How To Make ANY Amp Sound Great

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  • Опубліковано 4 тра 2024
  • Learning how to dial in a guitar amp is something that can take years of experimentation and failure, so here are my tips for getting great sounds from your amp.
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КОМЕНТАРІ • 1,2 тис.

  • @MarySpender
    @MarySpender 2 роки тому +918

    You Make Every Guitar Amp Sound Great

    • @RhettShull
      @RhettShull  2 роки тому +112

      You’re the best Mary!

    • @joeb3590
      @joeb3590 2 роки тому +26

      You both rock

    • @lewolf2884
      @lewolf2884 2 роки тому +3

      ... said the 'Diva Bravura' to the 'every man's Virtuoso'... love you BOTH!!!

    • @CerealDust-nStuff
      @CerealDust-nStuff 2 роки тому +18

      My favorite UA-cam channels are Mary Spender, Rhett Shull, Rick Beato, and Robert Baker. Thank you UA-cam!

    • @loganwhitemusic
      @loganwhitemusic 2 роки тому +6

      I ship it

  • @Burnt_Gerbil
    @Burnt_Gerbil 2 роки тому +564

    Another tip: Volume is a huge factor. It may sound fine at bedroom level or practicing. It will sound totally different when it’s played loud.

    • @Terribleguitarist89
      @Terribleguitarist89 2 роки тому +60

      Learned that one when I bought my first Half Stack in High School... Learned how to get a decent tone for in the house (my grandma was deaf so I could push the volume a bit, but still had neighbors). Moment I turned it up for a gig the sound just collapsed and I had to scramble dialing in all over again.

    • @BoomTexan
      @BoomTexan 2 роки тому +58

      I normally think that it sounds fine at bedroom level, and sounds a lot better when loud.

    • @danieljones8706
      @danieljones8706 2 роки тому +23

      LOL Aint that the truth! I have a small practice amp that sounds fantastic through the headphone jack but the speaker is very muddy when you crank the volume. If I had to play it live, I'd probably just use the headphone signal and boost it through a PA.

    • @sneifert1968
      @sneifert1968 2 роки тому +12

      Why I have my own rehearsal space, so I can always practice at gigging volumes. All my amps get knarlier as they get louder.

    • @misterknightowlandco
      @misterknightowlandco 2 роки тому +38

      Good bedroom tones are the exact opposite of good live tones. In the bedroom you need more gain less volume and a lot of low end just to make it sound right. Love you add volume decrease gain, decrease low end and increase mids.

  • @johnp75
    @johnp75 2 роки тому +109

    If you play a guitar with tone knobs, I find it best to set your amp to the neck PU. If needed you can simply roll back your tone knob on you bridge PU to cut the treble vs cutting the treble on your amp. Both PUs will be nice and balanced. You can always clean up your amp by rolling back the volume knobs.. Volume and tone knobs are always forgotten. Best pedals ever made..

    • @jkta97
      @jkta97 6 місяців тому +5

      That's Jeff McErlain's trick when he dials in his Les Pauls and Strats.

    • @adriatic.vineyards
      @adriatic.vineyards 2 місяці тому +2

      Thanks for the tip!

    • @grkeith2091
      @grkeith2091 2 місяці тому

      yes, yes, and yes.

  • @shaneglackin
    @shaneglackin 2 роки тому +22

    "This isn't sponsored, they just gave me three grand worth of amp..."

  • @bigmike70
    @bigmike70 2 роки тому +287

    I'm a metal player but I still find these tips helpful for high gain amps. The gain control especially on a lot of metal amps have a pretty narrow sweet spot and it tends to be a lot lower than a lot of players think. Thanks so much!

    • @Danielfucks69
      @Danielfucks69 2 роки тому +24

      Big time this. I tend to always want all the gain I can get, but when I actually pay attention to the sound, I realize I barely need to push it to 12 oclock

    • @gavinw5469
      @gavinw5469 2 роки тому +9

      Well most metal sounds horrible so I would imagine it would be hard to dial in a good tone.

    • @alexk5325
      @alexk5325 2 роки тому +92

      @@gavinw5469 thanks for your constructive input.

    • @cranklabexplosion-labcentr8245
      @cranklabexplosion-labcentr8245 2 роки тому +9

      Just scoop your mids smh

    • @themixmusicandmore6280
      @themixmusicandmore6280 2 роки тому +37

      Yea even for metal I prefer a decent amount of Mids, deceptively low gain, low output pickups, tube amp. All the stuff teenage me thought wasn't metal lol

  • @gregoryz6545
    @gregoryz6545 2 роки тому +78

    I have noticed that many players don’t use their looper pedal. If you loop a guitar bit that you like, and then dial in the amp without having to start and stop playing to get the little different bits otherwise missed. Cheers!

    • @fishmonger7020
      @fishmonger7020 4 місяці тому +2

      Bro good idea!

    • @felixuscinewicz4660
      @felixuscinewicz4660 3 місяці тому

      How can you use headphones with a tube amp ?

    • @theuserthatishere
      @theuserthatishere 2 місяці тому

      he's probably using a mic @@felixuscinewicz4660

    • @davidbergewaytogo
      @davidbergewaytogo 2 місяці тому +1

      Wow… have been playing for twenty years and never thought of that! Let the loop play and tweak your tone… what a great tip!

    • @hayleycomet8029
      @hayleycomet8029 2 місяці тому +1

      I do this too!

  • @fivewattworld
    @fivewattworld 2 роки тому +81

    Great stuff Rhett. My trick is not “needing” to dial in a new amp…but I fail at that. Dan at FYD is building me one for an upcoming video.

  • @xeniebaby
    @xeniebaby 2 роки тому +5

    I feel like this is the most practical and effective tone video I've seen on UA-cam! Thanks for always sharing your knowledge Rhett!

  • @JzuHax
    @JzuHax 2 роки тому +421

    Great tips. And great playing on a great amp. But I think it would be enlightening for beginners to see you operate on a _bad_ amp like a Marshall MG. The aim wouldn't be the same of course. Rather, how do you get a decent sound out of a sub-par transistor amp? Same for these small modelling combos with tons of possibilities: how do you approach them? How do you avoid being overwhelmed by effects, distortion and such?

    • @joelarrivee4512
      @joelarrivee4512 2 роки тому +30

      Agree, pretty difficult to get a bad sound out of that amp even if you tried. But the same principles apply for a $200 or $2000 amp, it’s the results that vary.

    • @SCOTT-ki3ve
      @SCOTT-ki3ve 2 роки тому +48

      For a garbage amp just turn up the midrange all the way and turn the bass and treble all the way down. Most garbage gear has way to much treble and loose unusable bass. So just get rid of all that and you'll have something you can work with that cuts thru. You can also do it on good amps if you want a very classic sound,or grungy sound at very high gain. It's the Kurt Kobain trick. You'll be able to be heard well in a live setting without competing with the other instruments. It doesn't sound that great by itself unless the amp is good but it actually sounds really good in a mix

    • @wonderwomanguy
      @wonderwomanguy 2 роки тому +2

      THIS!

    • @bakters
      @bakters 2 роки тому +5

      @@joelarrivee4512 "pretty difficult to get a bad sound out of that amp even if you tried"
      Interestingly, I just explained to someone, that's what they wanted. They zeroed on the "typical" classic rock sound and that's what you got here. Very cool. I don't like features I hardly every use.

    • @dougcrowe1226
      @dougcrowe1226 2 роки тому

      Great idea

  • @williamgoodwin6857
    @williamgoodwin6857 2 роки тому +3

    What you showed here is exactly what I was taught back in ‘96 when I bought my first new amp. It was a Hughes & Kettner 100 watt combo, blues series. Still plays incredibly. Thank you for the refresher course!!

  • @Momentum88
    @Momentum88 2 роки тому +12

    I've seen this technique and use it all the time now. it's a wonderful starting point. Getting to know the amp and what the knobs have to offer is really overlooked. I repeatedly go through this process as I seem to learn new things about the amp each time I do. I have a VOX ac15 c1 and a Fender '65 Deluxe Reverb. The ac15 I bounce back and forth between the Normal and Top Boost channels every few months or so. The Fender I use input one of the vibrato channel. Run them both Clean with a bit of break up and pedals in front. The real fun is once it's in the band context you get to start all over again. Cheers! Thanks for another great video!

  • @jimbrennan3795
    @jimbrennan3795 Рік тому +3

    Thank you for this tutorial Rhett, it has helped me a lot. I really appreciate that you and Rick Beato love to share your enthusiasm and knowledge.

  • @simon_patterson
    @simon_patterson 2 роки тому +15

    I'd never used a tube amp before, when someone lent me a Laney tube amp. I used this method and quickly found a workable sound. Very handy to know where to start!

  • @BobPerrone
    @BobPerrone 2 роки тому +6

    This was really helpful Rhett, I drive myself crazy sometimes with playing with knobs, especially when connected to an unfamiliar amp.

  • @simonpratley3301
    @simonpratley3301 2 роки тому +1

    What an awesome intro Rhett! Love that riff! Thanks for the tips on setting up an amp, now I have a better understanding.

  • @sonnylallerstedt186
    @sonnylallerstedt186 2 роки тому +1

    Rhett, thanks for walking us through your process on sweeping amps! I’m going back through some of mine again after seeing this. Great job!! Blessings...

  • @GretschenMunch
    @GretschenMunch 2 роки тому +22

    I've seen a similar approach to this but rather than using a guitar signal, you simply sweep the controls and listen to the amp hiss - it shows those same points where the controls start to open up. There can be more than one "sweet spot" on each control as well. Often there are two points in the sweep where you hear a significant change to the hiss.

  • @ericjtomsky
    @ericjtomsky 2 роки тому +6

    I have an old carvin combo amp I found at a local music store that I love... I've tried other amps as well but I've owned this amp almost a decade now and I feel like I know it inside and out and the clean tones it gives are really unmatched. Find myself reaching for it more than my supro I got a year or 2 ago

  • @justinkearl2212
    @justinkearl2212 2 роки тому

    Your videos have gotten a hell of a whole lot better over time, and it's been nice to watch. In your old videos, your eyes would be darting around all over the place, and I could tell you were being suuuper careful with how you worded things, seeming like you cared a lot about sounding smart and caring what people thought of you. All of that has melted away, and your confidence is much more natural than it ever used to be. You know what you're doing, you know who you are, and it shows. Kudos to you, dude. A smooth presence is hard to hone in on, and you've really done well with it.

  • @GregoryHillSr
    @GregoryHillSr 2 роки тому

    Great Video!! I've been a hobbyist for about 40yrs, and I generally start with my guitar adjustments (G&L Legacy) tone controls between 4 & 5 , volume around 3 or 4, before messing with the amp knobs. My first amp was a Ampeg Jet 12, was easy to set up but 8 years ago I lost it from theft at a club. I now have a HRDIII that gets loud quickly @ 2 on the volume so I made a cheap attenuator working thru the effects loop. For me, adjusting the guitar, then dialing in the amp makes it for me so I can control the sweet spot with my guitar volume controls, once the amp is set.

  • @chrisdrake447
    @chrisdrake447 2 роки тому +55

    I remember reading about Matt Scofield’s technique for dialling in any amp but didn’t find a video or audio demonstration until much later. Tired it with a Mesa Boogie Blue Angel combo, a Thinline Tele and a PRS Singlecut, and couldn’t quite nail the sounds I was after. Later bought a 2002 Les Paul Junior 1957 reissue, plugged it into the Blue Angel and ... truly could not get a bad sound with that single P90, whatever the setting. Moral of the story: just keep playing & trying stuff, I guess! Happy New Year to you and your family and crew.

    • @a2ndopynyn
      @a2ndopynyn 2 роки тому

      Other Moral of the Story: The Guitar Matters, as much as the amp (unless you play hardcore metal).

    • @katielowen
      @katielowen 2 роки тому +1

      I was late to p90s too and they absolutely were a game changer to getting great, diverse sounds

    • @Rexy-sy9wt
      @Rexy-sy9wt Місяць тому

      Yep. P90 . Yep. Gibson les Paul juniors. Yep. Can't go wrong. 🎉

  • @CakeorDeath1989
    @CakeorDeath1989 2 роки тому +9

    I'd love to see a mini part 2 with something like an AC30, or any amp that allows you to jump channels? Channel jumping is still a huge "???" for me, and I'm sure many people would get a lot out of the video.
    Or maybe a video talking about blending the tone of two amps in a stereo and/or wet-dry rig?
    But yeah, this video is amazing. I'll definitely be using these tips going forward. 👍

  • @saulgoodman1390
    @saulgoodman1390 2 роки тому +2

    Hey Rhett, just wanna say your videos are looking awesome these days! The camera work, editing and lighting are all perfect! These things don't go unnoticed. Keep it up!

  • @thatmarketingshow
    @thatmarketingshow 2 роки тому

    Hey Rhett. Just bought myself a Tone Master after watching your video from last year or whenever it was. These tips literally came at the perfect time - thank you so much, keep up the great work.

  • @TranscendentBen
    @TranscendentBen 2 роки тому +36

    The thing with those old-style Fender type tone circuits is controls can partly interfere with each other. Remarkably, the early Marshall amps were copies of the Fenders, and these guitar-amp-specific tine circuits survive to this day. Turning up the treble might also turn DOWN the bass, and how much it does this may depend on the position of the bass control. The old guitar amp tone circuits were made with as few components as practical, and the bands often interact with each other. Thus you may need to sweep through each control with the other controls in different positions to find out how the response changes. It wasn't as nice and consistent hifi/stereo tone controls (designed by Bandaxall and often called that) that use more components, and the difference can be confusing.

    • @jackpeters9349
      @jackpeters9349 2 роки тому +2

      Bandaxall was the Ampeg guy who did design. Ampeg rules!

    • @grkeith2091
      @grkeith2091 2 місяці тому

      here! here!

  • @BrianGay57
    @BrianGay57 2 роки тому +24

    Excellent tutorial on amp setup! I have done the same for a long while.
    One thing I would add that I also start with my guitar’s volume rolled back a bit, allowing me to use the guitar volume knob as a boost to hit the front of the amp harder, or roll it back some for cleans. This is especially useful for single channel amps.
    I used to just dime the guitar volume, and I suspect many beginning and even intermediate players haven’t yet discovered that it can be much more than just an on off switch for preventing feedback or hum between songs.

  • @anthonyt7813
    @anthonyt7813 2 роки тому

    That was great. I've only recently learned this the hard way through lots of mucking around but nice to see a comprehensive and chronological approach to arriving at the best sound. Thanks

  • @patrickmonvignier4160
    @patrickmonvignier4160 2 роки тому +1

    This is one of the most useful videos that i have ever watched regarding amp sound! Thank you and Happy New Year!

  • @reesehaller4085
    @reesehaller4085 2 роки тому +32

    I play a Mesa Boogie California Tweed, the bass control on that amp I find does the most to help the amp sound more open and articulate. Loved the video really learned a lot!

    • @westernrider100
      @westernrider100 2 роки тому +3

      Mesa Boogie are incredible. When I bought my first one, the store owner told me to read the manual especially the sections that covered the channels and tone controls.

    • @ukaeyfvkfiayuvefyiu
      @ukaeyfvkfiayuvefyiu 2 роки тому +2

      I feel Mesa EQs have pretty wide Qs for their bands. So when the bass gets turned up, you’re getting all kinds of resonance and maybe even low low mids.

  • @markblaide2165
    @markblaide2165 2 роки тому +10

    Hey Rhett, I really like your playing. I would love for you to make a video where you show how you recorded all those parts to the intro music of this video. Include tabs and what recording methods you use or suggest. Maybe different skill levels for beginner to more advanced. Bass, rhythm, lead, drum track, etc. I think it would be a lot of fun!

  • @sergeeddygagnon3976
    @sergeeddygagnon3976 2 роки тому

    Just got a 1964 Gibson Titan III and I used your approach to find the sweet spot. As you said, it helps knowing what the amp was design for. Thanks for the tip!

  • @aaronreyes127
    @aaronreyes127 2 роки тому +1

    Thank you for making this video i've been playing for years and didn't realized how important this is but i needed help and this video is a good video !

  • @john808welk
    @john808welk 2 роки тому +26

    The problem with this video is the Imperial sounds good at almost every setting...
    Great tips nonetheless.

  • @samj.6867
    @samj.6867 2 роки тому +6

    Good info. I'd like to see how sweeping the guitar volume and tone pot's will improve the sound as well while dialing in the amp at the same time.

  • @palmyrah
    @palmyrah 2 роки тому

    Greetings from Sri Lanka. Been watching your videos for a while. This was, for me, the most enlightening yet. I found myself in full agreement with your tone choices.

  • @citizenkang01
    @citizenkang01 2 роки тому +2

    My favorite intro I've heard you do. That tune was rocking!

  • @NikoFrederiko.
    @NikoFrederiko. 2 роки тому +3

    Loved the moment when the part got doubled. So smooth.

  • @evanlevenseller3080
    @evanlevenseller3080 2 роки тому +7

    Rhett this opening riffage is absolutely incredible. Incredible player and incredible tone

  • @joewalton2732
    @joewalton2732 2 роки тому

    As someone who can barely play a radio but is enthralled with all things "guitar", thank you Rhett.
    You explained this more succinctly than I have ever heard before.
    Also, you have given me a new-found respect for the Tele.

  • @caschurchwarden1432
    @caschurchwarden1432 2 роки тому

    The 31st - just started my holidays. For the past two weeks I was looking forward to sit down, get a cup of tea and the Tone Course. The discount coupon no longer worked but it doesn't matter, I still got it. Just saying thank you, I've learned a lot from you. Happy new year! ...and now back to the course

  • @MrPalmers1000DollarQ
    @MrPalmers1000DollarQ 2 роки тому +22

    Would love to hear how you reconcile these tips with the guitar volume/tone controls as well. I find I often have a lot of option paralysis with which end of the chain I want to adjust.

    • @kalkidasofficial
      @kalkidasofficial 2 роки тому +2

      Play with the volume below 5 and find your sweet spot going up or down. I personally never go over 6 on my Strat or over 4 on my Les Paul.

    • @robertgransee8849
      @robertgransee8849 2 роки тому +1

      I'm also curious about this. It *looked* like he rolled the controls on the guitar all the way up.

  • @paolofuschi1
    @paolofuschi1 2 роки тому +17

    Hi Rhett, great instructional video. I've been using the "MS tone dial" approach for quite few years. I can humbly confirm it definitely works. I often happen to play gigs in venues where the backline is provided, amps included. Through this approach I always succeed in finding the tone I like. One thing I do that might differ a little bit is that, before dialling the EQ, I initially turn the volume all the way up without playing the guitar. That produces a white noise which actually changes its quality while I start experimenting with trebles, mids and bass. That allows to find the "scoop" point much quickly. Then I readjust the volume to its breaking point and finally I play the guitar through the amp and adjust the eq that is needed. I hope I managed to explain what I do clearly. I promise I'm not trying to diminish the great content of your video. I just thought to add my two cents, that's all. Thank you ever so much for the great content you create. All the very best!

  • @carlocruz568
    @carlocruz568 2 роки тому

    Awesome information! Thank you for sharing this!

  • @Wakeman8791
    @Wakeman8791 2 роки тому

    I had previously liked your video with Tim and I think some of your videos about just hitting the front end of an amp with the right amount of gain. I had heard of and agreed with most of your tips in this, but they’ve been monumental in getting me those “love your tone” lines after gigs. Love your stuff, Rhett! Keep it up.

  • @turrlurr2043
    @turrlurr2043 2 роки тому +73

    Hey Rhett. Great vid, you sound awesome and the intro music was fantastic. I agree with some of the other commenters here. Most of us will never be able to play through an amp like this and while the same rules apply to any cheap amp as well, it would be super interesting to watch you use these methods to dial in something more common and affordable. I'd love to see you work with a Bandit, a Katana, a Marshall MG or any other amp that a lot of use as a first amp. Maybe show how you would use a pedal or two to reach a usable sound with them. Thanks again, man.

    • @kevinjsim
      @kevinjsim 2 роки тому +7

      I also would love to see his thoughts on the Katana, I have one and am enjoying it but I know I'm not getting the full use of it.

    • @charlesoxley7242
      @charlesoxley7242 2 роки тому +3

      This is an excellent idea. I too would love to see this.

    • @leo._.vincent
      @leo._.vincent 2 роки тому +6

      @@kevinjsim I've had a boss katana for about a year now and ill give you some tips, each channel works like a tube amp or very similar, the clean channel will start to break up with the gain past 3. The crunch channel sounds most similar to the amp he used in the video except for the fact it breaks up way easier. the crunch channel imo works well with a mid scoop and a bit of a bass boost if you have the knobs at noon, and the clean channel just sounds good at noon, but feel free to experiment and use the tips in the video, they will apply. The boost pedals work really well on both the clean and crunch. you don't want to have the gain very high on the crunch if you are adding effects/pedals. My favorites are the Tube Screamer, and Guv DS (Marshall Sound btw).

    • @harveycan5820
      @harveycan5820 2 роки тому +3

      Exactly... Do this with a mid-range amp and a Squier.... Then stage 2 with a Vintera and a Peavey or maybe a Princeton... Then stage 3 with the works. A good player should be able to maximize each set up. Maybe show how to use a Boss OD or Distortion pedal to beef up the cheaper rig. Or, just do what you do and go top shelf.. Maybe show how to not get a bad sound LOL.

    • @joshuafreedman7703
      @joshuafreedman7703 2 роки тому +7

      Biff Tells It Like It Is Biff you haven't walked a mile in this man's shoes, and you do not know what his life is like, so, for you to tell him to just save his money and get the same kinda of gear *you* have is pretty godddddammmmmm inconsiderate and shows a ferocious lack of compassion -- you probably really enjoy throwing rocks at stray cats. Your advice is worse than useless, it's insulting and offensive.
      Go right and ahead and barf up your invective and angry response to my comment, but my ears will not hear you, and my eyes will not see you.

  • @brambongaers2395
    @brambongaers2395 2 роки тому +3

    Nice video man, sounds awasome! If you dial in the tone with the neck pickup instead of the bridge, the neck pickup doesn’t sound muffled and you can use the tone knob on the guitar for the bridge pickup to make the sound less harsh.

    • @tannerin
      @tannerin 2 місяці тому

      unless you have a Strat

  • @70topbananaman
    @70topbananaman 2 роки тому

    Thank you! I used this method on my new 5150 Iconic and was able to dial in a great sound quickly. I left resonance and presence at noon, and adjusted them last, Great tone, and very happy with my new amphead!

  • @joelwhite2361
    @joelwhite2361 2 роки тому

    Awesome!!! I always love your stuff. Learning guitar, your videos help me to understand what I am hearing from my speakers and thats awesome.

  • @baileyd12
    @baileyd12 2 роки тому +10

    Silent fan here, this was one of the most useful content you have produced! I would love to see more content like this taking a single pedal and doing a deeper dive on how to get the most out of it.

    • @jguse2378
      @jguse2378 2 роки тому +1

      This ^^^^
      Very informative Rhett
      Thanx for posting

  • @davidb.6271
    @davidb.6271 2 роки тому +14

    You can't say it's not sponsored and Tone King giving you a 3 thousandish amp that you promote in a video...

  • @bartboop
    @bartboop Рік тому +1

    I really like the “free” amp review. It was very fair. The lesson is fantastic. Especially try subtracting before adding in tone controls. Everything I thought from 17 to 35 was often wrong. Now I get it!

  • @kpuliatch
    @kpuliatch 2 роки тому

    Well Done Rhett - concise with great examples .
    Metaphor and music in one lesson
    Cheers
    Wishing you and yours hea and happy holidays .

  • @rowbags3017
    @rowbags3017 2 роки тому +27

    Hi Rhett - Thanks for the really interesting and useful advice which I'll definitely "bookmark" mentally. Obviously, you're demonstrating it with a top quality valve amp (that Imperial Mk. II sounds fantastic!). While the title states "ANY" amp - would your approach still hold true if you were faced with a cheap digital setup? Say you turned up to play somewhere having been told "Don't worry about bringing an amp - we've got everything you need", and you found a budget digital combo waiting. In true professional style, "the show must go on"... so would you go about finding a usable sound the same way?

  • @michaelvarney.
    @michaelvarney. 2 роки тому +57

    To be honest, the TK-IMP-MKII is not hard to dial in for a great tone. Wonderful amp, and out of the three tube amps I own (Fender Blues Deluxe, Mesa Boogie California tweed, and the TK) it is my go to.

    • @jayseb
      @jayseb 2 роки тому +3

      hahaha exactly my thought; and kinda cheesy when Rhett goes "they gave me the amp, but this video isn't sponsored"... I appreciate the honesty, no hate, but come on...

  • @marksato7986
    @marksato7986 2 роки тому

    Great advice there Mr. Shull. I've been playing for over fifty years and never had an organized method of setting up my tone. Much aloha to you!

  • @meeno_the_man
    @meeno_the_man 2 роки тому

    I’m so close to getting myself an Imperial. You’ve shoved me that much further. Many thanks and Happy New Year!

  • @timwhite5562
    @timwhite5562 2 роки тому +10

    How to make your amp sound great: practice your playing.

  • @recoilrob4765
    @recoilrob4765 2 роки тому +6

    When you started "sweeping" the volume control for breakup (5:15) you didn't comment on what the guitar's volume knob was set at. Same for when you were sweeping the tone controls. Seems to me that would be a very important thing to know.

  • @coachp7486
    @coachp7486 Рік тому

    Thx for sharing and well explained. Haven’t read thru all 1K+ comments so may be repeating this which has already been said but this goes along with the saying ‘Use your ears; not your eyes’. Listen to what your amp has to offer and not just turn the knobs to where you think they should go or where so and so has their amp set at. Thanks RS ! 👍🏽

  • @giovannifarinacci4533
    @giovannifarinacci4533 2 роки тому

    Great lesson. I'd like to see more of this if possible. Happy New Year Rhett, hope it's a good one. Peace from Canada.

  • @ghost79ish
    @ghost79ish 2 роки тому +8

    I like your videos, the content is typically nothing too esoteric for me as I've been playing longer than you, but I always take away something. Keep it coming man, you're a great player and a pretty chill and humble guy as far as I can tell.

    • @ukaszukasz7059
      @ukaszukasz7059 2 роки тому +7

      Yea You play longer and stil you are... no one in music industry or UA-cam. But, keep IT coming maaaan

    • @Iron-and-strings
      @Iron-and-strings 2 роки тому +1

      @@ukaszukasz7059 lol, thinking the same

    • @berkayguner
      @berkayguner 2 роки тому

      Sounds like somebody should take his own advice (hint: rhymes with "bumble")

  • @cbcredit
    @cbcredit 2 роки тому +15

    9:56 You're NEVER "boosting" anything on passive tone controls. Passive tone controls are always CUTTING frequencies. If you turn up a passive tone control, you're just cutting that frequency LESS.
    10 on a passive tone knob means there is no cut at all for that frequency.

    • @ericv7720
      @ericv7720 2 роки тому +3

      Passive tone controls are optimized to sound "flat" set at noon, though.

    • @waterknot1
      @waterknot1 2 роки тому +1

      Actually, if it is a Fender tone stack there is no “flat” setting. There will pretty much always be scooped mids. But it is true that about noon is where the treble and bass will sound most balanced. Having a lead channel with mid boost is cool. Its a cool and easy mod to turn the ground switch on a old fender into a mid boost.

    • @ericv7720
      @ericv7720 2 роки тому +1

      @@waterknot1 I used to have a BDRI, and I do remember having to spike the mids for everything, especially playing any guitar with A5 pickups. At one point, I biased the power tubes a bit hotter, which brought out the mids more and tightened up the bass, as well as making breakup easier at lower volumes, which I preferred.

    • @waterknot1
      @waterknot1 2 роки тому +1

      @@ericv7720 That is certainly a good approach as long as you don't exceed plate dissipation for the power tubes. I have had good luck with doubling the negative feedback resistor, which gives a little more gain and allows you to keep the bias a little cooler, but still get the breakup you like at a slightly lower volume. Cheers!

    • @StratMatt777
      @StratMatt777 2 роки тому +3

      He's a guitar player. Don't expect him to be an electrical engineer.
      Boost means "increase", which is the opposite of "cut".
      We also don't know how capacitors work, but we can turn our tone knob down on our guitar anyway. ;)

  • @WesPaul2000
    @WesPaul2000 2 роки тому

    This was incredibly helpful! I've been playing for over 20 yrs but never took this approach to amp setup. Maybe it's been stated already but this also works with amp models/emulators. I did a bunch of tweaking on a multi-effects unit this week and I'm getting better tones than ever, using these simple tips. Different universe but very similar application. Thanks for the tips!

  • @archivedandgone
    @archivedandgone 2 роки тому +2

    Thanks for the video! As someone who normally plays on nylon, dialing in a decent sound can be one of the hardest parts of picking back up the electric for me

  • @jeffrey.a.hanson
    @jeffrey.a.hanson 2 роки тому +6

    I was able to turn my Orange 35rt (solid state) into a giggable amp by doing this detailed run through. I identified what was bothering me, defined the sound I wanted, then set a reasonable expectation of getting close.
    It’s not going to replace my Deluxe Reverb or Blackstar HT40, but it’s great to have a $300 lightweight dependable amp ready to go at any time quick jam sessions or as a backup. Hell, my new bandmates thought it was a Rockerverb after our first practice.

    • @sarcasticcuddlesgaming
      @sarcasticcuddlesgaming 11 місяців тому

      Out of curiosity, what settings did you end up using? (I also own a 35rt and am just starting out!)

  • @KeepChessSimple
    @KeepChessSimple 2 роки тому +9

    Question: do you do this with the volume and tone knobs on the guitar both on 10? I always feel like those knobs are underused.

    • @louaguado995
      @louaguado995 2 роки тому +3

      Exactly! Most players just use their volume controls as an on/off switch. When he said the neck pickup sounded good and the bridge pickup sounded bright the first thing I thought was why not just turn down the tone knob on the bridge pickup? That's what I do, unless it's a 1 tone guitar like a standard tele.

    • @leehanson1416
      @leehanson1416 2 роки тому +6

      It only took me playing 35 years to discover that a good amp will respond to the volume knob of a good guitar. I'll turn the guitar volume down to 7 or so, then turn it up for solos. Works great.

    • @jburdsinfuse
      @jburdsinfuse 2 роки тому +1

      I use my tone almost entirely to fit our sound guy. I always dial in bright and use the tone to roll back some of the shrill. The volume…I play low output pickups, so I usually keep them dimed and use more than a single drive pedal.

  • @mikederby9055
    @mikederby9055 2 роки тому

    Excellent info and very helpful. Thanks again and happy new year.

  • @delbertstratton7878
    @delbertstratton7878 2 роки тому

    Thanks Rhett. Great music and sound quality. I love your UA-cam videos. Have a fantastic year. Thanks again Del

  • @PerroDelCielo
    @PerroDelCielo 2 роки тому +4

    My method to make any amp sound good (keep in mind i dont use pedal, going straight to amp, i use reverb if amp has a built-in one). Crank the amp almost all the way up, use you guitar volume nob to achieve differents sounds, lower volume gives a clean sound and it will gradually brakeup when you start turning your guitar nob up. Mainly playing slide and humbucking pickup.

    • @louaguado995
      @louaguado995 2 роки тому

      That's exactly how I play. I'm old school, my Marshall jcm800 only had 1 channel and I never liked having to use a boost pedal for leads or a drive pedal for gain. I constantly ride my volume knob. Where most players just use it for an on/off switch I use mine between 2 and 4 for cleans, 5 and 7 for rythum, and 8 to 10 for leads

  • @helmanfrow
    @helmanfrow 2 роки тому +5

    Revised Title: 'How To Make ANY High-End Boutique Amp Sound Great'

  • @davidfreiboth1360
    @davidfreiboth1360 5 місяців тому

    The rhythm player in my little '70's jam band (I was the drummer) had a black Tele Custom. Our SG playing lead used to tease him for playing a "cowboy" guitar. Thanks for featuring yours as I don’t see them often. Brings back very fond memories.

  • @dlogcsa
    @dlogcsa 2 роки тому

    Hey Rhett, enjoying your content as always. Would love to see your process flow in creating these intro tracks...thanks and keep up the good work!

  • @markmarcelo9342
    @markmarcelo9342 2 роки тому +3

    How much of these principles apply to digital modelers like the HX stomp?

    • @Matheus-ly6eu
      @Matheus-ly6eu 2 роки тому +3

      Well... All of it. It applies to any kind of tool with a bunch of buttons that you'd wanna get familiar with, right?! No dark magic there. No right or wrong.

    • @johniresearchist7263
      @johniresearchist7263 2 роки тому +1

      probably the best question one could ask after watching this video. I wouldn't think you could apply exactly the same techniques to modelling amps, but if you can then let's see a tutorial video that proves it.

  • @nicholasdecaluwe706
    @nicholasdecaluwe706 2 роки тому

    This was phenomenal. Did I it on my tube amp and all my helix settings. Made a huge difference!

  • @TheStevefairhall
    @TheStevefairhall 2 роки тому

    Great job, and info, as always, Rhett. Loved the intro.

  • @michaelmattson3515
    @michaelmattson3515 2 роки тому

    Thanks again for excellent information. It helped that I could see & hear the dialing in the tone.

  • @RODE2112
    @RODE2112 2 місяці тому

    @Rhett Shull. I never could figure out how to dial in a tube amp, I've been using transistor amps with pedals or processors for 45 years. But now I get it. Thanks!

  • @plekguy
    @plekguy 2 роки тому

    Rhett, thanks for all the great videos. This is good advice to get the best out of an amp. I've had many through the years, and they all had their own "personalities". This was a good thing. Until I had to play through someone else's amp, or front of the house systems. This is good advise to get your own best tone regardless of the situation. Keep rockin' in 2022!

  • @L84andy
    @L84andy 2 роки тому

    Great videos!! Great inspiration!! Thanks for sharing, and I look forward to upcoming videos!!

  • @raytorvalds3699
    @raytorvalds3699 2 роки тому

    Those were great tips, man. Thank you for explaining it so well !

  • @callore8214
    @callore8214 2 роки тому

    Hi Rhett, first of all Happy New Year. I watched your video on "How To Make ANY Amp Sound Great". I want to thank you for making this video. I found it very informative and things that I had not thought of before. You had asked at the end of your video, asked us to tell you what amp we use. So I use a two channel amp, it is called a Fender 30 that was made in 1981. I received it as a birthday present.I just love this amp. They only made the amp for two years(1980-1981). Keep up the good work!!

  • @JohnS-ol8dn
    @JohnS-ol8dn 2 роки тому

    Hi. I've been playing on and off for years, but I made a change this past year... I started buying up gear and plugins to get more into the engineering side of things.
    42 and feel like I'm just getting started... These videos will help me make up for lost time. Thanks!

  • @mikemurel1917
    @mikemurel1917 2 роки тому

    Great video Rhett!! Good advice for amateurs like me. Going back to your video on EQ I have never been a pedal person until that one. Got a Joyo jf11 6 band for Christmas, what a change!! Tightened up my sound tremendously. I play only at home, but love playing. I use an Egnater Renegade through an open back cab with a JBL F130 15. Because it has tube blending 6l6 and el34 I used to set it 50/50. Now though I'm straight el34. With the eq I have turned my p90 tele semi hollow into a tone monster. With very little boost in volume I can cut through the song without overpowering it. Thank you so much for adding to my enjoyment of playing guitar! At 70 I'm still trying to get better.

  • @patrickroman3341
    @patrickroman3341 2 роки тому

    Holy headroom!!!! Great tips, I installed an aftermarket attenuator to reduce the "dialed in" amp volume for bedroom levels on my 5 watt single channel am. Awesome cleans and great dirt with the right distortion pedal in front of the amp. Thanks!!!!!

  • @charlescollins7368
    @charlescollins7368 6 місяців тому

    Yes, I need to use this great advice! Thanks

  • @ronelliott7262
    @ronelliott7262 2 роки тому

    Thank you! Very informative!

  • @borgetc
    @borgetc 2 роки тому

    Thanks Rhett! Been working with my new Harmony H620 and am excited to apply these strategies to dial it in 🤘✌️🤘

  • @rodneylucas2930
    @rodneylucas2930 2 роки тому

    Really enjoy these how to videos and this one in particular is especially useful. I currently have five amps that I use for different venues. I have a 80's Fender Hotrod Deville, a Blackstar Club HD40, a Blackstar ID-60, a VOX AC-10, and a Spark amp for at home practice.

  • @nateharris6841
    @nateharris6841 2 роки тому

    Nice tutorial. Thank you. I will be sharing with my band mates.
    I wish I knew this decades ago. It wasn’t until I bought a 2005 Peavey Classic 30, that I really learned the nuances of tone, volume, gain, EQ and driving tube stages in different ways. Those skills are essential when using unfamiliar gear. Even solid state.

  • @VintageTubeTone
    @VintageTubeTone 2 роки тому

    I really enjoyed this video. Thanks for posting.

  • @Neilybob100
    @Neilybob100 2 роки тому

    Love this Rhett. I think I need to re do this at home every 6-8 months. Rocking a Ceriatone OTS 20 mini, Ceriatone 2202 , Peavey Stereo Chorus 400 and a Peavey Classic 100 Head and 4x10 cab

  • @ianippoliti2386
    @ianippoliti2386 2 роки тому

    Brilliant .. I found this very helpful. Thank you.

  • @michaelk5507
    @michaelk5507 2 роки тому

    Very well explained. Useful and informative. Thanks!

  • @mikemorrisonmusic
    @mikemorrisonmusic 2 роки тому

    Thanks so much for this! Extremely helpful!

  • @simonpark843
    @simonpark843 2 роки тому

    Excellent video - I'm a hobbyist who uses an Orange practice amp and mostly plays an Albert Hammond Jnr signature Strat with a couple of Boss and Way Huge pedals thrown in for good luck. I've been playing for thirty five years and I always find your videos enjoyable and insightful.

  • @BunkerAudioPanama
    @BunkerAudioPanama 2 роки тому

    Using a basic 4 knob tube THD. Best video around for newbies in tube amps, coulda used these tips a ways back before I discovered the sweet spot. Thanks for sharing great little known knowledge for quite a few!!!

  • @patrickgarrett9866
    @patrickgarrett9866 2 роки тому +1

    I think a lot of players probably instinctively know some of these things, but thank you for really demonstrating and articulating what you know.
    Dig your channel 👏 🤟👌

  • @2GroundControl
    @2GroundControl 2 роки тому

    Really like the exercise you put together for this video intro!!!!

  • @JensenSpeakersVideos
    @JensenSpeakersVideos 2 роки тому

    Really nicely made, an excellent piece of advice. Straight to the point, Rhett! Thank you!

  • @Rowvango
    @Rowvango 2 роки тому

    Wauhh thanks! I am looking for a long time for a video like this 🙏🏼