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Amp EQ all rolled off

bratpack7

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Nov 28, 2003
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246
Does anybody play with the treble, bass, and mids all rolled off and use just guitar tone? I was playing with EQ and started at 0 for everything and it sounds pretty good. Master and Volume up, Reverb to taste and BD3 gain at 10:00

It seems weird, but I kind of like it
 

Big Al

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Apr 24, 2002
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That won't always work with some amplifiers as they will have no volume without tone stack engaged. I have some amps with only a single knob for volume control, so kinda have to with them.

If you find usable tone you like that way, then it is way cool, for you. I use some unconventional settings on some of my amps with great results, for this bad boy, but I always use my guitars volume and tone controls.
 

corpse

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Jun 9, 2007
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4,876
I will roll off the tone on my Fender amps just to get some gooey stuff for slide- or dime the bass- I just to something distinctive. I really doubt it would work in a live setting though as it would get lost.
 

bratpack7

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Nov 28, 2003
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246
I will roll off the tone on my Fender amps just to get some gooey stuff for slide- or dime the bass- I just to something distinctive. I really doubt it would work in a live setting though as it would get lost.
This was my thought too. Noodling around on my own is one thing, but in a mix it will probably fail.
I have been playing with controls like a mad scientist trying to tame the harshness when I OD my BJ3. It seems like the BD2 is great for low gain, but for higher gain I think I need to do something else. Youtube tells me I might need to stack an OD that is more midrange to get a less harsh break-up.
 

jrgtr42

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Mar 24, 2005
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I've tried that on a couple of my amps - mostly in the context of seeing what everything really does, and it usually ends up sounding like I have pillows stuffed over and behind the speakers - on top of having dead ears from being at a too-loud concert the night before.
That said, something like that might work for a jazz gig or something, but I can't see that for much use beyond that.
But if you like it on your rig, go with it - Rock n Roll is all about breaking the rules, ain't it?
 

Sol

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Oct 26, 2001
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Do you remember that first look a few yrs ago behind the scenes at an AC/DC concert, where we got to see for the first time the Marshall amps that Angus and Stevie Young were using.

Many guitarists, myself included were blown away at the brothers amp settings. Every amp setting seemed to be below 12 o'clock except volume..quite unusual.

Many rock players dime everything for max midrange and max gain,(and we love it, early V Halen anyone? ) but not Angus and Malc.

Listening again it's perfectly clear imho, that the brothers deliberately dialed back the eq and by doing so created a Marshall tone nobody else had and this sound set them apart from all other rock bands, it's a tone you hear and instantly know its them. Unique, how cool is that ?

Thats just a long way of saying that playing around with amp eq can bear unexpected fruit.
 
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bratpack7

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Joined
Nov 28, 2003
Messages
246
Do you remember that first look a few yrs ago behind the scenes at an AC/DC concert, where we got to see for the first time the Marshall amps that Angus and Stevie Young were using.

Many guitarists, myself included were blown away at the brothers amp settings. Every amp setting seemed to be below 12 o'clock except volume..quite unusual.

Many rock players dime everything for max midrange and max gain,(and we love it, early V Halen anyone? ) but not Angus and Malc.

Listening again it's perfectly clear imho, that the brothers deliberately dialed back the eq and by doing so created a Marshall tone nobody else had and this sound set them apart from all other rock bands, it's a tone you hear and instantly know its them. Unique, how cool is that ?

Thats just a long way of saying that playing around with amp eq can bear unexpected fruit.
I didn't know that about ACDC, interesting. I have since tweaked the EQ some more and I don't have everything rolled off but definitely below 12:00, treble just barely registering at about 8:00.
 

Big Al

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Apr 24, 2002
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On BJrs I always dime the master and keep the gain at half to start. Use the fat control as a lead boost. Watch the bass, too much is flubby and keep the mids up. Do not dime the treble, I use lower settings.
 

peeninety

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Mar 31, 2002
Messages
297
On BJrs I always dime the master and keep the gain at half to start. Use the fat control as a lead boost. Watch the bass, too much is flubby and keep the mids up. Do not dime the treble, I use lower settings.
Dang, I kinda do the opposite--Volume between 10 and 12 and Master between 2 and 4, depending on the space I'm in. It sounds killer outdoors, too; just crank up the Master a bit. I love these little amps, though. Beats the shite out of lugging a head and a cab around . . . . .
 

Big Al

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I used mine in clubs and festival stages. By raising the master you allow the output tubes to dynamically react to your playing and give a more satisfying crunch. With humbuckers, and master dimed it starts getting crunchy at around 10-11:00 on the gain and just gets more so as you increse gain. If that little 15wt amp gets too loud for ya you can drop the master. Both gain and master at noon is a good start for lower volume dynamic feel.

IMO, having used these forever pegging the gain and master on 2 defeats the amp. Yup, you get lots of preamp gain and fizz and no EL84 power stage goodness. It is same as Marshalls. Low master settings choke the amp. My guess is that you mean low volume situations, (married 44yrs and want to stay married), or plaing sans drums. I do just that, or I drop gain and add a well chosen dirt box for controllable mayhem at spouse freindly levels. She has a cast iron skillet and knows how to use it.

Of course everyone finds their best way to use them and they all are valid. I love these little Fenders and would encourage expanding ways to use them beyond high gain low master settings, especially on stage or gigging.
 

peeninety

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Mar 31, 2002
Messages
297
I used mine in clubs and festival stages. By raising the master you allow the output tubes to dynamically react to your playing and give a more satisfying crunch. With humbuckers, and master dimed it starts getting crunchy at around 10-11:00 on the gain and just gets more so as you increse gain. If that little 15wt amp gets too loud for ya you can drop the master. Both gain and master at noon is a good start for lower volume dynamic feel.

IMO, having used these forever pegging the gain and master on 2 defeats the amp. Yup, you get lots of preamp gain and fizz and no EL84 power stage goodness. It is same as Marshalls. Low master settings choke the amp. My guess is that you mean low volume situations, (married 44yrs and want to stay married), or plaing sans drums. I do just that, or I drop gain and add a well chosen dirt box for controllable mayhem at spouse freindly levels. She has a cast iron skillet and knows how to use it.

Of course everyone finds their best way to use them and they all are valid. I love these little Fenders and would encourage expanding ways to use them beyond high gain low master settings, especially on stage or gigging.
I don't doubt anything you say, Big Al.

As you noted, though, I've found a way to my sweet spot.

One thing I'll add: I discovered, on another forum, that using a particular 12AX7 type in V1 makes a huge difference.

The same is true if I use that tube type in V2 on my JMP Mark II head.

The tubes were manufactured by a now defunct Yugoslavian company called Ei, who OEM'ed them for a variety of US, tube makers.
 

Big Al

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Apr 24, 2002
Messages
14,537
I don't doubt anything you say, Big Al.

As you noted, though, I've found a way to my sweet spot.

One thing I'll add: I discovered, on another forum, that using a particular 12AX7 type in V1 makes a huge difference.

The same is true if I use that tube type in V2 on my JMP Mark II head.

The tubes were manufactured by a now defunct Yugoslavian company called Ei, who OEM'ed them for a variety of US, tube makers.
yup. I just wanted to show a different way to use them. Whatever way works best for you is the right way. The cool thing about the low wattage amps is the ability to wind them up to get the whole amp cooking. I'm so old that I remember well how amazed we were when master volume controls came out! I have a little more than 60 amps that I aquired over the years. They got smaller over time as I like cranking a tube amp up to the moist spot. Found out that I like pedals and a whole new way to spend my dough. Nowadays I just mostly look at it all, no more gigs for me and playing is challenging to say the least.

V1 tube makes all the difference and finding the right one is so rewarding. I like to use a 12AY or 12AU in the gain channel on high gain amps. Tube rollin' is ear opening x 10. Like spkrs!! The right tubes, bias and speakers can make an average amp great. And it's different for each of us, and very cool.
 

Sol

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Oct 26, 2001
Messages
775
I didn't know that about ACDC, interesting. I have since tweaked the EQ some more and I don't have everything rolled off but definitely below 12:00, treble just barely registering at about 8:00.
I need to correct my earlier post. Everything was below 12 o'clock except Volume and Tone. On Presence I'm not sure.. I apologise for the omission.
If you've not found the footage I think it was a Premiere Guitar interview and should be easy to find on YouTube.
 
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