Pedal through an overdriven amp

[Scooter13]

You'll note I said turn gain down in the same breath...

[AmpShop]

Could it be you just need to turn the gain down and turn the power section up? Usually tightens things up.

Wait.... Power amp distortion in a JCM800 is ANYTHING but tight.

Oh really? I was generalising with tongue in cheek. I've never played an actual 800. Plexi, 900 and 2000 yes, 800 nope, only modelled.

Same power section in a Plexi and an 800. Not the tightest but far from the loosest.

[AmpShop]

You'll note I said turn gain down in the same breath...

Yep, and turning down the gain control will reduce drive to the poweramp too, as well as reducing saturation/mush in the preamp. I thought it was good advice

[sopachrga]

It's not going to result in a tight "modern" rock tone though.

[AmpShop]

I've heard people get some pretty decent tight modern sounds of out of JCM800 2203's/2204's using high-gain/metal pedals and the gain set low. Considering that a lot of modern high-gain amps are essentially a JCM800 with an extra gain stage or two, it's definitely doable.

[sopachrga]

Yeah if the whole setup can be run quiet enough and mic'd up to avoid adding too much of the amp's original overdrive/crunch back in it might happen.
Still it's going to be damn hard to stop a JCM800 sounding like a JCM800 with out any modifications.

[AmpShop]

Yeah if the whole setup can be run quiet enough and mic'd up to avoid adding too much of the amp's original overdrive/crunch back in it might happen.
Still it's going to be damn hard to stop a JCM800 sounding like a JCM800 with out any modifications.

For sure, but sounding like a JCM800 and a modern tight overdrive sound shouldn't be considered mutually exclusive, IMO.

A JCM800 (with good tubes, filter caps, speakers etc) driven by a good OD pedal that adds gain while keeping the low-end tight will still sound like an 800, sure, but if dialed in right should also be able to do modern tight overdrive.

This clip for example - audio quality is poor, but still - OD808 into a 2203, pretty decent tight modern overdrive going on - start at 1:40:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9JNmfh-0 ... be&t=1m40s[/youtube]

A Friedman HBE for example is essentially a JCM800 with an extra gain stage and some low frequency stripped out - so here we have a similar approach, but built into the amp instead. I'm not saying OD pedal + JCM800 = exactlythesameasFriedman, but it shows a strong Marshall-esque voicing that still qualifies as, IMO, tight and modern - start at 1:50:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ue9Br-P5 ... be&t=1m53s[/youtube]

WombleAssist Unlocked

[Slowy]

This clip for example - audio quality is poor, but still - OD808 into a 2203, pretty decent tight modern overdrive going on:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9JNmfh-0 ... be&t=1m40s

Fuck me, that's an ugly sound!

IMHO YMMV etc etc.....

[AmpShop]

A higher power in the NZG universe keeps editing my links into embedded videos, which means they lose the start time I chose ... so that we don't all have to sit through too much ugly sound

[Aquila Rossa]

That BE mod reminds me of clips of the Rockstah mod, but with slightly more gain. Extra gain stage is not the extra tube thing is it? Is it switchable out of the circuit?

As far as tight bass goes, comes a point where it overlaps with the bass guitarist and could be lost if the mid's growl thing is too absent. Could work, but depends on style of music i guess. I used to love the metal chug of muted lower strings, but tbh these days it kind of annoys and bores me if it is just that.

[AmpShop]

That BE mod reminds me of clips of the Rockstah mod, but with slightly more gain. Extra gain stage is not the extra tube thing is it? Is it switchable out of the circuit?

As far as tight bass goes, comes a point where is overlaps with the bass guitarist and could be lost if the mid's growl thing is too absent. Could work, but depends on style of music i guess. I used to love the metal chug of muted lower strings, but tbh these days it kind of annoys and bores me if it is just that.

The HBE is an extra gain stage, the BE is the amount of gain stages as JCM800, Rockstah etc.

[Aquila Rossa]

So no extra tube for HBE? I mean like JCM 800 has an extra gain stage over a Plexi, but same number of tubes (just uses the other half of the V1 tube or something). What is Jose mod? Just cascade, or more to it?

[AiRdAd]

What speakers are you using with the jcm800?

[willow13]

what exactly is the "modern sound" you are after

[Aquila Rossa]

What speakers are you using with the jcm800?

you asking me? if so, i use a bunch of old 75s at this stage. Good all rounder. Malmsteen makes them sound pretty good too, so i tend to not agree with the bad wrap they get. well, at least they are not as bad sounding as some people make out. i do admit hearing my cab next to an identical cab loaded with G12H-30s and feeling slightly inadequate though