New 5150 + OD-820 tone

[Sly]

Hey guys,

I'v been doing some guitar tests yesterday.
Chain was : ESP Eclipse with EMG pickups => Maxon OD-820 => Bogner Uberkab
The cab was miced with a 57 in front of the upper right V30 speaker. Mic pre was a Vintech X81 into Lavry AD10 converter, I had the 50 Hz low cut engaged on the Vintech.
I programmed the drums for the song "Food For The Gods" by In Flames, and we recorded the first riffs. Tuning is not perfect but I think the tone is cool !
The tones are EQed and panned 90% on each side, double tracked.

We did one test using the lead channel :
Sly_5150_ESPEc_lead_EQ
And another with the rythm channel (different settings on the Maxon though) :
Sly_5150_ESPEc_rythm_EQ

I had to EQ the low mids with ApEQ quite a lot (300-800 Hz area), I think the tubes I'm using in the power amp are a bit too midrangey (JJ 6L6 tubes), I can post the raw tracks if you want. I'd like to have your opinion on this. Or maybe a bias issue ?

 

[Sora01]

sounds awesome, i like the lead channel the best to be honest, just sounds like its got more bite.

As for the low mids, i also have the same problem (same valves) not sure if theres a way to fix it.

 

[Sly]

Yeah thanks, I love the lead channel too, but I'm sure I can get something better out of the rythm channel

I heard the JJs are more midrangey and less gainy than Sovtek or Svetlana tubes for instance, they sound amazing but maybe a bit too warm to fit well in the mix. I have to try other power amp tubes.

 

[Metaltastic]

I DEFINITELY prefer the rhythm, it's way more full to my ears (assuming you didn't change the mic position between the tests) - guitars sound good, though too much gain IMO though, and that snare is kinda painful; all attack and nothing else The click on the kick is kind of annoying too, doesn't feel like there's much body behind it. Good playing though!

 

[Sly]

ahah yes the drums were programmed quickly, didn't spend much time on them...
Download the links again, I changed the drums a bit and achieved a tiny better guitar EQ, I love how the lead channel sounds now. But the rythm is awesome too, more growl !

 

[Sly]

I tried a different EQ, I tried to cut less and keep more of the raw take, here are the results :

Lead channel :
Sly_5150_ESPEc_lead_lessEQ

Rythm channel :
Sly_5150_ESPEc_rythm_lessEQ

I prefer the sound of the rythm channel like this, it seems to be a bit tighter and it's easier to keep the low mids.
As for the lead channel, I prefer my first version (first post).

I guess a part of the problem is that I'm using the C3 multiband compressor to tame the low mids but it seems to sound a bit lame. Anyone having a good C3 setting or recommanding a good cheap mulitband comp ?
I'm using ApEQ too, which is not the best EQ plugin, it could sound better with a better EQ.

 

[poidaobi]

Can you post the raw tracks Sly.

Settings also.

 

[Sly]

Hey Peter, yes I'll post the raw tracks when I'm back home.

Settings for the lead channel samples were :

Pre gain 4
Bass 6
Mids 2,5
Treble 4,5
Resonance 7
Presence 7

OD-820 settings : Drive 9 o'clock, Tone 11 o'clock, Balance 12 o'clock

Rythm channel settings :

Pre gain 6
Bass 6
Mids 2,5
Treble 4,5
Resonance 7
Presence 7

OD-820 settings : Drive 12 o'clock, Tone 1 o'clock, Balance 1 o'clock

 

[theBlackLOBSTERmurder]

sounds exactly like at the gates!! I like it! I think it would sound much fuller quad tracked though

 

[Erik Monsonis]

I'd go with the lead channel with a tad less gain

 

[Sly]

And another one :
Only For The Weak

Same guitar, same amp, same settings, rythm channel, and a bit more mids in there (mids on 3 instead of 2,5). Sorry for the loudness.

 

[Sly]

So here is the raw take for the lead channel

I achieved a more natural/less fizzy EQed lead version

 

[Sly]

I did it : ordered four SED "Winged C" 6L6 tubes to put in the power amp

 

[Djabthrash]

The "Sly_5150_ESPEc_rythm_lessEQ" et the "raw_lead" clip sounded very good to me.

 

[Sly]

Thanks ! I still think it's a tad muddy in the 120-800 Hz area, I just ordred SED "Winged c" tubes, should sound a bit tighter I guess.

 

[J.DavisNJ]

Sly,

I'm quite surprised at how middy the unprocessed track is! Have you experimented with the mids even lower on the amp?

-Joe

 

[Sly]

Joe, I never tried to go under 2,5 but I think I should. Anyway JJ tubes are known to produce a lots of mids, they sound very warm and thick, which is good but a bit too much when you need depth in a mix. Can't wait to receive the new tubes !

 

[J.DavisNJ]

Joe, I never tried to go under 2,5 but I think I should. Anyway JJ tubes are known to produce a lots of mids, they sound very warm and thick, which is good but a bit too much when you need depth in a mix. Can't wait to receive the new tubes !

Sly,

Yeah, experiment with that mid knob! I was also worried about setting the mids that low as I HATE scooped mids, but the 5150 simply has a middy nature to it's tone. The mid knob and presence affect the tone of that amp so much! even little increments.

Let us know when the new tubes arrive...

-Joe

 

[GarethSE]

Sly,

Yeah, experiment with that mid knob! I was also worried about setting the mids that low as I HATE scooped mids, but the 5150 simply has a middy nature to it's tone. The mid knob and presence affect the tone of that amp so much! even little increments.

Let us know when the new tubes arrive...

-Joe

Aye I keep my mids at like 0.7 now :|:|:|
STILL sounds crystal fucking clear, it's actually spooky.
Tons of growl and plenty of clarity.
Shit's good yo.

 

[GarethSE]

Could I get pics of the mic position also Sly?
I'm gonna spend a day honing my mic placement soon and I could do with a starting point.

The Rhythm Channel clip with less EQ sounds fucking amazing by the way. Seriously fucking huge.
Nice job