What combination of effects do I need to create that sweet tone...

I want to know what effects I need to get to acheve that tone you here in most "epic" solos. I'm sure the is alot of delay, but there has got to be something else in ther as well. The people who have the tone I'm talking about is Petrucci, Waggoner (Between the Buried and Me) and other guitarists that abuse sweep picking in modern Metal.

I'm sure amps have something to do with it as well. I know Petrucci uses Mesa, but is rectifier + delay/reverb the key to that sound? Please let me know what I need to do to get that sound.

thanks!!

I was wondering the same thing. I think what you're reffering to is that sharp but clean, almost synthesized sound. Like the solos from Manowar or newer Dave Murray solos. Personaly I don't believe you need that many effects to have an epic solo. Look at Marty Friedman's solo on Tornado of souls.Better yet look at the Marty Friedman vs. Paul Gilbert jam on Youtube.

Listen at 2:24 is this the sound?

Yea, that is pretty close.... For most "epic" sounding solos thats the one. Its textbook Petrucci, and other soloists that use those sounds.

So what do I need to do to make my guitar sound like that???

=D

two words. tube amp.

a lot of how you sound is in how you play...

yeah, a lot is in how you play. but the tone itself is i think the question. tube amps are a staple in that tone area, but a good metal distortion pedal and maybe an analogman modified "tube screamer" overdrive too could help with that sound.