MT-15 tone issues - input appreciated!

[Z_bones]

I’ve gotten the best results from mine using a shaping/boost pedal - I hesitate to even call it boost, because the amp has plenty of gain, but really a pedal to feed into the front of the amp that will cut some bass really tightens things up and defines the low end. I use a couple different ones with the MT15, a Friedman Buxom Boost set for mild boost, but with the “tight” control turned up about halfway, which shelves off some of the low bass, or a Tumnus, which does approximately the same but also adds some more midrange. A Tubescreamer will also do that, it’s got a different mid peak but similar idea. Also, I find myself running the treble control 2:00-3:00, fairly high, and mids can be turned down considerably without totally scooping the sound. The amp and the Mesa V30’s combined have plenty of midrange.

Edit: Taking things a bit further, I also replaced some of the preamp tubes in mine. The stock JJ’s, the common ecc83s, has a buttload of gain and really can overload a preamp circuit with too much signal from the V1 position, IMO, which makes the sound muddy. I like the new JJ e83cc (slightly different name, much better sound), or the new production Mullard ecc83. Less effect than the boost pedal, but it helps.

These are really great tips - thank you! I am a total n00b when it comes to pedals, so it's high time I started farting around with some of those. Of course, I still need to make sure I don't have a hardware problem or something, but I think a pedal demo should be one of the tools used in my tone investigation. I'll do some reading on the ones you mentioned.

As far as tube swaps go, that might be a little further down the road for me - this is my first tube amp, so I don't know enough about the various tube tones to know what I would prefer over the MT-15's stock setup. It's kind of crazy that it took me 20 years of casual playing to finally dive into this world. I blame 12 years of school and a concurrent lack of money. XD

 

[Z_bones]

Speaker swaps can do wonders too..but hard to guess at. V30s seem to be the standard for studios, but sitting and getting inspiring tone in your room can be a different venue. So don't rule out speaker cabs just yet.

Your guitar is all mahogany with can be darker. I know active pickups can be Flat sounding (which sometimes is an advantage). That wouldn't be my first thing to look at though. You changed up your strings. Gotta try to get close to your target before going down this rabbit hole.

I voted other because it's the whole formula you have to mess around with.

Yeah, the complexities of the whole system are the reason I posted here in the first place! So much to consider... The pedal suggestions from you and Andy are a good place to start, I think - once I make sure I don't have a bad tube, that is. I know there is a chance this amp and cab/speaker setup just isn't a good combo for me, but I'm certainly not going to ditch any of my main gear without first checking into pedals, maybe even other pickup options. I appreciate the input!

 

[DISTORT6]

Once you get the possible tube situation sorted out: EQ pedal in the loop.

 

[andy474x]

These are really great tips - thank you! I am a total n00b when it comes to pedals, so it's high time I started farting around with some of those. Of course, I still need to make sure I don't have a hardware problem or something, but I think a pedal demo should be one of the tools used in my tone investigation. I'll do some reading on the ones you mentioned.

As far as tube swaps go, that might be a little further down the road for me - this is my first tube amp, so I don't know enough about the various tube tones to know what I would prefer over the MT-15's stock setup. It's kind of crazy that it took me 20 years of casual playing to finally dive into this world. I blame 12 years of school and a concurrent lack of money. XD

If you want an easy way to check on the tubes, just start swapping them around - the MT15 uses all the same type of preamp tubes, so they’re totally interchangeable. If you notice big differences as you move them, it may be a tube. Although, in my experience, preamp tubes going bad usually don’t “sound bad,” they either make a lot of extra noise (hiss, crackle, or microphonics), or they just don’t work at all.

 

[Z_bones]

Once you get the possible tube situation sorted out: EQ pedal in the loop.

I'll look into that!

 

[Z_bones]

If you want an easy way to check on the tubes, just start swapping them around - the MT15 uses all the same type of preamp tubes, so they’re totally interchangeable. If you notice big differences as you move them, it may be a tube. Although, in my experience, preamp tubes going bad usually don’t “sound bad,” they either make a lot of extra noise (hiss, crackle, or microphonics), or they just don’t work at all.

Good to know. Since my clean channel has no issues, I guess some strategic swapping would be a good idea. I will do a visual tube inspection too, since I know there are some telltale signs that one is going/has gone bad. Thanks!

 

[Deleted member 5962]

I agree with what others are saying about pedals. But I don’t think that is your issue. This amp should sound great with no pedals needed. When it’s sorted out, and sounds great, then if you want to shape that tone, THEN is when you introduce pedals, IMHO. They should be “flavors” not “required problem solvers” in this case, IMHO/YMMV

 

[Z_bones]

I agree with what others are saying about pedals. But I don’t think that is your issue. This amp should sound great with no pedals needed. When it’s sorted out, and sounds great, then if you want to shape that tone, THEN is when you introduce pedals, IMHO. They should be “flavors” not “required problem solvers” in this case, IMHO/YMMV

Makes a lot of sense, and more or less what I initially thought. I've heard enough demonstrations of this amp's bare sound to know it should sound better by itself.

 

[elvis]

I recommend working with the amp gain at 12:00 or 1:00 max. Beyond that it will be fizzy. If you need more gain than that, boost is the way to go.

Honestly, if you’re not 90% of the way there with all knobs at noon, you probably don’t like the amp. No matter what you do with the knobs, every amp has a characteristic tone.

If you can’t get a tone you already hear recorded from a specific amp, it is either a trick of the recording or in the player’s fingers.

 

[Z_bones]

I recommend working with the amp gain at 12:00 or 1:00 max. Beyond that it will be fizzy. If you need more gain than that, boost is the way to go.

Honestly, if you’re not 90% of the way there with all knobs at noon, you probably don’t like the amp. No matter what you do with the knobs, every amp has a characteristic tone.

If you can’t get a tone you already hear recorded from a specific amp, it is either a trick of the recording or in the player’s fingers.

That's fair. I certainly don't expect to sound like Tremonti just because I have his signature amp. It's just so different sounding than any of the things I've heard from it that I thought there must be something amiss. Still gonna do some legwork to make sure there's not something about my unique setup that's causing the trouble, but I suppose I can always re-sell if it turns out it's just not for me. Definitely gonna try some pedals out before throwing in the towel, though.

 

[elvis]

An example of different amps. First is Archon. Second is mini rectifier boosted. Last little bit is the rectifier not boosted so you can hear how little gain it is without the boost. This is a standard approach because high-gain amp saturation usually happens in a single stage so it gets squishy. By boosting you get the gain without the squish.

https://soundcloud.app.goo.gl/wC96KyJzJnBY1BNP7

 

[elvis]

Archon lets you run more gain than many other amps before it squishes, but there is a limit.

 

[Z_bones]

An example of different amps. First is Archon. Second is mini rectifier boosted. Last little bit is the rectifier not boosted so you can hear how little gain it is without the boost. This is a standard approach because high-gain amp saturation usually happens in a single stage so it gets squishy. By boosting you get the gain without the squish.

https://soundcloud.app.goo.gl/wC96KyJzJnBY1BNP7

Thanks for the demonstration! I can definitely hear the benefit of the boost. I'll have to do some demos. Honestly though, even your mini rectifier unboosted sounds quite a bit better than my MT-15 so far...

 

[elvis]

The Mini Rec slays. I appreciate it more and more over time. I loved gigging the Archon though. So monstrous!

To be clear, the recording was done with a Two Notes Torpedo Live and an Ownhammer IR recorded direct and the amps LOUD. I spent a LOT of time dialing the IR EQ to match my Vertical Recto 2x12 (best cab ever). It's very close, though the recto cab sounds a bit better as it has a little more sizzle than the IR. Once you mic it, though, they are probably indistinguishable.

 

[elvis]

Forgot - PRS SC (avatar guitar) with Cold Sweat pickups and NYXL 0.010-0.046, effects post-cab IR, not in the loop.

 

[vchizzle]

I agree with what others are saying about pedals. But I don’t think that is your issue. This amp should sound great with no pedals needed. When it’s sorted out, and sounds great, then if you want to shape that tone, THEN is when you introduce pedals, IMHO. They should be “flavors” not “required problem solvers” in this case, IMHO/YMMV

This. You shouldn’t need to add pedals to make this amp sound good. If you haven’t already, run the presence knob high. Like 3:00. Still, this amp isn’t hard to get a good tone from. Whether it’s “for you” or not is a another thing. But you should be able to get the tones you want pretty easily.

 

[Z_bones]

This. You shouldn’t need to add pedals to make this amp sound good. If you haven’t already, run the presence knob high. Like 3:00. Still, this amp isn’t hard to get a good tone from. Whether it’s “for you” or not is a another thing. But you should be able to get the tones you want pretty easily.

Yep, that's why I made this thread. I know it should sound better without having to do much. I have the presence turned way up right now (probably almost 4 o'clock, but I've tried it in all positions. Definitely helped to crank it, and that let me back off the gain a little. Still isn't great, though.

 

[elvis]

I agree about cranking presence. I run at almost max with my Archon. I also back off the depth, don't know if MT-15 has that.

 

[vchizzle]

Yep, that's why I made this thread. I know it should sound better without having to do much. I have the presence turned way up right now (probably almost 4 o'clock, but I've tried it in all positions. Definitely helped to crank it, and that let me back off the gain a little. Still isn't great, though.

You said it’s your first tube amp. What were you playing your guitar through before this? Did it sound good then? Maybe your pickups are too close or far away from the strings. You said it sounded good in the seller’s video through the Mesa cab. It’s still possible that tubes could have gone bad. I’d start at easier things before you start pulling tubes. Take the amp to a store. Try a couple guitars though it. Maybe there’s a PRS dealer near you? Someone that could listen to it and know if it’s functioning properly. Maybe this amp or tube amps aren’t for you. What you hear from a tube amp in the room isn’t a produced sound that you hear on an album or even many YouTube videos. Half the videos are produced like albums these days with multiple mics, backing tracks, doubled guitars, etc.

 

[Z_bones]

You said it’s your first tube amp. What were you playing your guitar through before this? Did it sound good then? Maybe your pickups are too close or far away from the strings. You said it sounded good in the seller’s video through the Mesa cab. It’s still possible that tubes could have gone bad. I’d start at easier things before you start pulling tubes. Take the amp to a store. Try a couple guitars though it. Maybe there’s a PRS dealer near you? Someone that could listen to it and know if it’s functioning properly. Maybe this amp or tube amps aren’t for you. What you hear from a tube amp in the room isn’t a produced sound that you hear on an album or even many YouTube videos. Half the videos are produced like albums these days with multiple mics, backing tracks, doubled guitars, etc.

All good points. I do have a PRS dealer nearby that I probably will pay a visit to. They're a small shop that will hopefully let me demo some guitars through my amp. Better than my local Guitar Center, I'm sure which somehow never has anything high-end in stock.

I was never 100% satisfied with the tone I got through my last amp (a 150 watt Line 6 Spider III with matching 4x12 cab), but mostly that's because it is a lower end setup ($700 new for the half stack) and it forces you to mod one of its billion presets to get your own tone, making it hard to dial things in or run a pedal through a fully clean channel.

Before I got my current guitar, I played a Jackson Randy Rhoads V with passive pickups through that same half stack with similar results, so I don't think there's anything wrong with my current guitar, but maybe I do just need different pickups... ‍

Fair point about video sound production, too. I'll just have to try a few things to figure out whether it's something in my setup, my gear itself, or my tonal preferences.