headroom

[The Rossness]

Does anyone enjoy headroom on overdriven modules? Recently, I've been dialing the gain back on my Salvado Deluxe and using it as a lead module. I think it sounds really good and has a great feel to it. Before I started dialing the gain back, I had it next to my JF EVT prototype and it was doing equal duty as a rhythm/ lead module as was the aforementioned 5150 and both had their gain cranked. Now I'm running my RM100 like this: MatchVox> Camerock> Salvado. I get acoustic and grit from the MV, and use it's headroom coupled with some light OD to produce soft melodic whispers of sound and motion (hows that for a description?). The Camerock is my Rhythm channel and I leave the Salvado in the third slot for lead work. Also, if need be, I can use a OD with the Camerock to really boost/ compress it for leads.

I like gain and all, but I feel like I can get these great tones if I dial it back, run the volumes on the mods and master volume on the amp pretty hot. Anyone else like doing this?

 

[djd100]

Assuming you mean dialing the guitar output back then sure, that's a common technique since the beginning, especially if a passive humbucker guitar is wired 50's style which is how many famous vintage sounds were created (50's wiring is having the tone pot hanging off the volume pot's wiper rather than it's input, which gives more interaction and reduced treble loss when dialing back).

Many pups will minimize their resonant peak and provide a flatter but lower signal when dialed back.

 

[joey_truelove]

If wanting more headroom in the circuit then try those JJ long-plates for pre-amps. They never quite seem to break up at all.

 

[Kapo_Polenton]

I'm old school.. never run my gains that high. Gain is moderate on module so that i can roll back volume for a dirty clean and two diff OD's for whatever is needed. A little more definition and sustain, bad monkey. More attack and gain, Zakk wylde od. Neither of the gains on those OD's exceed 9 pm.The layered approach is very versatile. I play my Mr. Scary module on 1 pm on the gain dial and right now my Friedman brahma + a boost is all i use.

 

[wakeguitar]

what? I run my gain at 11!!!

 

[Bukak65]

I run my gains at about half and back off on the module volume, push the master as high as I can. Running your gain at 10 thins your tone. Depending on the venue I either point my amp on a 45 deg across the stage (big stage) or put a plexiglass v in front of the 4X12 (small stage). Mic 2 different speakers since I have a X pattern in my cab blending the speakers nicely. It pushes the amp real hard and I get tons of headroom. Its real beefy. Shortens the tube life but it's real Beefy.

 

[Jaded Faith]

I personally tend to run my gains fairly low and have really grown to appreciate the dynamics of the instrument as I have gotten older. I'll usually have gains higher on a mods low gain modes and vice versa for higher gain modes. There is a difference in both techniques, so try it if you haven't already.

On a module like the Trilogy I would probably work in the Rhythm channel happily all day.

 

[alowerdeep]

yeah,I find an amp is most quiet and sounds best with the gain at a manageable levelll..use enough to give the tone it's sustain and color...too musch really loses an amps identity as far as the tone os concerned,makes it sound very muddled too...Seesm to be the case with a majority of modern amps recordings and vids Ive seen...most just crank the gain and it takes alot of the amps character out of the tone

 

[Jaded Faith]

yeah,I find an amp is most quiet and sounds best with the gain at a manageable levelll..use enough to give the tone it's sustain and color...too musch really loses an amps identity as far as the tone os concerned,makes it sound very muddled too...Seesm to be the case with a majority of modern amps recordings and vids Ive seen...most just crank the gain and it takes alot of the amps character out of the tone

Very well said and I couldn't agree more.

 

[djd100]

+1!

yeah,I find an amp is most quiet and sounds best with the gain at a manageable levelll..use enough to give the tone it's sustain and color...too musch really loses an amps identity as far as the tone os concerned,makes it sound very muddled too...Seesm to be the case with a majority of modern amps recordings and vids Ive seen...most just crank the gain and it takes alot of the amps character out of the tone

Very well said and I couldn't agree more.

 

[Kapo_Polenton]

That def. does not seem to be the norm around here! Most guys are into the brutalz tones and are total gain whores..

 

[iekobrid]

I'll usually have gains higher on a mods low gain modes and vice versa for higher gain modes. There is a difference in both techniques, so try it if you haven't already.

That's one of my favourite things about the 59 Platinum -- switching from 2-stage to 3-stage mode and turning the gain down can result in the same amount of overdrive but a distinctly different tone and feel. Lately I'm loving it in 3-stage with gain down around 9 o'clock.

 

[Big Daddy]

I'm with you Rossness, I like to have a little in reserve in case I am in a REALLY bad mood LOL

On my main distorted tone I usually set my gain around 1 or maybe 2 o'clock because I like the way the amp reacts better for both leads and chunky rhythms. Although I must admit, my gain at 1 or 2 o'clock is more gain than pretty much any stock module I have ever tried except my Mamba SE and JF Erect. I LOVE the way the Trilogy sounds in I or III mode, lead channel, mids dumped, gain around 2 o'clock. Just brutal

"soft melodic whispers of sound and motion " Really? Dude that's awesome :lol: Sounds like one of those sexy ads for Godiva chocolate LOL thanks bro, you made my morning :lol: LOL

H