so, after a few more rehearsals and a bunch of live shows i can add the following:
- generally speaking, the fact that it's a single channel amp doesn't bother me the least. i keep the TS on all the time for rhythms and leads, place dd7 in the fx loop for lead and clean parts, and just disengage the TS and roll back the gtr volume for cleans. works like a charm.
- i like the fact that the amp is very dynamic, raw, and packs a lot of power and punch. it cuts through the mix like crazy, not even close to anything i've heard before. the 5150 and JVM can both be pretty devastating in a live situation when dialed correctly, but they almost vanish against the 800. which is nice
- now, i don't like that i have to rely heavily on pedal gain to get into my desired gain territory. i'm not using a lot of gain (JVM OD2 orange at 1,5/10, no boost), but the 2203 is hardly in hard rock territory even with the gain dimed. consequently, the TS has the level dimed and gain around 3/10, which just adds an undesireable pedal-style coating to the gain structure....
- moreover, it's just too damn bright. my settings: presence 0, bass 7, mid 7, treble 3, master 3, preamp 10, high input. with these settings the brightness is somewhat OK, but it starts to sound a tad muffled, and when i add some presence or treble that fuzz reappears.
interestingly, that fuzzy quality completely vanishes once the whole band starts playing. sounds pretty good actually....but every time i start a song, play a break etc i kinda frown about the buzzy tone.....
to be honest, the jvm has much nicer mids and treble, but it doesn't even come close in terms of punch dynamics and openness/rawness.
any ideas?
i'm basically looking for less fuzzy buzzy gain, MORE gain so i don't have to push it as hard with the TS, while still retaining dynamics to get a clean-ish sound.
btw, cabs used: marshall 1960AV, 1960 A/B full stack, framus dragon with v30s. especially the 1960AV usually sounds great with any head, but doesn't convince me with the 800.
- generally speaking, the fact that it's a single channel amp doesn't bother me the least. i keep the TS on all the time for rhythms and leads, place dd7 in the fx loop for lead and clean parts, and just disengage the TS and roll back the gtr volume for cleans. works like a charm.
- i like the fact that the amp is very dynamic, raw, and packs a lot of power and punch. it cuts through the mix like crazy, not even close to anything i've heard before. the 5150 and JVM can both be pretty devastating in a live situation when dialed correctly, but they almost vanish against the 800. which is nice
- now, i don't like that i have to rely heavily on pedal gain to get into my desired gain territory. i'm not using a lot of gain (JVM OD2 orange at 1,5/10, no boost), but the 2203 is hardly in hard rock territory even with the gain dimed. consequently, the TS has the level dimed and gain around 3/10, which just adds an undesireable pedal-style coating to the gain structure....
- moreover, it's just too damn bright. my settings: presence 0, bass 7, mid 7, treble 3, master 3, preamp 10, high input. with these settings the brightness is somewhat OK, but it starts to sound a tad muffled, and when i add some presence or treble that fuzz reappears.
interestingly, that fuzzy quality completely vanishes once the whole band starts playing. sounds pretty good actually....but every time i start a song, play a break etc i kinda frown about the buzzy tone.....
to be honest, the jvm has much nicer mids and treble, but it doesn't even come close in terms of punch dynamics and openness/rawness.
any ideas?
i'm basically looking for less fuzzy buzzy gain, MORE gain so i don't have to push it as hard with the TS, while still retaining dynamics to get a clean-ish sound.
btw, cabs used: marshall 1960AV, 1960 A/B full stack, framus dragon with v30s. especially the 1960AV usually sounds great with any head, but doesn't convince me with the 800.
