Road King II/Roadster BRIT mode questions

[microwerx]

Hello,

I've been trying to experiment with the Brit mode on my RKII head. For those of you who have roadsters/RK II's:

I write because I haven't fully maximized my use of this mode. Maybe I ought to play with it more...=D Anyways, I have always wondered exactly how the BRIT mode compares to other british amplifiers. But with my lack of experience with them, perhaps I'll describe how it feels to me. First it has a super fast attack. In fact, I need to wear earplugs so my hearing isn't slaughtered when I crank it up. Second, it has very strong and bright midrange sound to it. I've had some good experience cranking the channel master and gain and using the output control for volume.

How about the rest of ya'll?

What is your opinion of the BRIT mode?
What are some of your favorite settings?
6L6/EL34/Both?
Does it sound like a Marshall? If so, which one?
Does it sound like a Vox? If so, which one?

 

[KH Guitar Freak]

It does sound kinda Marshall like, but more like those earlier Marshalls with KT66s. Tonality, a similar sounding Marshall would be the JTM45s with either 5881s or KT66s, and the Vintage Modern sounds similar as well...

As for settings, I crank both the gain and treble on mine, and then set everything else to taste...

 

[thejay]

I think its more Marshall and I crank the gain on it as well. I also use EL34s which really help the BRIT setting in general.

 

[mansfieldguitars]

I think its more Marshall and I crank the gain on it as well. I also use EL34s which really help the BRIT setting in general.



I agree. The manual that came with my roadster makes mention of the use of El34's for the Brit mode although they may not sound as good as the 6L6's for the rest of the modes. I have read many posts about the EL34's sounding great with all the other modes though. It just depends on what sound your looking for.

 

[ebes]

this might be helpful. Have a read: http://forum.grailtone.com/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=40698&p=292752#p292752

 

[thejay]

I personally really like the EL34s for every channel... I haven't gone back to 6L6s since I dropped the EL34s in

 

[microwerx]

He he....I've done that trick with Channel 2---crank the channel master, gain, and treble....very schweet hi gain sound...kinda like Iron Maiden type stuff....=D But yes, you do suffer from having an unbalanced channel (volume wise).

I pretty much leave channel 2 with the EL34's on all the time...sounds great to me as well.

Thanks for the info....JTM45 eh? I think that sounds reasonable to me...in fact the Road King has a 30 watt EL34 section...seems a little too coincidental. Ironically since the JTM45 and 1959 Bassman are very similar designs, that would explain the really fast attach. I've played on the Reissue 59' Bassman and it was a bit ice-picky. I don't think the Road King is ice-picky, but it hits you fast and hard.

 

[pokerrules47]

check http://forum.grailtone.com/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=43740

 

[b0nkersx]

Hello,

I've been trying to experiment with the Brit mode on my RKII head. For those of you who have roadsters/RK II's:

I write because I haven't fully maximized my use of this mode. Maybe I ought to play with it more...=D Anyways, I have always wondered exactly how the BRIT mode compares to other british amplifiers. But with my lack of experience with them, perhaps I'll describe how it feels to me. First it has a super fast attack. In fact, I need to wear earplugs so my hearing isn't slaughtered when I crank it up. Second, it has very strong and bright midrange sound to it. I've had some good experience cranking the channel master and gain and using the output control for volume.

How about the rest of ya'll?

What is your opinion of the BRIT mode?
What are some of your favorite settings?
6L6/EL34/Both?
Does it sound like a Marshall? If so, which one?
Does it sound like a Vox? If so, which one?

Opinion - I fell in love with it after dialing in a good sound. This mode took me longer than any other mode to dial in, but the settings are really simple.

I use 2 EL34s or all 6 tubes (4 6L6+2 EL34), always diode rectified, loop hard bypassed (bypass output and fx loops). I dime everything except presence and master. Presence at 0, master to taste. It opens up with volume. This has a super fast attack, but it's very stiff. I love it this way. It can be used as a shred lead, rock lead, or metal/rock rhythm. Really versatile sound. I never feel it's overly harsh. Kinda sounds "Marshall-y", but does not sound a whole lot like any Marshall I've played.

If you want to tame the higher frequencies, try running it on spongy with tube rectifiers in 2 EL34s.