gush
Where is that speedo pic
I'm finally at a comfortable place with my tone. I've been through a few amps and while choosing to focus on my 2000 McCarty for this tone quest, been through some pickups too.
First is the amp. Snagged a used HDRX20 a couple months ago. I played a new one two years ago at a store and while I thought it sounded pretty good, I was apprehensive of an amp not built in US so I didn't buy it then.
Love this amp so far but it is only part of the equation. The other part is the 5815LT pickups. This combination is pure gold!
I have eight 4x12 cabs but there are two that sound the best with this amp. 1982b marshall with UK greenbacks and mesa white roadking.
The amp really needs to be turned up to get to the sweet stuff. Running master below 6 produces a Squarish tone??? Or maybe sharp attack is a better term. At 6 or above it really softens up. I love having bass and treble linked internally, screw that jumper cable stuff!
One thing I'm super happy with is if you want harsh you have to force it there. This has been my biggest complaint with most of the amps I've tried and I was beginning to think it was my hearing???
This amp with LTs produces incredible lead tones from both pickups. I'm having a hard time finding the right words to describe what I'm hearing. Its like when you strike a note the frequency focus is really broad and not narrowly focused. It just feels really good under my fingers and striking a note gives the impression there is a lot of push forcing the note to occur and bloom.
The LT bridge rhythm tones are kind of odd, I wouldn't say I'm 100% in love but again.....it just feels good.
The one thing i really need to mention is what this setup has done to my barber tone press compressor.
I was never really happy with it but I was always using the blend feature and now I have it set full wet then dial in how much comp I want.
It seems to allow the comp to do its job a little better to the point I may not NEED a lead boost. I do have an EP Booster set to add a touch more hair when needed. Now that the comp is working like I think it should, I can freely dial gain down a bit more and still like what I'm hearing without the struggle to get the notes out.
One more thing, 8515 set went in my 97 ce24 and I'm happy with it too. Shocking after hating them in my McCarty. Amp probably has a lot to do with it.
Lastly, I love both neck pickups in full HB mode and don't really desire them split so both guitars are set up to split bridge only. Bridge split with neck full is a tone I like plus I actually use bridge split so I call it a win.
So far I'm pretty happy and it has taken a long dang time to get there.
There have been a few guys on here that have offered suggestions and advice and I appreciate that.
I'm still using variac to keep voltage consistent and using attenuator to keep volume in check.
One last thing a want to mention here. This tone overhaul happened because I didn't like what I was hearing while recording. When I think I got my OD level where I want it, the mic tells me different. The mind and ears can play dirty tricks on a guitar player but the mics never lie.
First is the amp. Snagged a used HDRX20 a couple months ago. I played a new one two years ago at a store and while I thought it sounded pretty good, I was apprehensive of an amp not built in US so I didn't buy it then.
Love this amp so far but it is only part of the equation. The other part is the 5815LT pickups. This combination is pure gold!
I have eight 4x12 cabs but there are two that sound the best with this amp. 1982b marshall with UK greenbacks and mesa white roadking.
The amp really needs to be turned up to get to the sweet stuff. Running master below 6 produces a Squarish tone??? Or maybe sharp attack is a better term. At 6 or above it really softens up. I love having bass and treble linked internally, screw that jumper cable stuff!
One thing I'm super happy with is if you want harsh you have to force it there. This has been my biggest complaint with most of the amps I've tried and I was beginning to think it was my hearing???
This amp with LTs produces incredible lead tones from both pickups. I'm having a hard time finding the right words to describe what I'm hearing. Its like when you strike a note the frequency focus is really broad and not narrowly focused. It just feels really good under my fingers and striking a note gives the impression there is a lot of push forcing the note to occur and bloom.
The LT bridge rhythm tones are kind of odd, I wouldn't say I'm 100% in love but again.....it just feels good.
The one thing i really need to mention is what this setup has done to my barber tone press compressor.
I was never really happy with it but I was always using the blend feature and now I have it set full wet then dial in how much comp I want.
It seems to allow the comp to do its job a little better to the point I may not NEED a lead boost. I do have an EP Booster set to add a touch more hair when needed. Now that the comp is working like I think it should, I can freely dial gain down a bit more and still like what I'm hearing without the struggle to get the notes out.
One more thing, 8515 set went in my 97 ce24 and I'm happy with it too. Shocking after hating them in my McCarty. Amp probably has a lot to do with it.
Lastly, I love both neck pickups in full HB mode and don't really desire them split so both guitars are set up to split bridge only. Bridge split with neck full is a tone I like plus I actually use bridge split so I call it a win.
So far I'm pretty happy and it has taken a long dang time to get there.
There have been a few guys on here that have offered suggestions and advice and I appreciate that.
I'm still using variac to keep voltage consistent and using attenuator to keep volume in check.
One last thing a want to mention here. This tone overhaul happened because I didn't like what I was hearing while recording. When I think I got my OD level where I want it, the mic tells me different. The mind and ears can play dirty tricks on a guitar player but the mics never lie.