MetroAmp 50W Kit Clips

mwm523 · Post by **mwm523** » Tue Dec 04, 2007 10:44 pm

Ok, I want preface this by saying I have NO CLUE what the hell I'm doing when it comes to recording. I recently got a Toneport UX2, and I've been messing around with it, and have made a few clips.

These clips were done with my R8 Les Paul plugged straight into the MetroAmp 50W kit (lead spec with a couple minor changes), into a Mojo 4x12 straight cab with 2 Scumback H75's and 2 Weber c1230-55's in an X pattern. Microphones are 2 SM57's, one right up against the grill in front of an H75, and the other back about 5 feet, into the Toneport UX2, into the PC and recorded/edited with Cubase VST.

It's all bridge pickup, guitar volume on about 8.5 - 9, amp volume on 7.5, channel 1 only, Presence on 5, Bass on 6, Middle on 7, Treble on 6. No pedals.

I added a little bit of reverb with Cubase just so it wasn't quite so dry, but it's very subtle. I know the recording (and my playing...) need some work, but it's a start, and there aren't many 50W clips up here yet. So here goes...

http://209.123.65.61/mwm/50wOhWell.mp3

http://209.123.65.61/mwm/50wNoodlingInD.mp3

http://209.123.65.61/mwm/50wNoodlingInE.mp3

Please, if you have any suggestions about how to make these clips sound better (other than getting someone else to play them...

) please let me know.

Thanks!

Winder · Post by **Winder** » Tue Dec 04, 2007 10:58 pm

Sounds really good. "Oh Well" is a great tune and a good choice for the clippage.

thousandshirts · Post by **thousandshirts** » Tue Dec 04, 2007 11:06 pm

Mike,

I enjoyed this greatly. Thanks for posting the clips.

Will

toner · Post by **toner** » Tue Dec 04, 2007 11:13 pm

For having "no clue" about recording, those sound very good!

The rhythm part in the first clip sounds a little "fuzzy" to me. I think it's just the far 57 though because the close mic sounds good (if a little dark by itself). 57's never sounded good as room mics to me. Condensers usually work best there because the frequency response is flatter and they pick up transients (like wall reflections, reverb) much better.

The amp sounds a little "stiff" to me. It's probably just because it's new and could just be the recording. I know it's not easy to translate what you hear in person to tape (or bits, in this case

).

Anyway, your playing and clips are nice, IMO. Thanks for posting.

JimiJames · Post by **JimiJames** » Tue Dec 04, 2007 11:14 pm

Sounds Good !
Like the subtle verb

mwm523 · Post by **mwm523** » Fri Dec 07, 2007 7:03 pm

Thanks guys!

I agree, it sounds fuzzy. And you're right toner, it's the far 57 picking up the Webers... Those f@$%ing speakers are so fuzzy in person, I can't stand it. The close 57 is right up against one of the Scumbacks, which sound really good in person, and that seems to translate better in the recording. The reason they are a little dark is because I have to EQ that way to compensate for the Webers. They're so harsh and brittle... I'm not sure I can EVER break them in. I may just have to replace them once and for all... Hmmm, Scumback holiday sale perhaps??

The balance is bad too... the far 57 is louder in the mix than the close one. I need to fix that.

I also agree, the amp sounds a bit stiff (in person too). It has pretty high filtering (stock, per the 50W kit instructions). It has a dual 33uf on the board, and dual 50uf's for the mains and screens. The mains cap has both sides connected for 100uf

)

I have a spare dual 32uf F&T can sitting here... Where do you think I'd get the most bang out of it for loosening the amp up a bit? Swap it for the dual 50 in the mains? Swap out the dual 50 in the screens and disconnect one side of the one in the mains? Any other possibilities?

toner · Post by **toner** » Fri Dec 07, 2007 7:50 pm

Yeah, 57's have a huge presence peak and work better with the added bass you get when close mic'ing.

I'm surprised you find the Webers "fuzzy". I haven't heard them in person but they get good reviews here. I still love my Scumbacks, personally. They sounded great right out of the box and seem to only get better with time.

I don't have any experience with 50w filtering mods but screen filtering seems to have the most effect on the "feel", in my experience with 100 watts. Lower mains filtering may be worth a try too.

You'll have a great amp with a little tweaking, either way.

rawel34 · Post by **rawel34** » Sat Feb 16, 2008 6:10 am

Really nice and nice playing samples, man !

What kind of PU do you use ?

MacGaden · Post by **MacGaden** » Sat Feb 16, 2008 6:50 am

Nice tone! With some tweaks it will be great, but the foundation is there..

You almost played the intro to "Train Keep Rolling" in the last E-noodle. Nice change from all the VH stuff..

mwm523 · Post by **mwm523** » Sat Feb 16, 2008 12:11 pm

Thanks guys. The pickups are Wolfetone Dr. Vintage PAF replicas.

My rig has been tweaked quite a bit since I did these clips, I'll have to do some new ones.

My 50W is now at bass specs (or early plexi specs), I replaced all the Sozos with Premium Sozos, and the 2 Weber c1230-55 speakers have been replaced with Scumback H55's. Filtering has been lowered a bit too.

I put NOS Siemens EL34s in it, and all Mullard pre's.

I'm also running a NOS Mullard CV4024 (12AT7) in V3, which brought down the gain and fizz quite a bit. The amp has much more clarity now then it did when I did these clips. Still has plenty of sustain and harmonics, but sounds much cleaner and clearer overall.

The final tweak, which has brought it all together for me, was the purchase of a Weber Browner. This allows me to lower the AC voltage to around 110 - 112, instead of the 125+ I was feeding it before. This made a HUGE impact on the tone.

I'll do some new clips ASAP.

OdgeUK · Post by **OdgeUK** » Sun Feb 17, 2008 2:24 am

VERY cool tone. Nice one. And the playing certainly ain't shabby either.

First thing I thought of when I heard the clips was Aerosmith, from the Toys in the Attic and Rocks albums. Awesome, you must never want to stop playing through that thing!

56goldtop · Post by **56goldtop** » Sun Feb 17, 2008 11:02 am

mwm523 wrote:
I'll do some new clips ASAP.

That would be great, I'm looking forward to it

rich2k4 · Post by **rich2k4** » Mon Feb 18, 2008 3:04 pm

sounds great man