6402/53H1777 Greenback Clips!

[garbeaj]

Ok guys, I had the chance to plug in and play for about 10 minutes this morning...I haven't got time to make a clip yet, but...

Holy smokes! That seemed to REALLY wake up the tone! I thought it was good before, but WOW! The sound seems to be more "tight" for lack of a better term. Mids seem to be more "woke" as we say these days. Interestingly, it seems less noisy...I used to have to fight noise more-hard to describe this, but sure enough I seem to be experiencing less noise and a more pleasant signal.

Harmonics seem to jump out more, several other "feel" things seem to be better. It just sounds and feels better.

Thanks Sean! I'll make a clip as soon as I can...maybe I'll make an A/B clip going between the 4 and 8 ohm setting.

I think Mark may have left it on the 4 ohm setting when he sent it back to me, but I took it to a tech to have him troubleshoot it almost immediately because I was having microphonic feedback problems. Turns out it was a bad tube that may have been damaged in shipment. I think my tech may have switched it from 4 to 8 ohms while he was troubleshooting it years ago.

I LIKE IT MORE NOW!

Problem is, I get unbelievable microphonic feedback at relatively low Master Volume levels. Like 3 or 4 and it is high pitched microphonic feedback. Regardless of the guitar. And all of my pickups are wax potted. This has been an ongoing problem since the day I got the amp from Mark. It was worse before my tech found the bad tube. It has been checked out by my tech...a very experienced technician (over 40 years of experience) and his amp specialist, also with decades of experience.

I really can't turn the Master past 2. It was like this before I changed the ohm setting by the way. It's fine for home, but I need to be able to turn it up!

[Sean_McFly]

Ok guys, I had the chance to plug in and play for about 10 minutes this morning...I haven't got time to make a clip yet, but...

Holy smokes! That seemed to REALLY wake up the tone! I thought it was good before, but WOW! The sound seems to be more "tight" for lack of a better term. Mids seem to be more "woke" as we say these days. Interestingly, it seems less noisy...I used to have to fight noise more-hard to describe this, but sure enough I seem to be experiencing less noise and a more pleasant signal.

Harmonics seem to jump out more, several other "feel" things seem to be better. It just sounds and feels better.

Thanks Sean! I'll make a clip as soon as I can...maybe I'll make an A/B clip going between the 4 and 8 ohm setting.

I think Mark may have left it on the 4 ohm setting when he sent it back to me, but I took it to a tech to have him troubleshoot it almost immediately because I was having microphonic feedback problems. Turns out it was a bad tube that may have been damaged in shipment. I think my tech may have switched it from 4 to 8 ohms while he was troubleshooting it years ago.

I LIKE IT MORE NOW!

Problem is, I get unbelievable microphonic feedback at relatively low Master Volume levels. Like 3 or 4 and it is high pitched microphonic feedback. Regardless of the guitar. And all of my pickups are wax potted. This has been an ongoing problem since the day I got the amp from Mark. It was worse before my tech found the bad tube. It has been checked out by my tech...a very experienced technician (over 40 years of experience) and his amp specialist, also with decades of experience.

I really can't turn the Master past 2. It was like this before I changed the ohm setting by the way. It's fine for home, but I need to be able to turn it up!

I'm so glad it worked for you!! The amp goes full Mod5 when you use the ohm setting 1 notch less than your speakers, IMO. And hmmm regarding the microphonics, I would say just buy a new set of JJ EL34 L's from Tube Depot with a bias point of 39 (Mark's preference) with the 24 hour burn in, and replace the preamp tubes with Mark's preferred setup: an ARS LM12AX7A in v1 and v2, or a shuguang 12AX7B (also known as the stock Marshall ECC83's used in 80's 2203/4's) in v1 and v2, and a Sovtek 12AX7LPS in v3. You should have 0 microphonics and WICKED output volume and girth after this.

[garbeaj]

Thanks Sean! I'm sure that's all in the amp right now, but it wouldn't hurt to replace everything in case there is something funny causing the microphonic feedback. I'll try to do all that!

[garbeaj]

I'm so glad it worked for you!! The amp goes full Mod5 when you use the ohm setting 1 notch less than your speakers, IMO. And hmmm regarding the microphonics, I would say just buy a new set of JJ EL34 L's from Tube Depot with a bias point of 39 (Mark's preference) with the 24 hour burn in, and replace the preamp tubes with Mark's preferred setup: an ARS LM12AX7A in v1 and v2, or a shuguang 12AX7B (also known as the stock Marshall ECC83's used in 80's 2203/4's) in v1 and v2, and a Sovtek 12AX7LPS in v3. You should have 0 microphonics and WICKED output volume and girth after this.

I don't have a clue about amps...do you have to ask Tube Depot for a bias point of 29? I saw the 24 hour burn-in option, but I didn't see anything about bias. Forgive me, I don't know what I'm doing or talking about!

[Sean_McFly]

I don't have a clue about amps...do you have to ask Tube Depot for a bias point of 29? I saw the 24 hour burn-in option, but I didn't see anything about bias. Forgive me, I don't know what I'm doing or talking about!

Yes, after you check 24 hour burn in, add 2 to your cart and then you have to put that specification in checkout in the "order comments/requests" section! And remember, this is very important- they NEED to be JJ EL34 L's (NOT EL34's) with a bias point of 39, not 29

[garbeaj]

I don't have a clue about amps...do you have to ask Tube Depot for a bias point of 29? I saw the 24 hour burn-in option, but I didn't see anything about bias. Forgive me, I don't know what I'm doing or talking about!

Yes, after you check 24 hour burn in, add 2 to your cart and then you have to put that specification in checkout in the "order comments/requests" section! And remember, this is very important- they NEED to be JJ EL34 L's (NOT EL34's) with a bias point of 39, not 29

Oops! Thanks for catching that "39" bias point...I made a typo, but looking at my post made me think it was 29! Bias point of 39 in the comments section and I'll be good to go...Thanks Sean!

They call them "E34L-L" but as far as I can tell that is the same as an EL-34 L...
https://www.tubedepot.com/products/jj-e ... acuum-tube

[garbeaj]

Well I haven't gotten new tubes or any other components, but I just tried to reseat the tubes...just took 'em out and put 'em back in.

I made a clip to demo my vintage MXR Flanger on another site, but I thought I would post it here and see what you guys think:



Not the best sound I know and I have reverb coming from a wet amp and the short delay in front of the amp (an MXR Echoplex Delay and pre-amp).

[topsportsmanta1]

That sounds great brother and awesome playing

[garbeaj]

That sounds great brother and awesome playing

Thanks! It sounds better in the room...and wow that was some of my crappiest playing ever...loads of gaffs! But thanks!

[Sean_McFly]

Dude that tone is SICK!! Is that using the 4ohm tap? I actually just picked up a real 90's 6402 to go with the 53H1777, and it sounds stellar. I see what you mean about the two speakers shining in different ways! Also I went with a musikraft body for my Franky build!

[garbeaj]

Dude that tone is SICK!! Is that using the 4ohm tap? I actually just picked up a real 90's 6402 to go with the 53H1777, and it sounds stellar. I see what you mean about the two speakers shining in different ways! Also I went with a musikraft body for my Franky build!

Wow, thanks Sean! This is the first clip I've made since switching to the 4ohm setting, but I also added my new Dunlop/MXR preamp...adds a nice mid-hump and shapes the tone quite a bit. I re-seated all the tubes and switched to the 4ohm setting on your advice, but that's all I did...

I think the sound sucks on this iPhone recording. It sounds sooo much better in the room. My Super Reverb has the wet reverb output from my H9 and the MXR Echoplex delay and preamp and the Phase 90 and MXR Flanger are in front of the amp. I don't have an effects loop anyway!

I'm such a newb at recording...I'm nowhere near your audio recording quality. I'm trying to figure out how to get better audio going in my iPhone...mostly so people can see me playing. People either think I'm not really playing or they just want to see my hands. Plus I eventually want to do some lesson videos, so the iPhone is a must. I'm eyeing a few iPhone mics and interfaces that might help...

Any advice for better audio on my iPhone clips? I want my clips to sound like yours when I grow up!

[Sean_McFly]

Wow, thanks Sean! This is the first clip I've made since switching to the 4ohm setting, but I also added my new Dunlop/MXR preamp...adds a nice mid-hump and shapes the tone quite a bit. I re-seated all the tubes and switched to the 4ohm setting on your advice, but that's all I did...

I think the sound sucks on this iPhone recording. It sounds sooo much better in the room. My Super Reverb has the wet reverb output from my H9 and the MXR Echoplex delay and preamp and the Phase 90 and MXR Flanger are in front of the amp. I don't have an effects loop anyway!

I'm such a newb at recording...I'm nowhere near your audio recording quality. I'm trying to figure out how to get better audio going in my iPhone...mostly so people can see me playing. People either think I'm not really playing or they just want to see my hands. Plus I eventually want to do some lesson videos, so the iPhone is a must. I'm eyeing a few iPhone mics and interfaces that might help...

Any advice for better audio on my iPhone clips? I want my clips to sound like yours when I grow up!

Sorry for the late reply! Busy stuff here. Has the feedback issue gone away after reseating the tubes? And I actually do have some advice about mic'ing with an iPhone! Put the phone laying down with the mic close to the speaker (either touching the grillcloth or 1-2 inches away), elevated on a flat surface, with the mic slightly off the center of the cone and a little off axis to add low end lost by iPhone mic quality. Here's a clip for reference!

https://soundcloud.com/seans-evh-explor ... -ash-strat

If you like the way this sounds, I'll take a picture of where this was placed

[garbeaj]

Wow, sounds great for an iPhone. I have an adapter that lets me plug my MD-420 into the iPhone, but I don't have a mic pre for it. I have the Shure X2U USB/Mic-pre, but that only connects to my laptop.

Everybody says I need to record the audio through my laptop at the same time as I record the video with my iPhone and then sync the two together after I've mixed in my DAW (I have Audacity because it's free). But my iPhone 5 can't be detected by my laptop so I haven't been able to try doing this record and sync thing.

Ultimately I'd like to be able to get some of my wet Super Reverb sound with the reverb going just so the sound of the two amps in the room can be heard. And to get a good "real" sound like thiswith video of me playing would be the goal...I don't particularly like adding Reverb and compression and other trickery in post-production...but if that's the only way I can get good sound I'd be up for it. Unfortunately, my phone and laptop aren't letting me try it!

If you could post a pic of how you had your iPhone set up for that clip,that would be cool...I'd still have to have it positioned so that it could take video of me playing.