The road to sweet guitar tone

[NumbSkull]

 

[NumbSkull]

What am I doing here ?
I have great guitars and amps to play, I just cant get away from the net.
Its all so bright and tempting.
My poor brain just cant get away from this level of stimulation.
Out of control, having a great time and happy, but my behavior is weird even to me.

 

[CrystalBearer]

What am I doing here ?
I have great guitars and amps to play, I just can get away from the net.
Its all so bright and tempting.
My poor brain just cant get away from this level of stimulation.
Out of control, having a great time and happy, but my behavior is weird even to me.

To my understanding, you have no personal responsibilities or commitments because you don't have 3 wives, so you've got 3 amps instead. That makes perfect sense, mate. Have fun.

 

[thesunship]

Start with medium crunch of whatever type you like, the neck pickup of an lp, and tone and volume controls slightly rolled off.

 

[CrystalBearer]

Start with medium crunch of whatever type you like, the neck pickup of an lp, and tone and volume controls slightly rolled off.

I'm grateful for your valuable advice and support. I have come this far and I will keep going, come hell or high water.

 

[CrystalBearer]

I just got 3 amps this week and I am searching ebay for bluguitar ? Have I gone mad ?

Amp1 Mercury £799.00 @Andertons $5xx @ebay
Amp1 Iridium £779.00 @Andertons

Which one exactly, both ?
You are beyond remedy, mate.

 

[NumbSkull]

lol, I already found it cheaper here

https://www.bax-shop.co.uk/guitar-amplifier-head/bluguitar-amp1-nanotube-100-mercury-edition-guitar-amplifier-head

But I can resist for now, enough toys, I just cant stop looking.
I think if I did want an amp pedal I would go for NUX Trident, UAFX Lion or Boss IR2, maybe Laney Ironheart.
Luckily there is enough choice to induce option paralysis.

 

[CrystalBearer]

Phase 1 "Thomas Blug style" Tone Examining on 4 Les Pauls

All pickups height @ 22nd fret 3/32"

Conducting degree-by-degree volume and tone testing on pickups
Most desirable setting after examining
Early 50s Les Paul volume 8 tone 8 neck and bridge (close to 96 R9)
1996 R7 goldtop volume 8 tone 8 neck and bridge (the most warm sounding)
1996 R9 dark burst volume 8 tone 8 neck and bridge (close to 50s Les Paul)
2014 R9 vos cherry burst volume 9 tone 7 neck and bridge (a bit lower in output and a bit brighter)

Les Paul straight into 6100LM + 1960AX (1996)
5881/6L6WGC x4
v1 sovtek 12ax7LPS
v2 sovtek 12ax7LPS
v3 v4 v5 v6 sovtek 12ax7WB
v7 sovtek 12ax7LPS
Low Power Triode mode
sound level 80 - 90 dB
(setting see image)

Early 50s Les Paul 9.24 lbs
Neck 57 Classic PAF 8.14k ohm
Mid position 4.17k ohm
Bridge 57 Classic PAF 8.55k ohm
IRC volume pot 500K
IRC tone pot 500K
Grey Tiger GT452 .02MFD 400VDC Red Ink capacitor x 2

'96 Les Paul R7 Goldtop #7 6726 9.68 lbs
neck stock PAF 7.54k ohm
mid position 3.84k
bridge stock PAF 7.83k
volume pot CTS 440-70035A R1379626 500K audio taper
tone pot CTS 440-70035A R1379626 500K audio taper
ceramic cap 203M

'96 Les Paul R9 Heritage Darkburst #9 6107 9.68 lbs
neck stock PAF 8.13k ohm
mid position 4.07k
bridge stock PAF 8.19k
volume pot CTS 440-70035A R13795XX 500K audio taper
tone pot CTS 440-70035A R13795XX 500K audio taper
ceramic cap 203M

2014 Les Paul R9 Vintage Original Spec Washed Cherry Sunburst
#9 4958 9.68 lbs
neck stock PAF 7.79k ohm
mid position 3.85k
bridge stock PAF 7.64k
Volume pot 430-71100-1415 500K audio taper
Tone pot 430-71100-1415 500K audio taper
BumbleBee cap .022mF

 

[CrystalBearer]

Phase 2 Classic Rock Formation


Les Paul
into JHS Clover preamp or TC Electronic Spark (always on)

into Wren & Cuff Super Russian (Buffer-boost + Tall Font Russian fuzz)
(default order Clean Buffer-boost into Tall Font Russian fuzz)

into Rockett Dude (dumble flavoured)

into Rockett 10 Ton Hammer (high gain old school distortion)

into clean channel Marshall 6101 or 6100LM/TSL100 + 1960AX cab

with TC Electronic Alter Ego 2 in the FX loop (always on)
or (with minor adjustment) in front of JMP2203 SLP Mk II + 1960AX

 

[hsb]

Something I think slightly overlooked in this thread is pickup mag. In the vid the guy is playing LPR7 Historic Collection LP, those guitars came with Alnico III mags in the pickups. Alnico III are round and smooth, kinda like an Alnico II just a bit different, A2 tends to be a bit sweeter tone vs A3.

As much as we would like to throw pedals, amps and amp setting as a solution, the entire chain is all a mix of the solution.

Just put a RC A2 in an SD 59n, def sweetens the tone, similar to what Im hearing but not exactly. The 59n is also in a completely different guitar, LTD M1000. I think the A2 is closer than an A5 in my particular pickup.

 

[CrystalBearer]

Something I think slightly overlooked in this thread is pickup mag. In the vid the guy is playing LPR7 Historic Collection LP, those guitars came with Alnico III mags in the pickups. Alnico III are round and smooth, kinda like an Alnico II just a bit different, A2 tends to be a bit sweeter tone vs A3.

As much as we would like to throw pedals, amps and amp setting as a solution, the entire chain is all a mix of the solution.

Just put a RC A2 in an SD 59n, def sweetens the tone, similar to what Im hearing but not exactly. The 59n is also in a completely different guitar, LTD M1000. I think the A2 is closer than an A5 in my particular pickup.

You are right about the historic collection goldtop LPR7. Gibson Custom Shop started using the Custombucker as standard equipment on Historic Reissue Les Paul models in 2013.

from 1993 to 2001 57 classic alnico 2
from 2002 to 2012 BurstBucker alnico 2
from 2013 onwards CustomBucker alnico 3 (underwound with 10% less output)
That is the reason why my 2014 vos R9 a bit lower in output and a bit brighter.
The body wood and maple cap might also contribute to its brightness.

" Alnico 2 is the second weakest of the Alnico Guitar Magnet strengths, thus it pulls the strings less. It also has what’s referred to as the most “vintage” tone. It has more mids, and more tapered and softer highs than Alnico 3. As a guitar pickup magnet, the lows are loose and bouncy, instead of tight, some might refer to it as “vintage” or “smooth”.

Alnico 3 is the weakest of the Alnico magnets and has the lowest amount of string pull in a bar magnet. As a guitar pickup magnet, it’s lows are soft and bouncy, mids are generally warm and full, and highs are glassy. " Tyler Delsack, the Manager of Fralin Pickups

 

[CrystalBearer]

Putting all the pieces together

from Phony iommi Esq.
"Crunch channel mode A.
Gain 10
Bass 5
Mid 10
Treble 10
Presence 7
If you have a delay/reverb throw that in the loop." Implemented.

from anitoli Esq.
"different drive pedal. Try mode A with a boost, try a different cabinet." Done,

from FleshOnGear Esq.
"Sounds like the guy is playing through a Dumble style amp or drive pedal.
maybe try mids up. " Dumble drive in place, mids all up.

from giblesp Esq.
"keep playing is the key." By all means.

from TXOldRedRocker Esq.
"get a Rockett Dude." Already at my disposal.

from nortiks Esq.
"the guitar's volume and tone knobs, and a delay preferably in the amp FX loop. Start with both knobs on 7 or so and tweak to taste." Carried out.

from Maxbrothman Esq.
"try a Hendrix tone without fuzz playing through a Les Paul." A bit tricky for me. Working on it.

from Silverdome Esq.
"My thoughts are go to the neck position, adjust your tone and volume to tastes."
This is the hardest part. Once the neck PAF is mastered, the bridge PAF would be easier.

"Messing with tone and volume is one of the best things you can do for sound imo."
Rest assured. I can do that wholeheartedly.

from thesunship Esq.
"Start with medium crunch of whatever type you like, the neck pickup of an lp, and tone and volume controls slightly rolled off."
I have assigned my R7 goldtop to take this honourable task.
Neck PAF volume 7 tone 8. Same with the bridge PAF.

I just want that saturated vintage sound without being too compressed.

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[CrystalBearer]

Clean channel - at the edge of break up
JHS Clover + Rockett Dude engaged - turn clean channel into a crunch channel mode A
nice crunch sound

Crunch channel mode A - already breaking up.
JHS Clover + Rockett Dude engaged - turn it into a hot-rodded mode A channel
great crunch sound, not saturated enough for spongy single note.

Lead channel - slightly breaking up
JHS Clover + Rockett Dude engaged - overdriven similar to hot-rodded mode A crunch
crunch sound not as great as mode A but decent. Again, not saturated enough for spongy single note.

 

[thesunship]

I'm sorry, is there a video/audio which goes along with these pictures?

 

[CrystalBearer]

I'm afraid not. No video/audio with those pictures.

 

[thesunship]

I'm afraid not. No video/audio with those pictures.

The pictures look good at least

 

[CrystalBearer]

Wren and Cuff Super Russian
Buffer-boost place before fuzz
I've got a reply :

"Hi. Buffer is OK before it. The buffer problem is only for some other vintage pedals. Mostly Fuzz Face and Tonebenders. Big Muff circuits do not have this problem.
Thx! glad you like the pedal!
Customer Service @wrenandcuff.com"

 

[CrystalBearer]

Getting a fluid saturated overdriven sound at my fingertips


To some extent, the pedal settings are derived from the Buddy Blues video @ 10:00.

goldtop volume 7 tone 8
into Super Russian into TS808 into TS808 into 6100LM

Clean channel - good fluid saturated overdriven tone, all pedals engaged (or Super Russian bypass).
Crunch Mode B - great fluid saturated overdriven chord/single note + rich harmonics, all pedals engaged (or Super Russian bypass).
Lead channel - great fluid saturated fat chord/single note + rich harmonics, all pedals engaged (or Super Russian bypass).

Treble @ 5 on clean channel
Treble @ 5 on crunch channel
Treble @ 3 on lead channel

It is obvious the gain in this case holds a decisive key for pushing the amp to achieve that.

 

[CrystalBearer]

It's getting close .....


Goldtop R7 volume 7 tone 8
into TS808 into TS808 into Rockett Dude into 6100LM clean channel
with TC Electronic Alter Ego V2 in the fx loop

Tube Screamer sounds good before Rockett Dude and doesn't sound right after Rockett Dude.

All pedals engaged.
Sound smooth, nice sustain, slightly compressed, not distorted.
Works for both pickups.
Expected to take some time to fine-tune the most desirable voicing.
Not too familiar with the time and feedback delay interaction.
If this works for clean channel, hopefully, crunch channel mode A probably works as well.

 

[NumbSkull]

I am curious about the two tubescreamers,
If I did that I would have different settings on each one so I could use the footswitches to get different tones.
But you have two on at once, what are you aiming for with that ?
Why not use one and turn the amp gain up ?