Making a tubeamp sing (Mesa/Boogie Caliber helpout)

[Silverburst]

Alright, I own a DC50 combo and I feel this amp has potential, but it doens't give me quite the Solo sound I'm looking for. No prob for a metallica type of sound, but a transparant singing solo sound a la (ok, here we go) Vai/Satch like "for the love of god" is a problem. het onboard EQ gives a lot of possibilities, but the sound remains too "muddy" and lacks straight definition to me.

The amp is completely original, as well as it's pre and power tubes (mesa 6L6, which I heared are chinese and a bit of a shame for such an amp, and I'm a total nubi when it comes to changing valves).

strangely enough, I come closer towards the kind of sound that I want with my EMG81 equiped RG570 than my fred/paf equiped JS1000.

I also own a Keeley SEM Boss DS1 in the idea of "pushing" a tube amp to get where I want, but since I'm a bit stuck with this muddy sound, the DS1 makes it worse most of the time. Then I think, I have way too much gain, no wonder it start to sound like a bulldozer driving trough mud, but then again when I lower the gain until a more descent tone, singing notes and sustain are down.

So any hints/comments on tubes, settings on amp/pedals, pickups... I'm all eat. Thx

[Ozzdoc]

Get a new amp :P

[carlos grijalva]

Why get a new amp? Maybe a THD Hot plate like you told me Ozzdoc.

[Silverburst]

talking about sarcasm uh ?
Well... a THD powerbreak costs about 400€ overhere. being a good 500$ I find that a bit insane for what it is. A marshal powerbreak should be cheaper, but still...

[Rotti]

Have you tried a compressor pedal?

[Ozzdoc]

Originally Posted by carlos grijalva

Why get a new amp? Maybe a THD Hot plate like you told me Ozzdoc.

I was joking...

[carlos grijalva]

Originally Posted by Ozzdoc

I was joking...

ok...

[Silverburst]

hehe Ozzdoc, yeah, if you read my complaints... not sure if it's a real characteristic issue of the amp that maybe i'm not gonna get rid. amps and stuff are really so much more expensive compared to the other side of the atlantic...

Rotti, hm, okay, never tried a compressor and in fact never was sure of what a compressor really does. going to check it. thx 4 the hint.

Hey Carlos, if yuo get your hotplate, let us know how it works out.

[Rotti]

Yeah man try a compressor and give it a chance. Might take a while to get used to it. I will smooth out your sound and give you TONS of sustain once you get it dialed in. But it's like any effect. Theres a time to use it and a time to not.

[j.arledge]

the dc line should be versital enough to cover whatever you need . As with all other advice i have givin on how to get the sound you want out of a mesa i say reffer back to the owner's manuel and take a look at thier suggested settings .

if the recommended settings dont get you the sound you want or your not able to work off of those settings then i suggest you call up mesa boogie . they have great customer service , and if there isn't an amp tech there to help that second then you can leave your name and number and a tech will usually be back in touch with you in an hour . You can tell him what your looking for he may have some settings to try or can tell you if a tube change may help out or whatever .

[Lefty Robb]

Originally Posted by pmike

talking about sarcasm uh ?
Well... a THD powerbreak costs about 400€ overhere. being a good 500$ I find that a bit insane for what it is. A marshal powerbreak should be cheaper, but still...

its just the opposite. Marshalls are $US500 and THD's run around $300US. you can them even cheaper used on E-bay. The THD's are much better too.

[Ibanut]

I wouldnt use a compressor. It will help with sustain a little but I dont think it will solve your issue. I'd try better tubes 1st then if that didnt work try an EQ pedal.

A compressor does one thing. It balances out the sound. It takes the loudest sounds and brings them down to balance with the lower less intense sounds then you use the make up gain to raise them both back up equally. This is the best way I can describe it. a comp wont change frequency response and if you have mud you have frequency issues. It will make the mud worse. Try tubes 1st then an EQ pedal. EVen a speaker change might help it.

[Silverburst]

j.arledge: Okay, thx for your tips. Here in europe getting support for american brands isn't so easy, I'll check if I can get support via email. Which overdrive pedal pedal works best on that kind of hogh gain Mesa's in general ? any idea ?

Hey Robb, well... great britain is closer to europe/Benelux, maybe there we get lucky for a change, but then again, I'm not a Marshall dude in general

Thx for the explanation Ibanut. it literelly compresses your loudness spectrum into a more balanced one ?

great help so far guys, thx appreciate it.

[Rotti]

Actualy it limits the loud spikes in your sound and boosts the low ones. Thats why it adds so much sustain. Normaly you pick a note and the sounds gets quieter and quieter and quieter as it trails off. With a Compressor pedal it boosts the note and keeps it at a louder volume for a long time. A compressor pedal adds TONS of sustain. Like I'm talking hit a note, do the dishes, walk the dog, come back and you can still hear it.

“Using compression is one of the best ways to get a consistently good tone. It makes the guitar feel electric and alive in your hands, because the notes sustain, rather than die on the vine as soon as you play them. Any stompbox compressor will do. I always place the compressor at the beginning of the signal chain, before going into the amp. Setting all the dials at 12 o’clock is a good starting point because it should give you a lot of extra sustain and a little bit of breathiness without affecting your basic tone much.”—Adrian Belew

It's definately a try for yourself kind of thing but a lot of pros use them and it's for a good reason.

[Lefty Robb]

Originally Posted by pmike

Hey Robb, well... great britain is closer to europe/Benelux, maybe there we get lucky for a change, but then again, I'm not a Marshall dude in general

Well, I've always thought that with Marshall, your pritty much paying for the namesake, and thats about it...