FX ignoramus has a question

[Poxican]

So I'm chasing a certain sound, but I'm not sure what kind of pedals would work best. I've tried using Waves GTR Solo to learn about FX and browsing youtube videos, but I'm still not really sure what direction to aim.

So the sound I'm after is what I would sort of describe as a giant electric elephant falling in slow motion. Too obscure? Erm, it's kind of creamy, very electronic sounding, maybe like a smooth fuzz or something?

Ok, so some guitarists that frequently have this kind of sound: Josh Homme pretty much has the ultimate sound in QOTSA. Dean Fertita uses it quite a bit in the new Dead Weather stuff. I'll try and think of some others and maybe some youtube vids.

Well, cheers in advance

[imported_Dannyboy]

Originally Posted by Poxican

So the sound I'm after is what I would sort of describe as a giant electric elephant falling in slow motion.

WTF ?!

Originally Posted by Poxican

Ok, so some guitarists that frequently have this kind of sound: Josh Homme pretty much has the ultimate sound in QOTSA.

Can you name a QOTSA song with this soud you are hearing ?

[uncle_psychosis]

I'm going out on a limb here---are you thinking of the solo on "little sister"?

Thats a fuzz pedal and a green ringer I believe.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTzD5ctEHvc

[manicguitarist2]

Neck pickup (humbucker) for a start then...possibly with the tone turned down a bit.

[probot]

What you need is a giant electric elephant, a trip wire and to try it on the moon for the slow motion effect?

[Poxican]

Originally Posted by uncle_psychosis

I'm going out on a limb here---are you thinking of the solo on "little sister"?

Absolutely dead on there man. Its that album and that exact track i was thinking of. Everybody Knows That Youre Insane and In My Head are good examples too.

Whats a green ring then? Is it a type of fuzz or a different kind of pedal altogether?

[uncle_psychosis]

Originally Posted by Poxican

Absolutely dead on there man. Its that album and that exact track i was thinking of. Everybody Knows That Youre Insane and In My Head are good examples too.

Whats a green ring then? Is it a type of fuzz or a different kind of pedal altogether?

A green ringer is (I think) a sort of ring modulator. Quite a simple idea but they can give you some crazy sounds. To get the full effect you probably need a fuzz pedal too. You could probably also get pretty close with an octave fuzz pedal---more versatile too. Check out the Danelectro French Toast, cheap as chips and sounds good. There was a thread on those a while back if you search.

[Fez]

Yup the Dan Armstrong Green Ringer is a ring modulator. I think they are still available but if you can't find one Build your own clone do a kit called the Armstrong Twin which is the Green ringer circuit and an Orange squeezer compressor in one box. The catch is you gotta build it yourself I'm not sure there is a UK supplier for pre-built BYOC pedals. There pretty good kits though, I've built a few.

Later
Fez

[shugs81]

http://vibe-o-tronic.co.uk/

they do the byoc kits....

[Poxican]

Ooh I really fancy that Armstrong Twin... And I've been looking for a new project to build, so that might be it.

Will look into that French Toast as well... Looks like I've got some Youtube research ahead of me.