Proud New owner needs help

[tonymustang302]

I just bought a dual rec because i love that signature metal tone. But.... i have spent a week on it trying to dial in tha signature metal mesa tone. Like new killswitch, parkway drive. They have the tone that i love. I just need help achieving it. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

I was told to be in the orange channel, and use vacuum instead of diode with a boost pedal. I know these mesa's are a lot different to eq, and ive read my manual, i just dont get how i cant get their tone.

Tony H.

 

[Anonymous]

I'm thinking you're going to need the red channel with diodes, to start with. Past that, which type of cab are you using?

There's probably a ton of effort that went into getting their tone...different mics, preamps, equalizing, etc. To get closer to that tone, definitely use a boost pedal. Next, an EQ unit in the effects loop is going to be HUGE in getting specific tones. I've had the best luck with with parametric EQs (such as the Presonus EQ3B for only $100), but a lot of people love their graphics. Scoop some mids (some mids, not all), take out some harsh treble, maybe add a little bass at around 100hz, and you'll get closer.

I don't know what other people have done to get their sound, but with my setup (2 channel TR with a Basson 4x12), I haven't been able to get that sound with my Mesa alone. However, with whatever setup you've got, try to get as close to that sound as possible before buying more things, and don't be afraid of extreme settings!

 

[rectonator296]

try giving it a boost. i just got my keeley ts9dx to combine it with my mxr eq, you wont regret it. but i'm not sure about these orange channel, but you might wanna work out the vintage mode. gud luck trying. btw, welcome to the mesa world!

 

[tonymustang302]

I'm thinking you're going to need the red channel with diodes, to start with. Past that, which type of cab are you using?

There's probably a ton of effort that went into getting their tone...different mics, preamps, equalizing, etc. To get closer to that tone, definitely use a boost pedal. Next, an EQ unit in the effects loop is going to be HUGE in getting specific tones. I've had the best luck with with parametric EQs (such as the Presonus EQ3B for only $100), but a lot of people love their graphics. Scoop some mids (some mids, not all), take out some harsh treble, maybe add a little bass at around 100hz, and you'll get closer.

I don't know what other people have done to get their sound, but with my setup (2 channel TR with a Basson 4x12), I haven't been able to get that sound with my Mesa alone. However, with whatever setup you've got, try to get as close to that sound as possible before buying more things, and don't be afraid of extreme settings!

I have a matching mesa 4x12 rectifier cab with V30's. I'm talking bout at gig levels. Should i eq it at low volume, then bring it up to gig volume? I have an awesome boost pedal too.

 

[tonymustang302]

Check out myspace.com/parkwaydrive thats the tone im shooting for. I know they have a rackmount 2 channel dual rec.

 

[MetalMike]

I got a 3 ch dual rec and i get a pretty good tone out of mine just using the amp itself it took a while to dial in like a month plus

i think the biggest thing that helps is using 5ar4 rectifier tubes instead of 5u4g's

it sags less and gives you more of the diode tone but still tube feel

id do a setting like this

Channel 3 Modern
bass 2 oclock
mids 10:30
treble 1-1:30
precense noon
Master 10:30-11:30
Gain 3:00

Use the output to regulate the volume
and to get more like parkway drive deff use a tubescreamer of some sort saw them live with killswitch and they deff used a tube screamer or some sort

 

[tonymustang302]

did you see their rack setup?. I saw them at like a 20person venue (real small) and got to talk to them and look at their rig, but not look toooo close. They had a 5150 in their rack with the 2 channel dual rec. Their tone is sick, and they sound awesome live.

 

[MetalMike]

yea when i saw them they had nothing but rack mount dual rectifiers with oversized mesa cabs. but remember when they play in the US all thier gear is probably rented so its not what they use on the albums

 

[jeff5]

You also have to factor in what kind of guitars and pick ups they're using. I definitely think putting a boost (some type of OD or a clean boost like a duncan pick up booster), in front of the amp will help. There's something about the type of tone that drives that's really cool, and its the "secret" to many bands' and artists' tones. You can dial back the amp's gain and use that boost to get you the rest of the way and it can sound very cool. (albiet your adding more gain stages so beware of noise!)

 

[camsna]

Play and tweak for a year. That's just what it takes...sigh...

 

[colemaneuclid]

i've heard from a lot of people that "that sound" you were looking for is a dual rec blended with a 6505+ (or some version of that peavey amp) the other guitar player in my band has a madison divinity2. i a-b-y'd them both from my guitar and blended them quite nicely. where on amp lacked the other picked up nicely

 

[tonymustang302]

i have a Randall MTS head, i wonder if i should get a 2nd cab, and run the 2 together? Mix the tone to what i want to hear.

What channel should I use to get the best, less bassy tone. I'm currently using orange channel, diode, bold, hi-gain.

 

[coppa]

just keep playing and keep twisting knobs, and don't be afraid to use the solo switch it changes the tone just a little IMO. avoid buying things right away.

 

[Zoomzilla]

I got a 3 ch dual rec and i get a pretty good tone out of mine just using the amp itself it took a while to dial in like a month plus

i think the biggest thing that helps is using 5ar4 rectifier tubes instead of 5u4g's

it sags less and gives you more of the diode tone but still tube feel

id do a setting like this

Channel 3 Modern
bass 2 oclock
mids 10:30
treble 1-1:30
precense noon
Master 10:30-11:30
Gain 3:00

Use the output to regulate the volume
and to get more like parkway drive deff use a tubescreamer of some sort saw them live with killswitch and they deff used a tube screamer or some sort

No offense, but you can get good tone using that cab? I am amazed at that.

 

[MetalMike]

No offense, but you can get good tone using that cab? I am amazed at that.

None Taking i was amazed too like everyone i talked to said it wouldnt work but everyone that hears my set up is just shocked at how good it sounds for that crappy cab.

 

[Zoomzilla]

No offense, but you can get good tone using that cab? I am amazed at that.

None Taking i was amazed too like everyone i talked to said it wouldnt work but everyone that hears my set up is just shocked at how good it sounds for that crappy cab.

Imagine how it would sound with some decent speakers. The MG cab is fine for the MG head, but have you ever cracked that thing open? Take a look at the magnet on those speakers. It's the size of a bagel. If you don't mind the smaller sized cab, you could buy some warehouse speakers and slap those bad boys in there. They are not expensive and would do wonders for your tone. Granted the MG cab is small, so you will not get the boom like a Mesa cab, but a speaker swap would be fairly cheap and will pay huge dividends. If you ever get sick of the cab size, you could always buy an empty regular sized cab like from Avatar and put your warehouse speakers in that if you so choose.

 

[tonymustang302]

Well it's dialed in to a sick ass very close to signature mesa tone i hear. I love this head.

Thanks for all your help. I used orange channel, diode, (gotta check the rest) took a lot of presence out, (its at 9 o clock) and then boosted it with my custom bloody murder pedal. It sound's sick.

 

[tonymustang302]

BTW i see alot of people using rectifier cabs with the C90 speakers....whats the difference between them and the V30's?

 

[MetalMike]

yea i have cranked it we practice very loud in my friends basement like i run the output at like 11-1130 and my other gutiarist uses a orange rockerverb 100 so its loud. i love the small cab cuz its so light and doesnt kill my back to move it i have thought about speakers but got to pay off the head first and once my band starts gigging more. what speakers from guitar warehouse would you reccommend?

glad that the dude that started this topic found his tone i know this place helped me with the whole rolling back the precense control

Imagine how it would sound with some decent speakers. The MG cab is fine for the MG head, but have you ever cracked that thing open? Take a look at the magnet on those speakers. It's the size of a bagel. If you don't mind the smaller sized cab, you could buy some warehouse speakers and slap those bad boys in there. They are not expensive and would do wonders for your tone. Granted the MG cab is small, so you will not get the boom like a Mesa cab, but a speaker swap would be fairly cheap and will pay huge dividends. If you ever get sick of the cab size, you could always buy an empty regular sized cab like from Avatar and put your warehouse speakers in that if you so choose.

[/quote]

 

[Zoomzilla]

yea i have cranked it we practice very loud in my friends basement like i run the output at like 11-1130 and my other gutiarist uses a orange rockerverb 100 so its loud. i love the small cab cuz its so light and doesnt kill my back to move it i have thought about speakers but got to pay off the head first and once my band starts gigging more. what speakers from guitar warehouse would you reccommend?

glad that the dude that started this topic found his tone i know this place helped me with the whole rolling back the precense control

Imagine how it would sound with some decent speakers. The MG cab is fine for the MG head, but have you ever cracked that thing open? Take a look at the magnet on those speakers. It's the size of a bagel. If you don't mind the smaller sized cab, you could buy some warehouse speakers and slap those bad boys in there. They are not expensive and would do wonders for your tone. Granted the MG cab is small, so you will not get the boom like a Mesa cab, but a speaker swap would be fairly cheap and will pay huge dividends. If you ever get sick of the cab size, you could always buy an empty regular sized cab like from Avatar and put your warehouse speakers in that if you so choose.

[/quote]

It depends on the tone you want. I think the Mesa cabs usually come with V30, so the Veteran 30 would be the equivalent. I run Greenbacks in my Marshall cab, so those would be the Green Beret. Tone is subjectiive. I prefer the Greenback tone, but others like something else.