The Tone Thread

[Greg_L]

OK I made some changes. Same basic part...

I tried lowering the guitar volume and raising the gain for grins - because I was curious. But I didn't think that improved anything so I moved it back. I moved the mic closer, and I don't think I needed to play with the bass setting. I then tried moving the mic out towards the speaker edge, but I thought it was too muffled so I move it back.

Here is where I landed.

Les Paul Traditional (57 Classics) Bridge pickup (kept this where it was)
- Volume 10
- Tone 9

Mesa Boogie Mark V
- Crunch Mode
Amp dials don't have numbers, these are approximately where they'd be on a 0 -10 (Marshall style) dial
- Gain - 3
- Master - 7.5 (can't go much louder)
- Presence - 5
- Treble - 4
- Mid - 4
- Bass - 6

SM 57 on the edge of the dust cap. On the grill cloth. Straight on.

Not really drastic changes.

I think it's a little better. It's a little warmer, beefier, but not by much.

Try this if you want....keep everything the same, back the mic way off, like 6 inches, but move it out off the center a little more. Maybe halfway across the cone. See if it tightens up and smooths out but keeps some thickness. I'm thinking this could give you the thickness of miking the cone, but the distance will smooth out any harshness and eliminate proximity effect.

[Minerman]

Ok, been fucking around with the new gear today,...

I liked the bridge pickup clips much better. I didn't focus much on the neck clips.

Honestly I like the clip with no effects a lot. THe one with the Univibe was a little to muffled. The no-effects one was aggressive, which I liked.

Forgot to say thanks there dude...

I really, really like this new amp guys, it smokes anything else I've had before other than the Chupacabra...

[Minerman]

OK I made some changes. Same basic part...

I tried lowering the guitar volume and raising the gain for grins - because I was curious. But I didn't think that improved anything so I moved it back. I moved the mic closer, and I don't think I needed to play with the bass setting. I then tried moving the mic out towards the speaker edge, but I thought it was too muffled so I move it back.

Here is where I landed.

Les Paul Traditional (57 Classics) Bridge pickup (kept this where it was)
- Volume 10
- Tone 9

Mesa Boogie Mark V
- Crunch Mode
Amp dials don't have numbers, these are approximately where they'd be on a 0 -10 (Marshall style) dial
- Gain - 3
- Master - 7.5 (can't go much louder)
- Presence - 5
- Treble - 4
- Mid - 4
- Bass - 6

SM 57 on the edge of the dust cap. On the grill cloth. Straight on.

Not really drastic changes.

Sorry I ain't much help here TripM, I have an occasional brain-lock from time to time like most hillbillies from these parts...

This tone is one of those "in-between" sounds, it's not really clean, but it ain't real dirty either...Like Greg mentioned, it may fit great in the mix, throw a little mix clip if you wanna, just to see where it's at...

And again, what kind of speaker are you using dude??? Is this a combo, head + cab or what??? I'm curious to know...

[TripleM]

It's a Mark V combo. Stock speaker. 12 inch Celestion Custom 90 (from Mesa's website).

[TripleM]

OK I tried moving the mic per Greg's suggestion. At first I just moved it back - maybe to about 5 inches off the grill. It got pretty thin - so I see why he also said to move it out at the same time. Did that too. Then I also nudged up the gain just a bit and nudged up the bass just a bit. Tell me what you think.

[Minerman]

OK I tried moving the mic per Greg's suggestion. At first I just moved it back - maybe to about 5 inches off the grill. It got pretty thin - so I see why he also said to move it out at the same time. Did that too. Then I also nudged up the gain just a bit and nudged up the bass just a bit. Tell me what you think.

I think it may have fattened it up a little more dude, but that just may be what you have to work with...I had a couple 1x12 cabs at one time & I struggled with the low end too...The cabs I had were an oversized Randall & an Orange PPC112...I thought the Orange would've kicked ass, but I actually hated that cab...

Back to your tone, you may end up adding just a little bottom with eq after you've recorded it...Nothing at all wrong with doing that & you gotta do what you gotta do man...Like Greg mentioned, this tone may sit perfect with the bass/drums, & you won't know until you try...A lot of folks cut most of the low end out of guitar tracks when mixing, so again, it may sit perfectly...

BTW, do you have any more speakers or cabs you could try with that amp??? Just wondering...

You got me interested in that amp & holy shit, it looks like 9 amps in one with the 3 channels & 3 modes per channel...

[Lt. Bob]

It's a Mark V combo. Stock speaker. 12 inch Celestion Custom 90 (from Mesa's website).

I have one of those.
I like's it ... but I usually use my Mesa Blue Angel.

But it is basically 9 amps 3 of which you can use at a time ..... plus the boost

[Minerman]

It's a Mark V combo. Stock speaker. 12 inch Celestion Custom 90 (from Mesa's website).

I have one of those.
I like's it ... but I usually use my Mesa Blue Angel.

But it is basically 9 amps 3 of which you can use at a time ..... plus the boost

Yeah I looked up the Mark V & the 9 amp thing is what I thought too...I thought that's the amp you had (Mark V), but was wrong, you have the Blue Angel...

[Lt. Bob]

I have one of those.
I like's it ... but I usually use my Mesa Blue Angel.

But it is basically 9 amps 3 of which you can use at a time ..... plus the boost

Yeah I looked up the Mark V & the 9 amp thing is what I thought too...I thought that's the amp you had (Mark V), but was wrong, you have the Blue Angel...

no .... I just said that I have a Mark V.

I just also have a Blue Angel and use it mostly when I even use an amp at all.

I also have a Marshall 6101
I also have an Ampeg Reverbrocket
I also have an Ampeg V-2 and an Ampeg VT-22 and an Ampeg VT-40
I also have A Tiny Terror

And about 5 other smaller amps.
And for some gigs I actually choose to use a Marshall MG-15 .... lol.

The Mark V is an awesome amp when you can run it at volume.
At lower volume I find it a bit 'fizzy' but I do like the thing.
I prefer to run it at 45 watts and if it's a gig where you can push it then it just roars.

The 10 watt setting, however, sounds like a broken amp!

[Greg_L]

OK I tried moving the mic per Greg's suggestion. At first I just moved it back - maybe to about 5 inches off the grill. It got pretty thin - so I see why he also said to move it out at the same time. Did that too. Then I also nudged up the gain just a bit and nudged up the bass just a bit. Tell me what you think.

It's a little thicker, little smoother. If you like it, roll with it. Do you have a reference sound in mind? Are you shooting for a specific type of tone?

[Minerman]

no .... I just said that I have a Mark V.

I just also have a Blue Angel and use it mostly when I even use an amp at all.

I also have a Marshall 6101
I also have an Ampeg Reverbrocket
I also have an Ampeg V-2 and an Ampeg VT-22 and an Ampeg VT-40
I also have A Tiny Terror

And about 5 other smaller amps.
And for some gigs I actually choose to use a Marshall MG-15 .... lol.

The Mark V is an awesome amp when you can run it at volume.
At lower volume I find it a bit 'fizzy' but I do like the thing.
I prefer to run it at 45 watts and if it's a gig where you can push it then it just roars.

The 10 watt setting, however, sounds like a broken amp!

Oh, sorry Lt., mis-read...I do remember you having the Blue Angel, the Marshall 6101 & Tiny Terror...

I think the general consensus around here is amps with different power settings sound better using their high power setting, for the most part anyway...Both mini Marshalls I have sound ok in their low watt setting, but sound much better on the high setting, to me anyway...

[TripleM]

It's a little thicker, little smoother. If you like it, roll with it. Do you have a reference sound in mind? Are you shooting for a specific type of tone?

Weezer, Fountains of Wayne, that sort of Powerpop.

I backed off the low end and the gain, just as slightly as I could and I think I'm going to roll with it. I also moved the mic back to the grill. Maybe I'm must used to it, but I think I like it better there.

Thanks everyone.

[Lt. Bob]

I think the general consensus around here is amps with different power settings sound better using their high power setting, for the most part anyway...

The 45 watt setting is the mid-level setting on the V.
The high wattage setting is 90 watts and I did run it at 90 watts in an outside setting (jamfest) and it'll put some half stacks in the shade.

But I find the 45 watt setting better and more usable.

The 10 watt setting sucks donkey dicks but maybe I have a bad tube somewhere.

[Minerman]

I'd planned on making some more Mini 800 clips today, but things just didn't work out that way for me...

Anyway, hopefully I'll get some more clips posted tomorrow...Still lovin' this little amp btw...

[Minerman]

[mention]Greg_L[/mention] or anybody else....

So, I've got my "stereo" amp setup running, & I gotta say, it sounds fuckin' glorious in the room...I've got the mic levels about as even as I can, but there's still a problem: mic phase...

I'm gonna assume this is gonna be totally impossible to get 2 mics on 2 different cabs in phase, but I'm asking anyway...Any help???

Signal chain: Strat > Univibe (stereo outs, L & R) > Mini 800/EVH 4x12 > i5, Mini Jubilee/1960A 4x12 > '57

Clips are on the way regardless...

[Greg_L]

@Greg_L or anybody else....

So, I've got my "stereo" amp setup running, & I gotta say, it sounds fuckin' glorious in the room...I've got the mic levels about as even as I can, but there's still a problem: mic phase...

I'm gonna assume this is gonna be totally impossible to get 2 mics on 2 different cabs in phase, but I'm asking anyway...Any help???

Signal chain: Strat > Univibe (stereo outs, L & R) > Mini 800/EVH 4x12 > i5, Mini Jubilee/1960A 4x12 > '57

Clips are on the way regardless...

Get the mics as close as you can and then manually slide one of them around in the DAW for fine tuning.

[Minerman]

Get the mics as close as you can and then manually slide one of them around in the DAW for fine tuning.

I'll try that later, but for this round of clips it's too late...I already rendered them & I'm uploading/posting 'em right now...

[Minerman]

Ok, here are a few clips with the "stereo" amp setup I've been babbling about...All amp settings are the same except for the clean clips, I used the Jubilee's clean channel & the 800's low input...I did have to bump the gain on the 800's low input from 7-ish to 10 in order to half-ass level their volume though...

Signal chain:

Strat > MXR Phase 95 > TC Electronic Univibe >

• ..............................................................Mini Jubilee > V30 > SM57 (panned 70% left)

• ..............................................................Mini 800 > EVH Greenback > i5 (panned 70% right)

MXR Phaser:

• Blue/95 mode
  Speed:.....2

TC Electronic Univibe:

• Speed:.............0
  Intensity:..........5
  Volume:...........10

Amp settings:

Mini Jubilee:
20w mode
Lead channel

• Presence:..................6
  Bass:.......................7
  Middle:.....................4
  Treble:.....................4
  Master Output:............5
  Lead Master:..............10
  Gain:......................7.5

Mini JCM 800:
20w mode

• Presence:..................3
  Bass:.......................5
  Middle:.....................10
  Treble:.....................4
  Master:....................5
  Gain:......................7.5

Dirty:

Stereo Mini Marshall DIRTY 10-15-2019.mp3

Dry clean:

Stereo Mini Marshall CLEAN 10-15-2019.mp3

Phase only clean:

Stereo Mini Marshall PHASE CLEAN 10-15-2019.mp3

Univibe only clean:

Stereo Mini Marshall UNIVIBE CLEAN 10-15-2019.mp3

Phase & Univibe clean:

Stereo Mini Marshall PHASE UNIVIBE CLEAN 10-15-2019.mp3

I'm positive these aren't in phase, no doubt in my mind, but, what the fuck...There's also some bleed in the mics where I had the little amps up pretty loud, so I'll have to work on a solution for that, but I do have a couple ideas...

Lemme know what you guys think of this mess...

[Lt. Bob]

man …. that dirty clip sounds great!

All of them sound good ….. personally I don't care for Uni-Vibes ….. too 'wobbly' …. but all your clips sound very good …. the dirty one especially

[Minerman]

man …. that dirty clip sounds great!

All of them sound good ….. personally I don't care for Uni-Vibes ….. too 'wobbly' …. but all your clips sound very good …. the dirty one especially

Thanks Boob...I like the new uni-vibe, but I still need to deep-edit the pedal on the computer to make it sound better...I think it needs to be a little slower, but not quite as wobbly, if that makes any sense...

The clips with the univibe "on" capture some of what I hear in the room, but not much...These 2 little amps sound pretty damn good in the room here, each one running through it's own 4x12...

I'm gonna have to buy another tuner though...The little Snark I've got finally crapped out...I got my $$$ out of it though, it lasted over 5 years, & was only about $15 or so...I'll probably just buy another one like it, maybe 2 of 'em....

Thanks again dude...