Author Topic: Tone 'problem' (not exactly a 'problem')... amp/tone gurus? (Read 4201 times)

sambo · « **on:** December 19, 2007, 08:42:39 PM »

I'm a bit baffled at the moment about my ENGL Screamer 50 combo.

I'm ALMOST nailing the tone I'm after.

(www.myspace.com/theghostofathousand) for tone reference. That's my target.

But I just can't quite get there because of an annoying buzzy characteristic of my gain. It's hard to describe, but the gain is just a little fizzy/grainy... I've adjusted the settings all day but can't quite find that mecca of tone. Specifically the Presence setting is awkward. Turn it down and you get a great core tone but muffled, lacking clarity. Turn it up and it gets buzzy and fizzy.

Don't get me wrong it doesn't sound BAD... but it's just not what I'm aiming for.

My target tone is juicy, 'wet' crunch, with a fair dollop of gain that sounds thick and evil. (That's the best I can do description wise)

This ends up as slightly fizzy, 'dry' crunch with gain that sounds either too thin, or excessively boomy.

Now I've got several ideas as to what it could be;

-The amp. In general I mean. Maybe I've just realised that it isn't for me. Too modern? I dunno. The band whose tone most closely nails my ideal uses Orange ADs with no pedals or effects. Just straight into the amp with Les Pauls + SGs (I'm using a Les paul).

-The pickups. Maybe they're a little too weedy? They're old Japanese PAF copies, (apparently decent ones 'VH-Is'). Perhaps not enough output to push them into that saturation I'm after.

-Valves. There's this kinda windy, hum noise when the amp's on. It was the same for my knackered Laney LC30. Does this mean a valve's gone or starting to go? I'm not sure if it's always been there as I used to be an ignorant fool in terms of tone so probably wouldn't even have noticed it if it was.

What do you reckon?

I'm getting a GOOD tone, but just not WOW tone.

Frustrating to say the least.

Any opinions welcome guys,

Cheers,

sam.

hunter · « **Reply #1 on:** December 19, 2007, 09:08:06 PM »

try turning up the mids, down the gain, less bass, less treb/presence

I was setting it like bass and mid around 2-3 pm, treble 1pm, presence 10-11 am, gain 12-1pm

how does this work?

sambo · « **Reply #2 on:** December 19, 2007, 09:13:13 PM »

I'll give it a go in a sec Hunter, cheers.

As it is I usually have it on the heavy lead channel, gain at between 10-12 o clock, presence 9-12, mids at around 5 o clock, bass at 3, treble at 12.

Be back in a sec!

hunter · « **Reply #3 on:** December 19, 2007, 09:18:07 PM »

Quote from: sambo

I'll give it a go in a sec Hunter, cheers.

As it is I usually have it on the heavy lead channel, gain at between 10-12 o clock, presence 9-12, mids at around 5 o clock, bass at 3, treble at 12.

Be back in a sec!

Hmm that sounds like TOO MANY mids :twisted:

are you using it through a Vintage 30 cab? You could try some other speakers, maybe G12-65 could be good for that sound you want.

sambo · « **Reply #4 on:** December 19, 2007, 09:20:25 PM »

haha! :oops:

I did experiment though, I didn't sit there all day on the same setting screaming "WHY DOESN'T IT SOUND GOOD?!?!?!".

But I will try your suggestions in a couple of seconds when the amp warms up.

And yup- V30 speaker. Could indeed try something else, maybe a K100.

Would using gauge 9 strings on an LP make any kind of difference to tone in the way I'm describing? Sounds far-fetched but I'm desperately at a loss here.... :lol: :oops:

Cheers.

sambo · « **Reply #5 on:** December 19, 2007, 09:52:36 PM »

Ok tried that out. WAY better. The tone isn't dead on but it's taken a leap in the right direction.

Thanks for that man.

I think my problem was I was being too liberal with the EQ. Needed to make more subtle adjustments. :oops:

It's just hit me how Nick (Dakine) was right about the Screamer benefiting from an EQ pedal. WISH I hadn't sold mine now.... *doh*.

noodleplugerine · « **Reply #6 on:** December 19, 2007, 10:16:41 PM »

I love my Screamer.

Manage to get any tone I want, from Super high gain chug, to DC crunch, to Chimey cleans, to Santana like sustainy lead =)

_tom_ · « **Reply #7 on:** December 19, 2007, 10:16:50 PM »

Quote from: sambo

Would using gauge 9 strings on an LP make any kind of difference to tone in the way I'm describing? Sounds far-fetched but I'm desperately at a loss here.... :lol: :oops:

Even if its not affecting the tone you should get 10s or 11s anyway, everyone knows that 9s on LPs is for pussies :P I always found 9s to be really thin sounding acoustically but never noticed a huge difference plugged in.

How about lowering the preamp gain and then boosting with an overdrive pedal or something?

sambo · « **Reply #8 on:** December 19, 2007, 10:21:50 PM »

Yer noodle the versatility is there I just suck at accessing it! :lol: :oops:

Tom, lol, I know I SHOULD have 10s or 11s but 9s are just so easy to play!!!

I snapped my top E recently, and my dad got a replacement 10 and it felt like a piece of rope. :lol:

Yeah I was thinking about an overdrive pedal... but I've never got on well with pedals much really. I think if I get the EQ right, I can wack on some extra preamp gain and it should be decent. It's just fiddling the EQ to a nice place.

Really annoying subtle changes though that's the thing.

Can you recommend a good overdrive anyway?

_tom_ · « **Reply #9 on:** December 19, 2007, 10:22:46 PM »

How about my Rebel Yell? :P

sambo · « **Reply #10 on:** December 19, 2007, 10:24:23 PM »

:lol: :lol: :lol:

I'm liking the idea of black dogs... have you got a Black Dog you can sell me?

_tom_ · « **Reply #11 on:** December 19, 2007, 10:28:39 PM »

Nah, my dog is more of a blonde colour :(

Worst joke/pun type thing ever, I know :\

Anyway, for overdrives, the bad monkey is meant to be really good for the money. I used to have a TS7 which is a cheap Ibanez model but it was really good.

sambo · « **Reply #12 on:** December 19, 2007, 10:30:39 PM »

I struggled to believe what I was reading it was that bad.... :lol:

Bad Monkey eh...?

The Ibanez ones seem to be quite popular.

A lot of people on here seemed to like the Xotic stuff as well if I remember correctly. Although that's very pricey.

Multani · « **Reply #13 on:** December 20, 2007, 12:49:54 AM »

i have a screamer also, and i know exactly what you are talking about with the gain. Try this-

Turn down the treble a few notches and compensate by turning the presence up an equal amount. This should get you the same sound but with a bit less fizz.

IF that fails try-
turning up the gain knob on the amp but turn down the volume pot on your guitar until you ar ein the same "gain" territory as before- only now, the sound should have a different characteristic.

I really love that amp but sometimes i think they should re-structure the gain in each channel. it would have the ultimate sound if you could squeeze more distortion outta channel 3. i think channel four is aimed more at playing leads, whereas im using it for rhythm. you are using channel 4 right?

gingataff · « **Reply #14 on:** December 20, 2007, 01:10:47 AM »

Are you comparing the sound of your amp to the recording?
If that's the case don't worry so much, have you ever heard how nasty and fizzy a Rectifier sounds in person but somehow sounds good on recordings? Recording changes the sound a lot, and playing loud with other people will also hide a lot of those nasty frequencies.