Again, Yes, distortion pedal's

[emperor_black]

NOw that's what we call the thanksgiving spirit!! Hope you had a good one bill!!

[mr426]

The pedal I use the most and love is the Ibanez tube King 999. The new red one, not the old gold one. It has a tube in it and sounds more like an amp than a pedal. I also dig the fact that it has the gain and the volume knobs on tob so I can change them on the fly with my foot. It also has a built in noise gate. I dont use that much but even on the lowest setting it helps a bit without choking the sound. Used they are about $70 or so.

[dvscool]

Not sure if it'd be ok, but you could also run the distortion pedal through the amp's fx-return. that way you can make use of the amp's tube poweramp section which as it happens is the biggest game-changer between solid state vs tube amps in general.

I did actually try that. it still sucked. I'll have the Mean Green Monkey this week and give that a go. fuk at some point something has to work ....lol...

[emperor_black]

ok, I might have found the real problem with your setup. Its your amp. let me elaborate and the gigging seasoned metal-heads on this thread can tell me if I'm wrong.

Its a partial open-back combo! IMO for stight bass, you need at least a closed back 2x12. that's your problem my man. Combo's...first of all are not good because at loud volumes the power tubes rattle and that causes lot of flubbiness (at least one of the reason). And partial open back is a setup to get clean headroom and that "openness" feeling. The stark opposite of what you really need for a tight metal rhythm.

others might disagree saying they get good metal tones with partial open backs but they are just kidding themselves. I know I'm putting a lot of things out there, but get a 2x12 closed back and plug your amp into it and see if you like that. or you could change your whole setup. Combo's are good if you're micing the speaker at low volumes. The "low" volume is still high at bedroom levels but still low at band levels.

[dvscool]

ok, I might have found the real problem with your setup. Its your amp. let me elaborate and the gigging seasoned metal-heads on this thread can tell me if I'm wrong.

Its a partial open-back combo! IMO for stight bass, you need at least a closed back 2x12. that's your problem my man. Combo's...first of all are not good because at loud volumes the power tubes rattle and that causes lot of flubbiness (at least one of the reason). And partial open back is a setup to get clean headroom and that "openness" feeling. The stark opposite of what you really need for a tight metal rhythm.

others might disagree saying they get good metal tones with partial open backs but they are just kidding themselves. I know I'm putting a lot of things out there, but get a 2x12 closed back and plug your amp into it and see if you like that. or you could change your whole setup. Combo's are good if you're micing the speaker at low volumes. The "low" volume is still high at bedroom levels but still low at band levels.

Well, here’s the thing. Yes, you are right, it could very well be my amp. I would for sure like the bottom end to be tighter. My amp sounds a bit too “vintage” for my liking but not as vintage as most of the other tube combo’s I tried in that price range. One thing about my amp, it’s been slightly modified. A piece of wood was added to the back of the amp so that it could sit on a stand that tilts the amp, in various directions. It was done well, it’s not butchered or anything. They even took the time to paint the wood so it actually looks factory. So although the back is open, it’s not AS open. As I have mentioned, it’s not out of the question that I ditch this amp, but for the money I’m not sure I will find a better tube amp. Money IS an object in this case.

It may be that a tube amp isn’t the right choice here. Solid state may be better in this case.

I DID manage to get some better tones this weekend. It’s still very thick and rich as is. Mainly due to the boast and or scoop buttons. Otherwise, it would be WAY to vintage. I only paid 300 for this amp and I bet I could make 50 or 100 bucks on it. I haven’t given up JUST yet.

I’ll try a few more things. I mean, I have only rehearsed with this amp TWICE! lol….

Off to return the MXR…..

[roodyrocker]

I'm not familiar with your particular amp but being a combo with partially open back may not be the only problem. What speaker(s) is/are in it? Lots of people aren't too fond of combos with open backs but I tend to think of the problem the same way as a race car. You try to change one thing at a time on a race car while tuning it for optimum performance. But sometimes making one change affects the car in a way that requires another change, and so on. So what I'm saying is in your case it may not be the open back, it might just be the speaker. Or maybe its not the speaker, its the open back combo. Or maybe it is the pedal you have, etc... Like a race car you can see the various combinations of factors can quickly snowball. It could get expensive testing various speakers, pedals, combos, etc... You might be better off finding an amp you like as is without any pedal and offing this one since you say you can even turn some money on it. Just sayin'... it might be the cheaper, better alternative
BTW, while I gig mainly with 1/2 stack tube amps, I do have a 1x12 little combo that can do killer distortions as well as cleans. Its a Bad Cat Hot Cat 30 with open back. I use it for gigs where stage space is really cramped. Some combos can put out some serious hard rock tone but they get expensive!

[warlok]

Just a suggestion that might help you get the tighter metal sound out of a vintage-ish sounding amp.. EQ in the loop. I have had an EQ in the loop of a 5150 combo, Blue Voodoo, Peavey Ultra Plus, and now my Randall RM100. I'm a firm believer in the added shape I get with it. I use a MXR 10 band. I have a M-108 and a KFK, same thing but KFK is stereo out which I use one side to my rack tuner. May want to try one out.

And BTW - When I said I was using a OD pedal earlier, that was just that night. I never use one with my RM100. Modules have more gain than I'd ever need, I was just playing with them cause they're in my closet.

[Hellbat]

+1 to that, an eq in the loop can totally transform an amp's tone.

[xenophobe]

+1 to that, an eq in the loop can totally transform an amp's tone.

+1, as I was reading this thread I was thinking this the whole time. 50 posts later and it's mentioned. I've almost always had an eq in my chain or loop... even when you needed additional noise reduction. Right now I'm using MXR M108's. I think they're great.

[dvscool]

Why the fuk do I not have an EQ in the mix already. WTF is wrong with me. :think:

Done.

I'm not about to start modding this amp. Although, a player I know has suggested that’s what manufactures want us to do with these mid-range amps much like some of the car makers do. But where does it end? It’s HIGHLY unlikely I swap the speakers out and I’m suddenly basking in perfect tone. NO, I think the scenario is more like roody is suggesting. You make one change, then to get the best out of that change, you need to make another....and so on, and so on....fuck that. I don't LOVE this amp. I like it.

I will add the OD pedal and the EQ and if that doesn't sweeten the deal, this amp hits kijiji.

The great thing about the pedals is if I don’t like em, they go back the next day.

[dvscool]

The M 108 looks good. I wish I could find one locally.....

The boss EQ, is everywhere, I have no idea how good or bad it is....

[xenophobe]

You make one change, then to get the best out of that change, you need to make another....and so on, and so on....fuck that. I don't LOVE this amp. I like it.

That's why I've always used EQs. I don't like shaping knobs, I'd rather play with an EQ than bass/mid/treble knobs.

[dvscool]

Yeah, I'm going to get an EQ, I'm pissed the only one I can find locally is the boss.....

[dvscool]

First, try to use the amp's distortion by boosting with a OD pedal. get the bad monkey. You won't be sorry. And its dirt cheap. Set the amp to dirt and use OD pedal with gain almost all the way down and level all the way up (or suit to taste). If you don't like this setup, you can go looking for a distortion pedal.

I have the Boss Metal zone modified by Allums mod. Its a great mod and takes away most of the sterile fizz. But I have not used the pedal in years.

YOU are the man. The BAD MONKEY is the answer. That little green bastard made my tone and, my day. I turned the distortion down on my amp to about 70% or so and used the OD from there....freeking magic.....I didn't want leave rehearsal today....I was actually inspired....it sounds SO fuckin good. I'm barely even using any OD on the pedal but it makes all the difference on the world. I don't have the EQ yet. I don't even know if I need one now, I will mess with it for a few weeks and go from there. I love you green monkey.

thanks for the convo dudes...

[VitaminG]

that's the way to use the Bad Monkey - drive down, level up. Great little pedal.