bright harsh sound at loud volumes ad50vt xl

[Hisssssssssssss]

Hi all

when i play my ad50vt xl at low volumes it sounds really good, but when i practice with my band at a loud volume i.e volume at 3 o'clock, master volume between 3 and 5 o'clock and the output volume control on the back of the amp set 3/4 of the way the sound gets all bright and harsh sounding. I'm using a fender strat and plugging into a wah and treble boost thats it. I'm thinking of doing the loop mod and putting an eq in there, would that help? would a change of speakers make a difference and if so what speaker would be the best choice. The sound i'm after is a classihc rock tone such as ac/dc, led zep etc, I know they use gibsons and marshalls live but hopefully i can get the tone i'm looking for. My brother uses an sg copy into the new marshall mfx head and 4x12 cab and he gets a nice crunchy rhythm tone whereas i get this harsh bright sounding tone. any help anyone could give would be much appreciated.

Martin

[Voxman]

Hi all

when i play my ad50vt xl at low volumes it sounds really good, but when i practice with my band at a loud volume i.e volume at 3 o'clock, master volume between 3 and 5 o'clock and the output volume control on the back of the amp set 3/4 of the way the sound gets all bright and harsh sounding. I'm using a fender strat and plugging into a wah and treble boost thats it. Martin

So, you're using a Strat (presumably with single coils?) which is a very bright sounding guitar, and running it through a wah (you don't say the make but usually these act as a treble booster too) PLUS you're adding a separate treble booster into the circuit.

And you want to know why your tone is bright & harsh?!! Are you kidding me?

For a richer fuller tone, take both these units out & use your amp straight. If you really need the wah, at least dump the treble booster (or vice-a-versa). Make sure you're using pedals with genuine true bypass (most say they are, but aren't!) that don't colour the 'straight' signal. I'd also suggest setting the MV at no more than 3 O'clock - after that it can make the tone 'spongy', lacking in definition with some amp models.

Valvetronix are not ideal amps for using pedals at the front ent - the digital input stage can struggle, particularly with a wah & treble-booster.

If you put an FX loop in, a BBE Sonic Stomp Maximiser is also well worth trying on its own or after the EQ in the FX loop. It gives the amp greater clarity & a bigger more '3D' feel, that will help you punch through the mix.

Rich

[Hisssssssssssss]

hi vox man thanks for the reply
yes my strat has single coils, the neck is standard but i have put a seymour duncan ssl 7 quater pounder in the bridge. my wah is a vox v847 and i have added true bypass to it, i only use it when i solo to change the sound, i leave it down and don't really rock it back and for, the treble booster i made myself. i'm saving my money to get the effects loop kit as i think that thats a mod worth doing, i would like to do it myself but i cant find the diy guide. Im thinking of getting the tonelab ex when i can afford it and i was thinking of plugging that into the return of the loop and bypassing the preamp totally. does that seem like a good idea? will try your advice and post later.
Thanks again

Martin

[retrobob]

i'm saving my money to get the effects loop kit as i think that thats a mod worth doing, i would like to do it myself but i cant find the diy guide.

http://www.valvetronix.net/forums/ad-fx-loop-mod-t3653.html

[Voxman]

I have the TLST which I only use with a straight amp. I don't recommend you mixing a modeling amp & modeling MFX together as amp models will conflict & you'll get some mucky tones and noise. If you want to use a TLEX with your AD50VT-XL I recommend you turn the amp/cab modeling OFF and just use the effects. If you want to use the TLEX for everything, then you really need a 'straight' non-modeling amp.

[Hisssssssssssss]

Ok, thank you for the advice vox man, and retro bob thank you for the link to the diy effects loop.

Martin

[soundchaser59]

You can tame the bright and edgy sound to some extent by putting in a better darker sounding speaker. But no matter what else you do, you need to take that treble booster out of your signal path. These amps have too much treble boost the way they are already. I rarely run my treble knob higher than 12 o'clock. And I never have my Strat tone knobs up higher than 5 when I play this amp.

The best speakers I've found for taming the brightness are from Emenence. The Texas Heat is very nice for this amp, but my current fav is the Red White & Blues. Very smooth sound.