First time playing with a used DR, first problem

[7thstring]

Thanks for reading and for any future advice...


I bought a used 2002 DR and I finally had the time and the setup to play with yesterday during a band practice. I play through a Marshall 1960A 4x12 cab with a Godin Artisan ST (with original pick-ups). That's the first Mesa amp I own and I never had a tube amp before, I used to gig with a small Marshall Valvestate 8080 (which sounded quite good anyway).

Here's the deal:

I did start the amp on standby as suggested by the manual and after a few minutes, I started to play at a quite low volume just for fun before pushing the volume. I dialed one of the suggested 2nd channel tone in the manual, "Orange Honey Lead" it's called (I think), and it came out really muddy, really loud in low range but no brightness at all. After I tried the 3rd channel suggestion "Serious Grind" and I was quite the same, poor high range, muddy gain, extreme loud bass. Then I told the other guys to leave the spot for a minute and I turned the amp almost all up with one of the suggested tones, I have heard a lot about "you need to crank it up to get THE tone", but it ended in a bassy mess, and it was not as loud as I expected, not "ear-damaging" at all.

As I said before, that was the first time I played the amp and that's my first all-tube monster so I ain't sure about anything. Some told me the lamps are just busted (but they all light-up equally), some told me I may have mismatched them, other tell me to dump the amplifier, a good way to create aggressivity...

Before trying anything I prefer to ask you all, because I noticed that a lot of people received awesome help on this forum. So... any idea?

Thanks again!

 

[AJ_Newkirk]

I would definately change the tubes first before considering dumping the amp.

 

[Elpelotero]

in my opinion, their suggested settings are not that great. At least when I tried them back in the day...

The best way to test and get acquainted with a rectifier is to put all the tone controls flat at 12 noon. Put the volume around 9-11 to get some "loudness" going. Then you adjust from there.

 

[Platypus]

I agree.. set your controls to noon, use your tube rectifier and your spongy setting, turn the volume up to a decent level. If you're getting mud/bass and no high end in this setting then I would first replace your tubes before doing anything else... something is wrong if those settings don't yield a pleasant tone.

 

[Kung-Fool]

Another thing to consider is that if your Marshall 1960A has the gt75's it's not a good match. GT75's sound like **** with a recto in my opinion.

 

[Commander Coo1]

another thing is make sure the loop is off or the volume is turned up on the front and back loop controls

 

[LnTh]

Tubes. Trust me. Change those tubes. No one can say a cranked recto isn't ear damaging. That's crazy talk. Or deaf talk

Also, I hate GT75's with a recto. I totally agree Kung-fool on that part. Especially with a 3 channel recto. I can't even imagine how much it must have sucked.

I STRONGLY recommend Avatar 2x12 with CL80's. Or a 4x12 if you REALLY need it. (I don't)

I don't recommend Mesa 4x12 with 3 channel recto. V30's top end can be ear piercing. And 3 channel rectos have enough more than enough presence. They need darker speakers like CL80's.

Good luck.

 

[clutch71]

Another thing to consider is that if your Marshall 1960A has the gt75's it's not a good match. GT75's sound like sh!t with a recto in my opinion.

+1 I personally think the g1275's sound like a$$ regardless of the head. I do like vintage 30's and feel you can't go wrong with them. I do think to in a band situation a 4 x 12 would capture the sound better than a 2x12.

Don't forget to check all cabeling as well.

Also remember channel 2 and 3's Modern and Vintage are voiced differently. A hold over I believe from the old "channel cloning" which I never totally inderstood nor could I get to work. At least not for a clean on Red. I'd sa you are going to find most of your lead tones in a Vntage setting.

If you eliminate the cab, cables, and tubes the next suggestion would be to have the amp circuitry looked at.

Good Luck

 

[7thstring]

Ok, I'm going to try changing the lamps, playing on someone else's cab and checking that loop knob thing.

I'll get you some feedback about that later, über-thanks!!

 

[JW123]

Try taking the loop out of the circuit. I had a lot of problems out of one of my DRs loops a few years ago. Mine would have been a little older than yours.

I would think it was the tubes, refresh all of them.

 

[lycanthropy89]

haha this sounds just like me. i just got the same exact gear as you recently and this is my first half stack as well. i'm having a lot of trouble dialing in both a nice rhythm tone and a nice lead tone. it's always either too noisy/gainy and really loose or too dry and rough sounding. i researched a lot and the mark iv sounds more like the amp for me (tighter gain and smoother lead), but those were more expensive and i really needed an amp to start playing with my band; we haven't played in like two or three months because i used to use our drummer's dad's amp but i can't anymore. i found a good deal on a used DR and a used 1960a cab so i took it, figuring that it's a high quality enough amp that it would get the job done. however, it's really frustrating me to the point where i don't even feel like playing guitar lately... i was getting better metal sounds through my friend's dad's nontube fender combo amp.

 

[phyrexia]

Hey, I don't know what your first language is but in the USA we call them "vacuum tubes" or just "tubes" and in the UK they call them "valves." That might help you find some information.

 

[7thstring]

you're right: tubes!
in french it's "une lampe" I just directly translated.

 

[LnTh]

you're right: tubes!
in french it's "une lampe" I just directly translated.

Us Turks call it "lamps" too. More like "Lamba".

So it wasn't TOO weird for me to see you call it lamp

 

[7thstring]

I FINALLY found out...
after change ALL the tubes (even the preamp's), after trying another cab and thousand of settings, the problem had never been about the amp or the cab. It's all about the FREAKING GT-5 I used with... no matter the way I plug it (through the loop or before the amp) it sounds like scrap, sucking away all the good tone and all the range above the bass.

I'm glad that it finally works, but now there's the issue:
how do I get my wet sound?

I tried to play with the GT's input level and the send% of the amp but still there, sounds like a big nice cup of stfu... What the hell's is wrong with my rig?! :?:

 

[RJ2213]

ive never liked using a amp modeler/all in one preamp and processor with a tube amp. to me they seem to take control of the tone. i'd definately say get a rack processor or a few stompboxes, depending on your preference.

 

[domct203]

My GT-6 totally ruined the sound of my Roadster. If you have the cash go with a rack unit. Once it is dialed in right, you won't regret it.

Dom

 

[7thstring]

Ok! That explain a lot of things...

Finally thanks to all of you mesa-dudes, you've been really helpful about my problem!

Subject closed!! 8)