Author Topic: Gah! More questions, about guitars and amps! (Read 7564 times)

_tom_ · « **on:** November 06, 2005, 01:04:12 PM »

I wanted to sell my amp and buy something "better" but I just cant do it! My dad bought it for me last year and I would feel a right little git if I told him I was thinking about selling it! So I want to get the best from mine. However it seems to have loads of bass. I thought about getting a Carl Martin Parametric EQ and sticking that in the FX loop to take out some bass and add more upper mids. Seems it would work better than a graphic EQ as I can pinpoint the exact frequency I dont like I guess. Ive heard about it doing wonders for someone with a muddy, scooped Mesa on the HC forums so thought itd work well for me? A couple more questions (sorry!):

-On my guitar, an Epi LP custom, I noticed that above the 17th fret theres hardly any sustain and buzz I guess it is. It seems like the strings "choking" I guess is the best term I can think of. What needs to be done to it? Dont say buy a better guitar, I love this guitar :P

-Anyone in the UK ordered valves from www.eurotubes.com ? I am interested in one of his Hot Rod Deluxe kits, maybe the hi-gain one. I'm just worried about them getting over here ok.. Watcha think?

Cheers!

Davey · « **Reply #1 on:** November 06, 2005, 01:27:29 PM »

what amp is it?

willo · « **Reply #2 on:** November 06, 2005, 01:52:14 PM »

yeah, what amp? as for the choking, have you had a proper pro set up lately?

_tom_ · « **Reply #3 on:** November 06, 2005, 02:11:16 PM »

Its a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe. As for the guitar, I've never had it set up :lol: :oops:

Davey · « **Reply #4 on:** November 06, 2005, 02:14:17 PM »

better tubes, hotter bias (lower tube life though), and a good everdrive/distortion pedal and you'll be good IMO

try and ask some people how to mod the preamp (especialy the phase inverter) for more gain

and get the axe set up PRONTO

_tom_ · « **Reply #5 on:** November 06, 2005, 02:28:37 PM »

Quote from: Davey

better tubes, hotter bias (lower tube life though), and a good everdrive/distortion pedal and you'll be good IMO

try and ask some people how to mod the preamp (especialy the phase inverter) for more gain

and get the axe set up PRONTO

Ah Ok, I was thiknin of ordering one of the JJ 6V6 sets, drops the output to around 30w, but breaks up quicker.. I have a Keeley RAT which I guess is a good enough pedal. I dont want heaps of gain really, something around the Slash mark! I'll see about getting the guitar set up aswell.

Thanks

chrisola · « **Reply #6 on:** November 06, 2005, 02:56:44 PM »

buy my JCM800... :P

Peterku · « **Reply #7 on:** November 06, 2005, 03:14:59 PM »

6L6 Fenders have a lot of bass. Some say that Fender + Les Paul is not a very good combination. The 6V6 retube kit sounds like a good idea. Is it the High Gain or the Blues mod?

_tom_ · « **Reply #8 on:** November 06, 2005, 05:32:25 PM »

Quote from: Peterku

6L6 Fenders have a lot of bass. Some say that Fender + Les Paul is not a very good combination. The 6V6 retube kit sounds like a good idea. Is it the High Gain or the Blues mod?

So do 6V6 generally have less bass, more crunchiness? I was gonna go for one of the High Gain JJ sets as they may give me a sharper tone maybe? Blues seems like it might be too tubby :lol:

Chrisola I would buy your JCM800 but cant do this kinda thing to my dad :P

Gary · « **Reply #9 on:** November 06, 2005, 06:31:22 PM »

Tom,

Trust me that's a good little amp you've got there. There are a number of things I would recommend for getting the best out of it:

Get it up off the floor - especially if you're using it in a carpeted bedroom. A chair will do the job nicely or a couple of beer crates if you're at a gig. It'll sound a lot less bassy when it's nearer to ear level rather than when it's pointing at your knees.

Try a different lead - George Ls are very good and are noticeably brighter than most I've heard.

Avoid the 'drive' channel if you can. It's quite muddy although not so bad on the 'more drive' for lead work.

Try to avoid putting too many effects in your signal chain. If you do decide to try something in the effects loop let me know how you get on - I've tried a few things in mine but any effects I've got always sound better between the guitar and amp.

Get some new valves and get it biased - I got this done to mine recently and it sounds great. Take some advice from your amp tech as to which ones will get you closer to what you want.

A treble booster is nice and will help boost the amp into more overdrive. I've got the Keeley Java boost but we're starting to get expensive here (£180). Also you won't get the best out of one of these unless you've got a decent attenuator (e.g. hot plate)

Hope this helps.

_tom_ · « **Reply #10 on:** November 06, 2005, 07:48:44 PM »

yeah, Brow told me to raise the amp, I put it on my computer chair and it helped some, I have an old cabinetty thing that I'm gonna start using soon. As for the valves etc. There are no amp techs here. This means I'd have to redo my valves myself, apparently the newer Hot Rods are actually fixed bias, even though theres a pot thing it doesnt really do anything..

I was thiknin about George L's, but hear they tangle really easily, I hate that! Any other bright cables?

When I get a job, I'll be buying a hotplate, but for now the Weber will have to do

Gary · « **Reply #11 on:** November 06, 2005, 09:41:46 PM »

I thought there were no amp techs in my area until I started asking around. The guy that did my amp was recommended to me by Jonathan at Feline Guitars and he's great. Try asking around music shops.

I'm not sure about recent HRDs being fixed bias. Mine's about two years old and I'm certain it's adjustable.

I don't use George Ls but only because my setup gives me quite a bright sound already so I'm using monster cable (a bit darker) at the moment. Bear in mind that George L does two different diameters so that may be worth a bit more research.

The thing to remember is that each of these things on it's own will only improve things slightly. Put them all together and they'll make a big difference. Keep going until you find what you want.

BTW if you get some new valves don't bother with a matched pair - go for a matched quad, that way you'll have a spare pair of the same rating.

Elliot · « **Reply #12 on:** November 07, 2005, 09:04:24 AM »

Have tried ringing Watford Valves and asking their advice as to valve changes? They are usually quite helpful about modding Fenders to players requirements.

Also have you seen this: http://www.torresengineering.com/fenbluesdelb.html

_tom_ · « **Reply #13 on:** November 07, 2005, 11:40:37 AM »

Quote from: Elliot

Have tried ringing Watford Valves and asking their advice as to valve changes? They are usually quite helpful about modding Fenders to players requirements.

Also have you seen this: http://www.torresengineering.com/fenbluesdelb.html

Thanks for the reminder on the Torres Engineering thing, I did hear about it before and forgot! I will look around for an amp tech but I'm pretty sure there are none

Ratrod · « **Reply #14 on:** November 07, 2005, 12:54:47 PM »

I don't think you'll ever get rid of the bassy sound. You can brighten it up with the suggestions that were made. Amps like these just have that sound (bassman, Mesa Mk1 etc). But probably it could be modded to sound like a Marshall JTM since they're based on the same design.

Where HJM when you need him?