I think I just found my setup......

[some_dude]

First off, I like stereo rigs.

I've been searching for the right mate to go with my MkIII combo ever since I bought it. I've tried various stuff......Marshalls, Laneys, Fender, ect....and I've never found an amp that jived. They always seemed to be fighting each other, both trying to dominate the mix without cooperating.

Anyway, today I borrowed an Orange Rocker 30 combo. As soon as I fired both amps up I could hear that they jived, and with some slight tweeks of their volumes they sounded sweet. They manage to jive so well that even with jumps in volume levels (due to FX and channel switching) they still don't clash.

Anyway, here's the plan;

Guitar -> Dirt Box* -> EHX Polychorus -> EHX Small Clone -> Boogie MkIII (Maxon AD999 delay in loop)

The stereo output of the Polychorus will run into the Orange. Normally I consider the Polychorus to be a wierd noise effect, but it's actually a pretty good flanger/chorus pedal when used in stereo.

*Dirt Box = Big Muff, Rat, or DS-1, depending on how I feel.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: I think I just found my setup......

Also, you'd have more options, since both are channel switching. One thing that can be an issue is a footswitch that changes both amps simultaneously. They can also cause ground loops when they're also joined by rack gear.

I like stereo rigs too, since the volume can be the same, but you've got more size of tone.

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: I think I just found my setup......

How does the Orange sound w/o the Mesa?

 

[some_dude]

Re: I think I just found my setup......

Also, you'd have more options, since both are channel switching. One thing that can be an issue is a footswitch that changes both amps simultaneously. They can also cause ground loops when they're also joined by rack gear.

I like stereo rigs too, since the volume can be the same, but you've got more size of tone.

The MkIII came with two footswitches. I only use one since I never use channel 2 on that amp, so I'll just rewire the R1/R2 footswitch and screw them back together.

No ground loop problems thus far, but we'll see how it goes as I experiment with other pedals as the signal splitter.

And I agree....when you turn one amp off the tone seems very thin by comparison. Same goes with turning off a stereo chorus or flange effect, even when dialed in so subtle you forget it's even on.

How does the Orange sound w/o the Mesa?

It sounds really good.

The first time I tried one of these Rocker 30s was about a year ago, and I really didn't like it. They let me crank the thing, but the store was really cramped. It sounded really dead....sorta like a distortion pedal run through a cardboard amp. What I figured out since then is that I was way too close and my ear was way too far off axis to get a true appreciation for the sound.

Anyway, the clean channel is good if you want a darker sorta clean. It's not sparkly at all. It's pretty dynamic, but is super sensitive to your guitar's volume settings....which can be a bit of a surprise when you switch channels to find your pickups hitting it at full volume.

The clean channel is one single knob.....gain. No EQ or master volume. The dirty channel has gain, EQ (b/m/t), and MV. I prefered running the EQ flat out at 10.

The dirty channel goes from a clean that's more or less the same as the clean channel, all the way up to a reasonably high gain. That said, the gain kinda sucks (IMO). It's undefined, lacks punch, and really dark. It sounds much better with the gain turned down. At about 10:00-11:00 it gave this really great overdrive sound that I thought was awesome....crunchy, yet still very dynamic and touch responsive. Little changes in pick attack and dynamics could alter the overall tone of the note.

Also, this amp isn't the brightest or most harmonically complex amp I've played.....so pedals just scream through this thing. I've never heard a Big Muff sound so good.

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: I think I just found my setup......

Also, this amp isn't the brightest or most harmonically complex amp I've played.....so pedals just scream through this thing. I've never heard a Big Muff sound so good.

That's what I was waiting for. I'm gonna have to try one.

 

[some_dude]

Re: I think I just found my setup......

Everything is always better with pictures;

I've put GJ's post to good use and added a footswitch for the Orange. Combined the two amps have a killer clean tone, and combining the MkIII's clean with the Orange's dirt (more overdriven than distorted) gives a great crunch tone that has huge clarity. When both amps are on their lead channels they're capable of this great lead scream that niether can pull off on their own......or they can give me a heavy rhythm tone that is both a bottom heavy high gain (MkIII) and a crunchy, dynamic, well defined midrange.

Basically, imagine a scooped high gain Master of Puppets style rhythm tone combined with an solid overdriven midrange crunch that adds to the attack without sustaining into the thump.

Did I mention that I love this setup?

 

[34029324079]

Re: I think I just found my setup......

pretty sweet!

 

[sosomething]

Re: I think I just found my setup......

I would really like to hear a few clips of this. Maybe stick a condenser in the room so I can get the blended effect? Clips of each amp on it's own to compare?

There are few things in live as sweet as loving your rig. Sad, but true.

 

[some_dude]

Re: I think I just found my setup......

I would really like to hear a few clips of this. Maybe stick a condenser in the room so I can get the blended effect? Clips of each amp on it's own to compare?

There are few things in live as sweet as loving your rig. Sad, but true.

Unfortunatly, I don't have any ability to record. I've been meaning to get a couple mics and a good soundcard, but it's pretty low on my priority list.