Doug Weiand Talks About Using Effects Pedals in the Studio and On Stage.
Guitarist Doug Weiand has a lot on his plate! This summer he is on tour with his band Edge of Paradise, a high-voltage metal band currently recording with Napalm Records.
He also just completed a record with his new, up-and-coming band Death Dealer Union, also on Napalm Records. The DDU record is scheduled to come out in the fall of this year. Keep an eye out for that one.
In addition to his bands Doug works with Gibson guitars and their subsidiary brands: Mesa, Epiphone and Kramer, recording scorching product demos with his explosive style of guitar playing.
Doug is also a Source Audio fan! He recently did some recording with the Nemesis Delay ADT in his home studio in Los Angeles and recorded some amazing sounds. We recently sat down with Doug to talk about his bands and how he uses his effects in the studio and on stage.
The post you did with the Nemesis Delay ADT was excellent! It really demonstrated how delay can really help with lead lines to add dimension and fattening up the tone. Thank you so much for posting it.
Thank you, I’m glad the post was helpful and that the concept came across clearly. Delay is one of those effects that can completely change how a lead guitar sits in a mix without necessarily making it louder.
I’m curious how often you use effects pedals as outboard effects. Would you ever run your guitar through a delay pedal during the actual recording of a guitar track or do you always wait until mixing sessions to add those kinds of effects?
It depends on the situation. Most of the time, especially for album work, I’ll record the guitar DIs and add delay during the Reamp or mixing process. That gives me maximum flexibility.
That said, there are definitely times when I’ll mic up a cabinet and run the delay through the amplifier’s FX loop, especially when the effect becomes part of the performance itself. Certain rhythmic delays, ambient textures and expressive lead passages can feel completely different when you’re interacting with the repeats in real time. In those situations, hearing and responding to the delay as you play can have a significant impact on phrasing, dynamics and overall feel.
For content creation and demos, I often use the actual pedal while tracking because I want people to hear exactly what the pedal contributes to the sound.
Other than overdrive and delay, what other types of effects do you use for your leads?
Besides a drive and delay, the effects I commonly use in my lead tones are reverb, compression, wah, and occasionally chorus to add some width. And of course, I'll use volume boosts and harmonic enhancement–my signature pedal, the SushiBox MORE V2 is great for that.
I’m generally pretty straightforward when it comes to effects. Most of my lead tone comes from the guitar, the amp, and the speakers. Effects are usually there to enhance what’s already there rather than completely transform the sound. That said, it always depends on the application and what the music calls for.
What kind of a rig are you running at Edge of Paradise and Death Dealer Union shows these days? Are you still using real amps and effects pedals or are you running something like a Fractal Audio Multi Effects Processor directly to the front of house. Or is it a combination of both?
I’m real amp guy. My live and studio setup is centered around 2 Mesa/Boogie Mark VII heads running is stereo with 2 Mesa 2x12 horizontal rectifier cabinets. All the effects going in to the send/return FX LOOP of the amp. I like the feel, response and interaction of a real tube amp and cabinet moving air on stage.
The Mark VII has a great built-in impulse response that I rely on quite a bit for live performances. It makes it easy to achieve a consistent sound night after night.
The 90s Dual Rectifier Reissue is another great amp as well. I frequently pair it with the Mark VII in the studio, particularly for heavier rhythm tones. The two amps complement each other very well, combining the Rectifier’s massive punch with the articulation and focus of the Mark series.
That approach was actually used throughout the upcoming Death Dealer Union album, where all rhythm guitars were recorded with a blend of the Dual Rectifier and Mark VII, while the Mark VII handled all of the guitar solo tracks on its own. That said, I still have an old digital amp/modeler that I use whenever logistics make it difficult to bring an amplifier.. it’s practical for touring specially when overseas.
What is your impression of the Nemesis Delay after using it for a little while?
Very versatile delay unit. You can dial in everything from subtle lead enhancement to very complex ambient textures, and it always seems to stay musical. A lot of delay pedals have one or two sounds they excel at…the Nemesis feels like a platform that can cover several delay applications.
The editor software and deep customization options are very powerful if you enjoy tweaking.
What's on the schedule this summer for Death Dealer Union, Edge of Paradise?
It’s shaping up to be a very busy season.
Death Dealer Union recently welcomed a new singer, and with a new album set for release soon, we also have several music videos in production. There’s a lot of excitement surrounding the band, and we’re looking forward to seeing how the next few months unfold.
At the same time, Edge of Paradise is actively pursuing new opportunities, with several projects currently in the works behind the scenes. We recently completed a European tour and are now preparing for a U.S. tour in July. Later in the year, we’ll be heading back to Europe for another tour.
How long have you been creating content for Gibson brands and how is that experience?
I’ve been creating some demo guitar content for Gibson brands, more specifically for Mesa, Epiphone and Kramer for about 2 years and it’s been a great experience.
One thing I’ve enjoyed is the opportunity to showcase different instruments in real-world musical situations rather than just talking about specifications. As a player, that’s what interests me most, how an instrument inspires you and performs in an actual recording or performance environment.
I’ve met some fantastic people through the process and have had the chance to work with some truly iconic instruments.
Doug Demos the Kramer Baretta Reissue & Mesa Boogie Mark IIC
Thanks for talking with us Doug! We can't wait to hear the new DDU record and catch Edge of Paradise the next time you come through town!
