low and high sensitivty input jacks???

[paultelestrat]

what is the difference between low and high sensitivity input jacks on my JCM800 50 watt head(2204)??obviously the volume.i was told one for single coils and the other for humbuckers,is this true? i read on another forum its about the different gain stages.any and all help/advice is greatly appreciated.i have both single coil and HXH guitars.which one is for what,jacks that is ?

[paultelestrat]

Re: low and high sensitivty input jacks???

bump

[Sune]

Re: low and high sensitivty input jacks???

As far as I know, it has someting to do with the output of your humbuckers. If you have really low-output humbuckers you can put it into high sensitivity output, and the other way around. But I'm not sure, so I'll let others chime in.

[ParameterMan]

Re: low and high sensitivty input jacks???

Whichever is for the one that sounds better. One is just higher gain(sensitivity) than the other. Using the quieter one for hums and the louder for singles will let you keep close to the same settings when switching guitars. Otherwise, I just plug back and forth and see what sounds better with the guitar I'm currently using. Have fun!

[Zhangliqun]

Re: low and high sensitivty input jacks???

You could use the high=Strat/low=humbuckers for more even-ness if you do a lot of guitar switching during a gig. But otherwise, as others have more or less implied, it's a matter of personal taste.

[krankguitarist]

Re: low and high sensitivty input jacks???

Its actually quite simple...If you want to run the amp distorted, plug into high. If you want to run the amp clean, plug into low. It'll be pretty difficult to get the amp to *really* distort if you plug into low. I had one of the 800 2203 models, ran my guitar into the low input with a distortion pedal in front. Wasn't the greatest setup ever, but it worked.

[Jeff Seal]

Re: low and high sensitivty input jacks???

Actually, the 2204/3 is pretty simple to understand... The low input is simply three gain stages like the older Super Leads, the high input adds an additional gain stage for a total of 4. Pu selection has nothing to do with it, very few use the low input since rolling off the guitar volume yields the same result....(rapidly becoming a lost art!) thus giving the player much more "dynamics"..

Jeff Seal

[gOgIver]

Re: low and high sensitivty input jacks???

I prefer pedals into the Low input. YMMV.

[RevolutionMan]

Re: low and high sensitivty input jacks???

A cool way to approach it is to go into both of them, with an A/B box, then you basically turn it into a "2 channel" amp, one will be higher gain, the other lower gain-clean.

[paultelestrat]

Re: low and high sensitivty input jacks???

thanks EVERYBODY !!! all the feedback has been very helpful.this is my first amp head , and i'm just trying to understand/use it properly.

[greendy123]

Re: low and high sensitivty input jacks???

A cool way to approach it is to go into both of them, with an A/B box, then you basically turn it into a "2 channel" amp, one will be higher gain, the other lower gain-clean.

I wonder what would happen if you go a 1 to 2 splitter so one guitar signal goes into both inputs at the same time, maybe a hybrid sound in the middle of both.

[Zerberus]

Re: low and high sensitivty input jacks???

Actually, the 2204/3 is pretty simple to understand... The low input is simply three gain stages like the older Super Leads, the high input adds an additional gain stage for a total of 4. Pu selection has nothing to do with it, very few use the low input since rolling off the guitar volume yields the same result....(rapidly becoming a lost art!) thus giving the player much more "dynamics"..

Jeff Seal

+1... I almost always run into the Low input using my V-twin unless I´m packing a guitar with actives, then I´ll sometimes just use the High gain input and let her rip...

I personally like the tone of the low gain input more... when the pre-gain goes above about 3ó clock it adds a nice "depth boost" to the already gargantuan tone....

[Jeff Seal]

Re: low and high sensitivty input jacks???

A cool way to approach it is to go into both of them, with an A/B box, then you basically turn it into a "2 channel" amp, one will be higher gain, the other lower gain-clean.

Unfortunately, this won't work......anytime the low input is used the high input's signal path is broken thus rendering the high input useless.. you can only use one or the other, but not both.....of course, you could always mod it to do so.

Jeff Seal

[kevlar3000]

Re: low and high sensitivty input jacks???

My Laney AOR 50 ( 6 knob) is quite similiar to an 800. I have messed quite a bit with that amp to get the low gain input to scream a bit more. In general, I really appreciate the clarity 3 vs 4 pre amp tubes offers ( the low gain input uses three of the 4, Jeff covered this)). I have to dime the amp, but it gets very plexi like on that channel. It is a big improvement from when I got it, that amp in its stock form is far too bright for my tastes. On the high gain input, I swapped out the 4th pre tube with a 12AT7. Really enhances the clarity on that channel and makes for a more classic rock vs metal sounding amp.