We all know that in the world of guitars and amps, there are lots of myths and half truths that are bandied about as gospel. One claim that has interested me for a while is that a valve amp needs to be "opened up" for it to sound good, and/or that power amp distortion is somehow more "organic" sounding than preamp distortion, and I've often wondered how much truth there is to it.
A few years ago, I performed a bit of an experiment, in which I recorded my old Peavey Ultra 60 combo over the full range of its volume knob (and yes, it got bloody loud), and after normalising the signals to allow for the well-known phenomenon that a louder signal is generally perceived as sounding better, it seemed basically that the tone just got more bassy, until it started to sound like shit as the 6L6's distorted. This was done with an SM 57 by the way, which is not the most uncoloured of microphones of course, but still, it seemed to me that I could have achieved the same effect simply by tweaking the EQ.
Obviously that wasn't exactly a scientific way to go about things, but people must have analysed (in a non-subjective way e.g., with a spectral analyser) the signal coming out of an amp at different volumes, so do any of the more techy members know what is it that actually happens? And does it really ever sound "better", once the signals have been normalised, in a way that couldn't be achieved simply by tweaking the EQ?
Comments
Also, an output stage literally on 10 or "dimed" (bleurgh) is past the point of good tone usually. The output stage is then so unstable, distorted and compressed that the actual usable tone disappears. This happens more in some amps and less in others, but generally, everything set a bit below 10 or flat out yields better/clearer results.
I also think power amp overdrive is a bit overrated. It always has a weird swirly sound to me, with a bit of fuzz. I can use it and I like it. But I don't think "power amp on ten" is as desirable as everyone makes out. I usually find a bit of shove from the preamp on top of a cooking power section works the best.
But yes, due to all sorts of factors, the amp turned up a bit will always sound better.
Bandcamp
Spotify, Apple et al
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
If you want cone distortion they need to be pushed even further.
If you use a 4x12 or 2x12 then all the speakers are sharing the power coming out of the amp, so will not sound as driven as a single speaker on the same volume setting.
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
Just reading this post reminds me how much I miss playing through a cranked Marshall.
I remember reading a post on another forum where some people were saying that a kid didn't deserve the Marshall stack and SG he had because he wasn't a virtouso. Others piped up saying that you shouldn't deny a kid the feeling of playing an A chord through a cranked Marshall whilst learning to play because it is one of the best feelings in the world. I agree wholeheartedly.
Just reading this post reminds me how much I miss playing through a cranked Marshall.
I remember reading a post on another forum where some people were saying that a kid didn't deserve the Marshall stack and SG he had because he wasn't a virtouso. Others piped up saying that you shouldn't deny a kid the feeling of playing an A chord through a cranked Marshall whilst learning to play because it is one of the best feelings in the world. I agree wholeheartedly.
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I'm lucky to have had that experience.
A few others I think are equally as cool:
Cranked tweed deluxe (that feeling of, "Oh shit, is this going to blow up?!)
Cranked ac30 (I'm Brian May!)
Dual Rec up loud (I'm Linkin Park!)
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
Tits.