Pickup output versus pre-amp gain.

[richard]

Say you're going for a medium crunch tone as your basic sound do you prefer to achieve this with a higher output pickup and lowish pre-amp gain or with a low output pickup and high pre-amp gain ? Personally, I like a little more kick from the pickup so that I can use less pre-amp gain. What about you folks ?

[Telerocker]

Even with low- to mediumoutput pickups I prefer more mastervolume, less preamp gain. Powertubes that start to saturate, produce delicious crunch.

[richard]

Agreed that power amp overdrive is the sweetest. I use a Cornford Roadhouse 30w combo and, in most pubs I play, I can get the master up to over half way which is where the output tubes start to add their magic. But I still like to keep the pre-amp gain around the half way mark and get the rest of the punch I need from my RYs. I don't think I could get the sound I want from lower output pickups like the Mules for example.

[Telerocker]

Agreed that power amp overdrive is the sweetest. I use a Cornford Roadhouse 30w combo and, in most pubs I play, I can get the master up to over half way which is where the output tubes start to add their magic. But I still like to keep the pre-amp gain around the half way mark and get the rest of the punch I need from my RYs. I don't think I could get the sound I want from lower output pickups like the Mules for example.

I think that depends very much on the amp. My Rockerverb 50 head/2x12 cab pushes even my Irish Tours with ease, where my more vintage and darker sounding The Valve 2/50-combo (EL34's) needs a higher level of preampgain for the same result. The voicing of the amp playes quite a role. And volume. The Orange starts to sound really good with the master on 13.00 o'clock. It's already loud then. The The Valve 2/50 sounds doesn't need that much mastervolume to sound juicy. It's already convincing at lower levels.

[Sarkasis]

The Orange starts to sound really good with the master on 13.00 o'clock.

Where is 13:00 on an analog clock?

[ericsabbath]

really depends on the amp and the guitar as well

some amps are ultra high gain with the gain knob on 2 are are really hard to dial to a medium crunch

the guitars natural resonance, string height setup and pickup height will affect the pickups output A LOT
and of course, how hard you pick makes ll the difference, specially with bkps

I'm a heavy booster adept, but I can get great mid crunch tones without a boost with a riff raff or mule using just a bit of gain from the amp

[Kiichi]

For the optimal crunch sound in my mind use just as much pre and power amp gain as you need to get them slighly before breaking up. Then take a low output PU and add a clean boost like the Zvex Super hard on, or a clone of that.

That way you get the openness and feel of the low output PU, the slight drive and fatness from the overdriven preamp and the distortion and crunch from the power stage. Win on all levels.

[tommyionni]

I recently started using a treble booster into the poweramp in of my amps.  Also add a Boss ls-2 with both channels maxxed. Best sound i ever had with all control in my hands. No reverb, delay,wah, chorus, preamp tubes, or tone controls.  Just use the volume knob on the guitar. I was surprised at how good it sounds and knew I was onto something when my drummer said it sounded good!   SG with PAF style pickup and light strings.