Anything to make vocals sound better through a combo amp?

[sbpark]

I'm not looking for a vocal processor/harmonizer/doubler, etc. I'm just wondering if there's anything out there that anyone uses to make their vocals sound 'better'? Something along the lines of EQ, compression, etc. to get rid of the boxy, muffled sound when running vocals through a combo amp (in this case a I've tried a TC Helicon Mic Mechanic and that pedal didn't do anything aside from making my vocal sound thin and hollow, and empty out my wallet (it got retuned the next day).

I'm using an SM58 through an SWR California Blonde.

Any advice or recommendations appreciated!

[lschwart]

Originally Posted by sbpark

I'm not looking for a vocal processor/harmonizer/doubler, etc. I'm just wondering if there's anything out there that anyone uses to make their vocals sound 'better'? Something along the lines of EQ, compression, etc. to get rid of the boxy, muffled sound when running vocals through a combo amp (in this case a I've tried a TC Helicon Mic Mechanic and that pedal didn't do anything aside from making my vocal sound thin and hollow, and empty out my wallet (it got retuned the next day).

I'm using an SM58 through an SWR California Blonde.

Any advice or recommendations appreciated!

It's probably best to start with why the vocals sound the way they do right now. There's no particular reason that that amp should make vocals muffled and boxy (or that a Mic Mechanic would make vocals thin and hollow). Are you sure that the tweeter on the amp is working properly and/or that the tweeter attenuator is set to flat? What about the SM58? Does it sound good, work properly, played through other systems?

Louis

[martingitdave]

Better mic. Or, consider a vocal processor.

Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk

[Marty C]

Sounds like Louis has a good suggestion.

You might try different mics as well. I always used a SM58. I tried a friend's Sennheiser 835 and it made a big difference for me. Not saying one is better than the other, just different with my voice through my amp.

[RPK]

Make sure the mike, cable and amp are all in proper working order. Sometimes it is the obvious stuff we overlook Before you spend $$

I have what I think is a similar set-up. An older Genz-Benz Shennandoa.

I have run my $100 Audix mic straight in, or into my Voice Live play acoustic with fine results either way. My crappy vocals definitely sound better with the pedal, just using basic vocal processing.

What about the acoustics of the room or space you are playing in???

Have to tried recording directly out of the amp just for the heck of it?

RPK

[sbpark]

Originally Posted by RPK

Make sure the mike, cable and amp are all in proper working order. Sometimes it is the obvious stuff we overlook Before you spend $$

I have what I think is a similar set-up. An older Genz-Benz Shennandoa.

I have run my $100 Audix mic straight in, or into my Voice Live play acoustic with fine results either way. My crappy vocals definitely sound better with the pedal, just using basic vocal processing.

What about the acoustics of the room or space you are playing in???

Have to tried recording directly out of the amp just for the heck of it?

RPK

Everything works. It's not the room, etc. I just think the amp is way better for guitar than it is vocals, and looking for a relative easy fix to have more flexibility on the sound/EQ of the vocals.

[pipe dreamer]

I have a good mic precamp(focusrite isa one), I notice an improvement in clarity when I run my mic through that then into my acoustic amp. Could be worth testing a mic pre out (if you haven't already) you then have one for recording purposes which was the reason I got mine in the first place.

[cyclistbrian]

Originally Posted by sbpark

I'm not looking for a vocal processor/harmonizer/doubler, etc. I'm just wondering if there's anything out there that anyone uses to make their vocals sound 'better'? Something along the lines of EQ, compression, etc. to get rid of the boxy, muffled sound when running vocals through a combo amp (in this case a I've tried a TC Helicon Mic Mechanic and that pedal didn't do anything aside from making my vocal sound thin and hollow, and empty out my wallet (it got retuned the next day).

I'm using an SM58 through an SWR California Blonde.

Any advice or recommendations appreciated!

If you are 100% certain your mic cable is in good working order I would next try a different mic and and or a little reverb on the vocals.

[Kalani]

Yep, I would try a different mic. I sound a lot better thru my Shure Beta 87 than my SM58! However, I sound better thru the SM58 with my Roland Street Cube than my more expensive Sennheiser 945.

[sam.spoons]

If the TC Mic Mechanic made you sound worse there was definitely something wrong somewhere else, it's the nearest thing to a "magic box" for vocals I've ever heard (along with the other TC stuff using the same algorithms). I don't have one but will probably buy one soon.

The SM58 is not the best mike for natural sounding vocals, it's designed to cut through a loud rock band not accurately reproduce the vocal in quieter styles. It's also probably the most faked mic on the planet so it's possible you have one of those and they sound awful, thin and weak.

The limited frequency response of the 'Street Cube' is likely well served by the presence peak of the SM58, a better rig will allow the benefits of the better mic to shine.

I use SE Electronics SE-H1s for vocals almost exclusively (and I have 12+ vocal mics of about 6 or 7 different kinds in the mic box including an old, road worn SM58). The H1 is a condenser and is smooth and flattering, way sweeter sounding than the SM58, cheap too at £100 street. You'd need phantom power though which I don't think the Fishman supplies.

[Psalad]

I'm pretty sure there is no phantom power on that amp... So any condenser mic won't work without an external preamp or external phantom power injector.

I had one of those beasts a long time ago, and it was an awesome amp for guitar and upright bass. I can't remember ever really putting vocals through it. I would play around with the tweeter level control in the back if you haven't already and see if that helps. I would also experiment with rolling off some of the low end and experimenting with the enhancer control if there is one.

[Andy Howell]

Moving to a Sennheiser 935 mic seemed to make a big difference to me.

[Bobby1note]

Originally Posted by sbpark

I'm not looking for a vocal processor/harmonizer/doubler, etc. I'm just wondering if there's anything out there that anyone uses to make their vocals sound 'better'? Something along the lines of EQ, compression, etc. to get rid of the boxy, muffled sound when running vocals through a combo amp (in this case a I've tried a TC Helicon Mic Mechanic and that pedal didn't do anything aside from making my vocal sound thin and hollow, and empty out my wallet (it got retuned the next day).

I'm using an SM58 through an SWR California Blonde.

Any advice or recommendations appreciated!

Assuming your amp and mic are functioning properly,,, the first impression I got from reading this is,,, improper mic technique. How far off the mic are you when singing?

[RockerDuck]

Get a small mixer with a better mic preamp and use the EQ of the mixer.

[chitz]

Originally Posted by Andy Howell

Moving to a Sennheiser 935 mic seemed to make a big difference to me.

Same here. Head and shoulders better than a 58.