Question Amp Question: How do I get rid of the mids?

[eegor]

Hey everyone, I've got a problem. I'm playing my JP6 through a Blackstar HT-DISTX and a Fender Blues Jr., and there are way too many mids. I've scooped them down all the way on the amp and the pedal, but they are still very present. I've considered buying an EQ pedal to take them down on the pedal while still leaving them on the amp for cleans, but I don't have a lot of money. I know that my room combined with the position of my amp plays a role, but I don't know how different positions affect the tone.

Could someone possibly educate me in what different positions will do to the sound of my amp?

 

[gibson5413]

Hey everyone, I've got a problem. I'm playing my JP6 through a Blackstar HT-DISTX and a Fender Blues Jr., and there are way too many mids. I've scooped them down all the way on the amp and the pedal, but they are still very present. I've considered buying an EQ pedal to take them down on the pedal while still leaving them on the amp for cleans, but I don't have a lot of money. I know that my room combined with the position of my amp plays a role, but I don't know how different positions affect the tone.

Could someone possibly educate me in what different positions will do to the sound of my amp?

In regards to amp positioning, your ears need to be the judge. Try moving it around in the room, elevating the amp, sit it on different settings (something soft like a blanket or bed or hard like a concrete or wood floor).

I think your EQ idea would work well. Does your JP6 have the D-Sonic or the original bridge pickup? The original is a bit more scooped inherently. The D-Sonic (when I had a JP7 with it loaded) had more mids to my ears. Have you thought about switching pickups to something a bit more scooped? If you can somehow get a hold of one, try that.

 

[fsmith]

I just bought an MXR 10 band EQ and it works great in the effects loop of my Roadster.

 

[candid_x]

Are the offending mids present when you plug directly to your amp? Once you can isolate where it's coming from you can find a way to control the problem.

Maybe a 6L6 powered amp may be to your liking, since they're often more hi-fi sounding, compared to the mid emphasis of EL34's and some EL84's.

But if it's in your effects, well, that's what needs fixin'.

 

[D.K.]

Just my 2 cents - the Pets are VERY midheavy guitars (mostly the pickups, but also the body wood contribute to that)

If You look at Petrucci's amp settings on his official homepage, you'll see that he pretty much cuts his mids, ut his sound is still very prominent in the mids.

So, if You want a cutting scooped sound, or a razor-blade sharpness of Steve Vai's tone, You should aks Yourself if You are willing to modify a lot of Your equipment, or just change the pickups in the Pet (which I would not recommend - to me they make this guitar's tone so unique.)

 

[TNT]

I'm not a real big fan of a "pickup" designed to scoop mids. Only because you are putting constraints on the signal right at the "source". It's really the amp/effects job to accomplish this.

You can do this by a method called "reflex". Used in speaker cab designs similar to bass reflex.

By directing the speaker away from a "straight" line at the (listener), say a 45' angle, you will definitely soften the sound as well as remove mids, and also the edginess/brittleness. It will also "warm" it up. It works "fantastic"!!

I personally use this method ALL the time when giggin live in an un-miced setting, with my Marshall DSL 401 combo.

 

[Lou]

IMO no mids = bad tone. You just wind up with boomy fizz. You lose all cut and when you turn up, your sound really suffers. What kinda tone are you looking for?

 

[Tim O'Sullivan]

No mids is ok at home, but when you gig the guitar just dissapears in the mix.

 

[candid_x]

No mids is ok at home, but when you gig the guitar just dissapears in the mix.

Agrees with this.

 

[eegor]

So, if You want a cutting scooped sound, or a razor-blade sharpness of Steve Vai's tone, You should aks Yourself if You are willing to modify a lot of Your equipment, or just change the pickups in the Pet (which I would not recommend - to me they make this guitar's tone so unique.)

You just got me thinking. Would you possibly recommend that I get a Legacy at some point? I'm not too fond of having an amp strictly for cleans and running a distortion pedal into it.

IMO no mids = bad tone. You just wind up with boomy fizz. You lose all cut and when you turn up, your sound really suffers. What kinda tone are you looking for?

Oh no, I like mids, but the way it is right now the mids are way to overpowering. There's not as much bite as I would like it to have.

As for the tone I'm looking for, I'm trying to get a good rhythm tone right now. Something very aggressive, yet clear. Something I could use for super-heavy chugging, technical passages, but something that's not too heavy for a more melodic approach.

And btw, thanks for all the replies. I'm going to put a lot of thought into what you guys are saying.

 

[RocketRalf]

I think the problem might be on how you are using your Blues Junior. I have one too. That amp produces a very middy distortion when cranked. it's great for Blues, hence the name, but not for your regular high gain guitar music, specially not for JP tones. I knew since the moment I bought it that I'd have to get an alternate distortion for it. So I use the BJ on a very clean setting. Those are:

Bass:8
Mids:7
Treble:6.5
Master:3
Volume:3
Reverb:2

I rarely play louder than that, but if I needed, I'd probably cut more mids. Also, I have a Silhouette, not a JP, and with the positions 2 and 4 on it I can get a better scooped tone for cleans than with positions 1 and 5.

So, how do I get my distortion? I use a nifty pedal made by Damage Control called the Solid Metal. It's an all tube distortion pedal that will sound like any high end amp distortion channel, with a built in 20db boost. The EQ on it is flexible enough to give me any metal sound I want, and you can get chunky or saturated tones with plenty on bottom end boom and high end sparkle. If you can find one, I suggest you try one with your amp before changing it. The Blues Junior might not be the optimal amp for it, but the two together certainly make the best bang for buck bedroom setup you'll ever find.

 

[Volt]

Almost can't go wrong with a good EQ.
From what I have read, basswood is very predominant in the mids.

 

[eegor]

I think the problem might be on how you are using your Blues Junior. I have one too. That amp produces a very middy distortion when cranked. it's great for Blues, hence the name, but not for your regular high gain guitar music, specially not for JP tones. I knew since the moment I bought it that I'd have to get an alternate distortion for it. So I use the BJ on a very clean setting. Those are:

Bass:8
Mids:7
Treble:6.5
Master:3
Volume:3
Reverb:2

I rarely play louder than that, but if I needed, I'd probably cut more mids. Also, I have a Silhouette, not a JP, and with the positions 2 and 4 on it I can get a better scooped tone for cleans than with positions 1 and 5.

So, how do I get my distortion? I use a nifty pedal made by Damage Control called the Solid Metal. It's an all tube distortion pedal that will sound like any high end amp distortion channel, with a built in 20db boost. The EQ on it is flexible enough to give me any metal sound I want, and you can get chunky or saturated tones with plenty on bottom end boom and high end sparkle. If you can find one, I suggest you try one with your amp before changing it. The Blues Junior might not be the optimal amp for it, but the two together certainly make the best bang for buck bedroom setup you'll ever find.

Thank you for your suggestions. I'm going to try out those settings right now.

 

[candid_x]

I'm not so sure a Blues Jr. is a great match for a JP, or vice verse.

Oops, I see Rocket already covered that.

 

[eegor]

I'm not so sure a Blues Jr. is a great match for a JP, or vice verse.

Do you think you could give me some recommendations?

 

[candid_x]

Oh, everyone here has suggestions where amps are concerned, lol! But let's face it, a lot comes down to money to spend. It seems a given among the JP crowd that most Mesa amps are a great match. I personally think Fender amps are geared more toward single coil, or at least classic rock guitars in general, and the smaller 15 watt Blues Jr. might be especially so suited. Other lesser expensive amps (than Mesa) in the Crate or Peavey line can also get you to the high gain territory of the JP.

 

[beej]

I don't know much about the Blues, Jr, but I've run across a few sites that talk about modding the amps. I'd say if you don't like its general sound, you might want to look into making some changes. Small tube & component changes can do wonders, but of course that sort of thing has to be up your alley.

One thing that generally opens up master volume amps is to run the master high and the channel volume low. Get the power tubes breathing. Sounds like you find the amp nasally, so that might help.

 

[candid_x]

No one's mentioned speaker mods here yet. Makes a huge difference. Here's a current thread going on at TGB on the Blues Jr. speaker replacements.

Fender Blues Junior replacement speaker - The Gear Page

 

[eegor]

I don't know much about the Blues, Jr, but I've run across a few sites that talk about modding the amps. I'd say if you don't like its general sound, you might want to look into making some changes. Small tube & component changes can do wonders, but of course that sort of thing has to be up your alley.

Other than speaker and tube mods, what else is there?

EDIT: As far as speakers go, that thread you posted is making me lean toward either a Vintage 30 (obviously) and a Swamp Thang.

 

[RocketRalf]

I'd like to try a Celestion Century Vintage on my BJ, but right now I'm quite happy with what I have and I'm not sure I want to pay that much for an uncertain advantage and the inconvenience of shipping it here. You can always try what you want with the Mus.Friend 45 day return policy, assuming you're on the states.