The New Tone Thread

[Greg_L]

Ok guys, here's a clip using the new (to me) cab...

Signal chain:

SG>EVH LBX>EVH 4x12>i5 (raw track, no post-processing)

Amp settings:
1/4 power
Red channel
Resonance: 2-3
Bass: 8
Mid: 4
Treble: 6
Presence: 7
Gain: 3
Volume: 2

EVH Half-Stack

I honestly thought there would be a big difference in the sound compared to my other cab because of the 4 different speakers that are in the bastard cab, but really, they sound pretty similar in the room...

And here's another clip with the gain dimed on the blue channel...

Signal chain:

SG>EVH LBX>EVH 4x12>i5 (raw track, no post-processing)

Amp settings:
1/4 power
Blue channel
Resonance: 2-3
Bass: 8
Mid: 4
Treble: 6
Presence: 7
Gain: 10
Volume: 2

EVH Dimed Blue Channel

Miner, both of these sound like what you sound like. I mean, these have your sound, like the Chupa, DSL, whatever you've used. You've gotten into your range with this amp. You found it. I personally like the dimed blue channel clips better, but both sound great to me.

 

[ocnor]

I spent the biggest part of my day haggling a buddy of mine over a 4x12 cab. I kept pestering him about it, & ended up getting it without spending a dime, like the little EVH head, I traded some shit that I never use for it...Just guessing at the value of the things I traded to him, I got this cab for about $500. I think I did ok on the trade, I wish it'd been black tolex, but I can't really bitch because of the way I got it...Here's a couple pics:





Dunno if you can see in the bottom pic or not, but the speaker wires are soldered on, they don't even have the little tabs like most speakers do. The cab looks brand new, not a mark on it anywhere. I don't think the speakers are even broken in, the guy I got it from said he'd had it a couple months or so...

Clips to come...

Sweet! I love the white cab it's very 80s. Those clips sound really good.

 

[minerman]

Miner, both of these sound like what you sound like. I mean, these have your sound, like the Chupa, DSL, whatever you've used. You've gotten into your range with this amp. You found it. I personally like the dimed blue channel clips better, but both sound great to me.

Greg dude, you'll never know how much I appreciate these comments man, seriously. I've been chasing tone here with you guys for what, 3-4 years??? For you to say I've found my sound/tone is just so cool man, really. I've spent a lot of time, & a lot of $$$ on this quest, but I think I'm at a place now where I've wanted to be since this craziness started...Again, thanks man these comments really mean more to me than you'll ever know dude...

The funny thing to me is these clips have been recorded at pretty low volume, the exact thing I've wanted for years without success. I just happened to stumble onto this, everything I've ever tried to plan out in the past didn't work. I'm stumped...lol...

I've been meaning to say this little amp reminds me a lot of the Chupa. It's got the same kind of texture/character to it...I'm lovin' this rig so far, & it should only get better as these speakers break in...

Sweet! I love the white cab it's very 80s. Those clips sound really good.

Thanks Ocnor, I wish the cab was black in a way, but it doesn't really matter. What matters is the sound...Thanks again dude!!!

 

[Greg_L]

I think the big cab may be the equalizer. That might be the key to getting big sounds from little amps.

 

[JDOD]

Miner, I just had a chance to listen to them both through - you just sound like you and it sounds good. If you're getting this at half sane volume levels then I think you're onto something good here.

 

[jimistone]

I really like the last two guitar sounds you posted minerman. I think you have a great sounding rig!

 

[JDOD]

Suppose there's not really a general music chat forum on here so I thought I would put it here.

Been listening to an album called Sound Awake by a band called Karnivool today - its good. Its kinda poppy/proggy but they sound good and have catchy songs. They don't have that horrible compressed to fuck sound that modern alternative pop metal has. They're kinda like Tool but not so dark.

They sound good.

 

[minerman]

Thanks guys, I'm really liking this amp/cab...

Jdude, those last clips were pretty low volume compared to most of my older clips, but it's still fairly loud. It's not whisper quiet by any means, but it's not roaring like a big amp...

I think the key to the whole thing on my end is the cab...

 

[JDOD]

Thanks guys, I'm really liking this amp/cab...

Jdude, those last clips were pretty low volume compared to most of my older clips, but it's still fairly loud. It's not whisper quiet by any means, but it's not roaring like a big amp...

I think the key to the whole thing on my end is the cab...

It would appear that a nice big cab is the key to achieving big full sounds at a reasonable volume - I'm assuming you mean that while pretty loud in the room - its not neighbours calling the cops loud?

 

[Greg_L]

The cab is always the culprit. It's not just a box. It matters. I've never heard a little head not sound better through a big cab than it's small-box combo counterpart..

Take the Marshall Slash combo from a few years ago. It sounded like shit to me. Small, bright, boxy, but it had a killer V30 in it. Too bad it was in a tiny box. Plug that combo into a 4x12 extension cab and it got way way better. Same with the Class 5. A shitty little 5 watt combo, but it sounded pretty good through a bigger cab. And pair these little watt heads with "soft" speakers, like a Greenback, and you're getting somewhere.

This is for rock and roll tones though. If you're doing cleans, then the little shit is fine.

 

[minerman]

It would appear that a nice big cab is the key to achieving big full sounds at a reasonable volume - I'm assuming you mean that while pretty loud in the room - its not neighbours calling the cops loud?

Well dude, that depends on the neighbors...It's hard for me to describe how loud something is, so maybe like a loud stereo??? It's a lot louder than a tv would normally be (unless you're an old deaf guy who has to crank it up to hear while watching Wheel of Fortune or Jeopardy)...


Greg: I think the Greenbacks play a big part in this, as they're lower sensitivity speakers than say, a V30, correct???

 

[Greg_L]

Greg: I think the Greenbacks play a big part in this, as they're lower sensitivity speakers than say, a V30, correct???

They are a lower sensitivity, but that's not what makes them more suited for low wattage. They have small magnets and a less robust voice coil. They can't handle as much power as a V30 so they get into "character" sooner than other speakers.

 

[Lt. Bob]

They are a lower sensitivity, but that's not what makes them more suited for low wattage. They have small magnets and a less robust voice coil. They can't handle as much power as a V30 so they get into "character" sooner than other speakers.

right .... aren't greenbacks 25 watters?
That means they're gonna be at their limit when the wattage gets to 25 per speaker ... you start getting cone breakup which is yet another form of distortion that has its own coolness.

 

[miroslav]

.... aren't greenbacks 25 watters?

Yup.

 

[Lt. Bob]

Looking forward to this ..... don't get to do band gigs often enough and Tommy's a monster.
Of course ..... I only got copies of his 30 originals last night and I have a gig tomorrow so I have until I fall asleep in my chair to learn all this stuff.
That's my thang and what I do but it's still a tiny bit 'o' pressure.

click on it and it'll get big enough to read.

 

[RAMI]

Looking forward to this ..... don't get to do band gigs often enough and Tommy's a monster.
Of course ..... I only got copies of his 30 originals last night and I have a gig tomorrow so I have until I fall asleep in my chair to learn all this stuff.
That's my thang and what I do but it's still a tiny bit 'o' pressure.

click on it and it'll get big enough to read.

Awesome. Nothing like cramming for a gig.

I've learned 30+ song lists in one day and sometimes the vocals, too. Probably easier for me being a drummer. I only need to learn the beat and the changes. You need to know those things PLUS the chords, solos, etc....But I'm sure you still thrive on that kind of thing.

 

[RAMI]

Hey guys,

Some tone ail for you to cut.

Just a snippette of the guitar solos for "Sympathy for the Devil".

I didn't want to go for that razor sharp, thin (Tele?) sound of the original, but I did want it a little piercing anyway.

There are 3 solos.


First and third are the same settings:

Gibson SG Bridge pick-up....
Fender Super Champ X 2 "80s British (Marshall JCM800)" setting
Virtual OverDrive Pedal between the guitar and before hitting the re-amp.


The middle solo:

Epiphone SG (P-90's) Neck Pick-up
Fender Super Champ X 2 "60s British Clean (Vox AC30)" setting

 

[minerman]

I think the speakers in the new cab do make a difference, & they should only get better with time...

Bob: Didn't you have a gig with this guy last year too??? Is that a yearly thing you get to do with Tommy??? I remember watching some vids of you guys last year & I thought it was pretty damn good...

Awesome. Nothing like cramming for a gig.

I've learned 30+ song lists in one day and sometimes the vocals, too. Probably easier for me being a drummer. I only need to learn the beat and the changes. You need to know those things PLUS the chords, solos, etc....But I'm sure you still thrive on that kind of thing.

I'd feel confident saying Bob can play all those songs in his sleep man, 30 songs ain't much for 'ol Bob...

 

[Lt. Bob]

Awesome. Nothing like cramming for a gig.

I've learned 30+ song lists in one day and sometimes the vocals, too. Probably easier for me being a drummer. I only need to learn the beat and the changes. You need to know those things PLUS the chords, solos, etc....But I'm sure you still thrive on that kind of thing.

yeah, it's a sax gig so that makes it much easier ..... I've played gigs like this with zero prep on sax ..... not really a problem on horn .... I could totally wing it and do ok.

But I would like to get a rough idea of the horn parts that actually exist on his LPs so he'll hear something he's familiar with which will surprise him and let him know I exerted some effort and did my homework.
I'm always looking for the repeat gig.
Solos, of course, I'm gonna play whatever the hell I feel like.

Problem is, LOL, your 'cramming for a test' analogy is SO accurate ..... I could have been prepping last week ..... hell, I went into the music room last night intending to work on it and then did something else instead.
It's like in college when you wait 'till the last minute and cram, just like you said.
I'm a bad procrastinator on this 'cause I know I can do it even if I don't work on it at all.
I'll be fine no matter what and he'll love me .... but I'd like to do better than that and play at a superior level.

LOL ...... SO ..... that's why I'm getting up right now and getting to work ..... ok ... NOW! ....... now ..... hmmmmmmmmmmm, now? .............................................

 

[RAMI]

yeah, it's a sax gig so that makes it much easier ..... I've played gigs like this with zero prep on sax ..... not really a problem on sax.
But I would like to get a rough idea of the horn parts that actually exist on his LPs so he'll hear something he's familiar with which will surprise him and let him know I exerted some effort and did my homework. Solos, of course, I'm gonna play whatever the hell I feel like.

problem is, LOL, your cramming for a test analogy is SO accurate ..... I could have been prepping last week ..... hell, I went into the music room last night intending to work on it and then did something else instead.
It's like in college when you wait 'till the last minute and cram, just like you said.
I'm a bad procrastinator on this 'cause I know I can do it even if I don't work on it at all.
I'll be fine no matter what and he'll love me .... but I'd like to do better than that and play at a superior level.

LOL ...... SO ..... that's why I'm getting up right now and getting to work ..... ok ... NOW! ....... now ..... hmmmmmmmmmmm, now? .............................................

That's funny. I know exactly what you mean. I sort of took pride in being able to wing it......or learning songs in the car on the way to a rehearsal or gig. It's kind of like living on the musical edge, but I had an over-confidence about it that, luckily, never bit me in the ass. I always pulled it off. I mean, I'm not really bragging because it is easier for a drummer than a chord instrument, generally. I'm more impressed at my memory for lyrics.