How do you set up your IV?

[bryan_kilco]

In a band setting....?

lately I've been thinking about NOT using my GEQ all the time, and only using it for leads.....I hate not being able to stand "above" the mix during a solo. just seems that I can get so much more OOMPH out of the Lead Channel with the GEQ active.....maybe I should just get an MXR 10-band for the loop? I already have a rack with a 31-band....but I never lug that thing around.

I've thought about using RHY2 for main rhythms, but I play in a metal band so it just doesnt quite give me the saturation I need.

 

[ryjan]

Easiest way is a transparent boost pedal or like you said, an MXR eq in the loop as a volume boost. I used to use my geq with the mids dipped down a little and everything else at just about centerline. When I'd turn the geq off I'd get a small volume increase as well as more mids. So I used the geq off for my leads and the mid scoop for metal rhythm.

 

[Platypus]

In a band setting....?

lately I've been thinking about NOT using my GEQ all the time, and only using it for leads.....I hate not being able to stand "above" the mix during a solo. just seems that I can get so much more OOMPH out of the Lead Channel with the GEQ active.....maybe I should just get an MXR 10-band for the loop? I already have a rack with a 31-band....but I never lug that thing around.

I've thought about using RHY2 for main rhythms, but I play in a metal band so it just doesnt quite give me the saturation I need.

Boost your mids a lot to cut through. Sounds not so great playing solo but live you need to cut through. Switch off the GEQ and use it only on lead with the lead+eq mode. If you need more saturation try running an OD in front of R2. The most counter-intuitive thing about gain is that when you're playing by yourself you feel like you need a ton of gain for it to sound right.. but in reality in a band setting you'll sound much heavier and tighter with less gain. You might find once you get R2 cooking a little bit that even though it sounds off alone it will sound great in a band setting, especially if you are tight with your bass player. Super saturated gain tones get lost completely in the mix.

Alternatively you can scoop your mids on your dials and then put the GEQ on with a big midrange boost set and do it in reverse.

 

[Fronzil]

i love rhythm 2...i spend maybe the most time on it..works great for hot rock crunch, alternate solo channel and rolling back the guitars volume for some dirty cleans etc

 

[Geiri]

+1 on r2 it's very underrated. I spend most of my time on the lead channel tho but when I wanna do a little less over the top r2 is the way to go.

 

[emperor_black]

You can get the MXR but what I found was, when I switch it on, especially with mids boosted, I couldnt hear my other guitarist. He used to play with quite a bit of mid-scooped. A unconventional option is adding a BBE sonic stomp. It does not give you more volume, but you can clearly be heard. Switch it off for rhythm and switch it on for lead. Or you could use the 'tech 21 boos D.L.A' which is a delay pedal along with a clean volume boost.

 

[bryan_kilco]

well I have a rack setup that includes a BBE Sonic Maximizer and a 31-band GEQ. Its just not very practical to lug it around for maybe 30 seconds of use in an entire set. maybe ill get a wild hair up the *** and start messing with it at practice.

 

[emperor_black]

well I have a rack setup that includes a BBE Sonic Maximizer and a 31-band GEQ. Its just not very practical to lug it around for maybe 30 seconds of use in an entire set. maybe ill get a wild hair up the *** and start messing with it at practice.

Well, the most beautiful thing about the mark IV was the 110V o/p at the back. I love it. I have a tiny BBE sonic stomp sitting on top of the amp with a Boss 9v adapter powering it. Carrying a tiny pedal, two patch cables, a power adapter should not be too much of an inconvenience now would it?

 

[bryan_kilco]

well I have a rack setup that includes a BBE Sonic Maximizer and a 31-band GEQ. Its just not very practical to lug it around for maybe 30 seconds of use in an entire set. maybe ill get a wild hair up the *** and start messing with it at practice.

Well, the most beautiful thing about the mark IV was the 110V o/p at the back. I love it. I have a tiny BBE sonic stomp sitting on top of the amp with a Boss 9v adapter powering it. Carrying a tiny pedal, two patch cables, a power adapter should not be too much of an inconvenience now would it?

wait, what do you mean? you talking about the extra power outlet on some earlier Marks? mine doesnt have one, of thats what you mean.

 

[emperor_black]

wait, what do you mean? you talking about the extra power outlet on some earlier Marks? mine doesnt have one, of thats what you mean.

oh no! really? mine is a type A serial 4810. made early 93 or something according to the seller.

 

[bryan_kilco]

yeah i got a B and i think the serial is 10217 .....no outlet in the back.....

 

[dwsabianguy]

Yeah, the earlier Mark IVs have a single power outlet on the back. I have an A-version Mark IV, and it has the outlet on the back. It's apparently also voiced closer to a Mark IIC+ than the B versions. Either way, it sounds awesome (though is it just me, or is it not quite as refined as the B versions?).

I keep my EQ on all the time. I just don't like the excessive middiness (believe me, I love mids, just not that much) that the Mark IV tends to have without the EQ. My lead channel is set more for the John Petrucci-type tone - kinda bright with plenty of gain.

And +1 from me about R2. It's what I call my "Alex Lifeson channel" - a very warm sound with less distortion. Turn on my volume boost and it's a sound akin to Andy Timmons's tone.

 

[emperor_black]

I've had my Mark IV (A) for only three weeks now so I'm still a noob in that respect... :lol: I also had a EQ pedal in the loop for the longest time. But now, I feel there is no need. From what I've seen the biggest "scooped" sound I get is not with the classic 'V' shape in the GEQ. Its actually by dipping the 2200 slider below the 750 slider.

And I always thought John Petrucci tone was "darker". You're saying its a bright tone? According to m, Metallica's MOP is a dark tone! Randy rhoads' is a bright tone. But Zakk Wylde's is a dark tone. Am I getting the bright/dark tones wrong?

 

[dwsabianguy]

John Petrucci's tone has gone through a lot of phases. His tone in the early 90s live tone was very bright by my standards, and had very little bass. I believe he was using two Triaxis for his live tone and for the recording of Images and Words. He's always been big into the Mark IIC+ amps, and as I've learned through this forum and other places, they're even brighter than my Mark IVa.

It seems like his tone has darkened over the years. My personal favorite JP tone is either from Six Degrees (gotta love the grind of a IIC+ for the rhythm tracks) or the recent LTE DVD.

That being said, Lamb of God would be some serious Mark IV brightness. I saw a demo video of a Mark IVb by a lefty player with a Les Paul, and he had the Lead channel at something along the lines of, in order: 9P, 9, 3, 7, 5P. It was very bright, very crunchy, and very Lamb of God.

I'd call Master of Puppets "scooped" more than anything. Try putting your GEQ faders all around the top, then bring the middle fader all the way down. Instant ghetto-MOP tone. And Randy Rhoads's tone was very bright. I mean, he used a boosted, cranked Marshall.

 

[emperor_black]

I agree with you. John P's tone has indeed darkened over time. I was referring to his tone on Octavarium. Yes, I have one of the LTE albums and its indeed very dark and fat. Kinda how I've got my Mark going.