Guess the Mesa amp :)

[bandit2013]

Have you seen Screamingdaisy's post on the grid slammer? Perhaps this would be of interest. I will have to check them out again and reconsider it.

http://forum.grailtone.com/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=72133zone.

I can see if I have an extra Mullard to install, as I would rather keep the Mullards in the Mark V so I can do an A/B but I can pull one just for this. I have a few new Shuguang tubes I can use, some are the newer revision that do not have the metal clips and some have the metal clip. I also have some that are more aggressive (old stock Mesa tubes with square foil getter, best tube I have used). I will also use the new Mesa cab with V30.

I believe the OB.1 compressor would enhance your lead, it will not be dramatic in terms of compression but will definitely get you to the Mark V compression zone. I actually prefer using both compressor and eq pedal which becomes quite addicting, and once I switch them off I want to turn them back on. What I like about the OB.1 is you can leave it on all the time.

Here is an example of something I did around the 4th of july. This was the first time I recorded with the Mark V and the Rivera Rock Crusher Recording attenuator. Most of the other recordings in my list were done with a Boss GT100 direct into the recorder as I had issues getting the sound I wanted with microphones due to high SPL to capture the sweet spot of the amp. I was experimenting with a Stymon bigsky reverb and found an effect I wanted to focus on to see how it would turn out. I ran the bigsky and DIG in parallel on the recorder as I did not want to loose the low end of the effect through the attenuator, OB.1 compressor was used for all guitar as well as bass. Also had a Boss Terra Echo in the Mark V loop. Call it a mix of Pink Floyd and Deep Purple. Also I was getting used to the Rivera attenuator so why not make a recording and see how it turns out. I basically threw something together so may not be polished. Also I had to add the drums and bass and the fill in guitar. I am not a good drummer by any means, bass I can pretend to play somewhat but the some techniques are acquired for that percussive bass slap that I have not perfected yet. If you click on my user name at the top there are other recordings. Most of what I have recorded was intended to capture an idea and if I liked it to work on it further. I normally play a mix when not recording. From Led Zeppelin to Pink Floyd, ACDC, Deep Purple, or just something off the wall. Despite the length of time I have played guitar, I spent more time in the first 5 years and then after the band split up I was more focused on other things. I had taken a leave of absence from guitar playing and sold most of my gear except the Mesa Mark III, Mark IV and the Recto Cab as well as one guitar. Had an injury that made playing too painful so I gave up for a 8-10 year period shortly after tying to get back into it again. As of 2012 I started again and had to relearn all that has been forgotten. I am getting better and much closer to how I could play back then, still not as fast, and the limelight is long gone for me.

https://soundcloud.com/user-353100000/tempted01wav

Time to get something done so I can post a recorded example of the Roadster with similar tubes. I may throw in a delay just to give you an idea.

 

[afu]

Is there a boost which is like the Fuzz Factory? It might be nice to have the gate and compression without the fuzz. I wonder if I could mock-up something if it doesn't exist?

 

[bandit2013]

I made a quick recording of the Roadster with the Mullard 12AX7A RI in V2, for the Shuguang I used a 1989 Mesa 12ax7A which is earlier version of the current tube, has square foil getter vs the halo.

Set up the CH3 for lead, vintage, 50W tube rectifier. CH master at 2:00, Presence at 2:00 Base at 11:30, mid at 12:15, Treble at 2:00 and gain at 2:00, FX loop set with the Mesa 5band EQ in V shape and Strymon DIG delay
CH4 for rhythm, modern, 100W silicon diode, CH master11:00, Presence 2:30 Bass 9:30, Mid 11:00 Treble 2:00 and Gain set to 2:30.

Amp was run though a Rivera Rock Crusher attenuator so I could mic the cab SM57, as well as a Condenser mic (RODE NT1-A) peeking into the room to capture the ambience. I did mix the XLR output of the Rock crusher, sounded close to the SM57.

It is what it is, could not get the roadster to sound like blackoutshred's recording of his. I prefer the TungSol in V1 and the rest to be stock as this helps the lead cut better. Don't mind the dog hair on the floor, I should have cleaned up before I started. Dog likes to sleep in the studio for some reason. At least if someone breaks in they would have to deal with the dog before they get my gear.

https://soundcloud.com/user-353100000/roadster1-zwav

 

[bandit2013]

Is there a boost which is like the Fuzz Factory? It might be nice to have the gate and compression without the fuzz. I wonder if I could mock-up something if it doesn't exist?

Strymon OB.1 compressor, no fizz or fuzz, even has a clean boost too. Optical compressors tend to be less noisy than the others.

 

[bandit2013]

As for the recording I did, it is a bit shabby at best. I believe the amp would have sounded better with the Tung Sol in V1, and all the rest stock. Tung Sol 12AX7 really wakes up the amp, also adds a bit more tightness to the low end. I had found you do not get much out of the V3 with a different tube, at least I have not noticed much of a change. For CH3 and CH4, the tubes that will dramatically effect your amps character are V1, V2 and sometimes V6 (PI tube) other than the power tubes. The Mullard 12AX7A long plate (re-issue) works better in a very bright amp as this tube will filter out or take of the ice pick tone, the Mark V for example is one I favor the Mullard tube in. If I had used the Recto cab loaded with the Cream backs G12H75 would have also made a difference too. I normally use the V30 loaded Recto cab with my RA100 head as it just does not get better than that for what I use the amp for.

As for OD or Distortion pedals, not for me. Although the Whampler Plexi did sound good with the Bass, was actually thinking of making the bass gritty, oh well it got washed out anyway and I could have omitted it.

Also, if I am eager enough to repeat it with the Mark V. It will not sound the same since the mental recorder is non-functional. I had lost the lead playing skill long ago either due to age or lack of practice.

 

[bandit2013]

I am thinking about redoing the recording with my preferred tubes in the Roadster along with the other 412 cab. I may just copy the project and redo some tracks as I am not that good of a drummer I doubt I will be able to recreate that again. My method of recording may not be the best as I did the rhythm first, than threw the lead onto it followed by the drums. The bass was a toss up since I cannot even hear it. It may even sound better without the bass.

If it works I will post it. May as well do the same but use the Mark V for a third. This will be good for practice anyway. I definitely will change the ending, I mess up and sort of lost my place in the original recording since that was the place for the bridge and change in tempo to something a bit different before returning back to the same as the beginning. Also first time I attempted to add a lead layer on the rhythm part. It may get better or worse the next go around. :roll:

 

[blackoutshred]

It is what it is, could not get the roadster to sound like blackoutshred's recording of his. I prefer the TungSol in V1 and the rest to be stock as this helps the lead cut better. Don't mind the dog hair on the floor, I should have cleaned up before I started. Dog likes to sleep in the studio for some reason. At least if someone breaks in they would have to deal with the dog before they get my gear.

https://soundcloud.com/user-353100000/roadster1-zwav

I really like it a lot man, thanks for sharing and helping me out 8) . I can feel the articulation and the sustain the compressor gave to it (the eq has a little effect on that?). For what I heard I can definitely feel my Roadster vibe there. I think that in some degree is my fault, I do like the amp to sound open but at the same time dark/smooth (hope it makes sense), hate harshness!.

To me the v1 is the position that changes the amp drastically but, the v3 can change the feel of it which is almost as important.

Alan.

 

[bandit2013]

I do like the amp to sound open but at the same time dark/smooth (hope it makes sense), hate harshness!.

To me the v1 is the position that changes the amp drastically but, the v3 can change the feel of it which is almost as important.

Alan.

I have a few tubes that will survive a CF circuit. I actually did not notice much of a difference in tube changes to the V3. It could be the cab in use too as the response of the cab is what does make the most difference in tone, feel and response. V3 does have one gain stage but I think that is used for the channel master volume for CH3 and CH4. V1 and V2 will definitely alter the amp character. You can get interesting results in changing V2, even to a lower gain tube like the JJ ECC803 (long plate 12ax7) and has a similar character as the Mullard long plate. Even a NOS JANGE 5751 in V1 or V2 can make a dramatic difference.

The first time I tried the Tung Sol I thought the roadster lost the character that drew me into it. I dislike harshness or ice pick tones as well. After I converted my old recto cab with Celestion G12H75 the Tung Sol actually was the ticket. Before I changed speakers I had EV's in the cab. They are bright as well as dark. The V30 in the old cab just did not thrill me, they sounded better in a traditional sized 412 cab (I bought a low cost Egnator cab and put the V30s in there as for use with the RA100 as I was not ready to part with the EVs since my Mark V in head form and I did not have the Roadster yet). However the Mesa 412 cab I bought to match the RA100 sounds incredible.

Sooner or later I will finish the project but will attempt a repeat with my gear set up the way I use it. For simplicity sake I will use the same cab as before. Even when I repeat the same or similar with the Mark V. I should be able to get something done this coming weekend.

 

[afu]

I grew up with icepick tones (crap equipment). I've moved away from that and embraced midrange, but harshness makes my heart go pitter-patter. I especially like when it sounds like something being torn apart with a jagged, rusty spoon and slapped against the speakers. It's not farting, but obliteration.

It doesn't work for everything, but it has its place.

 

[bandit2013]

What sounds sinister is a mixed quad of SED 6L6GC and TAD 6L6GCSTR tubes in a Mark IV plugged into a 412 or two 412 cabs. Holly Crap did that sound amazing. I have tried the same using the same tubes in the Mark V and could not get there. I think I still have a pair of functional TAD tubes, I am still using the SED =C= so I will have to try it again. That was the most aggressive axe grinder tone I ever got. Why did I sell the amp in the first place? Oh yeah, I wanted drums...