My Own Little Amp Fest Comparison(Recto/MarkV/5150/JCM800KK)

[mightywarlock]

So I decided i couldn't make it to the Ampfest today in Anaheim, due to time constraints on me going to see Iron Maiden in just a few hours, and I just got in my Zoom H4n, last night, so I decided to hook up some mics and make some sample recordings to
A) test out the Zoom H4n
B) test out the tone differences in 4 of my amps
C) test 2 of my mics together
D) See how my new Ibanez SZ2020FM records. Loaded with stock pickup which is a Duncan Distortion, as it turned out).

So, here's what I did.
Left - SM57
Right - E906
Mic Placements, 57-lower left speaker, 1" left of center. E906, upper right, 1" left of center.
cab, Mesa 4x12 Traditional Recto, V30's.

Amps: (look below at my Signature, same amps, except for the Recto, that one is different).
Mesa Mark V, Ch.3 Extreme Mode, Full Power, 90w, EL34L's, Tung-sol in V1.
Mesa Dual Rectifier, Ch.3 Modern Mode, original stock 6L6 tubes (btw, this is for sale).
Marshall JCM800KK, Beast On, KT88's. Stock tubes. I dialed in too much gain.
Peavey 5150. 6L6. All eq settings around 4. vol. around 5. (this is for sale too).

Song, one of my bands originals...called Race Into The Universe, recorded with my Pre-500 Recto, as seen here on Youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wEtj9EAFSm0


I've uploaded 4 mp3's to my website for you guys to download and check out.
http://www.mightywarlock.com/amps/RECTORACE.mp3
http://www.mightywarlock.com/amps/MARKRACE.mp3
http://www.mightywarlock.com/amps/MARSHRACE.mp3
http://www.mightywarlock.com/amps/5150RACE.mp3

NEW!!

Added a DIEZEL HERBERT to my collection today.

Here's 2 recordings of it, same way as before...
http://www.mightywarlock.com/amps/AMPTEST2/herbert1.mp3
and a little more midcut on this one...
http://www.mightywarlock.com/amps/AMPTEST2/herbert2.mp3
Herbert is loaded with 6L6's surround 2 EL34's, all JJ's.

So what did I learn from this experiment?

Recto records easily, and is fun to play. hides sloppiness somewhat.
Mark V records easily, but because it is so tight, it becomes sticky, and makes imperfect sloppy playing stand out much more. I made more mistakes with the Mark. But it sounds good!
Marshall, for some reason I thought I needed more gain than I usually play with, and just nudged it slight higher (i normally use very very little gain on this specific marshall, so it stays really heavy and punch), but listening back it was too gainy. And I only had the pre on maybe 2 oclock, and the beast on 10 oclock? I normally run around 1 and 9, and cut the treble back.
5150. well. It's for sale. records easily. very easily. but, I just have never been able to figure out how to dial this amp in. too bright to me i guess.

As for the Zoom? It did its job, although there was a definite volume balance issue with the SM57 (L) and the E906(R). 906 much clearer and louder. But with the simple recording method I used (turned it on, hit record) other than raising or lowering both volumes at the same time, I wasn't sure how to set each volume individually in order to raise the vol. on the left channel.
oh well. good learning experience for me anyways.

Perhaps I will do more with other amps soon, and other settings...as I am in a rush today.

 

[screamingdaisy]

MkV sounds the best. I like how the mids on it stand out on the single note riffing.

Recto sounds a bit too gained up and mushy.

 

[sted]

wow! you get some nice sounds with the mark there! Really defined, anychance we can have your EQ settings???

 

[YellowJacket]

Mark V is definitely the best metal amp, at least how you have things dialed in. It is so tight, clear, defined, and especially thick for single note riffs.

 

[mightywarlock]

i'll go look at the settings later. Just got home from Dream Theater & Iron Maiden, 3am, too tired to go look right now.
Mark V definitely shined with Petrucci tonight. very heavy sounding for sure. very deep.

as for the clarity and such,
one thing you should keep in mind is the guitar and pickups I use.

I prefer Ibanez SZ guitars loaded with Duncan Distortions.
I have 20 guitars at the moment, but I always grab my SZ's...and lately it has been an SZ2020 Prestige I just picked up. It is incredibly clear and heavy sounding. Very good guitars. I can't recommend them enough, as most people just don't care because it does not say Gibson on the headstock.
I also have gibsons. If you want to hear recordings I can do those too.
but they wont sound as good.

so keep in mind, my settings, with the EL34L tubes, which i actually do NOT like in the mark V whatsoever (I love them in Recto's though). I plan on ordering the winged "C" tubes people seem to rave about. I find the JJ's are just too harsh, even though it may not sound it on the recording.

also keep in mind the Mic i used.

SM57 on left seems low.
the Sennheiser E906 seems to be a fantastic mic for recording guitars, very clear and natural. and loud!

there are lots of variables to good tone. what works for me, or not, may not work for others.

 

[YellowJacket]

'some' Les Pauls are good guitars. They are just rock axes, not metal axes.

 

[scott7d]

Those are great recordings!! I may be biased, but I also loved the Mark V.

At the very least, they all sounded "good", but if you didn't have them labeled, I could most likely tell which one the V was.

 

[mightywarlock]

Updated.


I bought a Diezel Herbert.

Adding the recordings of it i did the 1st day i got it to the recordings above.

check it out.

I'll probably do more, as I get used to dialing in that amp.

1st impressions...

it has good gain, but is missing something...the raw pure Balls of my Mark V or Recto.

very smooth tho.

 

[chipaudette]

I actually thought that the marshall sounded the best of the lot. Excellent bite. No splat on the chugga-chuggas.

As soon as the Marshall clip started, I forgot that I was supposed to be listening for tone and I just started kickin' back to the metal. That's the way it's supposed to be.

Chip