Mesa studio tone question

[shodmaster]

This is going to take a while so il do it right..
I play in a metal core band (think all that remains, killswitch) and i play alot of gigs.
My live set up is

mesa studio
rocktron velocity 100
marshall 1936 2x12
Sansamp distortion pedal
boss ge7 equilizer
Gibson v

Im finding while doing the sound check that when i turn up my tone sort of breaks up, im really picky about my downstrokes and at times they can turn to **** which is really annoying. Maybe this is because of the amount of parameters, the preamp settings, the preamp eq, the dist pedal settings and the eq pedal. Im aware that the studio probably wasnt designed to produce high gain metal tones like the above mentioned bands.

I should note that im using the preamps eq and running the preamp on the clean channel.
I think maybe the solid state rocktron isnt helping, im currently looking at a peavey classic 50/50.

I guess there is no real answer to my question iprobably just need to find a balance betwwen everything but maybe im doing something wrong that i dont know about or maybe someone has some info or tips
:roll:

 

[ytse_jam]

I think it is all related to using the clean channel + distortion pedal. I own a studio pre too, and love the distortion, but I agree that it hasn't got that rectifier-like crushing rhythm tone for hardcore metal. So I would use the overdrive channel of yor pre and use the pedal just to add a bit of different flavour over it.

 

[Nick_cor]

Basically, i see 3 problems in my eyes

1. POWERAMP - pickup a real tube poweramp , try the 50/50 , i picked one up for 400$, the difference is night and day

2. You're diluting your tone with an EQ.. the studio pre has an EQ already.. make a good tone without the EQ, THEN add it to take away or add what you think is missing in the mix.

3. NO OFFENCE BUT you might not now how to get good tone out of your mesa considering the gear you're insulting it with ( more EQ, pedals, solid state poweramp)

I really think you just need to get a new poweramp, for me, the 50/50 had volume + presence which allowed me to turn up the poweramp to like 7 and add some presence to so my tone can sizzle, then with the output being at like 0 - 2 on the studio pre, i'd take away some treble with the EQ so it evens out and this way you don't need to use so much gain. what are your settings on the pre anyways?

 

[Paul Secondino]

This is going to take a while so il do it right..
I play in a metal core band (think all that remains, killswitch) and i play alot of gigs.
My live set up is

mesa studio
rocktron velocity 100
marshall 1936 2x12
Sansamp distortion pedal
boss ge7 equilizer
Gibson v

Im finding while doing the sound check that when i turn up my tone sort of breaks up, im really picky about my downstrokes and at times they can turn to sh!t which is really annoying. Maybe this is because of the amount of parameters, the preamp settings, the preamp eq, the dist pedal settings and the eq pedal. Im aware that the studio probably wasnt designed to produce high gain metal tones like the above mentioned bands.

I should note that im using the preamps eq and running the preamp on the clean channel.
I think maybe the solid state rocktron isnt helping, im currently looking at a peavey classic 50/50.

I guess there is no real answer to my question iprobably just need to find a balance betwwen everything but maybe im doing something wrong that i dont know about or maybe someone has some info or tips
:roll:

definitely some issues here regarding your pedals and power amp. As already mentioned, you're kind of insulting the preamp .It truly has enough balls to do metal. Just trust it.

Sell the Velocity and buy a 50/50 Mesa. It's an ugly poweramp but is fantastic sounding and inexpensive.It's easily 2 or 3 times as well made as the Peavey and has a very ballsy output transformer .IF you get this set up, simply try some basic settings and get as dialed in as you feel that you can. ANd forget about using any additional EQ. The Studio already has the graphic that is far more powerful than any Boss stomp box.

Once you get the studio set up with a good power amp, then perhaps try using a OD pedal to boost the lead channel a bit.The sansamp is a solid state buzz box for the most part. The Mesa studio in comparison has the same balls but a much wider sound. At low volume, the sansamp might sound cool but the more you turn it up , the more you hear the buzz

 

[Lucifer]

Like they said..use the studio EQ and for gods sake, DONT use a distortion pedal on the clean channel and say "it wasnt designed to produce high gain metal tones"..have you even tried a setup like Guitar -> Studio (lead channel) -> tube poweramp? Forget about pedals and EQs..if you want a really brootal tone, buy a 50/50, plug your guitar right into the Studio, switch to Lead and set the EQ to the classic V, etc..
On the other hand..if you play metalcore and if you would like a fuzzy buzzy distortion (like most cheap pedals produce), buy a tech 21 sansamp and keep the solid state poweramp..

 

[scottywompas]

I used a studio pre for 15 years and I never put any distortion pedals through it. Guitar->wah->sudio pre-> roland delay-> ada microtube 100.

That was my rig for years and I played Metal, hard rock,etc...

I got real good heavy sounds with the studio pre. The EQ on it is key to dialing in the lead channel. You can get great sounds just by fiddling with what the pre has to offer.

Scott

 

[SFW]

Get a good tube power amp. The 50/50 or a good used Peavey Classic 60/60 will work fine. Loose the pedal EQ and Sansamp. Get either a good ol TS-9 or a Duncan pickup booster. The Studio has more than enough gain to get down right evil metal tones. You just have to understand how the controls work. Download the manual and study it like the bible.

 

[shodmaster]

cool thanks for the input everybody, i guess i am fairly ignorant when it comes to understanding how the unit works.
Im going to go back to basics, no pedals just straight in, and I recently got a peavey 60/60 for the mesa, which i think has improved the sound somewhat, i also downloaded the manual, which helps a bit to,

Could some of you who replied post your settings, i know you might play different styles and have your own tonal preferences but i would find it interesting to see some settings.

 

[ytse_jam]

cool thanks for the input everybody, i guess i am fairly ignorant when it comes to understanding how the unit works.
Im going to go back to basics, no pedals just straight in, and I recently got a peavey 60/60 for the mesa, which i think has improved the sound somewhat, i also downloaded the manual, which helps a bit to,

Could some of you who replied post your settings, i know you might play different styles and have your own tonal preferences but i would find it interesting to see some settings.

one thing you must remember to achieve a lot of gain is keeping the treble high (from 7.5 to 10)... if you want you can always use the graphic eq to round off the highs a bit. And keep basses low if you want to stay tight!
I get a great rhythm metal distortion with this settings:
Volume: 8.5
Master: 5
Treble: 8.5 or 9
Bass: 2.5
Middle: from 0 to 4
Reverb: from 0 to 3
Lead Drive: 5.5
Lead Master 6.5 (I found this value allows a nice balance between clean channel volume level and overdriven channel volume level).
Graphic EQ: V shape (80Hz and 6600Hz faders just below upper line, 240Hz and 2200Hz faders about on middle line, 750Hz fader on lower line)
Lead Fat On
Lead Bright Off

 

[shodmaster]

cool il give that a try,

 

[shodmaster]

Basically, i see 3 problems in my eyes

1. POWERAMP - pickup a real tube poweramp , try the 50/50 , i picked one up for 400$, the difference is night and day

2. You're diluting your tone with an EQ.. the studio pre has an EQ already.. make a good tone without the EQ, THEN add it to take away or add what you think is missing in the mix.

3. NO OFFENCE BUT you might not now how to get good tone out of your mesa considering the gear you're insulting it with ( more EQ, pedals, solid state poweramp)

I really think you just need to get a new poweramp, for me, the 50/50 had volume + presence which allowed me to turn up the poweramp to like 7 and add some presence to so my tone can sizzle, then with the output being at like 0 - 2 on the studio pre, i'd take away some treble with the EQ so it evens out and this way you don't need to use so much gain. what are your settings on the pre anyways?

with regards to the settings on the pre i guess( im not with the unit right now but...) maybe bass 5, trebel 6.5, middle 7.5, master vol and vol 4or 5, lead drive 9, lead master 5, and as for the eq i employ the v shape except for the middle frequency, which i set in the center,
lead fat on bright off,
tips welcomed