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.
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.
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.
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..
I’ve been playing for a very long time. Always had volume and tone on 10. Since buying my first tele I’ve learned the power of those knobs to affect the tone. You gave a pro tip there
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!
The CEO of Tone King has been trying to give me one of these really expensive amps for years. I'm getting tired of it honestly. It's like, relax chief, I only have so much space in my mansion.
The panning in the intro was super nice. I wouldn't normally say anything about it, but even on laptop speakers it sounded really good. What a delight.
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!
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
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
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?
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.
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
@@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.
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.
Have a festival gig today and expecting a pair of standard fender combos I’ve never played before. My first time playing a backlined amp. Came back to this as a refresher! Ready to rock.
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.
You asked, so I will tell you - I am the proud owner of a THD Bivalve30 which is clearly the best amp ever made. I say that because it is like owning hundreds of amplifiers. I assume (maybe incorrectly) that you are familiar with this Andy Marshall creation (not to be confused with Jim Marshall). What makes this class A amp so very unique is that you can use virtually every dual triode preamp and beam power pentode made that have a common pin configuration. They do not have to be matched and they do not even have to be the same type. Put a KT90 in one socket and a 6550 in the other - no problem. The amp, rather miraculously determines the proper bias voltages for each tube and automagically sets itself. It was absolutely crushing to view your recent video declaring the end of manufacturing of vacuum tubes. I have only used a very small subset of the tubes that this amp will accept. And I, like you, never gave much of a thought to trying to stockpile the many tubes I could use in this amp. It would have cost a sizeable fortune to buy a pair of every power tube and along with the endless number of preamp tubes it will accommodate. As for panel controls, this amp is again, like no other. I've owned it several many years now and I'm still exploring what those knobs and switches do and how they interact.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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!
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!!
I'm a rookie still learning to play have no idea how to set my amp up I have a marshall 30 with a four programmable channels I can set it up clean but the other stuff I didn't understand or know how to do this was a bit of a help I'm going to try playing with it some more thank you
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.
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
Great video. I just bought a Fender Deluxe Reverb and have a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe amp. I love the new amp but will try this to get a better tone from the Hot Rod.
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!
Dialing clean sound is pretty straight forward, no issues with that. Dialing in a lead sound, that sounds and feels under the fingers how I want, has been a continual pain in the ass. Amp I use has gain 1, gain 2 knobs, along with a gain channel master. For playing alone at the house I'll run G1 and G2 on the higher side and master V lower around 3. That sound would get totally lost in a band situation, so for that I run the master V higher, around 6 but lower the G1 and G2. This second way sounds much better but puts out about 90 to 110 DB, not good for hearing health. The amp is set on 25 watt club setting.
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!
This is spot on. It’s a lot more satisfying creating your ‘own’ tone by finding the sweet spot on the particular amp you have rather than trying to imitate another’s without the same gear.
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. 👍
@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!
Same Old Story (RG Taste) Perfect timing Just acquired my decades’ dream amp. Vox AC15C (Celerion speakers) A lot more knobs to fiddle with my ol’ faithful 10 volt India assembled Park by Marshall - runt with grunt. So paired with new G&L semi hollow Telecaster ASAT Tribute Special, I can set them both up from scratch. I follow you, not just for guitars and gear expertise but also your playing ability. Not much use those UA-cam axe men in their bachelor pad or still living at home with ‘Mom’ who can’t show gear and gats with chops
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.
Good to know I sort of stumbled on some of these techniques, like twiddling the tone controls. to get a sound I like. That's especially necessary with a Rickenbacker 12 string.
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.
Practice is a great way to make your amp sound great. If you're at a point where the only reason your tone isn't godly is because of your amp, I am jealous. Everyone can and should practice more. Excellent video rhett, that opening jam was tasty.
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.
Just picked up this same Amp, in the combo with the same CME-exclusive (to the U.S.) lacquered tweed, less than a year old, in like-new condition. Likely cured my amp quest for a good long time to come. Scratched the BF and Tweed itches in the right places for my wants.
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!
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.
I bet all guitar controls on 10. Kinda the default, even though of course it’s great and useful to explore the wonderful sounds the guitar controls can get ya
Thank you this is an excellent explanation of shaping the sound of a no frills tube amp. The solid state is way different. I have shared this video with a bunch of my students that struggle with their sound to the point they over buy pedals.
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.
I have an Epiphone Thunerbird, Boss ODB-3, Old Dirty Bastard, and Fender Rumble 100. I use the vintage mode and everything at noon, for my Motown tone. ODB for my Sabbath tone.
I am a Novice Guitarist and have Several Fender Guitars and a Fender Mustang IV v.2 Amp. I haven't figured out How to really Dial it in but your Video Helps. Truthfully, Videos like yours are not Plentiful. Thanks for Creating a Great Video. I wish you would Create More In-Depth Amp Videos as I am sure there is Much More to getting Really Nice Sound from a Guitar and Amp. Thanks Again for your Video.
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 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).
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.
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.
RS , so very much appreciate your detailed work. I'd love to give my lost son an incredible tube amp because in the very short time I was with him in this life (and introduced just a few basics), his performances, at any moment, convinced me that he had been sprinkled with the magic dust of musicmanship. Yes, you are showing us one expensive amp, but you are also giving us keen understanding. I apologise, world, that I intro'd my son -him proud at 9- holding a MIM Fender Strat that I found in a pawn shop and, worse, a Line 6 Spider III also from a pawn shop back in 2003. He let that strat go in another pawn shop (darn) and I, for some reason, still have the f***ing s**t ss amp. He plays today and, although I never am able to be with him or speak with him, I see him from time to time on UA-cam. Magic Dust for sure. His voice, presence on bass, on set, on violin and always so amazing, a self taught guy, on guitar. He writes, transposes and performs - I wish I could support him. I say "buy the best" you can and always listen to anyone with great ideas and good enthusiasm! Thanks RS for sharing _R
Hey Rhett! I've got a number of amps myself. Interestingly the one that I favor at the moment is a Trace Elliot Tramp. When I first heard it at my guitar teacher's studio, I looked at the back of it and asked "Where are the tubes!?". This amp is indeed a solid state amp, but it holds it's ground next to any tube amp. It is a 2 channel amp with the lead channel having 2 modes if one needs more saturation for lead. Given that it cost me only $300 second hand, it is by far the best value amp I have ever owned. Versatile, warm and highly configurable. It comes with a built in boost. I often leave it on the lead channel and control the amount of breakup with the volume knob on my guitar. Sometimes I'll roll the volume off on the neck pickup and leave it fully open on the bridge. I'd not be ashamed to take it on the stage with me even though it is solid state. Like yourself, I set my tone by sweeping the controls until I get the tone I like, depending on which guitar I play. Keep going my friend!
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!
I've owned so many amps throughout the years and have sold them all (in some cases with later regret) and the happiest I've been is with my only amp: a MESA dual rectifier recto-verb 25 watt. I no longer gig so don't need wattage past that. I've found it completely versatile; enabling me to create nearly any amp tone that I may desire, regardless of the make/model guitar of which I have several choices. So Rhett, if you haven't already, I would urge you to explore this series amp, whether it's a 25 W or higher model. The 25 is light as a feather and I couldn't be happier having two separate channels to bounce back and forth on, from clean, dirty or hard; rhythm or lead. And thanks for this presentation! Very enjoyable.
Im a plexi guy but Im enjoying my fender tonemaster deluxe reverb alot. The funny thing is I was an Ibanez and Marshall stack classic metal guy for years but now ive drifted into all fender land and still can get the tones I want using minimal pedals. I think as I have become a better player fender makes more and more sense and I can change my tone just by changing the way I pick or slightly adjusting a nob on my guitar and dont need the gain at 11 to sound metal anymore.
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.
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...
i have a mesa t/a30 combo. i dialed my amp in exactly as you described in this video, back when i bought it. i think i actually learned this from you in a different video. i'd like to hear you play through an amp like mine. so much of someone's sound comes from their hands. it would be cool to hear someone really pull the sweetness out of it that i wouldn't be able to. this is the nicest amp i ever owned. hearing what you could do on one would be great.
TA-30 is a great amp. I originally had a TA-15 and then moved up to the TA-30. The only drawback is that you can't footswitch randomly between all 4 tones
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!
Before you even got into how to get a good tone, just wanted to say, that composition/mix in the beginning is fantastic. For real... that is a genius composition!
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?
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.
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.
@@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.
@@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!
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. ;)
Man, I had to put this in the highest resolution on my sound system because of how absolutely incredible those licks were. Talk about amazing. Compared to your amp and guitar I would be willing to bet it still doesn't even compare to what you hear sitting there playing live. I'd love to plug my favorite pair of headphones Into your amp and listen. I bet it'd give me goosebumps.
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.
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.
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.
Not sure where I saw this - might even have been you - but it was in relation to the excess of choice that can be had at even a modest budget. Analysis paralysis is a thing. Especially when it comes to modelling amps or via software, then you add in the spectrum of great value guitars where even those of modest means can have a couple (second hand) and the massive range of affordable/budget pedals. The suggestion was that there is a great deal of value in picking one guitar and one amp and seeing what you can pull out of it. Really working out how much you roll back on the volume knob to clean it up or roll up to get some crunch happening. How much the tone knob affects the sound - is there one sweet spot you like or where you need it for different songs/styles. What having balanced volume/unbalanced volume on your pickups does when flicking between or when using both. (pickup height adjustments) Exploring every aspect of the amp as you have done here - what styles can you wring out of the amp or is it very much a one-trick pony - then what happens if you stick an overdrive/fuzz etc in front of it. That makes this exercise easier in a way - you have even more tools to get the sound you want out of almost any gear.
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.
Loved the video it was very informative. I used to have a Fender Princeton Chorus and loved it. Had to sell it and now have a Traynor amp and was trying to figure how to get the best sound out of it. This will help greatly. Thanks. Always love your videos and learn something every time!
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.
Bass guy here. Good tips for guitar. For bass, I set the strange amp eq's I will be using to flat, and mid volume to middle. No fancy buttons for shaping or boosting. Then I plug in my sansamp and get the tone I want and find out the volume breakup by pushing the sansamp volume. Have sansamp will travel!
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.
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
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.
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.
Interesting, I have a Tone King Imperial MK II and my settings are very close, mines a combo, Love it btw, 2 or 1x12 in that Cabinet? My bigger amp is a Fuchs ODS, basically a hand wired Fender Twin with some tube and circuit changes, will have to Sweep that,...
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!
very useful content you have Rhett. Im basically self taught and spend most of my time focusing on technique but always sucked with tone. Ive watched 2 of your vids and, embarrassingly enough, Ive learned a lot. So thanks very much m8. cheers.
I used to play an old Marshall tube amp that had been in a house fire and flood that my dad gave me. It doesn’t sound great so I never learnt much about eq, I recently upgraded to a Vox AC15. This video certainly helped me unlock the tones I need
thanks for posting man, great video 👍 I had a number of amps in my life, 'low gain', 'hi gain', 'vintage' and 'modern' (they are all the same in principle) and when I want to get my sound out of it, the first thing I do (with my guitar that I know well) is to set up everything at 9-10 o'clock. First, I find where GAIN starts getting the 'body' but not saturation, tone must be fat, responsive but clean (fender) or cleanish (marshall). Then the same with MASTER (can't be done without attenuator), fat, responsive, and dynamic but NOT compressed. I value power amp dynamics over all other attributes. And that's my starting ground for all other settings. Then I dance around until I'm happy, or not. Basically, I should hear how all controls affect the tone BUT not obscuring it! The same principle applies to my Lonestar, 1983 Marshall 2204, Bogner XTC .... and Mesa RKII (3th and 4th channel) too. BTW great choice of amp, Tone King is an excellent piece of gear
WOW!!! The basis of this is something that I do use for my amp. The only difference is, rather than plugging in my guitar, I let the speakers decide the point of opening up. What I've done is dime all my volume, keep my EQ low and systematically from bass, treble, and "cut", find the spot where the speaker hits a "fullness" so to speak. I own a British style Bad Cat Cub III 40 and find that it works great BUT... to use my guitar as a gauge is something I've not done before so this will be an interesting and very different method comparatively speaking. I've found that my notes and chords bloom in a very sweet way... but your (Scofield) way also seems to account for adding a gauge to the volume/gain standard between clean vs saturation which I didn't consider so I'll have to try this method for myself!
Rhett: nice vid. One thing folks might do well to consider when adjust their amps... many of these have tone controls that interact with the other, for example most Fender, Ampeg, Marshall, Vox, and many other amps with more that one control. To get even more out of your adjustments, after you find the best setting for one control, then go to the other and adjust that, but THEN go back to the first one, and then back to the second. This helps you discover the interaction between the controls and further dial in the best tone. Also, play with turning the Treble up high, and turning down the Tone knob on your guitar (if the guitar has the usual high roll-off circuit (Low pass)).
Dialling in an amp is always an interesting topic. I've got everything from a late '50s Tweed deluxe with just one tone control, to a Mesa fillmore combo50 that has a lotta controls. The great mystery!
Man that intro song speaks to my soul. I love a solid 30 percent East Indian flavor mixed with my western grooves. I’d dig hearing songs with more East Indian percussion. Tabla and such. I think you’re about the 3rd person I’ve subscribed to. Looking forward to more
In the opening scene I thought I was seeing a 60's Silvertone head rebuilt. The Tone and Mid-Bite made me realize it was something different. Thanks for this video. Great stuff!
I'm a bass player. I record my own songs. Since I don't have 35 years experience dialing in amps I think these videos are great. I'm also have young kids starting on musical instruments. This will help me to teach them in the future.
I only use my amplifier as a clean platform for my pedals. I only use a tube amplifier I like them to be at least 50 Watts preferably 6l6 tubes. Since I only use the clean channel and I have a master volume on the amp I turn the master volume up at least halfway. I only turn the reverb to about 10 o'clock, any more delay I get from the pedal board. I turn the mid and the treble up about halfway and turn the bass setting up at least 3/4. If it's a good amplifier and you're a good player this should be enough. Happy New Year Rhett and thanks for the informative and helpful videos.
I play thur a 80’s HIWATT DR504. I use both volumes and have tried this method and it really made a difference in the tone I was trying to get in my head. Pedals also sound richer and are easier to dial in now that I’m starting with a cleaner Slightly overdriven tone. When I’m doing a indoor or outdoor gig I now just have to adjust the volume and tweak the mids a bit. Overall this method I find really works so thanks for sharing with us.
So I have a Randall Diavlo 5 watt head. I’m actually a worship player, not a metal guy. I swapped out the tubes in the amp for JJ’s. The preamp is running two 12au7’s so it’s really clean even at max gain. Single channel amp, kind of a Marshall sound. Has an effects loop and a cab sim line out which I use for worship gigs only (the kind that don’t allow an amp on stage). Only three knobs on the amp. Gain, tone (with a three way switch above it that controls the mid frequencies) and volume. Use a small pedalboard with it. Mini volume pedal, a few overdrives and an HX Stomp. Honestly I got the pedal board idea from one of your videos
I am a beginner, and I have a katana MKii 50. I literally got all my components to test tonight. I appreciated your method, as I do not have one developed yet. I am interested in blues and some 80s rock for me.
God I love that Nova guitar... it cuts the mix so great. This is the third time I have been listening to you while working and always look up when I hear it...
Some great advice here. My main amp is a Traynor Reverb Mate from the 70's, and most of the controls seem to affect each other. The pre-amp volume actually gets a LOT bassier sounding when turned up, and most of the sweep is affected, so depending on where it is set, I have to adjust the actual bass EQ knob. Interestingly enough, there is nowhere near the amount of bass in the sweep of the actual bass EQ knob, so I have to set it mostly at a place on the preamp knob where I think that it's not too bass-y sounding to begin with, and then just go from there. Also, the "treble boost" switch depends highly on the preamp volume in the amount of highs vs. lows. It is a master volume amp, which I pretty much swear by to begin with, but on this particular amp, everything is so subjective on where you set the preamp volume that it becomes much easier to control the less predictable nature of the amp.
My first bass amp (valves), early 80`s, had the same effect. It was very difficult getting a real good sound. After a while I looked out for other solutions and found the Laney Bass 200. It had always the clean bass sound I wanted. Sorry to my old amp, but slapping with you was a desaster.
You Make Every Guitar Amp Sound Great
You’re the best Mary!
You both rock
... said the 'Diva Bravura' to the 'every man's Virtuoso'... love you BOTH!!!
My favorite UA-cam channels are Mary Spender, Rhett Shull, Rick Beato, and Robert Baker. Thank you UA-cam!
I ship it
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.
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.
I normally think that it sounds fine at bedroom level, and sounds a lot better when loud.
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.
Why I have my own rehearsal space, so I can always practice at gigging volumes. All my amps get knarlier as they get louder.
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.
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..
That's Jeff McErlain's trick when he dials in his Les Pauls and Strats.
Thanks for the tip!
yes, yes, and yes.
I’ve been playing for a very long time. Always had volume and tone on 10. Since buying my first tele I’ve learned the power of those knobs to affect the tone. You gave a pro tip there
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!
Bro good idea!
How can you use headphones with a tube amp ?
he's probably using a mic @@felixuscinewicz4660
Wow… have been playing for twenty years and never thought of that! Let the loop play and tweak your tone… what a great tip!
I do this too!
"This isn't sponsored, they just gave me three grand worth of amp..."
I wish I had those problems.
The CEO of Tone King has been trying to give me one of these really expensive amps for years. I'm getting tired of it honestly. It's like, relax chief, I only have so much space in my mansion.
The panning in the intro was super nice. I wouldn't normally say anything about it, but even on laptop speakers it sounded really good. What a delight.
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!
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
Well most metal sounds horrible so I would imagine it would be hard to dial in a good tone.
@@gavinw5469 thanks for your constructive input.
Just scoop your mids smh
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
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?
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.
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
THIS!
@@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.
Great idea
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.
Other Moral of the Story: The Guitar Matters, as much as the amp (unless you play hardcore metal).
I was late to p90s too and they absolutely were a game changer to getting great, diverse sounds
Yep. P90 . Yep. Gibson les Paul juniors. Yep. Can't go wrong. 🎉
Have a festival gig today and expecting a pair of standard fender combos I’ve never played before. My first time playing a backlined amp. Came back to this as a refresher! Ready to rock.
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.
You asked, so I will tell you - I am the proud owner of a THD Bivalve30 which is clearly the best amp ever made. I say that because it is like owning hundreds of amplifiers. I assume (maybe incorrectly) that you are familiar with this Andy Marshall creation (not to be confused with Jim Marshall). What makes this class A amp so very unique is that you can use virtually every dual triode preamp and beam power pentode made that have a common pin configuration. They do not have to be matched and they do not even have to be the same type. Put a KT90 in one socket and a 6550 in the other - no problem. The amp, rather miraculously determines the proper bias voltages for each tube and automagically sets itself. It was absolutely crushing to view your recent video declaring the end of manufacturing of vacuum tubes. I have only used a very small subset of the tubes that this amp will accept. And I, like you, never gave much of a thought to trying to stockpile the many tubes I could use in this amp. It would have cost a sizeable fortune to buy a pair of every power tube and along with the endless number of preamp tubes it will accommodate. As for panel controls, this amp is again, like no other. I've owned it several many years now and I'm still exploring what those knobs and switches do and how they interact.
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.
is it weird i read this in your voice?
Everything at Noon settings
‘Fail at that’?
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.
Bandaxall was the Ampeg guy who did design. Ampeg rules!
here! here!
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!
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.
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.
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!
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!!
I'm a rookie still learning to play have no idea how to set my amp up I have a marshall 30 with a four programmable channels I can set it up clean but the other stuff I didn't understand or know how to do this was a bit of a help I'm going to try playing with it some more thank you
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.
The intro song.. is one of the best jams I've ever heard, hell I stayed just for that!
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
Great video. I just bought a Fender Deluxe Reverb and have a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe amp. I love the new amp but will try this to get a better tone from the Hot Rod.
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!
Dialing clean sound is pretty straight forward, no issues with that. Dialing in a lead sound, that sounds and feels under the fingers how I want, has been a continual pain in the ass. Amp I use has gain 1, gain 2 knobs, along with a gain channel master. For playing alone at the house I'll run G1 and G2 on the higher side and master V lower around 3. That sound would get totally lost in a band situation, so for that I run the master V higher, around 6 but lower the G1 and G2. This second way sounds much better but puts out about 90 to 110 DB, not good for hearing health. The amp is set on 25 watt club setting.
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.
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!
great vid! also "ANY amp" *demonstrates with a tone king*
This is spot on. It’s a lot more satisfying creating your ‘own’ tone by finding the sweet spot on the particular amp you have rather than trying to imitate another’s without the same gear.
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. 👍
@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!
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.
Same Old Story (RG Taste)
Perfect timing
Just acquired my decades’ dream amp.
Vox AC15C (Celerion speakers)
A lot more knobs to fiddle with my ol’ faithful 10 volt India assembled Park by Marshall - runt with grunt.
So paired with new G&L semi hollow Telecaster ASAT Tribute Special, I can set them both up from scratch.
I follow you, not just for guitars and gear expertise but also your playing ability. Not much use those UA-cam axe men in their bachelor pad or still living at home with ‘Mom’ who can’t show gear and gats with chops
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.
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.
I'm also curious about this. It *looked* like he rolled the controls on the guitar all the way up.
Good to know I sort of stumbled on some of these techniques, like twiddling the tone controls. to get a sound I like. That's especially necessary with a Rickenbacker 12 string.
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!
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.
The problem with this video is the Imperial sounds good at almost every setting...
Great tips nonetheless.
Practice is a great way to make your amp sound great. If you're at a point where the only reason your tone isn't godly is because of your amp, I am jealous. Everyone can and should practice more.
Excellent video rhett, that opening jam was tasty.
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.
unless you have a Strat
Just picked up this same Amp, in the combo with the same CME-exclusive (to the U.S.) lacquered tweed, less than a year old, in like-new condition. Likely cured my amp quest for a good long time to come. Scratched the BF and Tweed itches in the right places for my wants.
This was really helpful Rhett, I drive myself crazy sometimes with playing with knobs, especially when connected to an unfamiliar amp.
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!
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.
I bet all guitar controls on 10. Kinda the default, even though of course it’s great and useful to explore the wonderful sounds the guitar controls can get ya
Thank you this is an excellent explanation of shaping the sound of a no frills tube amp. The solid state is way different. I have shared this video with a bunch of my students that struggle with their sound to the point they over buy pedals.
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.
This ^^^^
Very informative Rhett
Thanx for posting
I have an Epiphone Thunerbird, Boss ODB-3, Old Dirty Bastard, and Fender Rumble 100. I use the vintage mode and everything at noon, for my Motown tone. ODB for my Sabbath tone.
I don't know how many times I've replayed that intro jam...
I am a Novice Guitarist and have Several Fender Guitars and a Fender Mustang IV v.2 Amp. I haven't figured out How to really Dial it in but your Video Helps. Truthfully, Videos like yours are not Plentiful. Thanks for Creating a Great Video. I wish you would Create More In-Depth Amp Videos as I am sure there is Much More to getting Really Nice Sound from a Guitar and Amp. Thanks Again for your Video.
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.
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.
This is an excellent idea. I too would love to see this.
@@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).
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.
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.
RS , so very much appreciate your detailed work. I'd love to give my lost son an incredible tube amp because in the very short time I was with him in this life (and introduced just a few basics), his performances, at any moment, convinced me that he had been sprinkled with the magic dust of musicmanship.
Yes, you are showing us one expensive amp, but you are also giving us keen understanding.
I apologise, world, that I intro'd my son -him proud at 9- holding a MIM Fender Strat that I found in a pawn shop and, worse, a Line 6 Spider III also from a pawn shop back in 2003. He let that strat go in another pawn shop (darn) and I, for some reason, still have the f***ing s**t ss amp. He plays today and, although I never am able to be with him or speak with him, I see him from time to time on UA-cam. Magic Dust for sure. His voice, presence on bass, on set, on violin and always so amazing, a self taught guy, on guitar. He writes, transposes and performs - I wish I could support him. I say "buy the best" you can and always listen to anyone with great ideas and good enthusiasm! Thanks RS for sharing _R
How to make your amp sound great: practice your playing.
Hey Rhett! I've got a number of amps myself. Interestingly the one that I favor at the moment is a Trace Elliot Tramp. When I first heard it at my guitar teacher's studio, I looked at the back of it and asked "Where are the tubes!?". This amp is indeed a solid state amp, but it holds it's ground next to any tube amp. It is a 2 channel amp with the lead channel having 2 modes if one needs more saturation for lead. Given that it cost me only $300 second hand, it is by far the best value amp I have ever owned. Versatile, warm and highly configurable. It comes with a built in boost. I often leave it on the lead channel and control the amount of breakup with the volume knob on my guitar. Sometimes I'll roll the volume off on the neck pickup and leave it fully open on the bridge. I'd not be ashamed to take it on the stage with me even though it is solid state. Like yourself, I set my tone by sweeping the controls until I get the tone I like, depending on which guitar I play. Keep going my friend!
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!
I've owned so many amps throughout the years and have sold them all (in some cases with later regret) and the happiest I've been is with my only amp: a MESA dual rectifier recto-verb 25 watt. I no longer gig so don't need wattage past that. I've found it completely versatile; enabling me to create nearly any amp tone that I may desire, regardless of the make/model guitar of which I have several choices. So Rhett, if you haven't already, I would urge you to explore this series amp, whether it's a 25 W or higher model. The 25 is light as a feather and I couldn't be happier having two separate channels to bounce back and forth on, from clean, dirty or hard; rhythm or lead. And thanks for this presentation! Very enjoyable.
Rhett this opening riffage is absolutely incredible. Incredible player and incredible tone
Im a plexi guy but Im enjoying my fender tonemaster deluxe reverb alot. The funny thing is I was an Ibanez and Marshall stack classic metal guy for years but now ive drifted into all fender land and still can get the tones I want using minimal pedals. I think as I have become a better player fender makes more and more sense and I can change my tone just by changing the way I pick or slightly adjusting a nob on my guitar and dont need the gain at 11 to sound metal anymore.
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.
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...
i have a mesa t/a30 combo. i dialed my amp in exactly as you described in this video, back when i bought it. i think i actually learned this from you in a different video. i'd like to hear you play through an amp like mine. so much of someone's sound comes from their hands. it would be cool to hear someone really pull the sweetness out of it that i wouldn't be able to. this is the nicest amp i ever owned. hearing what you could do on one would be great.
TA-30 is a great amp. I originally had a TA-15 and then moved up to the TA-30. The only drawback is that you can't footswitch randomly between all 4 tones
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!
Before you even got into how to get a good tone, just wanted to say, that composition/mix in the beginning is fantastic. For real... that is a genius composition!
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?
This is an awesome video idea!
Maybe @thatpedalshow could do a vid on this
I like my Blues Jr, Tone Master Blonde and my Tone Master Deluxe 200 watt. All 3 very unique. Thanks for the tips you've shown me.
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.
Passive tone controls are optimized to sound "flat" set at noon, though.
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.
@@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.
@@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!
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. ;)
Man, I had to put this in the highest resolution on my sound system because of how absolutely incredible those licks were. Talk about amazing. Compared to your amp and guitar I would be willing to bet it still doesn't even compare to what you hear sitting there playing live. I'd love to plug my favorite pair of headphones Into your amp and listen. I bet it'd give me goosebumps.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Not sure where I saw this - might even have been you - but it was in relation to the excess of choice that can be had at even a modest budget.
Analysis paralysis is a thing.
Especially when it comes to modelling amps or via software, then you add in the spectrum of great value guitars where even those of modest means can have a couple (second hand) and the massive range of affordable/budget pedals.
The suggestion was that there is a great deal of value in picking one guitar and one amp and seeing what you can pull out of it.
Really working out how much you roll back on the volume knob to clean it up or roll up to get some crunch happening.
How much the tone knob affects the sound - is there one sweet spot you like or where you need it for different songs/styles.
What having balanced volume/unbalanced volume on your pickups does when flicking between or when using both. (pickup height adjustments)
Exploring every aspect of the amp as you have done here - what styles can you wring out of the amp or is it very much a one-trick pony - then what happens if you stick an overdrive/fuzz etc in front of it.
That makes this exercise easier in a way - you have even more tools to get the sound you want out of almost any gear.
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.
Out of curiosity, what settings did you end up using? (I also own a 35rt and am just starting out!)
Loved the video it was very informative. I used to have a Fender Princeton Chorus and loved it. Had to sell it and now have a Traynor amp and was trying to figure how to get the best sound out of it. This will help greatly. Thanks. Always love your videos and learn something every time!
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.
Yea You play longer and stil you are... no one in music industry or UA-cam. But, keep IT coming maaaan
@@ukaszukasz7059 lol, thinking the same
Sounds like somebody should take his own advice (hint: rhymes with "bumble")
Bass guy here. Good tips for guitar.
For bass, I set the strange amp eq's I will be using to flat, and mid volume to middle.
No fancy buttons for shaping or boosting.
Then I plug in my sansamp and get the tone I want and find out the volume breakup by pushing the sansamp volume.
Have sansamp will travel!
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.
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
My favorite intro I've heard you do. That tune was rocking!
Revised Title: 'How To Make ANY High-End Boutique Amp Sound Great'
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.
You can't say it's not sponsored and Tone King giving you a 3 thousandish amp that you promote in a video...
Even tho this is a couple of yrs old I found it really helpful when it came across my feed. Awesome! Thks
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.
Interesting, I have a Tone King Imperial MK II and my settings are very close, mines a combo, Love it btw, 2 or 1x12 in that Cabinet? My bigger amp is a Fuchs ODS, basically a hand wired Fender Twin with some tube and circuit changes, will have to Sweep that,...
I got my first Fender(a 70’s Tele Custom) on Sunday. Today Rhett is playing one on this video. It’s a sign from the gods!
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!
very useful content you have Rhett. Im basically self taught and spend most of my time focusing on technique but always sucked with tone. Ive watched 2 of your vids and, embarrassingly enough, Ive learned a lot. So thanks very much m8. cheers.
I used to play an old Marshall tube amp that had been in a house fire and flood that my dad gave me. It doesn’t sound great so I never learnt much about eq, I recently upgraded to a Vox AC15. This video certainly helped me unlock the tones I need
thanks for posting man, great video 👍 I had a number of amps in my life, 'low gain', 'hi gain', 'vintage' and 'modern' (they are all the same in principle) and when I want to get my sound out of it, the first thing I do (with my guitar that I know well) is to set up everything at 9-10 o'clock. First, I find where GAIN starts getting the 'body' but not saturation, tone must be fat, responsive but clean (fender) or cleanish (marshall). Then the same with MASTER (can't be done without attenuator), fat, responsive, and dynamic but NOT compressed. I value power amp dynamics over all other attributes. And that's my starting ground for all other settings. Then I dance around until I'm happy, or not. Basically, I should hear how all controls affect the tone BUT not obscuring it! The same principle applies to my Lonestar, 1983 Marshall 2204, Bogner XTC .... and Mesa RKII (3th and 4th channel) too. BTW great choice of amp, Tone King is an excellent piece of gear
WOW!!! The basis of this is something that I do use for my amp. The only difference is, rather than plugging in my guitar, I let the speakers decide the point of opening up. What I've done is dime all my volume, keep my EQ low and systematically from bass, treble, and "cut", find the spot where the speaker hits a "fullness" so to speak. I own a British style Bad Cat Cub III 40 and find that it works great BUT... to use my guitar as a gauge is something I've not done before so this will be an interesting and very different method comparatively speaking. I've found that my notes and chords bloom in a very sweet way... but your (Scofield) way also seems to account for adding a gauge to the volume/gain standard between clean vs saturation which I didn't consider so I'll have to try this method for myself!
Rhett: nice vid. One thing folks might do well to consider when adjust their amps... many of these have tone controls that interact with the other, for example most Fender, Ampeg, Marshall, Vox, and many other amps with more that one control. To get even more out of your adjustments, after you find the best setting for one control, then go to the other and adjust that, but THEN go back to the first one, and then back to the second. This helps you discover the interaction between the controls and further dial in the best tone. Also, play with turning the Treble up high, and turning down the Tone knob on your guitar (if the guitar has the usual high roll-off circuit (Low pass)).
Dialling in an amp is always an interesting topic. I've got everything from a late '50s Tweed deluxe with just one tone control, to a Mesa fillmore combo50 that has a lotta controls. The great mystery!
Proud owner of a VHT Deliverance 120
A very nice bare bones single chanel 100 watt tube Amp. Thanks for the tips
Man that intro song speaks to my soul. I love a solid 30 percent East Indian flavor mixed with my western grooves. I’d dig hearing songs with more East Indian percussion. Tabla and such. I think you’re about the 3rd person I’ve subscribed to. Looking forward to more
Just bought an early to mid-80s Fender Twin Reverb II this weekend. I’ll try using this method to feel it out!!
In the opening scene I thought I was seeing a 60's Silvertone head rebuilt. The Tone and Mid-Bite made me realize it was something different. Thanks for this video. Great stuff!
I'm a bass player. I record my own songs. Since I don't have 35 years experience dialing in amps I think these videos are great.
I'm also have young kids starting on musical instruments. This will help me to teach them in the future.
I only use my amplifier as a clean platform for my pedals. I only use a tube amplifier I like them to be at least 50 Watts preferably 6l6 tubes. Since I only use the clean channel and I have a master volume on the amp I turn the master volume up at least halfway. I only turn the reverb to about 10 o'clock, any more delay I get from the pedal board. I turn the mid and the treble up about halfway and turn the bass setting up at least 3/4. If it's a good amplifier and you're a good player this should be enough. Happy New Year Rhett and thanks for the informative and helpful videos.
I play thur a 80’s HIWATT DR504. I use both volumes and have tried this method and it really made a difference in the tone I was trying to get in my head. Pedals also sound richer and are easier to dial in now that I’m starting with a cleaner Slightly overdriven tone. When I’m doing a indoor or outdoor gig I now just have to adjust the volume and tweak the mids a bit. Overall this method I find really works so thanks for sharing with us.
So I have a Randall Diavlo 5 watt head. I’m actually a worship player, not a metal guy. I swapped out the tubes in the amp for JJ’s. The preamp is running two 12au7’s so it’s really clean even at max gain. Single channel amp, kind of a Marshall sound. Has an effects loop and a cab sim line out which I use for worship gigs only (the kind that don’t allow an amp on stage). Only three knobs on the amp. Gain, tone (with a three way switch above it that controls the mid frequencies) and volume. Use a small pedalboard with it. Mini volume pedal, a few overdrives and an HX Stomp. Honestly I got the pedal board idea from one of your videos
I am a beginner, and I have a katana MKii 50. I literally got all my components to test tonight. I appreciated your method, as I do not have one developed yet. I am interested in blues and some 80s rock for me.
Exactly how I learned to find the sweet spot of my amp back in the 80's. Has worked well ever since.
God I love that Nova guitar... it cuts the mix so great. This is the third time I have been listening to you while working and always look up when I hear it...
Some great advice here. My main amp is a Traynor Reverb Mate from the 70's, and most of the controls seem to affect each other. The pre-amp volume actually gets a LOT bassier sounding when turned up, and most of the sweep is affected, so depending on where it is set, I have to adjust the actual bass EQ knob. Interestingly enough, there is nowhere near the amount of bass in the sweep of the actual bass EQ knob, so I have to set it mostly at a place on the preamp knob where I think that it's not too bass-y sounding to begin with, and then just go from there. Also, the "treble boost" switch depends highly on the preamp volume in the amount of highs vs. lows. It is a master volume amp, which I pretty much swear by to begin with, but on this particular amp, everything is so subjective on where you set the preamp volume that it becomes much easier to control the less predictable nature of the amp.
My first bass amp (valves), early 80`s, had the same effect. It was very difficult getting a real good sound. After a while I looked out for other solutions and found the Laney Bass 200. It had always the clean bass sound I wanted. Sorry to my old amp, but slapping with you was a desaster.
Thanks. Gonna try this on my G reverb amp. 15” Jensen. One channel. Treble bass, reverb tank. Tremolo speed intensity
Rhett … you are one of the best video makers with awesome concepts and solutions for all levels of players