Hi all, it's been a while... My neighbours have gone on holiday so for me that means a chance to do some amp test driving. I have a couple of issues and also some questions.
So first off (disclaimer) at the moment I don't have a Strat so I'm using an R8, I'm using 9's and have Bare Knuckle mules with a light vintage stagger on the pole peices.
The whole rig is new including the guitar so I'm having to dial it all in as I go but its coming together nicely.
So I put it through my StoneAge 2x12 with Scumback H55 and H75 and used a BMF Wah with an Analogman Silicon Fuzz BC183 and MJM UniVibe. The Fuzz was kinda noisy but as the volume is turned up to about 9 to 9, 1/2 it quietens down. I also tried my analogman red dot germanium fuzz which sounded great but for the kind of sound I'm looking for with this it's the silicon fuzz, vol 9.5 fuzz 2.
I was running through a bit of killing floor just grinning from ear to ear, the throb, drive and hair. This is definitely the closest I've ever gotten to what I hear in my head. Some times because of the LP I can hear tinges of Cream in there and it also cleans up great on the guitar vol.
I think in my attempts of the past with a super lead and a germanium (also then had rosewood and a maple necked R.I strats) I could get a close approximation but everything would have to be dialled in exactly but I couldn't get clean to filth off the guitar volume. The clean sound had no body or size and was quite hard to play, I just knew something wasn't right but this setup is a whole different ball game.
Even though it's a LP, hanging out single notes with a bit of vibrato just has all the right overtones and certain Jimmi chords the harmonics come out in the right way. Its what you want, like playing the "sound" of the equipment as well as the guitar.
So on to problems and questions....
I had the same prob with some of my other amps, so using just a wah (no fuzz) I would get a sort of resonant howl. With my Castledine wah it was toe down and with the BMF it was heel down. It's kind of like feedback but not, guess it sounds like whale song!
It seems go improve if I back off the presence to 6 or less. Do you think this is just down to the routing of the purple presence wire or do you think I have an ossilation problem?
Next issue. So the first time I tried the amp I felt the drive wasn't quite right. To try put it into words the drive was very up front and in your face where I'd like a bit more dynamics to it. I can hear this quality in all your sound clips where the guitar vol is cleaned up and it reminded me of the tone I hear on Vilanova Junction from that remastered album that came out a few years back with the unheard material on it. Alot of the tracks had "that sound" to them and you guys are definitely getting it. For reference I had the normal channel on 8 and channel one on 7.
So I changed the preamp droppers from 10k + 8.2k to 8.2 + 8.2k for a little more pre amp head room. I also changed the 4700pf Volume pot bright cap for a 100pf.
As I said before this was sounding great and with every thing thrown in it was very close but still missing that sound you guys are coping.
So I've given it some thought and even went back to re-read some of the west coast thread and now I'm reasonably convinced I've been looking in the wrong part of the circuit.
I think you guys all stuck with the 220k bias splitters where as I thought I was doing the 6550's a favour by installing 150k there.
So I'm using a Mullard 12at7 in the P.I but having re read the other thread I now understand the 150k will change the P.I drive characteristics and I think this is where my solution is, it needs to go back to 220k.
There was talk of changing the 10k P.I tail to 22k or 15k. I know it said to try it so if I'm using the 12at7 and the 220k splitters and first try it with the 10k tail what difference would I hear by swapping the tail resistor for 22k or 15k? What would it do to the sound? Has any one else tried this?
I will probably want the 4700pf bright cap back in there with this change, might even try a 2000pf dog bone for kicks.
Lastly I'm wondering what your opinions are on ceramic or silver mica in the tone stack? It was a while ago but I had experimented in the past on a superlead with this and have a general feeling about it but I wanted to ask what you all think? I have a mica on the mixers and a dog bone on the tone stack, wondering if I should change the dog bone for a mica?
So to summarize my long winded set of questions;
. Wah howling (presence wire routing or ossilation?)
. 12at7, 220k bias splitters, P.I tail 10k, 15k or 22k? Effect on sound?
. Silver mica or ceramic?
Thanks guys, look forward to your response.