Mark III demo

[kwirk]

Yeah, I know. I've been posting topics on how crappy my III sounds, but every now and then it'll sound really good. I managed to get some recording in before it crapped out. Mostly just DT riffs. More info in the video description.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=97TdXt_7DO4

 

[Neptical]

Good job, Andy. That's more like it! 8)

 

[Sp3ktral]

yup that's how a mark iii SHOULD sound.

 

[SonicProvocateur]

The one thing I love about the blue stripe is that you can clean it up to the IIC+ sound or gnarl it up close to that Recto sound.

Good recordings, that is definitely how it should sound.

 

[kwirk]

Thanks guys.

It now does Metallica:

http://soundcloud.com/axiong427/mops

 

[kdorsey]

What did you change since your last "my tone sucks" thread? 8)

 

[ziggys]

As a new Mark III owner (red) Please share.
Thanks

 

[kwirk]

I didn't really have anything specific for the settings. I think the key was the treble control and the graphic EQ.

For the DT settings, I had the treble somewhere past 7. Again, it wasn't anything specific. Used my ears mostly. My mid knob doesn't do anything, so that's really not important what I had it at. Bass was really low, at around 2-3, pulled out. I always have the deep function pulled out too, as I'm using a 2x12 and want a little bit more low end. Volume (the one that sets the overall gain) and lead gain set to 7. Graphic EQ was based on Petrucci's settings. I may have added more or less mid range on the 750 slider. Presence knob was around 5. Whatever else I missed just mess around with until it sounds good to you.

The Metallica settings were basically an extreme version of the Petrucci set up. I tried using the Metallica setup with the graphic EQ (as seen from their old rig pictures), but that just didn't sound right to my ears. It was basically just an extreme V, where the bass and treble end were nearly all the way up, mid bass and mid treble were a bit lower and 750 was scooped all the way. I had the presence knob at 9. Gain stayed the same.

 

[ryjan]

Awesome Hetfield tone! Keep in mind that the tone from the Sweet Silence sessions was quad tracked and post eq'd with those settings. Sounds killer.

 

[kwirk]

Yeah, but it didn't sound anything like it. I realize they were using other gear, like slaving into Marshalls and some EQs. The MoP clip I quad tracked, as well as did some post EQ'ing on it.

 

[Anonymous]

Post removed.

 

[kdorsey]

Were you using the same guitar? The basic differences between the two were presence and GE? Very interesting. Any effects on the DT or all post processing?

Sounds good! 8)

 

[kwirk]

I used an RG7421 with stock pickups for the Metallica clip. The DT stuff was an RG565 with a Tone Zone in the bridge, and then I used the RG7421 on the third DT clip (Shattered Fortress).

Very little post processing. I think all I did was a high end roll off and some noise gating on the DT clips. I wanted them to be as true to the amp as could be. Of course I added a bit of delay and reverb to the PMU solo though.

This might not be everyone's cup of tea, but I wanted to see if I could pull of some more modern tones on the Mark III:

http://soundcloud.com/axiong427/djent

I ran a tubescreamer in front of the amp for that one.

 

[Neptical]

These amps can do the djent just fine. :wink:

Good demo, Andy. I'll probably get one up pretty soon.

 

[kdorsey]

The best part about this amp, to me, is that you've shown how versatile for metal it can be, yet I can turn around and land juicy Weezer, Raconteurs, ZZ Top, Black Crows, and even .38 Special with the same rig. Hell, I don't change anything on the amp...for the most part because it's a PITA during a show. A swap of guitars, back out volume and/or tone, change pick position and it's a totally different beast. Granted, if I were to add some Opeth and Cradle of Filth to our set list, that might get tricky. :wink: But that ain't happening any time soon.

Nice job. Glad you got your confidence back with a tremendous amp. Didn't want you walking away pissed at it.

 

[kwirk]

Yeah, I've just spent more money than I wanted to on this amp. I'm more pissed at the seller than anything, who claimed it simply needed some new tubes.

 

[ziggys]

"Yeah, I've just spent more money than I wanted to on this amp. I'm more pissed at the seller than anything, who claimed it simply needed some new tubes."

Maybe I missed this but what was it you did to your amp to reinspire the tone. And what was wrong with the amp that the seller didn't mention? Finally what did you do to correct it?

Thanks for your time.

 

[kwirk]

Bought new tubes for it and dropped it off at a local authorized Mesa repair shop. They fixed most of the problems but overlooked one major problem (despite me explaining it), which is the mid slider that randomly goes out. The mid knob also doesn't seem to do much of anything on any channel.

The seller simply said it may or may not need new tubes. What was actually wrong with it was the fact that the previous owner (the guy before the guy I bought it from), had put some DIY mods into it which were causing some wiring issues within the circuitry. The power and preamp tubes were apparently wired 'weirdly' also.

 

[Facelift]

I didn't really have anything specific for the settings. I think the key was the treble control and the graphic EQ.

For the DT settings, I had the treble somewhere past 7. Again, it wasn't anything specific. Used my ears mostly. My mid knob doesn't do anything, so that's really not important what I had it at. Bass was really low, at around 2-3, pulled out. I always have the deep function pulled out too, as I'm using a 2x12 and want a little bit more low end. Volume (the one that sets the overall gain) and lead gain set to 7. Graphic EQ was based on Petrucci's settings. I may have added more or less mid range on the 750 slider. Presence knob was around 5. Whatever else I missed just mess around with until it sounds good to you.

The Metallica settings were basically an extreme version of the Petrucci set up. I tried using the Metallica setup with the graphic EQ (as seen from their old rig pictures), but that just didn't sound right to my ears. It was basically just an extreme V, where the bass and treble end were nearly all the way up, mid bass and mid treble were a bit lower and 750 was scooped all the way. I had the presence knob at 9. Gain stayed the same.

Loved the tone you got on your clips. However, can you be any broader on your description of settings? Why not just post the settings up instead of beating around the bush with them being "around", "somewhere past", "based off of", "more or less", "basically", or "nearly" for your description? I mean come on dude, just read what they say on the knobs and post it up. Maybe a picture would show what youre talking about, and not a blurry one either. :lol:

 

[kwirk]

I didn't write anything down and didn't bother to. Exact 'settings' are pointless. Every setup is going to be different, even if you are running the same amp. Use yours ears. There is not magical point where if you turn this and that on your amp to 7, it's going to sound like Petrucci. I gave general settings because what I posted should still give you a close tone, and you can tweak it from there.