Tracking leads and solos

[Money Shot]

Someone once told me that it's good to use a different tone for your leads than what you used for your rhythm section. Is this true? Does that mean to use a different amp all together or to tweak the setting on the amp?

What have you guys had experience with?

[EnSkorSang]

yes it does help to use a different tone for your lead parts as it helps with seperation in the mix. If you use the same amp, same settings, same mic etc for both parts, the chances are they will occupy the same frequenc space and your mix will sound more clouded and narrow...

Of course..if you're rhythm part is played on the lower 3 strings and lead on the upper 3 strings for example, then they are occupying different frequencies anyway so seperation wouldnt be so much of a problem. But your mix may sound 'boring'. Or it may not...

You dont have to change amps for a different tone, but you could. Changing just about anything from the previous take will create a different tone...amp, settings, mic, placement, post-processing, plectrum, strings...

Its a personal choice. But for me, I never have the same settings for lead\Rhythm, but then again, i usually play these parts on different instruments. You will probably find that most people vary some aspect for each new track they put down.

[brandondrury]

Someone once told me that it's good to use a different tone for your leads than what you used for your rhythm section. Is this true?

It depends on the band more than anything. There is no huge reason why many guitarist can't use the same tone for everything. I don't think Eddie Van Halen used a different sound for his leads (unless you count some of the stomp boxes). It doesn't sound like Slash's or Angus' rythm and lead tones are that different either.

It really depends on whether you can get tones you like for rythm and if those work for the leads. The really good guitar players already have this figured out because they will do whatever sounds best and adapt their gear around it. Figuring it out during tracking is another way, but it is kind of working backwards.

I alway have a specific vision as to what I want in every guitar line and that may mean using a number of tones throughout the song. So I'm certainly not against using different tones, I just wouldn't recommend using different tones just for the sake of being different.

yes it does help to use a different tone for your lead parts as it helps with seperation in the mix.

Well, if there isn't natural seperation in the mix from arranging the tune in the first place, there is a GIGANTIC problem (which you said after I read your full post ). By default, a lead should be able to sit on top of rythm track with minimal effort simply from the note choice alone.

The tonal differences are up to the player, I think. Because lead guitar, by nature, is so dramatically different than rythm guitar tonally, I don't think there is going to be a dramatic benefit in most cases especially if the guitars are high gain from the beginning.