Spiky Cleans!!! Help!

[SongsForTheDeaf]

so I used to not play that clean but I have noticed that my brand new Mesa 5:50 express has very spiky cleans when cranked a bit. Sounds great with distortion/fuzz pedals on but my cleans are very spiky and piercing when I hit the high strings or certain frets on the B strings or E string.

Any tips that don't require me buying an EQ ?? that could be my last resort. I want that hollow thick clean sound and have fiddled with the EQ knobs endlessly with no fix. I love how this amp sounds and how light it is and the extension cab outs etc so I don't want to sell it just need help fixing the clean !

my settings now are

Clean channel , 50 watt setting

Gain- noon (Still clean but warmer, more mids)
Treble - 9 o clock
Middle- 9 o clock
Bass - just under noon
reverb- 7 o clock
Master - to taste
Contour- on and set fully clockwise (bigger sound and amp still has tons of mids)

Any help appreciated guys

I still have to try the amp in 5 watt mode and see if that changes anything but I love the headroom and volume I get now in 50 watt mode so I want to fix that modes cleans

 

[Aceman]

Re: Spiky Cleans!!! Help!

Turn guitar EQ down a touch???

I thought EQ Pedal when I read the title, but you shot that down already.

What guitar and pups???

knobs at 9am???? dang....

 

[GuitarStv]

Re: Spiky Cleans!!! Help!

I find that slightly rolling back the guitar volume will often remove a lot of the spikeyness from a pickup. Then of course, there's the tone control on the guitar.

 

[Low_fidelity2100]

Re: Spiky Cleans!!! Help!

Are you running straight into the amp? or Running your whole pedal chain listed in your sig?

If you're running through the whole pedal chain, try running straight in and see if there's any difference. Could be the buffer in one of them. If it does make a difference, just try removing pedals from the chain one at a time, until you figure out which (or which combo) is causing it....An you'll know what you need to replace.

If it's the same Running straight in, you can try...Lowering your pickups (or just the pole pieces on offending strings if buckers)...Try different brands of strings....Different pick materials...Different speakers....Different Pot values...etc...Lots of things you can change really to tame spikey highs.

 

[SongsForTheDeaf]

Re: Spiky Cleans!!! Help!

Ahh ok I'll mess around with the guitar knobs and see if that helps.

See here I was concentrating on the amp !

 

[SongsForTheDeaf]

Re: Spiky Cleans!!! Help!

Are you running straight into the amp? or Running your whole pedal chain listed in your sig?

If you're running through the whole pedal chain, try running straight in and see if there's any difference. Could be the buffer in one of them. If it does make a difference, just try removing pedals from the chain one at a time, until you figure out which (or which combo) is causing it....An you'll know what you need to replace.

If it's the same Running straight in, you can try...Lowering your pickups (or just the pole pieces on offending strings if buckers)...Try different brands of strings....Different pick materials...Different speakers....Different Pot values...etc...Lots of things you can change really to tame spikey highs.

thanks a ton... my last pedal has the visual sound pure tone buffer in it so I Will try plugging straight in ! If that does not help then I will check out the other options you mentioned Including lowering the pickup

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: Spiky Cleans!!! Help!

Get your base tone from guitar cable amp sounding good and add things one at a time from there. Think carefully about the necessity any piece if gear that detracts from that even if only slightly, they all add up. It could be any or all of your pedal chain.

It could also be that you might have a tube (or more) that needs replacing even tho the amp is new.

 

[Aceman]

Re: Spiky Cleans!!! Help!

werd Steve -

A touch off the volume might do well. Or the tone. Either way.....

 

[SongsForTheDeaf]

Re: Spiky Cleans!!! Help!

ok so I plugged straight in which made the spikyness worse

the tone roll off on the guitar helped quite a bit though! Just gotta adjust my EQ on my pedals and amp to make it a little less bassy but it has that hollow sound I loved about my old Traynor YBA-1. Thanks for the tips guys!

 

[Van Noord]

Re: Spiky Cleans!!! Help!

I always run scooped mids and little to no gain on my clean channel. High treble and bass too. I then increase the volume to make up for the lost volume and body from the low gain setting. Neck pickup always too.

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: Spiky Cleans!!! Help!

ok so I plugged straight in which made the spikyness worse

the tone roll off on the guitar helped quite a bit though! Just gotta adjust my EQ on my pedals and amp to make it a little less bassy but it has that hollow sound I loved about my old Traynor YBA-1. Thanks for the tips guys!

What its like with a different axe? Still to spiky? check that all your tubes are ok by process of elimination. If its still to spiky, then consider trading in the amp on something more in line with the sound you'd like to be hearing.

fwiw, i had a boogie dual caliber 50 and even tho it was a beautiful amp, it never quite delivered the smooth, thick cleans that i enjoy despite all the eq and gain options. In the end it had to go and i ended up with a much less powerful, much less flexible amp, but one that suited me better. No amps are perfect, and no amp can do all things well. Its a long time and money consuming process finding one that really suits you as an individual and your playing style. In a perfect world, your favourite base tone should come from just the axe and amp and it should put a smile on your face every time you plug in. Then use your effects as spices....kinda like putting gravy on roast chicken. Roast chicken is delicious, but it will never be roast lamb (or beef or whatever else).

 

[SongsForTheDeaf]

Re: Spiky Cleans!!! Help!

Bad tubes can cause spiky cleans ?

I have been hearing a kind of glass/tube rattle/ high pitched sound when I hit low notes and the amp vibrates. I got the amp new but it was a floor model.

It is spiky with all my guitars

Also I really like this amp with my pedals and the overall package so I don't want to get rid of it. It is my ideal gigging amp and with a ext cab it is a monster but I just need the cleans more round. I'll try a retube though if it might help the issue.

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: Spiky Cleans!!! Help!

ok so we have eliminated guitars/pickups as the cause of the spikiness. Tick.

im not badmouthing you amp cos mesas are always top shelf pieces of kit...just making sure you keep your mind and ears open to the possibility that it might come down to trying to fit a square peg into a round hole etc in the end. There is also the option of using a spongier/warmer speaker. What speaker is in it currently?

Anyways back to tubes...try tapping on all the tubes with a pencil or chopstick and see if any of them make a pinging sound. If any of them do, swap it out and see if it addresses the problem. Even brand new tubes can sometimes go bad.

 

[SongsForTheDeaf]

Re: Spiky Cleans!!! Help!

Ok so I just took the 2 power tubes out.. one of them has this rattle when I shook it next to my ear. Like something was loose inside.

I switched their positions and am gonna pickup new tubes tomorrow. Hopefully that helps my spiky issue.

I agree with you completely though about finding a good base tone and then add pedals and tweak the pedals to sound good. I guess I just don't want to give up on this amp yet ! lol

It sounds so great and is basically my perfect amp besides the spiky cleans at loud volumes. Might very well be the tubes!

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: Spiky Cleans!!! Help!

yep- dont give up on the amp just yet! i wasnt saying that!

I have come across that rattling sound inside power tubes before too. That noise does cause a pinging sound that once you have heard it will drive you nuts.
did you tap all the preamp tubes as well with a chopstick while the amp is running? Check all your toobs that way before you go to any shop.

 

[SongsForTheDeaf]

Re: Spiky Cleans!!! Help!

Good point I will check the pre amp tubes too before I head to the shop tomorrow. If I find a noisy pre amp tube I'll replace that as well.

Thanks for the help ! I'll report back if the tubes were the issue.

 

[Low_fidelity2100]

Re: Spiky Cleans!!! Help!

Have you tried bypassing the Contour control? From reading on the Mesa website, they say the contour control " Used subtly, Contour adds a halo of depth and chime to gleaming clean sounds".....To me "Chime" and "Gleaming" = Bright, and Jangly.......That might be your entire problem right there man.
Try bypassing the contour control, dial in a sound you like without it. If you feel you're lacking body, try upping the volume a bit, an that will probably help you get the body back.
Then after you've got a sound that you're happy with (or at least closer), if you still feel the contour option might add something you feel you're lacking, then try turning it back on, and adding in a bit.....It's cool to have the option of using it, but just cause its there doesn't mean you have to engage it. Ya know?

Also if you're going for a good clean sound....turn the Master up all the way/fully clockwise/to ten/how ever ya wanna put it....and then use the Gain knob as your volume control. Rather than using it like a traditional "dirt" control, ya know? Doing that you'll basically be bypassing the Master, and working the amp like a Non-master volume amp. That'd be the best way to get good clean sounds out of the amp.

An if you're not already.... make sure you're doing all your Eq'ing at a pretty decent volume, most amps sound thin and brittle at bedroom volumes.

 

[SongsForTheDeaf]

Re: Spiky Cleans!!! Help!

Thanks for the tips !

Bypassing the contour for sure takes away some of the spikyness. I have tried that before but then the amp sounds alot stiffer and boxy in comparison. I just love that contour knob but next rehearsal I'm gonna bring the amp and fiddle with it on and off and see if it makes a huge difference when cranked a bit.

I also lowered my bridge pup which took away SOME Of the spike in my cleans. It's still there when I turn the volume about a quarter way up but it is for sure not as prominent now and the added bonus is my bridge and neck pickups both are the same volume now and are balanced which I like.

I'm gonna go rent a V30 cab today and am gonna try it with the amp alone then with the internal speaker and see if that changes it up a bit. I have wanted to add a cab to this amp for more spread on stage and at rehearsals but my old cab had greenbacks and were severely overpowered by the internal MC90 Celestion speaker

 

[Boogie Bill]

Re: Spiky Cleans!!! Help!

I was going to suggest you back off the Contour control as well. With my Mark V Preset EQ controls--it will get spiky if turned up too high. Be sure to check your Owner's Manual--the tone settings in it are a good baseline.

And yes, a different brand of preamp tube in the V1 socket can make a huge difference. Swapping in a good tube for one that is microphonic might be all you need. The power tube should NOT rattle.

You might give the Mesa guys a call and see if they can offer any suggestions on how to set your amp. If your amp is new, they can send you a new set under warranty.

Good luck!

Bill

 

[SongsForTheDeaf]

Re: Spiky Cleans!!! Help!

I was going to suggest you back off the Contour control as well. With my Mark V Preset EQ controls--it will get spiky if turned up too high. Be sure to check your Owner's Manual--the tone settings in it are a good baseline.

And yes, a different brand of preamp tube in the V1 socket can make a huge difference. Swapping in a good tube for one that is microphonic might be all you need. The power tube should NOT rattle.



You might give the Mesa guys a call and see if they can offer any suggestions on how to set your amp. If your amp is new, they can send you a new set under warranty.

Good luck!

Bill

thanks bill.. I got the power tubes and some pre amp tubes here so I will do some tube changing tomorrow and see if that helps.