[afterthefact]

I want a super clean sound. The cleanest you can get. No fuzz, no static, nothing but the sound of my guitar strings vibrating. How is this best achieved?

I know a quality amp and guitar are obvious, but with a not so great guitar, can I get close by simply throwing some humbuckers on it? And I think I remember seeing something that cuts out electrical noise by working in between your amp and your wall outlet.

Anything else? Are there pedals that can clean up?

[atsonicpark]

Hmm, well, if you're talking about recording, then just line in the guitar directly into the mic inport on a computer using a smallifier at the end of your guitar cable.

If you want to play this type of stuff live... uh, you know, just get a large amp and set it to clean and adjust the knobs until it sounds cleanest. You need a great guitar, because most cheaper guitars will buzz if you don't have strings pressed down. Even then, you may want to turn your tone knob all the way down. Perhaps people that know about "compressors" and "equalizers" can tell you more.

[greedrex]

noisegates are a nightmare. Go punk dude. or call Jim O.

yes noisegates pedals.
but they arent working the way you want them I think.
for recording, a very good mic would be required
if you are recording directly into a multitracker/sampler then use some decent cables and if possible a tracker/sampler which is battery powered, so you dont have to worry that much about static hum

[atsonicpark]

Also, if you're recording directly into a computer, turn the computer monitor off. That creates buzzing.

[Rob Instigator]

and watch yr cables.

[greedrex]

yep watch the cables. good piece of advice. And use headphones. Basic but..

[afterthefact]

I figured it was as simple as buying a great guitar, I was just hoping there was an easier (cheaper) way to at least get close to what I want.

[atsonicpark]

Yeah, I've got all kinds of "noise cancelling cables" and all this shit, and I have a pretty great Behringer amp (I know, I know...), but since my guitar is pretty cheap, I still have to turn my tone knob down a bit or I get buzzin'.

[Rob Instigator]

those are good, but I mean crossing cables with the power cord, or with the headphone cable. electrical interference will cause a hum. all your powered cables have a magnetic field around them and they will cause "noise"

[SuchFriendsAreDangerous]

Originally Posted by afterthefact

I want a super clean sound. The cleanest you can get. No fuzz, no static, nothing but the sound of my guitar strings vibrating. How is this best achieved?

I know a quality amp and guitar are obvious, but with a not so great guitar, can I get close by simply throwing some humbuckers on it? And I think I remember seeing something that cuts out electrical noise by working in between your amp and your wall outlet.

Anything else? Are there pedals that can clean up?

 

Korg DTR-1 Pro Tunner
• Real Tuber Reverb
• Groove Tube Trio
• ADA Multi-Effects Delay
• Boss Octave OC-2
• Boss Turbo OverDrive OD-2R
• Boss Equalizer
• Mu-Tron III
• Over Drive OD-1
• Boss Equalizer
• MXR Phase 100

with Belden #9271 (3 wire 124 ohms) cables

then run that through

"..96 modified MSL-3s and 32 double 18" subs. 12 sections of fork-lift mounted, modified MSL-10s are used for delayed sound reinforcement, and a dozen modified UPAs hidden under the stage provide center fill. Crest amplifiers are used throughout.."

you should be able to have the absolute cleanest sound and hear it with zero distortion at over a 1/4 mile..

^^most elements of this are pretty good dirtslingers, no cleaners, hahaha

[SuchFriendsAreDangerous]

Originally Posted by al shabbray

^^most elements of this are pretty good dirtslingers, no cleaners, hahaha

serious. I used to sling noise as well, but then I got swallowed up by the Uroboros which is the grateful dead and I had to switch to a clean sound, which is so contrasting its not even funny!

Also, I evolved into a rather good reggae musician, which equally demands a clean sound.

for me, simple is the way. Less is more with a clean sound, particularly with recording. GOOD cables, are a must. GOOD electronic upgrades on your guitars are a must, you can play a shitty $100 guitar as long as the hardware inside has been properly upgraded..

and of course, LOW LOW LOW volume. The lower your play and record, the better the mix sounds, as you can always turn up the volume on the mix.

When you are putting into a soundboard for a gig, play low on the input, and have the soundguy turn you up the output. When you are recording, play even lower.. this particular advice however, is equally if not MORE SO important for distortion than clean sound..

[Rob Instigator]

you should also not turn on your distortion pedal.

[SuchFriendsAreDangerous]

Originally Posted by Rob Instigator

you should also not turn on your distortion pedal.

fuck! but thats the most fun!

 

stomp that mother fucker till it breaks, i used to ride my wah pedal like a fucking snake board!.. but those were louder days..

[gualbert]

I like dirty raw sound, a la Confusion Is Sex.
I won't help you.

[demonrail666]

A Roland JC-120 Transistor amp
Single coil neck pick-up

Cleaner than a two year old's conscience

[Rob Instigator]

I like the crunch that neil young gets on Hey Hey, My My off of Live Rust.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lXN5jtFZEt4

recreate that shit he blasts at 0:11 seconds!!!!!!

[Sheriff Rhys Chatham]

Originally Posted by demonrail666

A Roland JC-120 Transistor amp
Single coil neck pick-up

Cleaner than a two year old's conscience

When I switched from a humbucker to a single coil neck pick-up the sound got a lot cleaner. I'm also don't have any knobs(tone or volume controls) on the guitar so I think this may help. When I run it through a pedal though I get some buzz when not holding down the strings.