Live rig suggestion

[sambencuda]

Re: Live rig suggestion

Ok, I've gone back and read the whole thing. Here's my 2 cents. I've gotten to know John pretty well over the last 6 months and I will say this, they guy knows tone. Actually he's a freak about it. When I first got my rectifier. I brought it over and we noodled with it for 2 hours. WE actually had that thing sounding pretty close to a Marshall 2210. Not just by memory either. At that time, He had a 2210 and we A/B them. He knows his shit. That being said, he's just as much a freak about acurate tone from the record to the bar. I am as well, but not like John. I think the most important thing John said all that matters is that it makes you happy. It doesn't matter if the people in the bar don't notice. The only time they notice things is when the don't sound right.

I myself use my Single Rectifier with a G-major running through the loop. I use my Mesa Halfback 4x12 for a cab. I also use a Bad Horsie 2 and TU-2 tuner in front of the rectifier. I can cover quite a bit of ground with this setup, but it still has the signature rectifier tone that I am in love with. This tone makes me happy and it sounds good to the people. That is all that matters. I'm lucky I can rely on John for the details in his quest for perfect tone from song to song. It makes a big difference.

So, take this thread with a grain of salt. Use what you like and what makes you happy. When John likes something, he never shuts up about it [img]/images/graemlins/poke.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] and 99.9% of the time, he's right on the money.

[Deneb]

Re: Live rig suggestion

Jg, I had no intentions of comparing a 300$ amp to a processor that costs more than the amp alone.

All I was saying was, it doesn't HAVE to be tubes for me to like it. I'm open minded, and will try anything that sounds good. As for tone, I got compliments every night using either my Mesa OR a Marshall TSL100 (and I hate that piece of crap glad I sold it et cetera). My Mesa tone could improve...yes...but...I'm really lazy.

That said, A lot of the times, I didn't even bother changing overdrive tones, I'd just roll back the volume for less gain and put both hums on.

I'll give you one example, it sounds stupid, but bear with me. When I bought my Mesa, I bought it after trying each channel with every knob turned to 12. Not a speck more, not a speck less. I fangled around for a tab, but I said, this is it, it's the sound I like. It has the gain, the volume, the crunch (and screw every who doesn't believe me) a fucking outstanding clean tone (and again, screw everyone who doesn't believe me) a very very good overdrive tone.

Now that said, it's 3 channels. For the longest time, I used it as a two channel head. Even though they are, red, green and orange or whatever, I call them, one two and three. One being clean, two being middle, 3 being the left side.

I used 1 and 2. Never 3. Why? Well I read the manual, and the presence knob is a different value on 3 than 2, and it's specially voiced for something or other...yeah whatever I'm lazy.

So, I got into a MORE cover than orignal band, and I needed to cover some ground. I needed to have a more mid based tone, and a more scooped tone (and even my scooped tone still has the mid at like 9 oclock). I was pissing around with the channels like, wtf, why isn't this sounding the same for each channel. Then I read in the manual about it being voiced for the modern mode, and crap like that. I finally eqed it a bit differently and was like, well no fucking shit. I still use the modern mode on both "dirt" channels, but the sounds, even though are similar (my lead tone has a little less gain, a more mids, and more volume, with a slight cut on the highs so it's not ear piercing) sound different.

No, I'm not going to go from Roy Orbison to Pantera (or maybe, but I don't think so) but I've got a great SOLID clean channel, and 2 drive channels that are nuts. You could probably sit with my amp, and make settings I would LOVE even more. When I grab my amp and play (I don't usually play through the Mesa unless I'm live, and currently I just quit the band I was in, so I'm not playing live yet) I play more with just jamming, than fucking with knobs.

I wish I had the patience to do it, but then again, maybe I don't. What you said is true, if you like your sound, then you're golden. Well, I like my sound...enough until I start thinking "Now dammit, what if so and so doesn't like my tone?"

Thanks for making me paranoid! [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

Yeah, who knows, I may run the PODXT Live into a power amp. I don't own a tube power amp, can't even think of an affordable one. However, I don't think that running it through a tube power amp will be its "saving grace". Another thing I DO have plans on looking at is a GT6 or 8 (if I don't like this XT) or I may find one, and like it more than the XT

[jgcable]

Re: Live rig suggestion

I'm with you Deneb. Mesa Boogie Rectifiers rule. There is nothing better than a screaming live Rectifier. I also agree that I have never owned nor heard a Mesa Rectifier that didn't have an OUTSTANDING clean channel and more gain and bottom end than 99.9% of us would ever need.

[Deneb]

Re: Live rig suggestion

Yeah, but I think in my post, I missed my main point. I like what I got, however, I don't discredit ANY other set up. I mean, fuck if it sounds good use it. If you can get a good tone out of a pignose, I can't see why you wouldn't use it.

[jgcable]

Re: Live rig suggestion

I am with you 100% on that too.

[Rupe]

Re: Live rig suggestion

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I have never owned nor heard a Mesa Rectifier that didn't have an OUTSTANDING clean channel

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Here is where taste comes in. I have never cared for the clean tone of a Mesa Dual Rectifier (I have never played the triple), I find it a bit dark and sterile for my tastes. My idea of clean is what I get from my '68 Deluxe Reverb and my Matchless Chieftain. Two very different tones but both have the high end sparkle and shimmer that I find lacking in almost all of Mesa's products, with a few exceptions (Blue Angel, Lonestar). I recently picked up a Mesa Stiletto Duece and it does have a very fine clean tone to my ears, very usable for almost any situation, but it doesn't hang with the amps I mentioned earlier.

[hammer84]

Re: Live rig suggestion

[ QUOTE ]
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*sigh* EVERYONE knows that modelling amps can't cut through a mix live.

[img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]



Pete

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+1 I would also like to add that not only doesn't it cut through a live mix but its really thin and processed sounding. [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

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[img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] from a very happy Vetta owner

[jgcable]

Re: Live rig suggestion

Again, modeling sucks.. stick with tubes. With that said, I think the Rectifier has an outstanding clean channel for a high gain metal monster of an amp. Sure, it ain't as good as a JC120 or a Twin Reverb.

[Deneb]

Re: Live rig suggestion

I've heard a JC before, but never any of the Fender reverb this that or other thing [img]/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]

I know the JC is nice. If I was all crazy (like more than I am now) I'd use the AB switch and run, the Mesa and a JC. That's too many things tough, for someone who doesn't have roadies

Rupe, you're 100% correct, it's all personal taste. I personally like a clean tone, that has a good bottom, some highs, and not a scooped tone, but one where the mids are not more than half. I like a "dark" sounding clean, one that I can play ambiently, and then WHAM hit a chord, and it doesn't break up, nor is it shrill to the ears.

The interesting thing about my playing is, though I can probably play anything on the radio, I don't learn many covers. Just the ones I need to play when I'm in a band. I personally perfer just wankin away at nothing and making up stuff.

I do know enough covers that it suprises me, but if you asked me to play you a cover, I'd probably look at you like a drummer...stupid.

So, that said, I've got a goofy idea for what tones work for me [img]/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]

[Deneb]

Re: Live rig suggestion

[ QUOTE ]
Again, modeling sucks.. stick with tubes. With that said, I think the Rectifier has an outstanding clean channel for a high gain metal monster of an amp. Sure, it ain't as good as a JC120 or a Twin Reverb.

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I've never considered my amp a high gain metal monster [img]/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img] I just considered it, the ultimate rock amp. I can do pussy distortion-to off the fucking wall rip your face off.

But, the reason is TUBES RULE MODELING SUCKS WANGS! And that said, MY POD XT LIVE PRO CAME ABOUT 10 MINUTES AGO, C YA BITCHES, I've got some software to play through! [img]/images/graemlins/headbang.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/drool2.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/toast.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/band.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

[Final Sacrifice]

Re: Live rig suggestion

I'm going to AB a fender hot rod deville 4x10 combo with a Laney AOR 50 watt (and prob Jackson 4x12) when I get home. No roadies either. (or band right now for that matter, haha) I hope it's not that complicated.

[jgcable]

Re: Live rig suggestion

The POD XT Live, Boss GT6 and GT8 are nothing more than circuit boards, smoke and mirrors. They are built like crap, they sound like crap and are so fake sounding. A guy with a 1/4 watt cigarette pack sized tube amp blew my 100w rack system based around a Carvin T100/GT-6 out of the water. I couldn't hear myself at all. My tone was dull, processed sounding, thin and it couldn't cut through the mix. I found a solution for my live modeling problem though. I just tell the crowd to be quiet and my drummer uses brushes instead of sticks. The next problem I had was the bass player. He was stepping all over my processed cheese wiz modeling amp guitar tone. I solved that problem by forcing him to sell all his bass guitars and SWR amps and start using a stand up acoustic bass. We spray painted it black with yellow stripes for that 80's heavy metal look. See, with a little creativity modeling can work live.

[Rupe]

Re: Live rig suggestion

[ QUOTE ]
The interesting thing about my playing is, though I can probably play anything on the radio, I don't learn many covers. Just the ones I need to play when I'm in a band. I personally perfer just wankin away at nothing and making up stuff.


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My thoughts exactly [img]/images/graemlins/toast.gif[/img]

[hippietim]

Re: Live rig suggestion

John, I'm beginning to sense a hint of sarcasm in your posts [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

[jgcable]

Re: Live rig suggestion

[ QUOTE ]
John, I'm beginning to sense a hint of sarcasm in your posts [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

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Modeling tends to do that to a player.