HXDA...share your DA settings

[CatStrangler]

Most of my guitars have really liked the HX side of my HXDA 30 2X12 combo. I however discovered today that I have a guitar that loves the DA side. At first I thought it was that the DA side was warmer, but I think its more complicated than that. The frequency distribution produced by the two amps seem to compliment different guitars in different ways and the two sides have different dynamics at different frequencies as well. Any other fans of the DA side? I'll play with my HXDA tomorrow night and post some settings and would like to see where other like theirs as well!

 

[László]

Most of my guitars have really liked the HX side of my HXDA 30 2X12 combo. I however discovered today that I have a guitar that loves the DA side. At first I thought it was that the DA side was warmer, but I think its more complicated than that. The frequency distribution produced by the two amps seem to compliment different guitars in different ways and the two sides have different dynamics at different frequencies as well. Any other fans of the DA side? I'll play with my HXDA tomorrow night and post some settings and would like to see where other like theirs as well!

I think you're very perceptive; the HX and DA switches change the character of the amp, and yes, each side works with different guitars. I also mix and match them, generally going DA at the input, DA at the tone stack, and HX at the output. Here are my settings with that switch configuration; I don't change things much, maybe a tiny bit, when I go DA all the way:



As you can see, I run my master high on the HXDA 30, and the gains relatively low. I find this gives me a tone closer to the 50 watt head I had before, with a fat bottom end and no fizz. When I switch to DA all the way, I'll usually have to increase only the presence control, and maybe back off the bass just a tick or two.

Most of the tone gets controlled from the guitar.

 

[CatStrangler]

Ha, pretty close to what I was fooling around with tonight, but I haven't yet tried the switches in that configuration (HX at the output). I'll try this one out. Thanks Les!

 

[László]

Ha, pretty close to what I was fooling around with tonight, but I haven't yet tried the switches in that configuration (HX at the output). I'll try this one out. Thanks Les!

GMTA my friend.

 

[WeFixFlats]

Just for fun, I tried my HX/DA 50 watter at Les' settings. 1) All the pictures on the wall rattled playing power chords so we backed off the Bass to about 9 o'clock, 2) This beast is best controlled with the volume and tone, on the 408 Standard I had at hand, when running these settings, turn the volume down to about 6/7 to clean it up but then for that 'extra push over the cliff' go to '11'. Went back and forth on the HX/DA output switch, there's the $$$ switch right there.

Bottom line?...Sounds incredible at any volume.

Thanks for the settings Les~!

 

[László]

Just for fun, I tried my HX/DA 50 watter at Les' settings. 1) All the pictures on the wall rattled playing power chords so we backed off the Bass to about 9 o'clock, 2) This beast is best controlled with the volume and tone, on the 408 Standard I had at hand, when running these settings, turn the volume down to about 6/7 to clean it up but then for that 'extra push over the cliff' go to '11'. Went back and forth on the HX/DA output switch, there's the $$$ switch right there.

Bottom line?...Sounds incredible at any volume.

Thanks for the settings Les~!

Egg-selent....

 

[CatStrangler]

Just for fun, I tried my HX/DA 50 watter at Les' settings. 1) All the pictures on the wall rattled playing power chords so we backed off the Bass to about 9 o'clock, 2) This beast is best controlled with the volume and tone, on the 408 Standard I had at hand, when running these settings, turn the volume down to about 6/7 to clean it up but then for that 'extra push over the cliff' go to '11'. Went back and forth on the HX/DA output switch, there's the $$$ switch right there.

Bottom line?...Sounds incredible at any volume.

Thanks for the settings Les~!

I'm pretty jealous, I got home too late to give this a try, but looking forward to tomorrow!

P.S. This is also more bass than I usually use, but I also have the 30w version. Agreed best controlled at the guitar end!

 

[CatStrangler]

I really liked Les' settings here. Playing around with the switches in the configuratio Les showed (and actually not looking at Les' settings) I came up with something similar with regards to gain, but as I my stated preference earlier a bit less bass and a little more presence, although I think I could dial that back a hair.

These settings are really fantastic with split humbuckers btw!

P. S. I believe I have different speakers than most others with the 30w version of the HXDA

 

[László]

I really liked Les' settings here. Playing around with the switches in the configuratio Les showed (and actually not looking at Les' settings) I came up with something similar with regards to gain, but as I my stated preference earlier a bit less bass and a little more presence, although I think I could dial that back a hair.

These settings are really fantastic with split humbuckers btw!

P. S. I believe I have different speakers than most others with the 30w version of the HXDA

And if you have a 2x12 combo, it's going to have more bass than a 1x12 cab like I use anyway. Those are cool settings - I've made similar adjustments when I've hooked the HXDA to my DG 2x12 cab.

 

[CatStrangler]

And if you have a 2x12 combo, it's going to have more bass than a 1x12 cab like I use anyway. Those are cool settings - I've made similar adjustments when I've hooked the HXDA to my DG 2x12 cab.

Right on Les! I do have the 2X12 combo.

 

[Blues Trucker]

I tried these on my DSL cept I inverted the base and treble.
Ill have to change it and try it.

 

[WeFixFlats]

I figured I'd chime in and show my panel. You might notice an EP Booster(switches set for unity gain and we use the knob to dial in it) and HOF Reverb we use on the front end.



You might wonder about the 'white knobs'. The amp was made in May 2011 for a PRS player here in Austin and that's what PRS put on the amp at that time. We also replaced the amber jewel light with a red one, just couldn't get used to seeing amber instead of red on a guitar amp.

 

[László]

I figured I'd chime in and show my panel. You might notice an EP Booster(switches set for unity gain and we use the knob to dial in it) and HOF Reverb we use on the front end.



You might wonder about the 'white knobs'. The amp was made in May 2011 for a PRS player here in Austin and that's what PRS put on the amp at that time. We also replaced the amber jewel light with a red one, just couldn't get used to seeing amber instead of red on a guitar amp.

We think in similar ways, evidently, I just have more bass on mine because it was set up through a 1x12 in that pic. I dial the bass back with the DG cab.

Those knobs were on a limited run recording amp, if memory serves...I think they were specially made in England.

I think they are positively the bomb!

 

[veinbuster]

I've been intrigued by the HX/DA but ran out of amp space so didn't look really closely.
I'm seeing 3 mini toggles that look like you choose HX or DA for each bank of knobs. It seems that would give lots of variety. Is there a simple way to explain what the result is - short of sitting with one and throwing switches?

 

[László]

I've been intrigued by the HX/DA but ran out of amp space so didn't look really closely.
I'm seeing 3 mini toggles that look like you choose HX or DA for each bank of knobs. It seems that would give lots of variety. Is there a simple way to explain what the result is - short of sitting with one and throwing switches?

Yes, I think I can actually explain.

First, imagine a 4-hole Plexi with bass and treble inputs. Instead of having to plug a shortie cable between the two channels, you just turn the dial to blend them.

My wife just called me for dinner, I must come back to this...first HX adds gain to the input stage, second HX adds some brightness and a little gain, same with third. More later.

 

[WeFixFlats]

I've been intrigued by the HX/DA but ran out of amp space so didn't look really closely.
I'm seeing 3 mini toggles that look like you choose HX or DA for each bank of knobs. It seems that would give lots of variety. Is there a simple way to explain what the result is - short of sitting with one and throwing switches?

Or you could wait until The PRS Tech Center publishes the HX/DA amp manual... /sarc

 

[László]

The thing is that the amp is a pair of '68-69 Plexis. The switches take it progressively from a clone of Duane Allman's "Live at the Fillmore" Plexi Marshall Superbass - yes, they got the actual amp used on the record - to a clone of a Superlead. Rumor is that it's from one of Eric Johnson's amps.

Because there are the two gain controls, they're cascaded as though you had a 4 hole plexi with the inputs jumpered.

The switching takes place at 3 different places in the circuitry - input, EQ, output. The cool thing is that you can not only switch the entire amp into each full-on HX or DA mode, you can also blend them. So let's say you like the DA tone, but you wish there was a little more brightness, or gain, somewhere. Well, try the HX/DA switches, and chances are you'll find your tone.

It's so easy to experiment with the amp, it's just awesome.

 

[veinbuster]

Thanks Les. That is very helpful.
I'm going to have to give one a try.

 

[László]

Thanks Les. That is very helpful.
I'm going to have to give one a try.

Glad to be of service!

One thing I find is that folks tend to think of the amp as a typical Master Volume amp, which it really isn't, even though it has a Master Volume. It really isn't at its best simply cranking the gain up high and the Master low, and taking things from there. Not that you need to LEAVE the Master high...once you find a good tone, it can be adjusted within reason.

I find that it's best to set the amp up with the Master pretty high, and then turn up the gain like it's an old-school, Non-Master Volume amp (think "volume" instead of "gain"; both mean the same thing, in truth). Once I get a good tone, then I'll adjust the Master volume to a good overall volume, and tweak from there.

This is especially important to get the most out of the 30 watt version of the amp.

One final note: The interaction of the HXDA gain and the Bass gain offers a whole load of tone options right from the get-go, before you even get into the question of switching, etc. These are very powerful controls that change the whole character of the amp in interesting ways. Worth experimenting to find the settings that are most appropriate to your needs!

This is why I find the HXDA endlessly fascinating to experiment with. Compared to the overdrive channel on, say, my Lone Star, the HXDA's overdrive is buttery, sweet, syrupy, and not harsh, where the Lone Star is a much grindier, stiffer amp in overdrive mode once the gain is raised on Channel 2. The comparison is instructive - though each has its charms in the right context, there's no question that I prefer what the HXDA does for solos especially.

 

[sws1]

I've been intrigued by the HX/DA but ran out of amp space so didn't look really closely.
I'm seeing 3 mini toggles that look like you choose HX or DA for each bank of knobs. It seems that would give lots of variety. Is there a simple way to explain what the result is - short of sitting with one and throwing switches?

If you are familiar with Plexi circuits, the switches work as follows:
The first one changes the cathode capacitor on V1, the first tube, thereby making it brighter and one step closer to Super Lead from Super Bass.
The 2nd switch adds a 68uF bypass capacitor on V2, which adds some brightness and more gain. This was yet another difference on the plexi progression in the late 60s.
The 3rd switch changes the negative feedback resistor from Bass setting to Lead setting. Less negative feedback makes the output section brighter.

All of these things are changes that were reflect various incarnations of the plexi circuit in the late 60s.

As for my settings, around the house, I leave it all on the DA settings. Vol 1 around 11am, Master around noon. Treble and Mid all the way up, and bass all the way off. (I'm running a 65 watt Greenback in my combo, so I can't run bass high at all.)

For gigs, I turn the first switch on, turn the master all the way up, Vol1 around 10-11am, Vol2 up just a bit, and I'll add a bit of bass on the Eq. I also use an attenuator to control the final volume and to create a post-power-amp effects loop.