Triple R settings with a G-Major? advice needed

[dgabriel]

I Got a G-major for my Triple rectifier... with 4x12 mesa cab. I am having trouble with a good loop setting and G-major settings..

I use chan 2 modern for heavy riffing
I use chan 3 for soloing only.
if you ask me i think channel 2 is better for soloing but when the loop is ON it changes the voicing dramatically.

I have tried the send at 12 oclock and the wet at 10%.. then 20% .. then 40%..... then 60% then 70%...... 100%........

there is a volume drop when i activate the loop to ON> and it is noticeable.
So i program my Patchmate to turn SOLO to ON when the LOOP is also ON....to compensate for the volume drop.
So when i hit my guitar Solo preset, I hear a burst in Over all volume maybe a second then a Drop in volume......As though the amp switching is engaging Channel 3 and SOLO.. then finally EFFECTS LOOP ( which has the volume drop). TO solve this i will examine my Rocktron Patchmate to see if one loop activates quicker than the others....... then make that effects loop.. hope it works..

I do like my Solo feature... to me the solo activated seems to have an extra push and better voice then just making channel 3 more louder than channel 2......

anyone kind enough to throw me a bone.....and share their settings for their G-Major and DUAL/ TRIPLE rectifiers and of course their thoughts??


thanks gabe

 

[scottkahn]

Here's a guide: when the levels of your FX and the loop are set properly, there shouldn't be much (if any at all) of a volume change clicking the loop In or Out.

First, your loop should be set for series operation if you have a choice of series or parallel (if it's only parallel, then set the parallel loop at 100% wet, which will function like a series loop). When set for series (or 100% wet parallel), make sure that you do NOT activate the G-Major's Kill Dry function. This should only be enabled when used with a parallel loop in true parallel operation.

Start with the loop level at around 50% on your Boogie and the IN and OUT level knobs on the front of your G-Major straight up at 12:00. Pick a generic reverb/delay/chorus type of effect preset in the G-Major.

If volume drops when you kick in your FX loop, and you're not clipping the input level, try raising the send level on your amp to 60%-70%. If you're not clipping the signal and there's still a volume drop, raise the input and/or output levels on the G-Major slightly until you get a good match.

You can then tailer individual effect levels within the presets if it has too much reverb, or delay is too quiet, etc...

Hope this helps!

Scott

 

[dgabriel]

I will try this when i get to the rehearsal room.
I have been trying to keep my rig simple and to a minimum. I use only a tube screamer, G Major, and a rack switcher to get my basic tones.
the only thing was that i couldnt get a real good solo sound and i wanted my rhythm and solo channels to have more upper harmonics and for my my guitar passages to be more fluid sounding. It seemed i was fighting my fretboard for squeals, pinch harmonics, and just ease on passages. felt like i was playing a log.
Let me tell what i did. I heard about raising the send on the rectifier to around 80% to about 95% to drive that loop preamp to give my signal some more kick. I keep the Triple Loop on at all times. i reconfigured my rhythm channel2 MODERN so that it does not have an effect on.. just only compression and Noise Gate. Channel 3 MODERN is my solo channel so it does have some effects, Mainly Delay, some chorus, No reverb. ON chan 3 i dont have the compressor ON, It added unwanted Feedback, also with it OFF the solo channel sounded sweeter.
THe hotter signal does improve my tone. the Guitar is more responsive and harmonics are greatly enhanced. the tone is more fluid and soloing is also more fluid!
I will tell you that i do notice that i need the G Major to noise gate the signal.

If you get the urge to try this just to see how it fares? Let me know what you think?
thanks gabe.

 

[lesterpaul]

tc just opened a users forum, might could check there time and again-its new, not many posts yet-check out tc's website and the link is on top of page

 

[scottkahn]

Don't "drive" your effects loop -- that can create clipping (digital distortion), which is NOT a good thing, ever. You want the hottest signal levels WITHOUT clipping or distorting, or at least strong signals. Note that you'll set the hottest loop settings on a clean tone -- not on a high-gain distortion tone, because those channels are compressed dynamically compared with your clean channels.

If you were fighting to get your squeals and harmonics, the levels were too low for sure all around. I have a Mesa/Boogie Dual Rec Road King II and used a G-Major in the loop before switching to a G-System. When levels weren't set right, I had the same lack of presence and edge -- you just have to get it dialed in like I mentioned in my earlier post. I keep the loop IN at all times. The noise gate definitely helps .

 

[dgabriel]

thanks scott. From what you described it seems that i may have been thinking along the same lines. i have asked about this subject on other forums but i could not get a decent reply. Until i heard about on you can drive the preamp loop for some extra kick!> Your are right about keeping the loop on at all times ... it just seems that anytime you switch it on or off the loop with any of the 3 channels there is always a volume drop when the loop is on. It seems to sound a little empty or hollow. Compared to the fullness of just a tubescreamer straight into chan 2 or 3. I have been striving for my rhythms to be just OD into chan 2 with no loop on. Any effects added through the loop would be for soloing or eeerie echo effects and such. there is always a drop in volume when the loop is active..

On my dual rectifier set up i used to stick a compressor limiter in the effects loop just after my effects processor so i could bring it back to normal volume. It was so-so. If i remember well it always sounded thin and brittle compared to my chan 2 w/ tube screamer and no effects loop on.

have you ever tried running some sort of boost after the effects processor while in the effects loop? did it work ok?

thanks gabe.

 

[scottkahn]

Hi gabriel.

I find that the compressor in the G-Major works quite well, but on one of your high-gain channels in the recto, you really don't need compression as it's sort of built into the tone itself.

For solos, my Road King II has Boogie's Solo feature, which I am reasonably certain that your dual recto also has. I wouldn't think to put a boost after your signal processor -- that would add a LOT of noise. But with raising the output level knob on your G-Major to 3:00, you should have plenty of gain returning the signal back into the loop return. Of course to take advantage of the Solo feature, you have to leave your loops engaged, but really, the amps were designed to take advantage of the loop(s) and Solo features, and master volume if you have that on your amp. They give you the option to bypass all of that, but really, why compromise the abilities of your amp when they were designed to take advantage of these things?

Let us know how your experimenting with levels goes.

 

[dgabriel]

thanks scott.. The rectifier series do have a solo option that has its own volume knob.

I have a Patchmate to switch all channels/loop/solo features. I have a 1/4 instrument cord plugged to the external switches on the back of the TRIPLE and the other end plugged into the Patchmate's LOOP relays. All controlled by a midi pedal board.
Now i do keep the LOOP ON at all times here is why...

At the beginning the loop would come on/off when instructed. This meant the LOOP knob would be in FOOTSWITCH mode...
MY rhythym sound was channel 2 modern with only the Tubescreamer and effect loop not activated.
MY solo was channel 3 with effect loop/ON and Solo activated.

Now the Patchmate was programmed to switch between these settings every time i hit a preset for "RHYTHM" or "SOLO"

everytime i would hit the preset for my solos, I quickly would hear Channel 3 kick in, then A LOUD Solo boost, then a volume drop when the effects loop was activated. So it when from LOUD- LOUDER-then DESIRED solo VOLUMEw/EFFECTS>. It is so fast but you do notice the volume go up and down..
since i just use channel 3 for solos only i keep it a tad louder. i decided not to use the solo feature because of the volume rise. I do believe the solo feature has an extra kick when engaged.
actually i will try to keep the solo feature "ON" at all times to have more kick with all my channels.. i will try this tomorrow nite at rehearsal..

I know as soon as i fix the loop to where it has the same volume when it's ON or OFF. the ease of using the SOLO feature will be better. and there wont be much a drop in volumes.

I'll keep you posted.

 

[scottkahn]

I don't know that I would keep the Solo engaged ALL the time. I've heard of a few guys doing that, but again, it just doesn't seem like the right way to drive the amp... I use it on some clean parts when I need a little extra to cut through a mix, though, and on occasion for soloing.

 

[dgabriel]

I dont know if i will keep the SOLO activated at all times.. I do know that the SOLO circuitry is voiced to cut throught a mix. its a little bit more than an extra volume knob. I even think that a preamptube may drive it ??? i dont know about the preamp tube driving it? I will investigate... get back to you and let you and others know the results..

 

[dgabriel]

I tried some of the ideas you suggested last nite. these are the setting i found for the loop and GMAJOR that worked well and kept signals even.
EFFECT loop on at all times
SEND 75-85%
Wet 100%
GMAJOR
input about 3 oclock/moving this around i kept having reset the noisegate
output about 3 oclock
FOr Main clean sound it was Ch 1 w/ Gmajor Chorus/ON, DELAY/ ON. Other cleans have various settings with tremelo, heavy reverb, phase..

for rhythms it was .. Ch 2 modern, tubescreamer in front, GMajor had noisegate, and a compressor nothing else.

for Main solo i used Ch 3 modern, tubescreamer, Gmajor had Delay on. some noisegating, no compressor (it caused more feedback)

I had other Specialty settings using CH 3 with various pitch shifter,or heavy reverb, or heavy delays. and they sounded well.

the overall sound was great in sustain, harmonics, and tonal response. i could pinch squeal like crazy, harmonics rang out, and fast passages were tight.. especially with fast runs, you could hear the notes without a big PLUCK at first. .. nice.

My main rhythm has more "low/mid" thump to it. Really pronounced and tight crunch. it is more clearer and the Recto's signature sound is really noticeable. It cuts through the mix. I do notice that when i lower the gain this channel seems have a clearer sound to it with still some chunk with plenty of bite... almost as a hi-fidelity cleaness to it. chords were sweet and clear/ you could hear each note in the chord. I think i lowered the gain to around 12:30 o'clock.
most of the time i kept it at least 2 oclock. this had plenty of saturation with some smoothness. no dreaded FIZZ.


overall everything is much tighter with more sustain and harmonics.

my setting were
Ch 2 MODERN
pres: at zero (maybe a tad, but not past 10oclock)
Mast: 11 oclock
Gain: 2:30
low: 3 oclock
mid: 9 o clock
hi: 2 oclock

ch3 MOdern
Pres: still around zero
Mast: 11:30
Gain 1 oclock or 1:30
low 2:30
Mid 10:30
hi 1 oclock

 

[scottkahn]

That's great news! And if your effects were sounding hi-fi, then you got the TC stuff dialed in .

Setting the loop at 100% wet -- sounds like you had a parallel FX loops in your head, and when you turned it to 100% wet, it performs like a series loop, thus clearing up the problems.

If that's the case, then the alternative is to enable the KILL DRY function in your G-Major and adjust the Wet control to somewhere in the 50-75% range, but if this is now working for you, run with it!

 

[adamTXBK]

Hey I've got a more or less identical setup. Triple Rec, G-Maj, with a GCX/Ground Control Pro. I'm still fine tuning mine as well. In case you didnt know, the G-Majo defaults to the "Pro" mode; which is intended when using it with other outboard units and/or individual pre-amps and such. Which opererates a lower level, which would result in you having to crank the Send on the amp and In/Out controls on the G-Maj. I believe it's under the MIDI/UTIL control and you change the "INPUT RNG" to Consumer; and this changes it for use in FX loops and gives you a much higher level. I've got my Send on the Rectifer set around 12-1 o'clock, the input in the G-Maj around 11, and the Out around 2:00. Seems to be working for me! I'm just having a hard time getting my Solo switch on the Mesa to come ON/OFF properly with my GCX!

 

[dgabriel]

thank for that tip. but i decided to go real simple.. i went out and purchased a DIGITECH GSP 1101. It really doesnt discolor the TRIPLE rectifiers tone. i had it in the effects loop and bypassed the GSP1101's preamp section. It sounded very well.
I then tried using the GSP 1101 for everything.. distortion, cleans, solo. and the triple only as a 150watt power amp.
At first I didnt like it. i was going to send the GSP back. But then i flick a global setting and made the GSP's OUTPUT to "FLAT".. and BOOM tone city!.. the gain was there.. sculpted and punchy and focused! THe lowend was oh so tight and punchy. i was impressed i used it that way on last weeks gig. It cut through the band's mix on stage. It sounded kick *** on the camcorder that recorded us that night.

so now i carry two space rack case (5lbs), a head, and 4x12..
NO more 8 space rack, 2 noise gates, Rocktron patchmate switcher, 3 foot pedals, or having to sort Tons of cables, or GMAJOR for effects.

The GSP can implement the 4 cable method.. you know placing the GSP's preamp before the TRIPLE's input jack, and the effects of the GSP in the TRIPLE REC'S effects loop. THIS too also sounded great. but it still meant me hauling the 8 space rack and tons of cables.
gabe