The right tubes for my Roadster???

[Anonymous]

Well I've had my Roadster since April and I REALLY like it for the most part, but I just cant seem to get "my sound" out of it. I'm looking for a tone close to John Petrucci's (I know...join the club) but not exactly his. I want his lead tone pretty much exactly, and I know I cant get a Mark IV tone from a Recto but if I can get as close as possible to it, maybe I could tweak it more to my liking. I'd like something CLOSE to his rhythm tones from ToT and also something close to Opeth's tones (which I know come from a GT-8 ). I really just want to smooth out the whole sound of the amp, and really BEEF up the clean channels. I want a much smoother lead tone, and a bolder rhythm tone.
My main guitar is the Carvin in my signature which is a very bright sounding guitar, which doesnt help, and its got an alder body, a maple top and neck, and an ebony board. I just recently got an Air Norton in the neck and a D-Sonic in the bridge and I cant seem to find my tone. Can you guys recommend me some new tubes/settings to help me with my Roadster? P.s, I might be replacing the D-Sonic in the bridge. What would you guys recommend to help cancel out the bright tone of my guitar but still get a bold, beefy tone? Thanks a lot, Marc

 

[Anonymous]

Anyone?! PRETTY PLEASE?! Lol

 

[domct203]

This is my tube compliment for my Roadster. I'm absolutly diggin' this setup!

V1 - Tung-Sol reissue (great tube to push hard)
V2 - High Gain JJ
V3 - Shuguang 9th Generation Chinese
V4 - Electro Harmonix
V5 - stock Mesa Russian 2 (E.H.)
V6 - stock Mesa Russian 2 (E.H.)

V7 thru V10 - SED =C= SV6L6GC

V11 & V12 - Mesa 5U4GB

I'm using EMG p'ups and a boost in front. This lets me keep the gain down on the amp, making the amp tighter and the EQ more responsive. I'm no JP, but I like the thick and crisp tone I'm getting. The Tung-Sol re-issue in V1 IMO is a winner no matter what style you play, and in all modes. I've also heard good things about the GT Mullard re-issue in V1 as well, but have not tried it myself in the Roadster. V2 and V3 are really personal tastes, some find the JJ dark, I think it's perfect in V2, some find the Shuguang too bright but I think in V3 it compliments the JJ in V2 perfectly.

The =C= are a lot tighter in the lows and smoother in the highs than the STR440. I find them to be "loud and proud", just the way I like it.

I really like the sag of the Mesa 5U4GB's. My lead channel (ch 3 Vintage tube rectified) is the best lead tone I have ever gotten from a Recto (I owned a 3-channel Triple for 4 yrs prior to the Roadster). No need for me to change there.

This is how I found MY ideal tone, as I am not trying to sound like anyone else. It may not be exactly what you are looking for but I'm sure it would be a good start.

Dom

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks a lot man, I'll see if I can try those tubes out. Anyone else? I need all the help I can get at this point

 

[mesanomad100]

no mean to drop a turf in the punch bowl but I really like mesa stock tubes they have always done the job for me,I do also like JJ's

 

[Anonymous]

Well at this point I'm really desperate to fix this because it means the difference between keeping and selling my Roadster. So I would really appreciate any and all suggestions at this point. Glad to hear the Mesa tubes are working out though lol.

 

[domct203]

Remember, tubes will not change your amp's voicing. That's in the amp. It will just let you fine tune what is already there.

You sound like you are looking for a big change in tone and character ( "......... I'm really desperate to fix this because it means the difference between keeping and selling my Roadster" ) and with that you really owe it to yourself to try a couple of different amps. You will not get close enough to a Mark IV with a Recto to really get those dynamics and response IMO. No matter what tubes you try, a Recto is a Recto. These suggestions will only help you get a better Recto Lead tone

The Stiletto's are really nice as well. I enjoyed the ACE I had for a while, and the Trident I tried at GC was even better, but it's no Recto.

Dom

 

[Rocky]

Opeths sound is VERY Laney.

 

[Anonymous]

Would Groove Tubes help?

 

[Rocky]

no

 

[domct203]

Why so hung up on tubes? Have you tried an EQ? Try one out front to tweak the guitar's tones, and try one in the loop to tweak the amp's tones. Don't cut out too much high end, that's where all the magic is IMO, and the amp will not cut thru.

How about a boost out front, have you tried that?

Just remember, if you have to put hundred's of $$$ into extra gear just to get your base ( dry ) tone, you have most likely got the wrong amp (or p'ups).

Dom

 

[domct203]

So AsIAm666,

How did you make out with the amp??

Dom