First heavy module?

[eedude]

My first MTS head is in the mail, and it has no modules. The first module to acquire is a first shot at my main rhythm dirty.

Her's my basic criteria, offer your module suggestions please.
1) Good rich harmonic content
2) Tight bass
3) Medium to high gain (SLO'ish, more than JCM800, less than 5150)
4) Sweat enough for some lead work (not too thin).
5) I use standard tuning

Thanks!

 

[crankyrayhanky]

Scary

not just a plug for my classifieds, the stock Scary is way cool too

 

[JKD]

My first thought was Scary it fits all of your criteria although some have found it a little thin on leads.

My only caution is that you said heavy in the title and as much as I try to think of this module as heavy, it's really more of an 80s metal voiced module..not that it couldn't do heavier stuff...but it's not necessarily what I think of when I think heavy...

So when you say 'heavy' what music are you talking about?

 

[eedude]

hmm, lynch tone is very good. But 80's tone is pase'. So when I mean heavy it's: recto, Uber, slo, .. sort of. Not Lee Jackson

 

[crankyrayhanky]

Scary definitely oozes 80s....perhaps Grail? That is George's "modern" tone- and stock it is very good out of the box. Grail is Recto-ish and heavy. I think there may be a modded one in the classifieds on the cheap too for you to check out (lol, no it's not mine!)

 

[Jack Napalm]

I would say look for a 1086.

 

[Mattfig]

Salvado Deluxe...

 

[walshinator666]

I would say sl+ or ultra xl.For the ultra xl just turn the gain down abit.

 

[JKD]

First heavy module..I'd probably do in this order (cheapest to most expensive)...list is based purely on modules I've played/owned a lot:

Ultra or UltraXL - very heavy, can be a bit noisy but is cheap high gainer

Grail - no mods needed, good recto tone

Gigmods Dual Mode Recto - very nice improvement over stock and you get the Orange mode, which is killer!

Gigmods SLO - very nice take on this tone....can't remember what features it comes with but am sure Pete could add a gain/saturation switch. I preferred mine to the Salvation one, it just felt better to play..more natural or something.

Salvation Deadplate - few more options than the Gigmods and has a little different/more modern feel...can be had with red/orange voicing, noise gate, tight switches, blast and the works

Salvation Salvado/Deluxe - basically an SLO with a bunch of features, including the higher gain if you need it.

Don't overlook an Angel if you want super-tight, modern feel.

There's also the Mamba and the Chupa (but I've not owned them)...both of which promise to be super high gainers.

EDIT: reason I don't list 1086/Gigmods 1087 is that I really didn't like 'em...

 

[speedemon]

for high gain of today, you mean Rectifier or Engl. Salvation has an Engl module, the modified Rectumfire modules should work well. Don't forget to buy good 12ax7s.


Good luck!

 

[audiomidijace]

I've seen two Dragon modules available here and on Ebay. Seems like they were priced under $200. This is my favorite high gain module period. Tons of gain and you can dial in classic and modern metal tones. Lots of switches that really help you dial in your sound. Get one and you'll be happy you did.
Jace

 

[eedude]

So I got a 1086 for no other reason than it was available for a good price.

It actually has less gain that I would have expected (less than my Jsx). My initial reaction was too sterile. But, that's compared to the Jsx, to which my ears have been listing to for years. I played it again today and this module is super tight and chunk. Put my boss blues driver in front and it's really heavy but still very tight. Allows for articulate work zero mud.

I may mod it for more gain and mess with the tightness. I need to get an Ultra next. The PCB on the 1086 is the same as an ultra (from best that I can tell). Since the ultra is not a signature module, it seems like a good mod candidate.

 

[crankyrayhanky]

agreed, that 1086 should have more gain on tap. I thought it was plenty tight though

 

[Mattfig]

Just have to add once more....The Salvado DLX would do everything you want and would probably end up saving you cash in the end as it has MANY useful tonal options all the way from a nice chimey clean to a modern Recto...In between is perfect Marshall and SLO goodness...Trust me when I say that it can cover the same ground as 4 or 5 stock modules + do it considerably better...Word on the street is that there may be one in the classifieds soon - and no, it isn't mine...Mine is staying put! Keep your eyes on the classfieds...

Otherwise, as Jace said the Dragon is really good and priced considerably cheaper than Salvado Dlx - has awesome HIGH GAIN tone just not as many tonal options...The switches are useful but they basically give you several really heavy options....I love mine....And if you want strictly high gain - this one will do it well...

My last suggestion would be to take a look at a Gigmods KH-3...This module holds up surprisingly well against many, more expensive mods...Has a great high gain tone and is totally usable all the way to 11...

Good luck!

 

[eedude]

... I thought it was plenty tight though

yeah, maybe too tight is what I meant to communicate.. I may loosen it up just a little. The 1086 has 0.001uF coupling the first (RM100 common) stage to the module. If I dink, I'll start there.. there is also a lot of room to add more gain... I'm not sure though if that's what I want, using the blues driver is an acceptable alternative for me.. and that gives me my less gain / more gain action.

 

[dcg8]

Recto mod by Dave Friedman is wicked

 

[tylerfreak]

call me crazy but a stock XTC with the gain on about 3.5-4 will give you serious JCM 800 punch and grind that many "high" gain modules like the Scary just cant offer.

 

[chacal]

call me crazy but a stock XTC with the gain on about 3.5-4 will give you serious JCM 800 punch and grind that many "high" gain modules like the Scary just cant offer.

You're not, I was about to suggest it too. I got mr scary but indeed it may sound too thin for heavy rithm sound. The XTC can do it all, crunch, rythm, lead.

 

[David_Kessler]

Any specific recorded tones you could compare the XTC to?