anybody prefer Marshall-style cleans and low gain?

[seth155]

i bought a 50cal+ a number of years ago cuz i got a pretty decent deal on it
and i figured "hey, its a boogie, so i'm gonna like it" (not knowing at all what i liked)
over time, as i've explored different amp tones (primarily from youtube demos), i've come to realize that my preferences might lean more towards a marshall-style tone/texture/timbre
also, my playing styles have changed. when i first started, i was primarily into high gain death metal riffing and such (for which i find the 50cal+ more than adequate and pleasing).
over the years, i've turned down the gain knob more and more, and my playing interests have done an about-face towards zeppelin and hendrix. so i guess its the clean, and lower gain settings that i prefer the marshall tones. i've heard that boogies are based on fender amps, and the fender cleans/low gain do nothing for me at all.

so is this the EL34 vs 6L6 thing?

 

[SonicProvocateur]

Run your EQ in the Up/down/up/down/Up configuration with heavily boosted 750 area and reduced/mid gain to taste. At first you'll find the tone slightly unfamiliar, but with some tweaks in the upper register you'll find it to be very Orangey/Marshally. I love this tone. It's almost like a secret Boogie tone. I saw something similar on Haggerty's demo of the IIC+ mode of the Mark V and it sounded almost dumble-esque, so when I tried it on my Mark III I found it to be very ear pleasing once I got over how different it sounded instead of the normal hard scoop everyone uses to get the "Boogie lead".

 

[seth155]

i have similar G-EQ settings. mine are (1-10) 8, 2, 8, 7, 6
but more than the tone it seems to be a texture-thing. like maybe my boogie is too "smooth" and i'm looking for something more raspy?

here's some clean and low-gain samples that send a shiver up my spine... in a good way

first 45 seconds of:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJXfRP3c8sw&feature=channel_page

and the crunchy texture in (she talks too much):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Nuu0NEUdRQ

 

[rvschulz]

while ia am not exactly sure where your tone is going ... my .50cal + was a tone machine - could make every sound imaginable - just one at a time. keep playing with it and your guitar settings.

 

[Fronzil]

yes, the boogies are ridiculously versatile..I will NEVER sell my IV, that being said, the amps have their inherit voicing, and while you can dial in a Marshall type flavor from em, there is no replacement for the real thing..personally I need my chimy, Fender like cleans, and boogies kill for high gain lead tones, and also for blusey for rock tones..the marshall for me is just a rock crunch machine (FWIW, I have Mark III and IV at my house, as ell as an 81 JCM 800 2202and a 79 JMP 50 watt..my desert island amp is definitely the IV)

 

[glassjaw7]

I definitely prefer 6L6 boogie cleans over Marshall cleans. Some el34 amps do have great chimey full sounding cleans however. H&K and Diezel cleans are really nice. Bogner XTC 101B cleans are pretty good too, but not quite as good as a Lonestar.

For low gain stuff, I prefer the plexi-ish brit voicing over say, a low gain recto or Mark tone.

For high gain, they both have their place.

 

[seth155]

well, i just dropped the middle G-Eq slider. and now have it in the dreaded "V" configureation
from Bass to treb (1-10) 7, 4, 2, 9, 7
my tone knobs are treb=7, mid=7, bass=3.5

i also find that i'm lowering the Gain knob more and more.
i spoke to Voodoo amps over the phone, and they said that the older you get, the less gain your ears need.
he said its like it was a biological thing, and not an old-farty-fogey thing

anyway, thought i'd share

now i just need a strat, vibe, fuzz and some talent

 

[MrMarkIII]

Both Page and Hendrix used amps other than Marshall in the studio.

 

[glguitarman]

I prefer Marshall-style cleans and low gain in the non-master 50 watt (1987) and 100 watt (1959) lead amps. I also prefer these as a source of high gain sounds as well.

 

[Noe5]

Run your EQ in the Up/down/up/down/Up configuration with heavily boosted 750 area and reduced/mid gain to taste. At first you'll find the tone slightly unfamiliar, but with some tweaks in the upper register you'll find it to be very Orangey/Marshally. I love this tone. It's almost like a secret Boogie tone. I saw something similar on Haggerty's demo of the IIC+ mode of the Mark V and it sounded almost dumble-esque, so when I tried it on my Mark III I found it to be very ear pleasing once I got over how different it sounded instead of the normal hard scoop everyone uses to get the "Boogie lead".

I just tried this, and i couldn't believe it, it's like my Mark IV just turned into a Marshall. It definitely had the trademark midrange. Amazing, great tip thanks for this!
I have had a Mark IV for 20 years (91), and i am STILL finding new sounds!!!

Noe5