crap on nicer amps... It's a good band aide, but if you have a 5150, you should be able to get great high-gain distortion without using any stomp boxes.

Pickups could be an issue too.

 

[Pinhead]

Yep, METAL ZONE from Boss has to be handled very carefully. It can sound great on the right amps. But i often had problems with the volume of that METAL ZONE: It sometimes switched from very loud to very silent. One time it happend on stage. You can imagine how embarassing this situation was for me. Since then I never used this thing again.
Now i got the Peavy "Dirty Dog". This thing sounds like hell. (or heaven, depends on how u like it)

 

[nevershine]

Do NOT use a pedal for distortion. End.

 

[hydrogrind]

Originally posted by xenophobe
If you have a H&K or 5150, you shouldn't need a Metal Zone...

The metal zone sounds like crap on nicer amps... It's a good band aide, but if you have a 5150, you should be able to get great high-gain distortion without using any stomp boxes.

Pickups could be an issue too.

____________________________
Thanks for corrections and help, I'll try and try again....
I still learn,....

 

[hydrogrind]

I used it too with Dimarzio Evo, how about that?

 

[InsurrectionBand.com]

EMG's INTO A MESA BOOGIE STACK... thats all i have to say

 

[union9]

Now i got the Peavy "Dirty Dog". This thing sounds like hell. (or heaven, depends on how u like it) [/B][/QUOTE]

Sounds interesting.Can you give me some info on the Peavy Dirty Dog?

 

[Russ]

Originally posted by ElPredicador
I have a Korg Toneworks AX300G, and the distortion sounds like crap!! I have tried everything, boosting bass, treble, mids, everything, but it doesn't seem to sound better. I really don't know what to do.
The leads aren't a problem, because you can cover the sound a bit with chorus, a bit of reverb and the lead pickup, but how can i make the riffs sound good? It sounds like if you where playing with the lead pickup, and if you try adding treble or lowering basses, it is like a needle in your ears, if you know what I mean. Any Suggestions?

..Have you tried lowering your pickups?? That will get rid of some of the noise. You could also get lower output pots like 250k. ..500k+ might be to much for your distortion pedal?

 

[xenophobe]

Actually, that's a great suggestion....

Mmmm... Natalie Portman.