More gain please

[Dr.Pain]

Recently I purchased a Peavey Vypyr 60 tube and I really enjoy it especially since I got an ESP Ltd with active EMG's.  However I'm finding myself wanting more gain especially on the 6505 modelling.  What's available is nice but I wish it could go that little bit more.  I knew it would be lacking in the gain department when I bought it but I enjoy the versatilely of it.  I have tried it's tube screamer and Zack Wylde distortion to get some more, even other distortion pedals, but they modify the tone too much for my liking and they sound like cr@p.  I wish the gain would go to 13 like the master volume.  Other than that it's maybe too much power for me being an at home hack but I do enjoy it a lot and glad I got it.  I really like it's tones.

Anyone got some tricks that might help get more gain? Keeping in mind it only has tubes in it power stage.

I've even considered some time next year maybe getting a high gain amp and a 6505 60 watt 112 comes to mind right away.  But again its maybe too much for me and I wont turn it up loud enough to get the tubes cranking.  I like hearing  :)  I've looked at an Orange Dark Terror and I've been watching clips. It sounds good.

I want amp driven distortion good for death metal tones, no pedals needed.  I intend on keeping the Vypyr too.

[fltlll]

If the Vypyr's speaker connection can be disconnected (as most every combo's can), then I suggest that you get a THD Hot Plate. It would allow you to push the power amps harder, giving you just a bit more oomph and compression (gain) while still keeping it quiet, if not quieter (you can control it with the knobs, such a "duh" statement, haha). It's basically the most natural way of having your amp push out more or everything without using pedals and whatnot. I'd bet that you'd love it.

Not only that, once you upgrade your amp, the Hot Plate can be used for whatever you have down the line.

EVEN MORE, you can use the hot plate as a dummy load (so you can have your amp be dead silent), use the line out from the hot plate into your computer, and record with impulses.

I run my hotplate with basically every setup I have, and I use it to record all the time... best piece of gear when it comes to functionality.

[Afghan Dave]

I hate to sound unsupportive but the Vypyr 6505 model has absolutly sh1tloads of gain, almost too much.

More isn't always better.  Try working with your EQ.

[schantist]

Use the 6505 model in green mode and use the tubescreamer stompbox with low gain and high volume

[Dr.Pain]

Maybe I am going the wrong way about it so getting other opinions and ideas is always good.  I've only being trying the red channel.  I'll play some more and hope I hit that sweet spot.

Thanks for the responses and I hope more keep coming  :)  I am a n00b with this as for years I've just messed around on small solid states with a metal zone, since 1995.  I know, eeeeeeeewwwwwwww kill it with fire.  I'm taking more serious nowday and I can afford some better gear  :)

[Roobubba]

I use my real 5150-II on the red channel with preamp gain about 2/10 and post somewhere around 3-5 depending on venue. I boost the front of it with a tubescreamer type of pedal (Bodenhamer bloody murder), I tighten up the tone with an MXR 10-band eq in the loop (and an ISP decimator prorackG to kill noise), and with an aftermath in a custom baritone, that gives me some properly, properly brutal tones. Sometimes less is more. Oh, I do boost the mids, though. Scooped sounds are great for bedroom players who will never mix their sound with anything else, but as soon as you put a scooped guitar into a band mix, it sounds weak and pathetic.

Hope this helps you find something a bit different that you like with the gear you have!

[Dr.Pain]

I've made something this week.  A mistake.  I don't need more gain but I need to adapt to the nature of EMG 81/85.  I tried the 6505 red channel with gain and post gain on 5/7 with bass and high on 6/7 and mid @ 2/7 and it sounded ok.  But these setting made my passive pupped geetars roar especially the c-pig in my 7 string.  In fact I cut some gain and bass out of that.  

I can't believe I didn't see this and that will teach me to mess about on only one guitar.  I still might consider a proper 6505 just because I can.  I played a 5150 combo in a shop years ago and it's always stuck with me how awesome it was.

[Alex]

New battery for the EMGs maybe?

[schenr]

I agree with what Alex said... Doesn't sound quite right.

[Dr.Pain]

I didn't think to do that.  It helped as I still had the chinese 9 volt in it that came with it.  But I've nailed the issue.  It's the nature of the 81 being for leads.  I can get a nice chug going but the 85 sounds better but being in the neck it's not ideal.

Can you swap the suckers? Or are they best left in their original spots seeing it was designed that way?

By the way I have tapped into some damn nice sounds now just by little tweaks  :)

[MDV]

81 for leads? Maybe originally, but its been behind many an extremely heavy rhythm sound.

My experience with 81s vs passives; they have less, but much more controlled, tighter bass. You will find them thin in an amp thats dialed in for most medium-high output passives. Change EQ. Use less gain.

[Dr.Pain]

Cool thanks.

[Dr.Pain]

I finally got something and it's not 6505.  I gave up on it and I found a JSX metal core setting that made both actives and passives sound good to my ear.  JSX red 7 gain 6 bass 3 mid 7 high and 5 post gain.  Lovely.