That Pedal Show – Thoughts On Clean Sounds, Part 1

In this episode Daniel and Mick begin a discussion around ‘clean’ tones. It’s a massive subject and much of this video is devoted to the kinds of dynamic and transient attack characteristics you can expect from certain kinds of guitars and amps. We talk about compression, tremolo and light gain, before touching //very// briefly on delay and modulation.
We’re sure this video will throw up a lot of questions that we can address in some follow-up videos!

Pedals Featured In This Episode…

• Analog Man Bi-Chorus (loop 7)

• Electro-Harmonix Electric Mistress Flanger/Filter Matrix (loop 4)

• Boss BD-2 Blues Driver (loop 6)

• Hamstead Soundworks Signature Analogue Tremolo (loop 3)

• Vemuram Jan Ray (loop 2)

• Origin Effects Cali76 Compact Deluxe Compressor (loop 1)

• Strymon TimeLine (loop 8)

Interesting bits and go-to sections…

• Intro & housekeeping: 00:00 - 02:15
• Today’s amps: 02:15
• Compressor clean sounds: 9:56
• Using an overdrive pedal and your guitar volume pot: 14:46
• Treble bleed mod and retaining high end: 16:12 (demo) & 18:24 (explanation)
• Why tremolo is totally ace: 23:34
• When is clean not clean? 28:40
• Clean BB-style blues: 34:26
• Barely perceptible OD into all three amps: 37:07
• Guitar makes a massive difference: 39:41
• A very quick look at modulation. Very quick - more another time! 43:33

Amps in this episode
• Fender Super Reverb reissue with 4 x 10-inch Jensen P10R speakers (amp output 2)
1970s Roland JC-120 (loop 10)
1961 Vox AC30 (amp output 1

Guitars in this episode
• Fender American Vintage ’62 Stratocaster – watch Mick’s video at
• Grestch G5422TG Electromatic Hollow Body
• Gibson ES-335 (2000s Dot model), belonging to Peter Honoré

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[redfaust]

It's the tremolo! That's what I've been looking for in my cleans. It's the subtle movement warming up my clean sound that I've been wanting but couldn't find. You guys blew my mind!

[dkgriffiths]

Ok, you've been kind enough to placate me with a response before, but you really need to do an amp basics show! Covering the signature styles of different power amp valves, EL34s 6V6s etc.. ideally with a like for like example in a single type of amplifier (Morgan RCA35, Victory V40, boogie mk 5 etc) and a discussion on class A, A/B, cathode bias etc. I'm not saying it would be sexy but it's at least as important V C P I !

[ThomasStaunton]

The sound of the jazz chorus and the compressor just makes me smile!

[jbs]

Just bought a T-shirt! Glad we can support the show in a small way, guys. Looking forward to watching this over lunch!

[-bj-]

Greg Koch - The Gristle King himself! Cannot wait. One of my favs ... dig it!

[batousan_]

1 minute in and I'm already cacking myself with excitement; Gregory Kochery and the Pedal Show! HYPE

[christophersmith]

I've only been playing about 6 months, but I can't thank you two guys and this show enough for keeping me inspired with ideas as well as teaching me how to set up my gear. Keep up the great work because I can't stop watching!

[michael_caz_nyc]

I watched this episode about 6x's now, and my latest-takeaway is: I need a J. Rockett Blue Note Overdrive, a Barber Gain Changer or a Sarno Music Solutions Earth Drive for a Mild Transparent Drive and also a Diamond Tremolo with Tap Tempo. You Guys are just so Passionate & Influential ( you are killing my bank account ). I can watch you two 24/7/365

[marantz]

One of my favourite episodes to date. I found the use of OD and just a touch of trem particularly interesting. Thanks guys!

[snotbog]

seriously it's a great show have watched for a few years now you both know what your talking about

[braddietzmusic]

Already my favorite episode. Chock-a-block full of my favorite sounds and tones.

[evanreid]

I could listen to Dan and Mick play and talk about gear all day long! Makes me love Fridays even more.

[nickfit]

Ty Tabor from King's X also used the LAB amps but with a strat with that mid boost circuit built-in . One of my favorite tones ever!

[whiskersb]

The sound at 31:32, perfectly clean, but with delay and tremolo giving it all kinds of I dunno, special sauce, is so great and the type of thing I struggle to get with my own playing. Good stuff.

[koenroels]

One thing I have to say:

That Pedal Show for me is like a large book to consolidate if I am writing music and having a sound in my head. That book guide me on my way to find the tools to shape the sound to the sound that's in my head already. It's like a shortcut for me.

So Dan and Mick! THANK YOU ;)

Greetz from Belgium!

[alexmurphy]

I listen to your show at work and it makes my work day much happier. Thank you

[rikh]

we need a Danish Pete rig rundown, because his black strat is epic, and now that 335... What else has he got ???

[JigsawEyesore]

Great video. I've been playing clean (with 30 pedals on my board) for a few years now, I recently found my dream amp, a JC-160. I've found that a lot of my guitars don't work well with it as it doesn't hide anything, I think that is possibly why so many guitarists shy away from a true clean sound. My Rickenbacker 360 is the perfect match for the JC though.

[Infinighost]

I could listen to you guys play clean riffs all day. Those parts after you first kicked on the tremolo could make a great basis for a post-rock album (esp the Tele parts). Also, you need to buy a 335. Came for the information, stayed for the music.

[enorbet]

Hello guys. Just a comment on "bleed caps". I first heard about the mod from an article in Guitar Player mag written by Jeff "Skunk" Baxter and tried it the next day. It took some playing around with values but I finally found one that did what I had gotten a glimpse of right from Jump Street. That effect was that when turned up, especially for leads most of which are one or two simultaneous notes (lower electrical output than for 5 or 6 notes) I wanted my guitar to push the amp hard for a sense of power and majesty but when turned down, notably for comping I wanted to compensate for the increased output and drop level fast but still wanted to cut through and be heard but without stepping on others instruments including vocals.

Finding the subjectively right value made that possible which freed me considerably from always needing to be near any pedals or fumbling for which switch. It's all just "right there" and anymore I can barely get by without it. It is a mod everyone should try just because it is so easy and so powerful and so easily removed if it doesn't suit one's style. I just wanted to reinforce that short moment in this video to encourage players to check it out. It's rather a biggy.