I just stumbled across this fine looking gem of a unit.
It is a module to plug into their MTS series amps, like we were discussing before. I think I might just check this out some more, and check to see if I need the Randall MTS head in order to use this?
Lynch's 'Mr. Scary' tone was probably one of his best sounds, along with 'The Kiss of Death'
I've read that the Lynch module is killer. Haven't heard it myself yet. Wonder where the closest dealer is that carries these things? Seems more & more people are using this Randall setup. Ah too many toys & too little money!
I know that Guitar Center in Monroeville carries Randall products.
I'm just wondering if it can be modded to use just as a separate unit, without buying the Randall head?
It's not the sound that I would want all of the time, but it would be nice to mess around with that's for sure.
I'm always skeptical about 'signature' stuff, but I have to say with all of the technology available to us now, there's alot more possible than ever before.
Alot of modeling processors sound fake and too digital to me sometimes, like they are missing some warmth.
Bad thing with the newer Randalls-if they are midi capable,is that they have a quite annoying audible noise when going from the dirty to clean channels,I had a V2,I really liked it but I ain't about to put up with something like that on a piece of equipment that ain't exactly cheap to buy in the first place,so to ebay it went!
metalchurch wrote:
Alot of modeling processors sound fake and too digital to me sometimes, like they are missing some warmth.
That's been my experience too. I don't completely knock modeling amps, because they are a great solution if you want a pro-level piece of equipment and you're on a budget (or you want a portable amp for rehearsal), but if someone has the cash to spend and they ask me my opinion, I try to steer them towards something else. Though a few weeks ago, we had a band open for us and the guitarist was using a POD XT with a Fender combo amp and it sounded really good. I always liked the clean sounds from Line 6 products, but their overdrives always sounded really compressed and processed to my ears. The XT/Fender amp combination sounded really good. I think that using a Line 6 unit as an outboard FX processor rather than a just a preamp is the key.
onegunguitar wrote:Bad thing with the newer Randalls-if they are midi capable,is that they have a quite annoying audible noise when going from the dirty to clean channels,I had a V2,I really liked it but I ain't about to put up with something like that on a piece of equipment that ain't exactly cheap to buy in the first place,so to ebay it went!
I don't blame you for getting rid of that, Scott. I notice that a lot of midi units do things like this. Another thing is some of them will have like a two second lag between patches. That can really suck in a single-guitar situation. old sKool use to use a Digitech unit that did that, and he came up with all kinds of switching techniques and specially timed his foot coming down on the controller to try and minimize that. Another thing I've noticed is the lower end processors can really color your sound.
"He's the electric horseman, you better back off!" - old sKool making a reference to the culturally relevant 1979 film.
I've used Line 6 stuff extensively for the last 5 years, and I think it can get some amazing sounds for very few $$$. I have definitely found that they take a tremendous amount of time to tweak. I'll get some tones going at home that I think are awesome, then fire it up at a gig only to find it sounds terrible. There's the Fletcher-Munson curve in action.
"well, why don't you make ten louder and just have that be the loudest one?"
While, i haven't left the sanctuary of my living room yet, I can relate to your sound changing, just even by walking across the room.
I'll spend 45 minutes messing with the EQ or Presence and walk across the room and it sounds like muffled ass.
Tubes are temperamental anyway, and even if I adjust the Volume, the slightest bit and get the tubes compressing and the speakers movin' some air, that throws it off.
It is seriously frustrating, I'm getting pissed now just thinking about it.
And other day's it'll sound so good, that you'll play for 2 or 3 hours straight.
Not so much since I've made the switch to all solid state-digital. I used to be the tube amp and wah guy for years, and when the output transformer of my marshall went, I bought a Flextone II and I've never looked back. Sure, you and I know it's a digital simulation, but 95% of the crowd does not. And I've found, at very least, much more consistency in the shitty digital tone. I was just trying to make a point that L6 stuff takes a LOT of tweaking, but once you get it set just right, it's pretty good. I guess I should've worded my last post better. My bad.
"well, why don't you make ten louder and just have that be the loudest one?"
Ok, I wasn't sure if you were solid or tubed.
I'd imagine that the sound thing would happen to alot of us regardless of what we have.
Of course, I know alot of people who could care less and just plug in and play, carefree.
Wish I could get to that point soon.
Sometimes I think I am listening too hard and just imagine that a certain frequency is too much or too little and try to 'fix' it.
Line 6 amp and effect modeling combined with a Bogner tube amp. Pretty neat in concept. It's nothing new to throw a preamp tube into solid-state gear, but the power amp is where things come to life. Heck, look at Atomic Amps; their whole business is making tube power amps for modelers.
Unfortunately the Spider Valve is fairly basic. It's only a few amps and effects. When/if they come out with a Vetta Valve with EVERYTHING in one box . . . I'm on that like a monkey on a cupcake.
Holy shit! I've been waiting FOREVER (well, 11 years) for Line 6 to do that!!!! Hopefully this'll catch on and they'll do a flextone valve or a vetta valve. I'm all over that like flies on shit!
"well, why don't you make ten louder and just have that be the loudest one?"
I'm really interested in checking out one of these tube Line 6s. If they are killer, then I think that Line 6 will have stumbled upon a truly awesome product.
There's a music store down where I go to school. I walked in today to buy an XLR cable, and I had to look at the Oranges they had sitting in the front of the room. I was in awe at their pure awesomeness. LOL
"He's the electric horseman, you better back off!" - old sKool making a reference to the culturally relevant 1979 film.
bassist_25 wrote:I'm really interested in checking out one of these tube Line 6s. If they are killer, then I think that Line 6 will have stumbled upon a truly awesome product.
I've tried this off and on for the past several years using various components. It can work pretty well with older units and as long as the modeler isn't trying to model a tube power amp. For some of the newer, better modelers, its like smoking cigarettes while wearing the patch. Way too much. I'm sure Line 6 will compensate for that.
I am still waiting for a 1 rack space MONO 40-50 watt tube power amp--or any MONO rack tube power amp for that matter--I suppose I'll just have to build one.
...Oh, the freedom of the day that yielded to no rule or time...
Jeff, that would be awesome to have a mono 1 rack space tube preamp, for the sheer simplicity of it.
I run my rack in mono also. Can you really build one? I was thinking about a single space, and what tubes would you have to use? Probably 6L6's laid on their sides, huh? It wouldn't leave much room that's for sure.
metalchurch wrote:Jeff, that would be awesome to have a mono 1 rack space tube preamp, for the sheer simplicity of it.
I run my rack in mono also. Can you really build one? I was thinking about a single space, and what tubes would you have to use? Probably 6L6's laid on their sides, huh? It wouldn't leave much room that's for sure.
6L6 is a little bit too big for 1 rack space. EL34's have a slimmer profile and would probably work in 1 rack space with adequate ventilation. Marshall and Boogie use 4 EL84s to get 40 watts in their stereo amps. You might be able to squeeze 45 or 50 watts out of a mono version of EL84s.
Then I'll need an 8" diameter toroid transformer (probably $100 in quantity of one) and a suitable rack cabinet for another $100. Its not a very cost effective route. Maybe if I could pick up a broken Marshall 8008 and use the chassis and transformer?
Peavey used to make the Classic Series 60 and 120 tube power amps, but those were 3 rack spaces and pretty hefty. You can still see these up on eBay once in awhile.
...Oh, the freedom of the day that yielded to no rule or time...
Jeff, you have so much knowledge on electronics, I am always impressed with your posts. Although alot of times it's way over my head, and I cannot comprehend what you're explaining!
That would be awesome to have the skills to build something from scratch.
I wold love to do that, but I don't have the background to do it successfully.
I can see it now: 'Lonewolf Series 1 50W Tube Preamp'
Another question; Could you list the tube types and their power from greatest to least for me?
Example: (not sure if this is right or not?)
EL34
6L6
EL84
ECC83 (12AX7)
ECC81 (12AT7)
You pretty much have them in order from large to small. As I stated before, the EL34 is slimmer than the 6L6, but can get more desirable harmonic distortion at a lower level than the 6L6. Both can produce about 30 watts of output. The 12AT7 has less gain than the 12AX7, but are physically the same size.
...Oh, the freedom of the day that yielded to no rule or time...
