[Jose] How to Recreate the TOTALFAT Sound + Guitar Gear and Tone Settings [Effects & Amps]

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Introduction (Overview of Tone)

Jose, the guitarist of TOTALFAT, is renowned for his guitar sound that balances speed and thickness within the realms of melodic punk and loud rock. His sound is characterized by sharp riffs and chord work, along with a skillful switch between clean and distorted tones depending on the song.

Iconic tracks such as “Place to Try” and “Natsu no Tokage” showcase his energetic live performances, captivating audiences with a sound supported by Jose’s distinctive guitar tone. TOTALFAT’s music requires not only aggressive distortion sounds but also melodic arpeggios and backing, demanding a wide range of tonal creation.

The reason his sound design garners attention is that it is not just about intensity; it also maintains clarity and presence within the ensemble. Particularly in live settings, he utilizes Marshall amps for explosive power, while in recordings, he employs a variety of amps such as Kemper and Mesa/Boogie to craft the optimal sound for each situation.

Moreover, Jose’s dynamic playing style, which emphasizes the attack of his picking, necessitates gear that responds well to his performance style. Even amidst the fast-paced playing of TOTALFAT, his setup ensures that the guitar’s presence is never compromised.

In the following sections, we will delve into the amps, guitars, effects, and specific sound creation methods that Jose employs. This will be essential reading for anyone looking to recreate the TOTALFAT sound at home or during band practice.

▶ Search official YouTube videos of TOTALFAT

List of Amplifiers and Features

Jose’s amplifier selection varies significantly between live performances and studio recordings. In live settings, he prioritizes the powerful distortion and clarity of Marshall amps, while in the studio, he switches between diverse amp simulators and tube amps like Kemper and Mesa/Boogie. This flexibility allows him to achieve the characteristic speed of TOTALFAT’s riffs and chord backing while maintaining clarity in clean parts.

The main amp used during live performances is a modified Marshall JVM410 (Commune mod). This custom model is based on the standard JVM410 but achieves a tighter and more explosive distortion. It responds well to Jose’s aggressive picking, providing essential mid-range presence that stands out in the band ensemble.

In the studio, he employs high-end amps such as the Mesa/Boogie Road King, Marshall Jubilee, Bogner, and Two-Rock. The Mesa/Boogie is suitable for heavy riffs and thick chords, while Bogner offers a modern distortion with bright overtones. Additionally, Two-Rock excels in producing clear, bluesy clean tones, giving Jose a wide range of expressive possibilities in his guitar work.

Furthermore, he incorporates the Kemper Profiling Amplifier as a digital amp simulator, enhancing recording flexibility and sometimes using it as a backup system during live performances. The Kemper can precisely replicate real amps, making it highly effective for guitarists like Jose who require diverse amp sounds.

For practice and home recording, he uses the Line 6 Spark, which connects with a smartphone app, allowing him to customize presets like “Modern Stone” and “American Hi Gain.” This setup enables him to recreate the powerful sound of TOTALFAT’s stage performances even in a home environment.

Jose’s choice of amps reflects a clear concept of balancing “explosive power in live settings” with “versatile sound creation in recordings,” serving as a cornerstone of the band’s sonic identity. By changing amps, he tailors the optimal sound for each TOTALFAT song, as is assumed.

Types of Guitars Used and Features

Jose’s guitar collection is incredibly diverse, tailored to accommodate TOTALFAT’s wide-ranging musical styles. From the sharp riffs of melodic punk to softer, melodic songs featuring acoustic guitars, he selects the most suitable guitar for each situation.

The most iconic of these is the dragonfly Maroon model, a red-finished Strat-style guitar that Jose frequently uses in live performances. It achieves aggressive riffs and clear articulation, pairing well with high-gain amps, making it ideal for showcasing TOTALFAT’s fast-paced riffs and power chords.

For acoustic performances, he uses the Martin D-16GTL, which appears in unplugged sets and recordings, adding warmth to mellow tracks and interludes. The characteristic warm and resonant sound of Martin guitars complements Jose’s dynamic strumming style perfectly.

Additionally, he has an original order Edwards LP-type guitar that features a dummy center pickup designed for easy thumb access while picking, supporting Jose’s unique playing style. It is equipped with a Seymour Duncan P-90 in the front and a Seymour Duncan Custom in the rear, producing a diverse sound that combines the thickness of the P-90 with the power of a humbucker.

Moreover, the ESP SNAPPER is also utilized for clean parts. The Snapper offers quick response and tight range, providing a transparent sound for clean arpeggios and cutting. It plays a crucial role in sections of TOTALFAT’s music where the tension is momentarily lowered.

Thus, Jose’s guitar selection is based on the principle of maximizing the character of each song, flexibly covering high-gain, clean, and acoustic domains. As a result, TOTALFAT achieves a rich variety of sound in both live and recording settings, as is assumed.

Effects and Pedalboard Setup

Jose’s effects board is designed to support the fast-paced songs of TOTALFAT, focusing on practicality while remaining simple. During live performances, he arranges only the essential effects at his feet, prioritizing reliability and responsiveness. In the studio, he combines plugins and multi-effects to create a diverse range of sounds.

At the core of his setup is the KORG PitchBlack Pro, a rack-mounted tuner that provides stable visibility and high-precision tuning, ensuring reliability on stage. For live performances, he places delay and octave effects at his feet. The delay is used for lead play and spatial effects, while the octave adds thickness to riffs. This setup allows for a full-sounding guitar presence, even in a two-guitar band.

In the recording environment, he frequently utilizes BIAS Amp. This plugin complements the sounds of the Kemper Profiling Amplifier and real amps, allowing him to tailor tones for each guitar. This flexibility enables him to adapt to the loud riffs and transparent cleans required in TOTALFAT’s music.

Additionally, the use of the Line 6 Spark as an amp simulator is noteworthy. Jose customizes presets based on “Modern Stone” and “American Hi Gain,” sometimes adding Tube Drive for a boost. The convenience and responsiveness of the Spark are beneficial not only for practice but also for practical pre-production sound creation.

Jose’s effects board emphasizes practicality over flashy multifunctionality. Given the fast tempo and frequent key changes in TOTALFAT’s songs, he maintains high playability with a simple setup, avoiding reliance on excessive effect changes. This reflects one of Jose’s core beliefs in sound design.

Tone Settings, EQ, and Mixing Approaches

At the core of Jose’s sound design is the principle of creating a foundation that supports the overall band sound while ensuring the guitar does not overpower the energetic playing. Since TOTALFAT’s bass and drums are also aggressive and dense, the guitar’s distortion should not be overly deep, and mid-range frequencies must be preserved. This approach allows the entire ensemble to shine, ensuring that each instrument is clearly heard in the mix.

During live performances, he often uses the modified Marshall JVM410 (Commune mod) as his main amp, with the distortion channel set closer to overdrive. The gain is kept moderate, around 5-6, allowing Jose’s strong picking style to push the sound forward. The mid-range (Mid) is emphasized at 7-8, the low end (Bass) is kept tight at 4-5, and the high end (Treble) is maintained at around 6 for brightness. This setup achieves a punchy attack that cuts through the overall band sound.

Depending on the song, he may utilize the Kemper or BIAS Amp to switch amp profiles during sound creation. For example, for punk-style fast riffs, he selects a Marshall profile aiming for a thick and prominent sound. Conversely, for melodic clean parts, he combines Two-Rock or the ESP SNAPPER, adding reverb and light delay effects to create transparency.

For lead parts, he sets the delay to a shorter time (250-350ms) with feedback adjusted to 2-3 repeats. By not thickening the sound too much, he maintains the sense of speed and clarity. The octave effect is primarily used to add thickness to riffs, reinforcing the low-end presence when unison with the bass.

In recording EQ processing, he cuts frequencies below 80Hz to avoid muddiness in the low end and lightly boosts mid-range frequencies between 1.2kHz and 1.8kHz. This adjustment enhances the picking attack. High-end frequencies (above 5kHz) are kept moderate to avoid clashing with cymbals and vocals, ensuring a balanced mix across the band. While the guitar may sound slightly sharp when listened to in isolation, it fits perfectly within the band context.

Furthermore, Jose’s playing style often features strong strumming and picking, so any compressor processing is likely handled more by the engineer’s outboard gear or mixing rather than effects. This approach avoids overly squashing the sound, preserving the natural dynamics that contribute to TOTALFAT’s energy.

The switch between clean and distorted tones is straightforward, with the possibility of utilizing the pickup selector and volume knob on the guitar. Notably, the Edwards LP-type guitar features both P-90 and Custom pickups, allowing him to choose warmer tones from the front or powerful sounds from the rear depending on the song.

In summary, Jose’s sound design is not merely about listing gear specifications; it is characterized by a focus on “creating a sound that stands out within the ensemble” and “maintaining EQ that does not compromise speed.” This results in overwhelming power and tight cohesion in live settings, while offering a diverse range of textures in recordings, as is assumed.

Affordable Alternatives to Recreate the Tone

While Jose’s sound relies heavily on high-end gear, it is possible for beginners and intermediate players to achieve a similar tone at a relatively affordable price. Here, we will introduce items that can be purchased for around $100 to $500, focusing on recreating the TOTALFAT sound. The key points are the ability to replicate “Marshall-style distortion,” “spatial effects through delay,” “octave processing,” and “multi-effects for practice.”

To easily replicate the core distortion tone of Jose’s live setup, which is based on the modified Marshall JVM410, the BOSS DS-1X or BOSS SD-1W Super OverDrive are excellent choices. The DS-1X offers a modern, high-gain sound with good articulation, while the SD-1W provides a classic mid-range punch. Both can be found for around $100, making them sufficient to create the backbone of Jose’s punk sound.

For delay, the BOSS DD-8 is practical. It is multifunctional yet user-friendly, allowing for a simple recreation of Jose’s technique of lightly adding delay to leads for improved clarity. A delay time of around 250ms with shallow feedback settings will yield a sound that maintains the sense of speed.

For octave effects, the Electro-Harmonix POG2 or BOSS OC-5 are viable options. The OC-5, priced in the $200 range, is particularly suitable for adding a lower octave to enhance the thickness of riffs. Given that Jose uses octave effects to ensure thickness in a two-guitar setup, this addition would be highly effective.

For home recording or practice, multi-effects units like the Line 6 POD Go or Zoom G11 are also effective. The POD Go, while not as expensive as the Kemper, includes Marshall and Mesa amp modeling, making it easy to replicate Jose’s recording sound. Its versatility makes it a cost-effective choice for both home practice and band rehearsals.

For acoustic parts, a reasonably priced acoustic guitar like the YAMAHA FG800 is recommended. While it may not match the high-end Martin D-16GTL, it provides a warm and natural tone that is sufficient for replicating Jose’s acoustic tracks.

By combining these pieces of gear, you can achieve the energetic and powerful sound characteristic of TOTALFAT at an affordable price. Particularly, BOSS pedals and the Line 6 POD Go offer “stability,” “reproducibility,” and “versatility,” making them realistic options for guitarists looking to emulate Jose’s sound.

Summary and Conclusion

Reflecting on Jose’s sound design in TOTALFAT, the core lies in “creating a guitar tone that supports the entire band without losing speed.” While playing aggressive, high-gain riffs, he ensures that mid-range frequencies are preserved for clarity, creating thickness in combination with the bass and drums. To achieve this, he primarily uses the Marshall JVM410 (Commune mod) and Mesa/Boogie, incorporating Kemper and BIAS Amp as needed for different scenarios.

His guitar choices range from the dragonfly main model to the original Edwards LP, ESP SNAPPER, and even the Martin D-16GTL, demonstrating a commitment to “optimizing selections for each song.” Notably, the combination of P-90 and Custom pickups in the Edwards LP and the transparency provided by the SNAPPER reflect Jose’s unique attention to detail. It’s impressive how he maintains awareness of both explosive power in live settings and expressive capabilities in recordings.

His effects setup is minimal yet practical. By utilizing delay and octave effects for spatial and thickness enhancement, he flexibly adapts with multi-effects and plugins as needed. This approach prioritizes “practicality over flashiness,” aligning with the fast-paced nature of TOTALFAT’s songs.

The essence of sound design is crucial: Jose meticulously crafts a sound that shines within the ensemble. While it may sound slightly rough or subdued in isolation, it fits perfectly when played with the band. This balance is a result of years of live experience and musical understanding, embodying the philosophy behind his gear choices and EQ settings.

For readers looking to replicate Jose’s sound, it’s important to remember that it’s not about copying gear perfectly. The key points are “maintaining clarity in riffs without losing speed,” “flexibility in optimizing sounds for each song,” and “simple yet effective use of effects.” Affordable gear from brands like BOSS and Line 6 can get you close, and by adding your own picking nuances and playing style, you can immerse yourself in the energetic world of TOTALFAT.

Jose’s sound design is not just a combination of gear; it is supported by a “philosophy” that maximizes the potential of TOTALFAT’s songs and stage presence. Understanding this essence and applying it to your setup will expand your expressiveness as a guitarist.