the story of my experimental rack continued...

[Oli]

I was going to bid on that MP-1 too, gwEm, ended up going for a good price! They're certainly good units, i love my pair :) The clean chorused sound is pure Nothing Else Matters, and the distorted sounds are really versatile; from just breaking up, all the way through to high gain stuff.

[TwilightOdyssey]

Maybe I define 'bargain' differently than everyone else, but to me a bargain is something that's value outstrips its cost.

To me, that doesn't seem to be true with the 9001, judging by what you guys are saying.

Just because something is cheap, doesn't mean it's a bargain, just as something more expensive doesn't denote a rip-off.

Buying multiple wrong preamps will cost more in the long run than one right preamp. Where's the bargain in that?!

[gwEm]

I was going to bid on that MP-1 too, gwEm, ended up going for a good price! They're certainly good units, i love my pair :) The clean chorused sound is pure Nothing Else Matters, and the distorted sounds are really versatile; from just breaking up, all the way through to high gain stuff.

yeah, was pretty gutted about that MP1 ;)

anyway - regarding the MP1 - do they sound nice stock, or do you have to mod them to get a good sound?

[gwEm]

Maybe I define 'bargain' differently than everyone else, but to me a bargain is something that's value outstrips its cost.

To me, that doesn't seem to be true with the 9001, judging by what you guys are saying.

Just because something is cheap, doesn't mean it's a bargain, just as something more expensive doesn't denote a rip-off.

Buying multiple wrong preamps will cost more in the long run than one right preamp. Where's the bargain in that?!

the value of the 9001 does outstrip its cost (IMO etc). i've brought more expensive pedals.

and not to forget, i can easily sell it, and maybe make 20quid profit, or at least not lose too much money... due to it being secondhand.

plus, most importantly i have some fun playing round with it :)

if someone wants to get into rack stuff in a cheap way, i absolutely recommend it, not everyone can afford a gold plated mesa preamp or whatever.

[Oli]

They sound good stock, one of mine has the MDRT transformer upgrade, and that helps it, i'd recommend it :)

[TwilightOdyssey]

I only brought up the subject because neither you nor HTH sounded over the moon with it.

[FELINEGUITARS]

They sound good stock, one of mine has the MDRT transformer upgrade, and that helps it, i'd recommend it :)

You lucky sod - I wanted the MDRT for a couple of mine
I have a couple of modded ones and some would say too many for my own good (5)
Bought my first one back in 1988

[HTH AMPS]

I only brought up the subject because neither you nor HTH sounded over the moon with it.

I'm happy with mine - just needs mated to the right poweramp.

[gwEm]

I only brought up the subject because neither you nor HTH sounded over the moon with it.

i guess you're right - maybe we're just being british ;)

[_tom_]

yeah, high-powered speakers are where its at :twisted: i thought the novelty would wear off, but it hasn't. i think i do actually like them ;) means i should sell my marshall 1x12 at some point

What difference in sound do high powered speakers give? I was thinking of trying something other than the G12H30s in my cab just for a change really. Woogie got me interested in EVM12Ls.

[gwEm]

yeah, high-powered speakers are where its at :twisted: i thought the novelty would wear off, but it hasn't. i think i do actually like them ;) means i should sell my marshall 1x12 at some point

What difference in sound do high powered speakers give? I was thinking of trying something other than the G12H30s in my cab just for a change really. Woogie got me interested in EVM12Ls.

what is 100% true is they distort less at high volumes. everything else i'm about to say is 100% personal opinion/conjecture.

i personally think this gives better definition with gainier amps, and a more modern sound (well, compared to a 60s greenback anyway) since it seems the old time artists relied alot on creamy speaker breakup distortion.

i think a heavy magnet (your G12H30 already has one of these) is also important in giving that more modern edge - i believe most high powered speakers would be fitted with a heavy magnet (though not all - eg G12T100, Scumback etc).

philking, will and feline like celestion sidewinders - also high powered speakers. but a few of them are keeping eagle eyes out on ebay for some more. i was looking out myself, just to try them - but i can't be bothered anymore. i got used to the EV12Ls in the thieles and i like the tone now. it think it just gives a slightly different take on the whole marshall thing. i mistook them for being a little mid scooped when i first got them, thats not really true in fact (as woogie pointed out), they just have different mids to celestions. finding the EV12Ls have a bold sound (perhaps due to my cool cabs), not sure how this translates to EQ curve - but these are heavy speakers - in terms of weight. the sidewinders are lighter and louder, but of course are celestiony. i'd love to A-B both speakers in a fair scenario.

G12B-150 is a pretty shitee speaker fitted as default to marshall 1912 cabs - avoid these. G12H-100 speakers are a nice high power take on the G12H, i like them alot. I have two for sale in fact, though they can be found cheap. i should probably try mine in my thieles, but its a question of time. if you want a complete change the G12H-100 won't be the ones to try since they are still a G12H

[PhilKing]

See if you can find a Digitech Twin Tubes preamp - they are a bit noisy but have great tones.  if you can get the controller for it that would be great too as they use an old Appletalk connector (though you can use a midi controller with them).