What would you do in my situation? (craving heavier tones)
- Thread starter ratherdashing
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ratherdashing
Kablamminator
Re: What would you do in my situation? (craving heavier tones)
Interesting. That's not really how I approach stuff like this. My belief is that since guitar gear is a luxury item and not a necessity (like food, clothing, shelter, etc.) there is very little point in settling for much less than the optimal solution. If you're patient, you can get pretty much anything you really want, and if you're not interested in waiting you probably didn't really want it in the first place. That's just my way of doing things.
Since I'm a nerd, bored, and because I like flowcharts, I whipped this up.
I can't believe I didn't think of that!!!
Interesting. That's not really how I approach stuff like this. My belief is that since guitar gear is a luxury item and not a necessity (like food, clothing, shelter, etc.) there is very little point in settling for much less than the optimal solution. If you're patient, you can get pretty much anything you really want, and if you're not interested in waiting you probably didn't really want it in the first place. That's just my way of doing things.
Since I'm a nerd, bored, and because I like flowcharts, I whipped this up.
I can't believe I didn't think of that!!!
beggar_guitar
New member
Re: What would you do in my situation? (craving heavier tones)
The Stiletto is a Great amp but if I were you I'd be inclined to look for a new amp. Gigging with two would be a pain. Sure you could A/B them into the same cab. So it isn't like you would double the amount of stage real estate you take up. But that's a lot of $$ to have in gear.
If I went with a second amp I'd shoot for something quite different from your current arrangement. No sense in spending that much to duplicate what your current rig can do.
The Stiletto is a Great amp but if I were you I'd be inclined to look for a new amp. Gigging with two would be a pain. Sure you could A/B them into the same cab. So it isn't like you would double the amount of stage real estate you take up. But that's a lot of $$ to have in gear.
If I went with a second amp I'd shoot for something quite different from your current arrangement. No sense in spending that much to duplicate what your current rig can do.
speed2dirt
Butterball
Re: What would you do in my situation? (craving heavier tones)
The Duncan Power Grid distortion pedal will get you where you want. It's on sale at Guitar Center for $49.99 plus you can use a $10 off coupon (HOLSAVE). For $40, it's hard to go wrong.
Another solution is the ENGL E430 Tube Toner pedal. It has 2 ECC83's and four channels (clean, crunch, soft lead, heavy lead), plus a footswitchable bypass. You can run it into the front of the Stilletto or directly to the poweramp in. It's very versatile and definitely has the ENGL high-gain channel. Just another solution.
The Duncan Power Grid distortion pedal will get you where you want. It's on sale at Guitar Center for $49.99 plus you can use a $10 off coupon (HOLSAVE). For $40, it's hard to go wrong.
Another solution is the ENGL E430 Tube Toner pedal. It has 2 ECC83's and four channels (clean, crunch, soft lead, heavy lead), plus a footswitchable bypass. You can run it into the front of the Stilletto or directly to the poweramp in. It's very versatile and definitely has the ENGL high-gain channel. Just another solution.
Chickenwings
Alnico 6/8
Re: What would you do in my situation? (craving heavier tones)
stillettos are awesome. There is many kinds of awesome in the amp world, and no amp can do all things for all people.
Heavier Schmevier. The world is full of dudes trying to sound heavy with their beards and tattoos hiding behing walls of gain using wimpy little strings, drop tuning and flappy picks, playing power chords and chuggidy chuggidy one note riffs .
Enjoy what you have and play the hell out of it. Heavy is overrated.
stillettos are awesome. There is many kinds of awesome in the amp world, and no amp can do all things for all people.
Heavier Schmevier. The world is full of dudes trying to sound heavy with their beards and tattoos hiding behing walls of gain using wimpy little strings, drop tuning and flappy picks, playing power chords and chuggidy chuggidy one note riffs .
Enjoy what you have and play the hell out of it. Heavy is overrated.
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Re: What would you do in my situation? (craving heavier tones)
Why? It's just one more head if you run the amp outputs to the same speakers using a weber speaker switcher ($150), assuming he's ok with his current speakers handling both types of music. Otherwsie, yes, he'd have more gear with a second set of speakers.
I do this and works fantastic, but I'm using 2 swamp thangs and I don't prefer ealry speaker breakup. So it's working well so far between the clean 6L6 amp and heavier EL34 amp, for a variety of music types.
I actually run pedals as well (not just the gain channel on the EL34 amp) to get heavier sounds through either amp, but they are voiced so differently I get a double combination of sounds from whatever pedal combo I'm using at the moment.
But like gibson175 mentioned, you may find you don't need as much extra heavniess as you think. I've gone through this with my setup work this year and, aside from at least having a metal muff to get to full metal land (and even that with gain just on 9:00), I'm feeling I have more than enough meatiness where I'm at now.
So, unless you're a serious hard code metal guy, in which case maybe shoud get a dedicated high gain amp, the one right metal pedal may be all you need.
I almost got the wampler, and it's flexibility looks aweseome, but watch as many demos as you can because I found in everyone that it put the output in the background...hard to describe...lol...llike it was less immediate. I didn't get that with the metal muff, but it has less flexibility (useful flexibility). I would bet a high gain amp geared toward metal would make the wampler issue even more obvious, and make both appear as what they are, pedals. Just my opinion. I'm fidning I'm not a hard core metal guy, so I can live with pedals.
Why? It's just one more head if you run the amp outputs to the same speakers using a weber speaker switcher ($150), assuming he's ok with his current speakers handling both types of music. Otherwsie, yes, he'd have more gear with a second set of speakers.
I do this and works fantastic, but I'm using 2 swamp thangs and I don't prefer ealry speaker breakup. So it's working well so far between the clean 6L6 amp and heavier EL34 amp, for a variety of music types.
I actually run pedals as well (not just the gain channel on the EL34 amp) to get heavier sounds through either amp, but they are voiced so differently I get a double combination of sounds from whatever pedal combo I'm using at the moment.
But like gibson175 mentioned, you may find you don't need as much extra heavniess as you think. I've gone through this with my setup work this year and, aside from at least having a metal muff to get to full metal land (and even that with gain just on 9:00), I'm feeling I have more than enough meatiness where I'm at now.
So, unless you're a serious hard code metal guy, in which case maybe shoud get a dedicated high gain amp, the one right metal pedal may be all you need.
I almost got the wampler, and it's flexibility looks aweseome, but watch as many demos as you can because I found in everyone that it put the output in the background...hard to describe...lol...llike it was less immediate. I didn't get that with the metal muff, but it has less flexibility (useful flexibility). I would bet a high gain amp geared toward metal would make the wampler issue even more obvious, and make both appear as what they are, pedals. Just my opinion. I'm fidning I'm not a hard core metal guy, so I can live with pedals.
King IzzO)))
Ultimate Kitten Puncher
Re: What would you do in my situation? (craving heavier tones)
I'm just blown away that you can't get a good metal tone out of a Stiletto.
I can get a good metal tone out of almost anything with a Rat.
Or you could just buy a used 5150.
I'm just blown away that you can't get a good metal tone out of a Stiletto.
I can get a good metal tone out of almost anything with a Rat.
Or you could just buy a used 5150.
ratherdashing
Kablamminator
Re: What would you do in my situation? (craving heavier tones)
You know, I've also considered this point of view. Maybe I should just work within my limits rather than try to go past them. It's possible I'll do better as a result.
And to be clear, I'm not trying to be a braided-goatee-pierced eyebrow metal player. There are just times when I feel like the material my band is writing would benefit from that kind of tone. The Stiletto is awesome, but it doesn't do the tight, heavy riffing justice.
Maybe "heaviness" isn't the best term. What I really want is high gain tone that tracks well for fast, low riffs.
The other guitarist in my band has a Triple Wreck, and I think I see what you're getting at. It sounds absolutely incredible, especially considering it's a pedal, but he kind of comes down in the mix when he uses it. That may be an issue with dialing it in right, but it's happening consistently.
I think I could get a better metal tone if I dialed it in differently, but then I'd lose the fat, chewy high gain tone I like ... and I can't go tweaking amp knobs in the middle of a gig.
You know, I've also considered this point of view. Maybe I should just work within my limits rather than try to go past them. It's possible I'll do better as a result.
And to be clear, I'm not trying to be a braided-goatee-pierced eyebrow metal player. There are just times when I feel like the material my band is writing would benefit from that kind of tone. The Stiletto is awesome, but it doesn't do the tight, heavy riffing justice.
Maybe "heaviness" isn't the best term. What I really want is high gain tone that tracks well for fast, low riffs.
The other guitarist in my band has a Triple Wreck, and I think I see what you're getting at. It sounds absolutely incredible, especially considering it's a pedal, but he kind of comes down in the mix when he uses it. That may be an issue with dialing it in right, but it's happening consistently.
I think I could get a better metal tone if I dialed it in differently, but then I'd lose the fat, chewy high gain tone I like ... and I can't go tweaking amp knobs in the middle of a gig.
Andrew Lamprecht
Minion of One
Re: What would you do in my situation? (craving heavier tones)
why not? robin trower did it... mike sullivan did it... hell mike played with almost every pedal before every song....
why not? robin trower did it... mike sullivan did it... hell mike played with almost every pedal before every song....
MetalManiac
Li'l Junior Member
Re: What would you do in my situation? (craving heavier tones)
Road King II.
Road King II.
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Chickenwings
Alnico 6/8
Re: What would you do in my situation? (craving heavier tones)
yeh i guessed that. I think i know where you are coming from.
What i meant was is that a lot of what is considered "heavy" in todays terms often just comes out sounding like it was made in a cookie cutter mold. I reckon you can get a a pretty savage sound if you use your current rig and a good dose of imagination - also locking in with your bass player can make some things sound huge.
yeh i guessed that. I think i know where you are coming from.
What i meant was is that a lot of what is considered "heavy" in todays terms often just comes out sounding like it was made in a cookie cutter mold. I reckon you can get a a pretty savage sound if you use your current rig and a good dose of imagination - also locking in with your bass player can make some things sound huge.
GuitarGuy503
New member
Re: What would you do in my situation? (craving heavier tones)
The simplest solution would be 2 tube heads ran through the same cab with a Radial Tonebone Headbone VT. Keep in mind that there are 3 different models though so be sure you buy the proper one for your specific need (VT: 2 TUBE HEADS, TS: 1 TUBE HEAD & 1 SS Head, & SS: 2 SS Heads). Having said that, you wouldn't be able to run both heads at the same time with the VT however.... It just enables you to toggle between two heads with the use of one cab.....
The simplest solution would be 2 tube heads ran through the same cab with a Radial Tonebone Headbone VT. Keep in mind that there are 3 different models though so be sure you buy the proper one for your specific need (VT: 2 TUBE HEADS, TS: 1 TUBE HEAD & 1 SS Head, & SS: 2 SS Heads). Having said that, you wouldn't be able to run both heads at the same time with the VT however.... It just enables you to toggle between two heads with the use of one cab.....
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Re: What would you do in my situation? (craving heavier tones)
Exactly what I do and proposed, just with a different brand speaker splitter. I had read of latency issues (or something like that) with the tonebone, which is why I chose the weber. No noise or delay issues at all with my setup, clenaer than a pedal switching on and off. And the signal transfers between amps, such as delays, etc.
Still need an a/b splitter for the guitar signal. I use a leihe.
Exactly what I do and proposed, just with a different brand speaker splitter. I had read of latency issues (or something like that) with the tonebone, which is why I chose the weber. No noise or delay issues at all with my setup, clenaer than a pedal switching on and off. And the signal transfers between amps, such as delays, etc.
Still need an a/b splitter for the guitar signal. I use a leihe.
GuitarGuy503
New member
Re: What would you do in my situation? (craving heavier tones)
An AB Box won't work unless you have two complete rigs (whether it be a head and cab + a combo amp OR two heads with a cab each). As I posted previously you'd need a Radial Tone Bone VT to toggle between two tube heads with the use of a single cab.
An AB Box won't work unless you have two complete rigs (whether it be a head and cab + a combo amp OR two heads with a cab each). As I posted previously you'd need a Radial Tone Bone VT to toggle between two tube heads with the use of a single cab.
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GuitarGuy503
New member
Re: What would you do in my situation? (craving heavier tones)
To each their own man. I prefer to set and leave it be as well. I agree with those who say Mesas are difficult enough to dial in that once I feel I have the perfect tone I have no desire to mess with the settings in fear that I may never be able to duplicate that perfect sound again.
To each their own man. I prefer to set and leave it be as well. I agree with those who say Mesas are difficult enough to dial in that once I feel I have the perfect tone I have no desire to mess with the settings in fear that I may never be able to duplicate that perfect sound again.
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Hurricane
New member
Re: What would you do in my situation? (craving heavier tones)
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Yep an EQ will solve a whole lot of problems and not break your back physically or $ wise .
HR
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Yep an EQ will solve a whole lot of problems and not break your back physically or $ wise .
HR
GuitarGuy503
New member
Re: What would you do in my situation? (craving heavier tones)
Ah I missed your post.... My bad. I didn't know Weber made a unit to run two heads into one cab. I'll have to check it out.....
Ah I missed your post.... My bad. I didn't know Weber made a unit to run two heads into one cab. I'll have to check it out.....
GuitarGuy503
New member
Re: What would you do in my situation? (craving heavier tones)
Personally, I can't imagine adding an extra head to the mix if I was gigging though. I think I'd research pedal options or see if you can find an amp that I liked better than the Stilletto and one that could possibly cop some of it's tons. If you can find a better amp replacing the Stilletto may not be so bad IMO.
Personally, I can't imagine adding an extra head to the mix if I was gigging though. I think I'd research pedal options or see if you can find an amp that I liked better than the Stilletto and one that could possibly cop some of it's tons. If you can find a better amp replacing the Stilletto may not be so bad IMO.
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misterwhizzy
Well-known member
Re: What would you do in my situation? (craving heavier tones)
I think a pretty low risk option is getting the 5150/6505 used. Buy a splitter, then give it a shot at a couple gigs in addition to the Stiletto. If you don't like the tones, you unload the Peavey for about what you got it. If you do like it, then your problem is solved. Either way, it's pretty low risk.
By the way, I think a link to the Tonebone Headbone is in order here as well.
I think a pretty low risk option is getting the 5150/6505 used. Buy a splitter, then give it a shot at a couple gigs in addition to the Stiletto. If you don't like the tones, you unload the Peavey for about what you got it. If you do like it, then your problem is solved. Either way, it's pretty low risk.
By the way, I think a link to the Tonebone Headbone is in order here as well.
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Re: What would you do in my situation? (craving heavier tones)
Yes, but you still need an a/b box to split the guitar signal into the two separate amps. Add the speaker splitter and you don't need two complete rigs. Or are you saying the tone bone does both the guitar signal splitting and the speaker splitting? Just curious.
Yes, but you still need an a/b box to split the guitar signal into the two separate amps. Add the speaker splitter and you don't need two complete rigs. Or are you saying the tone bone does both the guitar signal splitting and the speaker splitting? Just curious.
