Greg what level is your pre gains on your JCM900

[ido1957]

I was setting up my levels - thanks to rayc - and tried a few different settings. I've played/recorded with the same settings for a long time. Specifically for this thread, I turned the gain on both my preamps to full blast and played a few things. To be honest it was mushy and it sort of lacked definition. Turned it back to about 40% and it "cleaned up" nicely. I guess that was why I set it that way, way back when...
Maybe I should put this in the tone thread

 

[Greg_L]

If you dimed both the preamps yeah it can get mushy. My amp is a different 900 from yours though. Mine's a MkIII. I don't have that many knobs. I have a regular preamp gain, and a sensitivity gain which is like overdrive. No reverb. One channel. I rarely use the sensitivity gain. For my usual run-of-the-mill crap, I run the gain around 7 or 8 and turn the master up pretty loud. Like that "Vaginasaurus Rex" song I just posted in the clinic a few weeks ago, the gain was around 8 and the master vol was maybe 6 or 7. It was loud.

Go look in the new tone thread for some of clean tones. I just put some up. I ran the gain at like 2 for those with a Strat and it's pretty clean.

 

[Seeker of Rock]

Marshall was great at raw rock tones from an analog path. I don't think they are as legendary at massive OD. It's a market they tried to do as "factory stock" but imo fell short (the JVM sounded good in OD1, though). Pulling back the gain will let that amp do what it does best. Boost your front end if you want over-the-top. I realize I am not the Gerg, but wanted to chime in because it is late, I'm bored, and I had something to add.

 

[Greg_L]

Right. I agree. Marshalls are not modern high gain monsters and typically need an overdrive pedal in front to go there. The JVM is pretty badass though. I agree OD1 is pretty good on that amp, but I think OD2 is ass. It's just too much.