That Eurika! Moment

[rahnooo]

Anyone who has stayed still long enough to listen to me whinge will tell you that I have a somewhat strained relationship with my amp - a 60W Ashdown Peacemaker purchased in 2002. It's not the shocking build quality (entirely new circuit boards, a loose control pannel, and dry joints) but rather the lacklustre tone that somehow did not become apparent for the first few months I had it. Possibly because it spent the majority of that time going back and forth to Ashdown. But I digress.

The clean channel is very nice, bright and bell like with my Epi Les paul (loaded with Mule's) and the Fender Tele I coerce my singer into lending me on occasion. But the dirty channel is a rather unpleasant affair, harsh and brittle with no real tone. Getting that half-and-half breakup on the clean channel is a a feat of herculean proportion. Not to mention the tempramental way the amp will respond to the same settings on any given day.

However, i was looking for a spare cable last week and came across an old Ibanez TS5 Tubescreamer I acquired many years ago but never really gave much attention. Just out of interest I plugged it into the amp, tone at 12, level at 11, and distortion turned all the way down. And? Suddenly the sound I'd been hearing in my head for ages was finally coming out of the amp! Perfect breakup that cleaned up a treat with the guitar volume control. The bridge pickup on my Les Paul now does a sterling job of recreating that fantastic Jeff Buckley guitar tone, while on the neck pickup the boost nails that "Since I've Been loving You" Jimmy Page vibe. Even better, it finally lets my Mules sing through and really sparkle.

I'd spent the past 6 months or so avoiding playing because I couldn't face the disappointing tone, and for the past two weeks I haven't been able to stop playing. I've been working through "Since I've Been loving You" off Led Zep III and as soon as I have time I'll put a clip on on the players forum. I've got my enthusiasm back and its great. I have no idea how good this Ibanez pedal is supposed to be (it's not one of the tubescreamer models you hear people talking about) and I'm itching to get a quality boost, maybe the Zvex SHO or Keeley Java Boost, and I'm still hankering after a Matamp Minimat to play at neighbour friendly levels, but the tone has returned :D

OK so not really a post with much point, but I haven't been this excited about playing guitar in ages, so had to share with someone ;)

*Rahnooo*

[jt]

:D Glad you & the Mules have found your Tone !!!

Look forward to hearing you in the players section..  :D

 :D  8)

[tewboss]

I'm pretty sure Analogman has made modifications to plenty of the TS series (not just the TS808 and TS9). Not sure if Robert Keeley does though.  Anyway I'm glad to hear an improvement in sound didn't cost you any extra!

[rahnooo]

I think the thing about "tone" as has been said elsewhere on this forum, is that for most of us it is continually changing and being pushed into new areas. I'm stoked over the new sounds I'm getting, and a better understandig of my amp means I'll be able to push my tone to new places. Essentially stearing well away from the distorted channels, sticking to the clean channel, and experimenting with different fuzz/overdrive/boost pedals to get differing levels and types of dirt. I think the new tone I'm getting is as much indebted to the Mule pups I had fitted in september as it is to the clean boost I'm getting from the tubescreamer.

But yes, right now I'm a very happy man.

*Rahnooo*

[_tom_]

I'd spent the past 6 months or so avoiding playing because I couldn't face the disappointing tone,

 :lol:  :lol:

I do that sometimes, my overdrive sounds cr@p at low volume so I hate playing plugged in most of the time! Glad you found yourself a good tone :D

[Bainzy]

Yeah I was like that with my Plexi for a while, I had to crank the PPIMV to get a half decent sound, and there was always something I didn't like about the tone. It put me off playing for a while. Now that I've changed the preamp tubes to NOS Sylvania/Valvo's, and changed the speakers to G12M's, the tone is killer at ANY volume! Before I blamed the PPIMV for the cr@p tone but now I realise how important getting rid of the cr@ppy stock Marshall preamp tubes was. Now I can't stop playing this amp! In fact, I'm off to crank it a bit now.

[_tom_]

Yeah I was like that with my Plexi for a while, I had to crank the PPIMV to get a half decent sound, and there was always something I didn't like about the tone. It put me off playing for a while. Now that I've changed the preamp tubes to NOS Sylvania/Valvo's, and changed the speakers to G12M's, the tone is killer at ANY volume! Before I blamed the PPIMV for the cr@p tone but now I realise how important getting rid of the cr@ppy stock Marshall preamp tubes was. Now I can't stop playing this amp! In fact, I'm off to crank it a bit now.

Do you think changing speakers and valves in a Hot Rod Dx would yield similar results? Its due for a re-valve anyway but I have been thinkin about changing the speaker for ages aswell.. It seems I cant help but hijack threads  :roll:  :lol:

[The amazing Phil]

Personally I'd get an extension cab if I was gonna spring for a new speaker since the cab itself as well as the speaker contributes to the tone. I've been drooling over a few different "tone cabs" as they're coming to be known actually, but yeah, extension boxes look like the way forwards, at least for me.

I know what it's like having a good amp but neve having good tone, my Matamp's not necessarily bad at low volumes, but because it's non-master certain sounds I want are only available at somewhat ASBO inducing levels. So I can only really plug in and get *that* sound when my gaff's empty.

[Gary]

Perfect breakup that cleaned up a treat with the guitar volume control.
*Rahnooo*

I had this exact same experience about a year ago when I bought my hot plate. That's how I play all the time now. I'm using the Java Boost with my rig (Strat/ Fender HRD) and it's great. It seems that Tom has yet to take my advice but unfortunately the two items together will cost about £400.

BTW Tom, you've said in the past that you're getting too much bass/ not enough treble - the Java boost will fix this for you (listen to the 'Red House' clip on the keeley site) but I'd recommend getting the hot plate first.

[_tom_]

Perfect breakup that cleaned up a treat with the guitar volume control.
*Rahnooo*

I had this exact same experience about a year ago when I bought my hot plate. That's how I play all the time now. I'm using the Java Boost with my rig (Strat/ Fender HRD) and it's great. It seems that Tom has yet to take my advice but unfortunately the two items together will cost about £400.

BTW Tom, you've said in the past that you're getting too much bass/ not enough treble - the Java boost will fix this for you (listen to the 'Red House' clip on the keeley site) but I'd recommend getting the hot plate first.

Yeah I'm still considering getting a Hotplate, but whenever I get a part time job I'm gonna consider getting a new amp as all the overdrive tones I love come from Marshalls. I'll still keep the Fender though, its clean is great.

[tewboss]

The real tone from the valves is going to be revealed with volume, so unless valve changes are urgent I wouldn't bother yet.  Buying the hotplate was the right decision for me as I only play at home, and having the Marshall is overkill without it. Changing the pre-amp valves did affect the tone without the hotplate, but it wasn't a huge change.  I'd go for either JJ or TAD valves if it were me (my Marshall has TAD valves).