MKIII - R2 Hi-Gain vs Lead Hi Gain???

[reo73]

Mark III Blue Stripe:

Does anyone else feel that the R2 channel with the Volume up at 9-10 and the treble at 8-10 with the EQ in a sharp V pattern is actually heavier than hi-gain on the Lead channel. It doesn't get a scooped as the lead channel but to my ears the lower end quality on the R2 channel is more deeper and more dynamic which gives it a heavier quality.

I posted this on another board and they pretty much called me crazy!

 

[Boogiebabies]

I see your point. It has less compressed distortion and you are adding the feeling or sense of more gain gain with the tone stack and graphic. More so. by boosting the 6600 and the treble. Once you engage the lead circuit the whole preamp goes wild and it adds a huge amount of gain and compression. High gain IMHO is a misnomer. You can have all the gain in the universe and if it is not EQ'ed right it is usless. You have to find a balance or sweet spot on almost every amp out there.

What is so crazy about that? You may happen to have a MK III that naturally has more gain than others owners R2's.

Do what works for you. Who cares what people think.

This board it a bunch of really good guys, and they tend to give it straight and unbiased.

 

[reo73]

I see your point. It has less compressed distortion and you are adding the feeling or sense of more gain gain with the tone stack and graphic. More so. by boosting the 6600 and the treble. Once you engage the lead circuit the whole preamp goes wild and it adds a huge amount of gain and compression. High gain IMHO is a misnomer. You can have all the gain in the universe and if it is not EQ'ed right it is usless. You have to find a balance or sweet spot on almost every amp out there.

What is so crazy about that? You may happen to have a MK III that naturally has more gain than others owners R2's.

Do what works for you. Who cares what people think.

This board it a bunch of really good guys, and they tend to give it straight and unbiased.

That is a very good point about gain versus heavyness. Because of the low end quality and less compressed nature of the R2 channel it feels heavier than the Lead channel even though you could say it has less overall gain. The lead channel gets more scooped ala the early metallica sound but for chug-chug type music I prefer the R2.

It may be different on other stripe versions than my blue stripe. From what I understand a lot of the variations in stripes has to do with the clean and R2 channels. But I have found the R2 channel to excellent on the blue strip and easily able to go from mild bluesy gain to the all out heavy gain I am talking about.

 

[axwielding1]

I've found that the lows on the lead channel are more prevalent, but less defined than R2... R2 has a tighter feel, and for rhythm work, it is really aggressive with the proper EQ settings. But, the lead channel is my preference for lead playing...BTW, Mine is a loaded blue stripe....
ax. :twisted: