How do you boost volume on a NMV amp for solos?

[twistedthoughts]

Let's say you have an FX loop. You crank the amp up to get some fat tones, but at that point the power amp is clipping / compressing. So if you whack a volume boost in the loop, it will just push the power amp further into saturation rather than give a volume boost, no?

So how is it done? How did Ian Moss do it in the old Chisel days? I know you can adjust guitar volume, but that would leave you with a half-cocked rhythm tone and awesome lead tone.

I ask as I occassionally get a big Plexi GAS stiffy, but I don't get how that amp could be used at a gig without being able to boost volume.

[AmpShop]

If the power amp is already clipping at your rhythm setting, then yeah, you'll just push the P.I. and output tubes further into clipping, with not much perceptible volume boost.

A boost at selective frequencies can do a better job - boost somewhere around the 1K to 2K mark can help solos jump out of the mix - even more so if it's also cutting low frequencies.

Also depends on band context - if you're the only guitarist, the drop out of the frequencies your rhythm parts were occupying will naturally help the solo. If there's two guitarists, often rhythm guitarist's choice of tone and actual guitar part can help (or hinder).

Also, at Ian Moss level, and even more humble circumstances, getting the solos on top of the mix is usually handled F.O.H

[TBB Flamey]

If you are mic'd up, you could run a boost pedal on the MIC? maybe? I really have no idea just thought I'd chuck it out there

[jeremyb]

Could you put an EQ pedal in the loop to achieve that Ryan?

[AmpShop]

Could you put an EQ pedal in the loop to achieve that Ryan?

Right on - in the loop, or straight into the front (IMHO the latter often works better).

[twistedthoughts]

Whoa, cool. Thanks.

Might try this whole bass cut / treble boost thing at the next gig in place of my usual volume boosts. Cheers!

[druz15]

Let's say you have an FX loop. You crank the amp up to get some fat tones, but at that point the power amp is clipping / compressing. So if you whack a volume boost in the loop, it will just push the power amp further into saturation rather than give a volume boost, no?

So how is it done? How did Ian Moss do it in the old Chisel days? I know you can adjust guitar volume, but that would leave you with a half-cocked rhythm tone and awesome lead tone.

I ask as I occassionally get a big Plexi GAS stiffy, but I don't get how that amp could be used at a gig without being able to boost volume.

I do it with my Plexi. Bearing in mind mine has a PPIMV, although it doesn't really affect how the boost works. It does get a bit more saturated but it also kind of jumps a little bit in volume and kinda just cuts through the mix more. That's with an LPB-1 clone

[AmpShop]

Whoa, cool. Thanks.

Might try this whole bass cut / treble boost thing at the next gig in place of my usual volume boosts. Cheers!

Just watch you don't cut bass too much, particularly if on a Strat - you still want the pick attack to have a bit of thump to it

[mr_sooty]

Also, at Ian Moss level, and even more humble circumstances, getting the solos on top of the mix is usually handled F.O.H

Yeah our FOH guys rarely notice that the guitarist is playing a solo. I don't trust them to be my boost, I trust my MI Audio Boost n Buff.

[AmpShop]

Also, at Ian Moss level, and even more humble circumstances, getting the solos on top of the mix is usually handled F.O.H

Yeah our FOH guys rarely notice that the guitarist is playing a solo. I don't trust them to be my boost, I trust my MI Audio Boost n Buff.

It's the soundguy equivalent of the cameraman who films a closeup of the bass player's left hand the for the entire duration of the guitar solo.

[AmpShop]

Also, at Ian Moss level, and even more humble circumstances, getting the solos on top of the mix is usually handled F.O.H

Yeah our FOH guys rarely notice that the guitarist is playing a solo. I don't trust them to be my boost, I trust my MI Audio Boost n Buff.

It's the soundguy equivalent of the cameraman who films a closeup of the bass player's left hand the for the entire duration of the guitar solo.

And yeah, to be fair to the cameraman, that's often more of a directorial thing. Either way, it's a winner.

[rickenbackerkid]

This is why so many dude still use a Tubescreamer, it cuts some low end, boosts some 2K, and gives you a bit more 'cut'.

[wilsa]

This is why so many dude still use a Tubescreamer, it cuts some low end, boosts some 2K, and gives you a bit more 'cut'.

+1 to this.

I have a Clone of a Fulltone RTO (which in a sense is a refined tubescreamer from what I can tell), and often use this to boost for solos. At first I didn't think it would work as with no band behind me I couldn't hear an increase in volume, but then playing with a band you can hear the lead cutting through a bit more when it is on.

[twistedthoughts]

OK, more questions:

How do these multiple inputs work?

From what I gather, you plug your guitar into the top left input, then put a patch cable from the top right to the bottom left. That will give you both channels.

Or you can plug into any of the inputs individually.

So if I wanted to gig this amp and get different sounds, could I do that with an ABY box? Like A = clean channel, Y = Both, B = Dirty? Does it even work that way? If so, where I put the inputs and how does the amp know which one I want? Wherever I look on the net, people just seem to assume that you know this stuff. A link to some sort of guide would be appreciated if anybody knows of one.

Or am I just barking up the wrong tree with trying to use a Plexi for gigs that need a range of tones?

[AmpShop]

OK, more questions:

How do these multiple inputs work?

From what I gather, you plug your guitar into the top left input, then put a patch cable from the top right to the bottom left. That will give you both channels.

Or you can plug into any of the inputs individually.

So if I wanted to gig this amp and get different sounds, could I do that with an ABY box? Like A = clean channel, Y = Both, B = Dirty? Does it even work that way? If so, where I put the inputs and how does the amp know which one I want? Wherever I look on the net, people just seem to assume that you know this stuff. A link to some sort of guide would be appreciated if anybody knows of one.

Or am I just barking up the wrong tree with trying to use a Plexi for gigs that need a range of tones?

Yep, you can do the A/B or A/B/Y box thing into the two channels to get a 2-ch/3-ch set up.

Patching into two channels (or using a Y-cable, which is slightly better) is the standard way to run both channels at once.

The left inputs are bright channel, high and low gain (top to bottom). The right inputs are normal channel, hi and low gain.

You could definitely get a good set up with an A/B box, running the bright channel as your dirty channel and the normal channel as your clean channel ... though personally I'd probably install a bright cap on the normal channel's volume pot, otherwise that channel is too dark for my taste.