Getting Classic Rock sound out of Metal Amp

Re: Getting Classic Rock sound out of Metal Amp

Borrow someones cab with either greenbacks or G12H30 (What is the wattage of your Lionheart) and maybe V30s (these will be more modern and maybe more fizzy sounding). Try other tubes like maybe some EHX or Tung Sols (I think JJ ECC83s sound real fizzy to my ears). Try and get a decent tough clean sound with this (not like a bright fender tone but more a marshall clean tone with solid mids) and try with a Marshall based pedal: BOR, Wampler Plexidrive or Plextortion, Pinnacle, Crunchbox (might be too fizzy), Modded DS-1.
 
Re: Getting Classic Rock sound out of Metal Amp

Or just your bad monkey with a crunch setting. I have never heard a good thing about HH speakers but have about the Ironheart range.
 
Re: Getting Classic Rock sound out of Metal Amp

I just want to make sure I understand.

You bought a machine designed to make sound... you don't like the way it sounds... but you won't sell it because of what Laney's marketing department called it?

That's got to be the single greatest advertising success in the history of guitar amps.

I don't care if an amp was called VERMITHRAX KING OF DRAGONS AND SLAUGHTERER OF SOULS if it didn't sound right for me... some of the greatest amps in the world have boring names (Bassman, Plexi, JCM800).

Would you eat a **** sandwich if I called it fillet mignon?

All that said... ZVex Box of Rock or Distortron... they make every amp sound like a Plexi on 10. They are very, very different from MXR Dist IIIs and Digitech Bad Monkeys.
 
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Re: Getting Classic Rock sound out of Metal Amp

If your only experience with pedals is those two, I can see why you were disappointed.

See if you can track down one of these:

- ZVex Box of Rock or Distortron (note that these have been recommended a lot here)
- Catalinbread Dirty Little Secret or RAH
- Wampler Plexidrive or Plextortion
 
Re: Getting Classic Rock sound out of Metal Amp

ratherdashing said:
If your only experience with pedals is those two, I can see why you were disappointed.

See if you can track down one of these:

- ZVex Box of Rock or Distortron (note that these have been recommended a lot here)
- Catalinbread Dirty Little Secret or RAH
- Wampler Plexidrive or Plextortion
Click to expand...

+1

I've tried the Box of Rock and the RAH and they're both fantastic. I would, however, suggest waiting until the 14th, when Catalinbread comes out with their new version of the Dirty Little Secret. It has an external mid control, as well as an internal switch that goes from Super Lead to Super Bass (two different styles of late 60's Marshall Plexis) as well as an internal presence control. Catalinbread stuff is also very well priced - their dirt pedals are rarely more than $170, which is not much considering what you get. Example - the cheapest Box of Rock is $200 new, and that's still made overseas.

Also, I'm going to echo what was stated above - the Bad Monkey and Distortion III are not great pedals, especially for what you're looking to do (change a clean channel into a 70's rock machine) There are plenty of pedals designed to do exactly that, and having owned many of them, I can say that they do it extremely well.
 
Re: Getting Classic Rock sound out of Metal Amp

LionHeart with G12H30(s) would probably be more suitable.
 
Re: Getting Classic Rock sound out of Metal Amp

like the others said, a band aid approach of a pedal is best. I have a tech 21 oxford pedal that is an amp simulator, I can run it through any amp and just use the amp as a clean platform

otherwise use your amp controls, or, its happy new amp hunting! :):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):)
 
Re: Getting Classic Rock sound out of Metal Amp

I use a VFE Alpha Dog and push it with a MXR Micro Amp thru a SS Fender Performer 1000 equipped with a 12" 150W Eminence Swamp Thang. Amazing rock tones.
That said, as suggested, try other cabs and see if they make a difference.
Surely your speakers will need change.
 
Re: Getting Classic Rock sound out of Metal Amp

I had a similar issue with my 3120, the thing had too much gain on the rhythm channel and the gain on the lead channel was somewhat harsh and overall it sounded fizzy at low volumes. I went with lower gain tubes in V1 & V4 and this opens the amp up and gives a much better sweep with the gain control for channels 2 & 3. I also replaced the Governor/Wizard with WGS ET65 speaks as they are "inefficient" in terms of volume, this allows the power amp to work harder which minimizes the fizzy sound at lower volumes. Channel 2 now has a nice classic rock tone and if I need more I use either a BYOC treble booster or a ZW OD pedal. Channel 3 is smoother and more defined and the clean channel is also much improved over the previous setup. I'd try that option out before you spend any money on pedals.
 
Re: Getting Classic Rock sound out of Metal Amp

If you don't give a Zvex Box of Rock a shot at this, it really is your loss.
That pedal is an absolute wonder and it should do exactly what you're after because it sounds like an old Marshall cranked to 11 in just about anything.
It has the loose, out of control feel. It doesn't sound flat, inmediate and predictable like other boxes.
The Bad Monkey is good, but the Box of Rock is one of the greatest dirt pedals ever made.
Give it a shot man. The inner voicing of that amp is probably too aggressive and inmediate, the attack is probably brutal so you've got it two ways:

1) Getting a really good pedal in front that will add sag and fat, sounding a bit more lazy.
2) A complete tube overhaul, with lower gain preamp tubes and whatnot. Which would be a lot more expensive than #1.

Plus changing those speakers. Good luck man!
 
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Re: Getting Classic Rock sound out of Metal Amp

Empty Pockets said:
I just want to make sure I understand.

You bought a machine designed to make sound... you don't like the way it sounds... but you won't sell it because of what Laney's marketing department called it?

That's got to be the single greatest advertising success in the history of guitar amps.

I don't care if an amp was called VERMITHRAX KING OF DRAGONS AND SLAUGHTERER OF SOULS if it didn't sound right for me... some of the greatest amps in the world have boring names (Bassman, Plexi, JCM800).

Would you eat a **** sandwich if I called it fillet mignon?

All that said... ZVex Box of Rock or Distortron... they make every amp sound like a Plexi on 10. They are very, very different from MXR Dist IIIs and Digitech Bad Monkeys.
Click to expand...

Man.. if I can sell them for something close to what I pay new (as it's mint), I'll sell them in a blink of an eye. It's nearly worthless :smack: once, someone ask me if I want to sell both the cab and head and I ask how much he wants to pay for them, he said 600. I'll def try the amp with other speakers or getting a plexi pedal I know someone who sell wampler pedals and plexidrive for about 160 usd.
until then i'll let you guys know.
 
Re: Getting Classic Rock sound out of Metal Amp

NewWave said:
From tweaking it, I realized that the HH speakers are pure rubbish even when playing clean. Whenever I crank it to above 5 volume the speakers start to sound very dark and ice-picky at the same time (what can be worse than that?).

I'm trying to get Aerosmith/Lynyrd Skynyrd sound. Please no comment about trading or selling it to buy another amp. Second hand Laney is nearly worthless here. Yes, I know I'm stupid to buy an amp like that for classic rock sound but I have this strange attraction with the amp's name.
Click to expand...

The speakers comment keeps coming back to me. I'd look at those first.

I have an old Crate practice amp that has a single '10 speaker and it doesn't sound that great. I use it for the occasional lesson or plugging my modeler into. Interestingly enough if I bypass the internal speaker and plug that little amp into my 4x12 with Eminence speaker it doesn't sound half bad. Speakers can make a world of difference.

I wouldn't get too hung up on "attraction to names" listen with your ears, not your eyes. ;) If it's not giving you the sound you're after, even after multiple changes to the surrounding rig, it might be time for an amp swap. I know that's not what you want to hear but it would be easier just to get a better sounding amp than trying to change everything around it.
 
Re: Getting Classic Rock sound out of Metal Amp

1. bias the amp for the JJ power tubes
2. upgrade speakers (V30s)
3. add EQ pedal (MXR 10-band)

Do each of those one step at a time until the problem disappears. The only other advice is to use the volume knob on the guitar. It does wonders for changing the tone of a high-gain amp.
 
Re: Getting Classic Rock sound out of Metal Amp

Crank the mids, crank the power amp, and keep the preamp (gain) low.
 
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