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Mat Grant
Copper Member
United Kingdom
25 Posts |
 Posted - 05/18/2007 : 12:13:59
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Hi,
I've been on this forum for a while, I'm not a massive pedal collector, but a semi pro musician, I have a few boss pedals in my set up, TU-2, LS-2, OD-2, MZ-2, GT5.
I'm looking for an equaliser, the problem I'm having is I use an AC30, and on some gigs it sounds great, on others it's to thin and snappy on clean. I need a quick way to add a bit of mid boost, and do EQ shaping. The GT5 I don't really like, but it is very compact and carries a bunch of presets, but I want a separate pedal for rapid control and adjustment.
I've seen the PQ4 and the GE7 - does anyone have any recommendations? my preference is for the PQ4 but they are hard to find and expensive, so before buying one I thought I'd see if there are any opinions on here. The GE7 is really cheap secondhand, there are loads of them about.
Any suggestions or veiwpoints welcome
Cheers, Mat. |
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StratoSphere
Double Platinum Member
Canada
2232 Posts |
Posted - 05/18/2007 : 13:38:40
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i found the PQ-4 kinda wierd to get used to. i find the graphic equalizers easier to visualize the sound you are getting because you can actually set the shape of your wave instead of twisting knobs to cut and boost. (go GE-6 if possible) |
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controlfreak
Silver Member
Ireland
337 Posts |
Posted - 05/18/2007 : 13:40:12
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i've never played the PQ-4 but i think for what you want it for you won't go far wrong with the GE-7. they're cheap, reliable and i think every guitarist could find a use for one in their set-up.
it mightn't take away 'snap' tho. is it a prob that a comp could solve?
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StratoSphere
Double Platinum Member
Canada
2232 Posts |
Posted - 05/18/2007 : 13:46:52
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i take it youre referring to the Vox AC30 amp.like i said, an EQ could get you in the range, but remember that adding mids/lows or cutting highs with a pedal will change your amps sound, so keep that in mind if youre picky about that sort of thing. you might be better off and save some cash by just using the EQ knobs on the AC-30 if nesessary. |
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Big Boss Man
Gold Member
USA
564 Posts |
Posted - 05/18/2007 : 15:03:02
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quote:
Originally posted by Mat Grant
the problem I'm having is I use an AC30, and on some gigs it sounds great, on others it's to thin and snappy on clean.
Tube amps sometimes have good days and bad days. It could be your amp needs new tubes or maybe new caps. It could be an issue of accoustics in the venues you play. Maybe experiment with how you position your amp. I tend to avoid using eq to fix a problem and instead focus on finding the root cause of the problem itself. |
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FRANZONI
Double Platinum Member
Ireland
3543 Posts |
Posted - 05/18/2007 : 19:25:05
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I'm with big boss man on this...my musicman combo sounded a bit thin and trebley recently and a few days later the hi/lo switch went bang...usually i find its a preamp or power valve or some component about to go or as big boss man said maybe it needs a complete revalve....i put valve converters into my marshall head(from el34's to el 84's same as a vox)to lower the volume but they bring a bit of that vox 'sparkle' to the sound.....if you plug your guitar straight into the amp how does it sound..? is the GT5 the cause of the problem....?I have a line 6 pod pro xt that i tried to use through my amp on gigs and the sound was terrible...so i made myself a pedalboard and i use it now only for recording or praticing where it (imho) really shines.....If i remember correctly AC30's have six inputs one of them is for the top boost channel which is a treble boost or do you just plug into the normal channel all the time...??....
another thing i've come across is if the amp is sitting on wooden or carpeted floor you get(i think) more bass response but,if its sitting on bare concrete or tiled floors the opposite can happen,you could try putting it up on a couple of stools or beer crates or bring a small bit of carpet for the amp to sit on.... |
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Mat Grant
Copper Member
United Kingdom
25 Posts |
Posted - 05/19/2007 : 22:12:21
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Hi all,
Thanks for the replies, yes it's a vox AC30, 1965 model, non top boost so it doesn't have bas and treble knobs. It is the treble model though.
On gigs it sits on it's flightcase most of the time, or beer crates, whatever the venue has. I had it looked at a while back by a Vox expert, I asked him if it needed new valves, he said no. He rewired and put new caps in the power supply. It was a lot less buzzy after that.
It sounds great esp when I can get it really loud. It has a lot of treble to it, and I usually angle it up to stop killing the first few rows!
But if you have to go quiet it really loses the sound sometimes. Goes very thin, that's a good poont someone made about the acousitce of the venue, some gigs like universities often have big stages and breeze block bare walls, I've noticed this is when it sounds the worst. You need a gig of about 500 people before the amp can be turned up loud enough to where I think it sounds good.
I have got a compressor in the pedal board, an MXR dyna comp. It's ok, but bizarrely makes it even more trebly - I don't like the compressor on the GT5, and I haven't got a standalone one. I used to have a Boss CS3, but I sold it to get a DM2! I love the DM2 but don't use it on gigs, just home use and recordings.
Anyway from the replies I think I'll pick up a GE7 (or GE6 if I can find one cheap) and give that a go. I'll update the thread with whether it solves the problem!
Cheers, Mat.
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Dr. Bob
Moderator
Australia
6593 Posts |
Posted - 05/20/2007 : 02:08:11
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Hi Mat Grant
have you tried to run your set up without the GT-5?
I have (two) GT-3's set up identically,
One of them just kills all of the tone & feel of any guitar I put into it.
The second one, is just magic, it lives up to all the hype, that I have read about them.
It's such a stark difference, it's almost unbelievable, I have looked at every setting on both including the ROM version, they are identical in every way, except for the fact, that the one of them sounds really bad.
I have tried it with lots of different guitars & amps, and it's bad sounding on all of them.
The bad one, was the one I purchased first, massive disappointment.
As a Tech & musician, I was unable to fathom, what all the hype & great comments-reviews about it, were all about.
About 2-3 years later, I reluctantly bought another one, as part of a Batch of pedals & multi-effects.
I convinced myself, that I would use it for parts, or maybe just sell off both on Evilbay.
Months later,
One rainy afternoon, after deciding to sell it off, I plugged it in, & gave it a once over.
Well to my surprise, this one sounded so remarkably different, that I played it for about 3 hours, trying out all the settings.
It was so different, I dug the other one out of storage, & did an A-B test on both, guess what, the first one still sounded dead.
I hope you can see where I'm going with all of this?
Basically, try your set up without it for a gig or two.
See if any of your other pedals my be changing the tone,
I know the Crybaby is a prime culprit.
There has been a few discussions, about the TU-2 sucking tone as well.
And on the subject of venues:
Venues with parallel floors & ceilings are always troublesome as well, you will find that there will be a few frequencies, that just sound awful, the sound guy should be able to tame these for you a little.
The same goes for hard reflective walls, these create short slap-back echoes, that can drive you to drink, even more.
A large crowd can help overcome this problem, as they help to break up the standing waves, & the area of the room or venue.
Regards Dr. Bob
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Mat Grant
Copper Member
United Kingdom
25 Posts |
Posted - 05/20/2007 : 09:41:33
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Hi,
Yes I have another system, it's a rack system, Nady radio, TC2290, seymour duncan valve preamp, Kenton GS switcher, TC G major, Hush IICX (never gets used but there in case)
This tends to be used on the bigger gigs, I use the pedal board as it's more portable, and cheaper so I'm happier to leave it in a van.
So it might just be because it's louder, and sometimes I use 2 amps, I have a vox climax (looks like an AC30 - but sounds more Marshally - 4xel34)
I don't think the GT5 per say is really ruining the tone, or the TU2 - I forgot to say I use a strat with EMG pickups, they sound good but I got them more to do with the fact that they don't buzz under lights, and don't squeal. Plus I have a samson radio mic bolted into the pedal board.
Cheers, Mat.
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Boss PQ4 or GE7
