is the best tone really with a dimed tube amp?

[PFDarkside]

Re: is the best tone really with a dimed tube amp?

what is "dimed"?

On 10. (Or 11, or 12 or 20 as the case may be. )

I think the one thing we can all agree on is that tube amps sound their best once you get the volume knob up so there's some current flowing through the tubes.

 

[Pink Unicorn Horsey]

Re: is the best tone really with a dimed tube amp?

One dime = ten cents, hence the 10.

 

[emilio]

Re: is the best tone really with a dimed tube amp?

so ss would sound indifferent? i like them on "nickled" best. :smack:

 

[sosomething]

Re: is the best tone really with a dimed tube amp?

In a word: Yes.

Different amps have different sweet spots - my Splawn actually sounds better at about 2-3 o'clock on the master than it does at full on, but that's probably got to do with how I've got it biased. FWIW I always enjoy a pushed tube amp's tone to SS, modeling, or a tube amp running cold.

 

[James Rock]

Re: is the best tone really with a dimed tube amp?

yeh like vox's i find sound best with the volume near facing u (PRETTY LOUD) so that it crunchs when hit hard and is still clean yet incredibly warm when played softly and with a drive pedal or boost it turn into a beautiful sweet drive (depending on pedal of course cos with a metal zone maybe not)

 

[jack the stripper]

Re: is the best tone really with a dimed tube amp?

my Boogie Mark IV sounds hot 'n tasty at any volume level...loud or LOUDER! :sword:

 

[flank]

Re: is the best tone really with a dimed tube amp?

i think volume as high as possible on amp/with guitar volume down around 5 to 7 results in the best tone.

 

[Pink Unicorn Horsey]

Re: is the best tone really with a dimed tube amp?

With my Super Reverb, I like setting all the tone knobs on 7, putting the amp volume on 6, and setting the guitar volume at either 5 or 6. It's clean with punch. I add a CS-2 for extra fatness, and I set the volume on that pedal for just above unity.

- Keith

 

[these_go211]

Re: is the best tone really with a dimed tube amp?

coming from a world of amp modellers i don't have a whole lot of experience with tube amps. i just assumed i'd have the nano amp on full blast all the time.

interesting comment flank, about cranking the amps volume while lowering the guitars volume. i'll have to try that. one thing i noticed when using a pod is that messing with the guitars volume and tone knobs didn't offer as much tonal control as they do when you're going thru a real amp. at least in my experience.

 

[flank]

Re: is the best tone really with a dimed tube amp?

interesting comment flank, about cranking the amps volume while lowering the guitars volume. i'll have to try that. one thing i noticed when using a pod is that messing with the guitars volume and tone knobs didn't offer as much tonal control as they do when you're going thru a real amp. at least in my experience.

yea its an interesting way to set your rig, but i think it sounds best. Not all amps sound particularly great running at full volume, they lose alot of clarity. However, running the guitar volume lower backs the signal down a bit = more clarity. However, since the amps at full volume, those extra harmonics and sonic goodies associated with the cranked sound are still somewhat present because the tubes are still rockin' and rollin'. In this scenario, a little twist of the knob can make a big difference, so theres a sweet spot for everyone. Of Course, you also lose a little gain pulling the guitar volume down, but i'm not a gainiac.

 

[More-Gear-Than-Skill]

Re: is the best tone really with a dimed tube amp?

Anywhere loud enough that a knock at the door or phone ring goes unnoticed it getting good. When the windows are shaking, it's the sweet spot.

 

[gnoj_LL]

Re: is the best tone really with a dimed tube amp?

dime is slang term of putting an amps parametric setting into 10, or max (e.g. gain 10..). in some special cases, some amps setting can go to 11 or 20. but dimed really means maximum.

btw, dimed is dervied by a dime or 10 cents

anyway haha i also have a dumb question what does IMO or IMHO means??? sorry for my ignorance but those terms are everywhere and im so cluless about them, hehe thanks!

 

[flank]

Re: is the best tone really with a dimed tube amp?

dime is slang term of putting an amps parametric setting into 10, or max (e.g. gain 10..). in some special cases, some amps setting can go to 11 or 20. but dimed really means maximum.

btw, dimed is dervied by a dime or 10 cents

anyway haha i also have a dumb question what does IMO or IMHO means??? sorry for my ignorance but those terms are everywhere and im so cluless about them, hehe thanks!

in my opinion, in my humble opinion

 

[baritone]

Re: is the best tone really with a dimed tube amp?

I like the point between breakup and cleanish.

That's how I like it, too. I like to hear the power toobs start to break up, and then mix in some solid state pedal distortion or fuzz.

 

[some_dude]

Re: is the best tone really with a dimed tube amp?

It depends on the amp.

Some amps sound good dimed, most don't.

I dime the master volume on my Orange, but the gain is generally at around 5 which means it's far from truely dimed.

Hell, even the Plexi that I had briefly sounded bester on 8 than it did on 10.

 

[Smilemon]

Re: is the best tone really with a dimed tube amp?

Yes, but the guitar volume has to come down a little bit, although since that reduces brighness i like to meet in the middle, about 8 on the amp and 8 on the guitar, middle position, i getting some really good lynyrd skynyrd sound

 

[Pink Unicorn Horsey]

Re: is the best tone really with a dimed tube amp?

It depends on the amp.

Some amps sound good dimed, most don't.

I dime the master volume on my Orange, but the gain is generally at around 5 which means it's far from truely dimed.

Hell, even the Plexi that I had briefly sounded bester on 8 than it did on 10.

Not sure about most tweed Deluxes or Tremoluxes, but my Caitlin gets the best drive at 9.5 or so out of 11. Beyond that, and you're in a territory even Neil Young can't stand.

 

[saladin]

Re: is the best tone really with a dimed tube amp?

If I dimed my 100 watt Carvin, it would blast me into the next county!!!!
I could drown out our bass players 1000watt Carvin stack.

 

[Fresh_Start]

Re: is the best tone really with a dimed tube amp?

+ whatever on finding the sweet spot for your amp where you can use the guitar volume to go from clean to distorted.

My 5F2-A project does this way better than my Blues Jr. However, you really need a treble bleed on the guitar's volume pot(s) to make the most of it IMHO. My Heritage 535 sounds like muffled poo with the volume turned down much below 8... Someday I'll go through the f-holes...

Chip

 

[Hot _Grits]

Re: is the best tone really with a dimed tube amp?

depends on the amp, and the sound you're going for. A lot of amps do lose definition when fully cranked, but that's often a very cool sound. But if you're wanting a more defined tone, then many amps will deliver that better on around the 3/4 mark as opposed to dimed.

many of the low wattage tube amps around today can sound a little ragged when cranked, due to the tubes used and the design. One design that generally holds definition when cranked are the various marshall 18watter clones, as they push their El84s nowhere near their full wattage potential.