Mixed Love for the 1st Gen 2 Channel "H" amp

[dickandsmith]

So I recently bough a 1st Gen 2 Channel "H" amp with matching 2x12 cab for a steal of a price I think.
Anyways over the past week I've been playing it and while I love the clean channel and versatile it is, I feel like the lead channel is not quite as desired.....I think it kinda sounds grainy and buzzy sounding. I don't know if I just have it eq'ed weird cause I've heard they are a little tricky to eq. And it being a 1st gen model I know that the 2nd gen supposedly sounds a lot better and even the new Custom 50.

I play a lot of rock and while its not really a high gain amp I feel like it has enough gain just sound wise it sounds.....well grainy. Anyone else have that issues? Or any fixes I can do to it minus either getting it modded or selling it for another PRS amp?

*amp pictured is what I have except i have the stealth 2x12 cab and not the big mouth cab.


Thanks!

 

[AP515]

I have a Gen 1 and it sounds pretty good to me on the dirty side. Are you playing at bedroom levels or can you let it breathe? Do you have the volume knob up above 12:00 or do you choke it to keep the volume down? My experience has been that you need to drive the tubes healthy, and then pull the volume down with the Master knob. Even then it sounds better when it is moving some air. Having the master just barely above 0 sucks a lot of tone out of it.

 

[WEDGE]

If it is used i would throw a new set of tubes at it before dismissing it. No telling how many hours they had on them and dead tubes will sound like hell.

 

[andy474x]

I had an SE model amp (based on the H) and now have a Custom 50. The SE could be grainy, as can the Custom, although it's less susceptible to that. A few things that helped me:
1. On the Custom 50, I run the loop send/return wide open. It decreases the amount of gain and smooths things out.
2. On the SE, replacing V1 with a 5751 helped, you can also replace V3 which is the second stage for the lead channel.
3. Volume, these amps really have to be cranking!

 

[dickandsmith]

I had an SE model amp (based on the H) and now have a Custom 50. The SE could be grainy, as can the Custom, although it's less susceptible to that. A few things that helped me:
1. On the Custom 50, I run the loop send/return wide open. It decreases the amount of gain and smooths things out.
2. On the SE, replacing V1 with a 5751 helped, you can also replace V3 which is the second stage for the lead channel.
3. Volume, these amps really have to be cranking!

Replacing the V1? One of the tubes or something else?

 

[dickandsmith]

I have a Gen 1 and it sounds pretty good to me on the dirty side. Are you playing at bedroom levels or can you let it breathe? Do you have the volume knob up above 12:00 or do you choke it to keep the volume down? My experience has been that you need to drive the tubes healthy, and then pull the volume down with the Master knob. Even then it sounds better when it is moving some air. Having the master just barely above 0 sucks a lot of tone out of it.

Might be my ears then haha. Somewhat bedroom levels, on the lead channel I have the volume(gain) around noon-2 and master around 9 o'clock

 

[Rider1260]

So I have an H that has some things done to it and a way of adjusting it , Funny I find the Gain side to be KILLER and the clean to be OK but nothing special

1- Mine came with EL34 power tubes and the Resonance / Presence Mod tho I don't use the resonance ( base boost to my ears ) I could see many loving it.

2- The Loop has a lot to do with the volume and tone of the amp ( even if you are not using it ) its like a second Master Volume as I play at pretty low volumes I run the loop bit below 12 O'Clock

3 - I like the presence control VERY LOW for my sound ( 1/3 up from zero )

4- Depending on what amp you came from it is a VERY "in your face kinda amp" when just riffing it can be a bit much BUT once I am playing to tracks of Jamming it is just right great cut thru and tone, on the gain channel I run the Channel Vol at Noon ( mid ) Treb at 11 OClock Mid at 2 O'clock Bass at 9 or 10 o'clock Master at 8 O'clock

 

[AP515]

Might be my ears then haha. Somewhat bedroom levels, on the lead channel I have the volume(gain) around noon-2 and master around 9 o'clock

That sounds about normal for home use. Try a test. Give your wife, kids, and the dog ear plugs and run the master to about 12:00 and see if it clears up. If so, it's only that you are not letting the amp breathe. One thing that can help, since you need to play it at less than deafening levels, is to buy tubes that break up sooner. Many vendors rate their tubes. Groove tubes are rated by numbers. 1 - 3 break up quickly and 8 - 10 stay clean for very high volumes.

I forgot about the effects loop. Good idea to check that first!

 

[andy474x]

Replacing the V1? One of the tubes or something else?

Yes, those are the preamp tubes. The "V1" tube runs into both channels, V2 is the second tube for the clean channel, V3 is the second tube for the lead channel. They will be the 12ax7's inside your amp, and will start with V1 closest to your input jack.

 

[László]

You're running the master too low, but also some tubes sound better than others. This goes for both preamp and power tubes.

 

[dmatthews]

What power tubes are in there?
Mine came with Winged C. When I had to replace them the PTC recommendation was Ruby.
Danged if they weren't right on after a bias.

 

[dickandsmith]

What power tubes are in there?
Mine came with Winged C. When I had to replace them the PTC recommendation was Ruby.
Danged if they weren't right on after a bias.

Honestly I don't know ha