Need Help With (PURE) Sound

[Raz]

OK I've got my Behringer V-Amp2 but I find that my Marshall pollutes the tones. Currently I am running it through my stereo and it sounds really good, however I want to start customizing my own tones and I want to push out the purest form, from the Behringer. I found that I would get a good tone going from the Marshall, but when I tried the headphones direct from the V-amp, it didn't sound the same. So any suggestions will be much appreciated.

 

[mbgreene]

You may want to try something like the Tech-21 Power Engine 60. Its a 60-watt, transparent power 1x12 combo made to chain into their own or any other pre-amp or recording device. I haven't personally used one, but I ran across it researching their Trademark 10, which I've had great results with. It may be worth checking out.

http://www.tech21nyc.com/pe60.html

Good Luck

 

[Raz]

Thanks, we'll do!

 

[akozols]

Raz,

I'm in the same boat you are,, I too don't have a website.

Actually I'm in the same boat with the V-amp. I'm only playing at home at low volumes. Most of the time I'm sitting at the PC with the V-amp running thru it. It sounds great.

When I go down to the basement with my pedal/amp setup, I can never get a smooth sound. Even with a solid state Peavey Transtube, it doesn't sound right. The few times I got to crank it up, it did sound better. I want to be able to create a sound at the PC then recreate it thru my amp setup.

I'm going to look around for a cheap keyboard amp. They are made to amplify without coloring the sound. I'll let you know how it works out.

Al

 

[PurpleSport]

Guys - are you plugging the output of the V-amp into the regular guitar input of your amp? And do you have an effects loop on your amp?

If the former, you're probably not using the V-amp (or POD any other similar guitar processor for that matter) optimally. Bypassing the preamp and plugging direct into the power amp part of the effects loop makes a huge difference if your amp has a loop, of course - a lot of less-expensive amps don't, but some do (my ancient Peavey Studio Pro 40 from the early 80s has one).

If you do this, you may wanna shut any speaker/cabinet simulations off. Then again, you may find it sounds better with them on. Experiment!

 

[Jimi D]

I play regularly with a couple V-Amp users - one guy jacks his into the front of a JCM800 w/ 4x12" Marshall slant cab and his sounds pretty damned good... The other runs his to the board but also runs a '70s Garnett 60-Watt head through an Ampeg 6x12" cab at the same time (can you say hernia, boys and girls? ) Both sound pretty good, but neither one of them has ever plugged their V-Amps into anything else, which leads me to believe that you can't expect consistency across amps, and that you pretty much have to tweak your V-Amp's tones through the setup and at the volume that you will use them at... Expecting stuff you've tweaked out on headphones to sound good through your guitar amp isn't realistic - both the amp and the headphones color the sound too much...

 

[akozols]

PurpleSport,

Thanks for the info. Funny you mention this. Last night I had to make myself stay up all night to get ready for my week of night shift. I ran the V-amp straight into the loop return. The v-amp controlled everything, including the volume and tone. I played with the cabs on and off, both sounded good. I'lll play around with it some more.

al

 

[Raz]

Well my Marshall has a CD input and that's where I plug my V-Amp, via the headphones output on the V-Amp, at this point I have no control over the Marshalls volume, or eq effects, the V-AMP is doing everything. My only other choice is through the regular input, running it through the clean channel. Back to my question though...I never said I didn't like the sound I just wanted the purest sound. It was mentioned before and I guess I may have to dig up my old posts...

 

[Rush]

V-Amp

1) Put it in the FX Return of a tube amp. (Mark IV)

2) Run VAmp Left Out into the Input of the guitar amp.
Set everything low and slowly increase until you get the cleanest your gonna be ble to get with the amp. The clean channel works best for this stuff. Guitar goes into V-Amp.

3) Run the outputs into a keyboard amp, PA or any other full range sound system. This is as transparent as you can get it. Works great with peizo too!

If you have a V-Amp2 make sure you test it with the cab sims turned off. It makes a huge difference depending on your situation.

 

[PurpleSport]

Akoz and Raz - sounds like you're both on the right track. When bypassing the preamp and just using the power amp, you will indeed control all the volume from the V-amp - it becomes your preamp. I believe the power amp will essentially be in a maxed out state like this, so do be mindful about plugging/unplugging connecting cables with the amp's power off so you don't blow a speaker!

Before I went with my Boss stuff, I used to have an ADA MP-1 preamp that I used with my Peavey...didn't sound right plugged in any other way but into the FX loop/power amp. Even then I hadda buy their cabinet simulator to make it sound good, even though techically I wasn't supposed to need it in that config (the preamp sounded too buzzy and sharp otherwise).

I hear the most ideal amp for these kinda rigs is to use a keyboard amp w/full range speakers, or a super clean "hi fi" solid state guitar amp like the Roland JC-120. The main trick is to get around the coloration that a guitar amp and speakers provide if you want the "purest" sound from your modeling device. As I understand it, the Tech21 piece mbgreene mentioned earlier is one of the better pieces of gear and is designed specifically for this kind of arrangement.

 

[Warg Master]

As mentioned before...if running to a power amp, turn of cab simulator... Also if you have midi capability, use it to change the setup of your Vamp from Studio 1 default to one of the live settings. Live one turns off the cab sims for you I beleive, alo the live settings give you a global output EQ you can adjust to your liking. Check it out.

 

[Raz]

Thanks guys, well I did what I should have done before I started creating my own tones...READ THE INSTRUCTIONS...its got different selections for preamps, recording, dry, wet...so everything is covered...well back to the drawing board.

 

[Warg Master]

Thanks guys, well I did what I should have done before I started creating my own tones...READ THE INSTRUCTIONS...its got different selections for preamps, recording, dry, wet...so everything is covered...well back to the drawing board.

Wow, I had assumed you did that already.... heh

 

[Raz]

I just wish the wife came with instructions...meh I wouldn't read them anyway

 

[Warg Master]

Ah.... wives.....

 

[koogie2k]

Mine came with instructions....but they are in Italian (just like her) and I can't read Italian....I'm soooooo screwed!!

 

[Raz]

Hey so is mine, bruta pootana...no, that's just a joke!

 

[koogie2k]

I guess I should not repeat that!?!?!?...Don't get me in trouble...I can do that on my own! LOL

 

[dwf1004]

You are SO bad, koogs.

 

[koogie2k]

I swear it is only Natural ability....I don't get in trouble on purpose....she is old school Italian to boot.....I would rather be in the desert fighting....at least I know what I am up against! hhehehee