It pays to experiment - settings, tube config, and findings!

[MusicManJP6]

I've been playing a little each day and keep tweaking my settings a little with fresh ears each session. I started thinking about how to get CH2 to sound smoother and less harsh in the treble so I decided to try an AT7 in V2 slot (CH2's 2nd gain stage) and, it was instantly smoother and less harsh. Then I thought I'd flip it down to 45 watts and switch my 8ohm cab to the 4ohm speaker output to smooth it out even more. Just what I wanted! All channels benefited from the speaker output change IMO.

Also, I've been using JJ E34Ls for the past month and love them. I am using TungSol AX7s in V1, V3, V4, and V7 and stock Mesas in the rest of the slots (aside from the GE 12AT7 in V2). Stock Rectifier tube as well.

Here's the settings I landed on before I stopped playing today. The GEQ setting is key as it is ON for all channels.

CH1:

CH2:

CH3:

GEQ:

Let me know what you think.......

 

[MusicManJP6]

After a brief break I went back and tweaked CH2 settings again. Much better:

 

[niilz]

Your channel 1 and 3 settings look similar to what I tweak them usually - the second channel differs a lot, so I will give your "crunch"-setting a try during the next rehearsal an monday ;-)

Do you use it like
ch1:"clean"
ch2:"soft/warm lead"
ch3:"heavy jp rhythm/lead" ???

 

[MusicManJP6]

Do you use it like
ch1:"clean"
ch2:"soft/warm lead"
ch3:"heavy jp rhythm/lead" ???

Yep, pretty much. Going for an overdrive tone on CH2.

 

[niilz]

...whereas I use ch2 as a heavy "alternative-rock" Creed mets EVH meets Porcupine Tree meets... rhythm to lead sound.
That explains the different aproach :mrgreen:

 

[MusicManJP6]

...whereas I use ch2 as a heavy "alternative-rock" Creed mets EVH meets Porcupine Tree meets... rhythm to lead sound.
That explains the different aproach :mrgreen:

Just crank the gain in the first Crunch settings I posted and you're close!

 

[Shang Chi 66]

Musicman

Do you find your settings (on channel 3) to work well for single note solo tones as well as your heavy rhythm sound, or are you primarily a rhythm player, so it doesnt matter?

The way I set up channel 3, is that I eq the IIC+ mode to my solo tone (using my neck pickup) on the rotary eq controls. Then, I use the graphic eq to shape my heavy rhythm sound. For me, that effectively gives me an, "extra channel" so to speak (in a way).

 

[MusicManJP6]

I play mostly rhythm on CH3, but those settings work well for leads as well. The neck pickup fattens up the notes nicely.

 

[SteveO]

I just put a Sylvania 12ax7 in V1 and an RCA 12at7 in V2, with the goal of cleaning up the very harshness that you mentioned. MUCH better! I also picked up a 12az7 to try in the PI slot, haven't gotten that far yet as I tend to only swap one out at a time to get a better feel for what each tube change accomplishes.

 

[MusicManJP6]

I just put a Sylvania 12ax7 in V1 and an RCA 12at7 in V2, with the goal of cleaning up the very harshness that you mentioned. MUCH better! I also picked up a 12az7 to try in the PI slot, haven't gotten that far yet as I tend to only swap one out at a time to get a better feel for what each tube change accomplishes.

Yea, swapping out that JJ/Mesa in V1 is crucial, and then the AT7 in V2 adds the finishing touch to smoothing out that channel. I tried the AT7 in the PI slot and it seemed to somewhat castrate the amp IMO.

 

[Hendog]

I'm kinda weird with my settings of channel 3 and 2. I set them with totally different styles in mind. I use channel 3 for Dream Theater style high gain on EXTREME mode and the gain at 3. I then set channel 2 for overdrive blues type stuff in mind. I cant decide between the modes in channel 2 yet because they are all so good.

My channel 1 is set for a fat, full, warm clean using... FAT.