Topic: Tone Help....

Hey guys, I'm a gigging musician/singer playing a minimum twice a week to 500+. My issue is that the rooms we are in require a quieter house overall. SO, my 100 watt amp is a no go. I even tried an attenuator and just cant get to the sweet spot with it. Here is my question and I know it may sound sacreligious to all of us purists of tone, but sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do to cross a hurdle.

Modeler! Yes, I said modeler! Forgive me! Ok, let's move on. I have a practice rig that is comprised of a Fender Mustang Floor Multi/Modeler board, and im running it in this chain:

Gibson 59 reissue Les Paul--Presonus Tube-Pre V2--Fender Mustang Floor--Tech 21 Power Engine 60 with Eminence Cannabis Rex speaker replacing the Celestion 70/80. One line from Fender Mustang Floor is to Tech 21 the other direct to house. The truth is I have found a truly beefy great tone from the British 80's JCM800 model in the pedal, and running through the Tube-pre added tube warmth/Saturation/sustain to its overall body. It feels very Joe-Like in its shape and sound and I truly enjoy it.

The skinny: I am wanting this to be usable in the venue situation, but Im just not trusting my ears right now as I am really wanting this to work and may be hoping beyond reality, so Im asking all my brothers-in-Axe to please listen to the soundcloud clips Im posting later this week and give your ides of the tone. Im wanting to get as close to Joe's tone as much as possible with this limited rig. I know I will never be dead on with what I'm using, but I'm asking you all to give me not opinions, but true tweak feedback. I will be recording the room tone as a whole so you can hear room nuance and background sound like a normal venue. Ill also be sharing pics of the settings and cabs, etc...Thanks everyone.

Tone is better when a team builds it!

Sir Jason Kerr

Re: Tone Help....

With the processor, youre not going to get the ballsy clean headroom. for bigger venues, the amp can be miked no problem.
Do you play with your vol and tone rolled back on the guitar?

- Nic from Detroit... posting on JB's Forum since 6-2-2006
Ask me about my handwound Great Lakes Guitar Pickups
Since 2010, Bonamassa fans have taken advantage of my JB friend discount = my cost + shipping. cool

Re: Tone Help....

I usually manipulate my volume and tone knob throughout the set. Im only on 10 on volume when soloing. I've used baffles on my amps, and even tried a fully closed baffle box, but it just cant get there in these quiet venues. Once I post the tone, you can hear where im at so far. The Tech 21 power engine 60 with the Eminence Cannabis Rex is a surprise game changer for me. What a speaker those are! The tech 21 is just a power amp with no preamp. The presonus tube pre and musfloor make up my pre signal.

Sir Jason Kerr

Re: Tone Help....

I'd be seriously looking into just buying a cheaper/smaller amp.

Something in the region of 20w should do it. Check out the Jet City JCA20H (there's a combo version available also). Great amps. Will probably be more than adequate (mic'd of course). I've got one. I love it. I gig it and use it at home. It's plenty loud but tame enough for home use.

Re: Tone Help....

I have a 15 watt combo and an 18 watt plexi I use for the smaller gigs. I had the Tech 21, it's ok, but it's been gone a while, and I dont miss it.

Re: Tone Help....

Hey guys, trying to post a soundcloud link for the tone issue im needing some wisdom on? It says I cant post a link? Thoughts?

Sir Jason Kerr

Re: Tone Help....

edenlevi2 wrote:

Hey guys, trying to post a soundcloud link for the tone issue im needing some wisdom on? It says I cant post a link? Thoughts?

I believe you need to have a certain number before you can add links. Think it's 10.

Re: Tone Help....

you can post the URL without the http://

Play some cards & drink black coffee,
How I’d love to see you smile....
JBLP Std Goldtop
2015 R9 LP

Re: Tone Help....

Thanks guys, here is the link. It's just a sound of the room to a backing track of Joe playing with Warren Haynes I believe. But, the sound is surprisingly good to my ears for a modeler.

Les Paul > Presonus tube-Pre v2 > Fender mustang floor Marshall amp setting > Tech 21 power engine 60

soundcloud.com/jasonk931/bonamassa-slow-blues-test-sound

Sir Jason Kerr

Re: Tone Help....

The sound you hear in the background is joe laying down the goodness. Mine is the heavier front sound. Please disregard the playing as it was a quick record and link.

Sir Jason Kerr

Re: Tone Help....

if you like your amp and your tone i dont think you will be happy going the route of a modeler live......you have options.....in addition to an attenuator you can buy a plexi-shield to go in front of the cabs like joe does......i have seen artists turn their cabs backwards and face the back of the building versus the front of the house.

palmer makes incredible speaker emulators that would allow you still use YOUR amp with YOUR tone and send a direct signal to the PA with no volume issues........and for less than $700.

Re: Tone Help....

link to the Palmer

http://www.fullcompass.com/product/4277 … oC7grw_wcB

Re: Tone Help....

+1 for the Palmer or any similar unit.

Amp: Firebird Musical Amplifiers
Guitars:62 LP SG , 02 FB VII, JB FB I, 76 Electra Omega, 64 Firebird V, 73 LPC, 61 Custom Tele, 59 and 60 Melody Maker
Effects: Mythos Chupacabra, Strymon Deco/Flint