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Before I respond to the questions, I have to wonder what settings you
use on your amp that your tank can possibly sound muddy? I don't
hardly edge my tone past 5 on my tank, and keep the bass on my
showman at seven.
> Question 1: will I be better off running less reverb on stage?
It depends on what volume you're playing at -- I've found that
the louder I play, the lower I put the "mixer" knob. But when my amp
is down around 3 (which it seldom is), I put the mix up to 10.
> Question 2: Where do you set your reverb tank?
For an average show, I have dwell at 4.5, mixer at 7, and tone
at 5.5.
> Question 3: I give up hum-cancelling when I switch to the bridge
> pickup. Will 60-cycle hum present a problem in a live setting? Or
> does it get buried with the other instruments?
Generally, any hum from the guitar will be masked by the
notes you're playing when you're actually going for it. Just turn
your volume down between songs.
> Question 4: Recognizing that different setups result in different
> settings and tones, I'd still like to hear what equipment y'all are
> using, and your "standard settings," and what type of sound you
> are after...I am taking my tone cues lately from the reformed
> Atlantics. (i.e., Less reverb, some distortion on the fast numbers,
> and slap-back echo via a pedal).
Right now "the Lava Rat sound" comes from this combination --
Usually a Japanese "Excellent" Mosrite (but switch in any guitar you
want,)a Danelectro Daddy-O overdrive for when I need a little
extra "kick", keeping the volume setting of the pedal around 7 or 8
and the drive no more than about two to achieve more boost than
distortion. Danelectro Dan-Echo digital delay, which I use sparingly
for long-repeat settings, and on a FEW songs, a slap-echo to fill out
some space, and a Dano Cool Cat Chorus, which I basically only use to
emulate an organ sound. I use the stock Vibrato (yeah, I know it's
really tremolo) on my Dual Showman, and put the volume around 5 or 6,
treble around 6, mid at 5, and bass at 7.
But then again, that's just my personal take on getting a good "surf
tone" that has a bit more modern, progressive sound at times.
Also, as Marty mentioned, I keep my tank suspended from a walker
using a bungee chord, which not only keeps the tank from making
excess noise, but also provides for hellaciously huge tank crashes
when I need it.
~Bill~
