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    EQ unit in fx loop?

    gravydb
    gravydb


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    EQ unit in fx loop? Empty EQ unit in fx loop?

    Post by gravydb Thu Nov 26, 2015 8:52 pm

    Given the GM's limited EQ range, how many here have considered (or currently have) an add'l EQ unit in their rig? I'd presume the best place for it would be in the GM's fx loop, but I'm all ears for what you guys might be doing... IE: what are you using? where is it located? what freq's are you boosting/cutting, and why?

    Thanks!
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    trb


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    Post by trb Fri Nov 27, 2015 4:00 am

    yes the FX loop is the right place and it works great.
    I put into the loop an MXR 108 (10 band eq) and the effect is really efficient, and totally change the tone. I have a MXR carbon copy (delay) in the loop after the MX108 and again works great.
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    trb


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    Post by trb Fri Nov 27, 2015 4:02 am

    to tame the high I put -12 db on 16k and -6db on 8k and fine, I have a darker tone as expected. If I want to tame the high but keep treble too, +3db on 4K in addition.
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    ConradK


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    Post by ConradK Sat Nov 28, 2015 5:00 am


    I just tried an eq pedal In the loop and this has solved the shrillness issue immediately !!

    I'm playing through an orange ppc 212 with celestion vintage 30,s and it still sounds great !!
    namklak
    namklak


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    Post by namklak Tue Dec 01, 2015 9:17 pm

    CongressK and trb, is this EQ in addition to a tube swap maybe to JJs?
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    ConradK


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    Post by ConradK Wed Dec 02, 2015 2:19 am

    No I have not changed out my valves as from what I understand (reading users feedback) the valve change out is a subtle change in sound.

    Unless it's night and day and I can instantly hear the difference I don't see the point of changing the valves (not until they NEED)changing anyway.
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    trb


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    Post by trb Wed Dec 02, 2015 4:16 am

    Yes for me, in addition with tube swapping:
    V1 Philipps 12AU7
    V2 JJ 5751
    V3 JJ EC83s
    JJ EL84
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    ConradK


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    Post by ConradK Wed Dec 02, 2015 4:20 am

    Hey trb

    What's your set up (cab and guitar) and what style of music do you play ?
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    trb


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    Post by trb Wed Dec 02, 2015 4:26 am

    Hi ConradK,

    I play mostly blues rock, hard rock and a bit more heavy like Accept, Judas Priest...
    My guitars are on the humbucker side passive and active (SD Black out, emg 57-66, Tonerider Rock Song, BK Mule, Kamel Chenaouy SUper Graal).
    Axes are: LP Agile 3100, LAg Jet 1000, Ibanez SA260 FM, Hagstrom Viking Tremar Deluxe, ESP LT MH350 NT.
    My strategy is to buy mid class guitars and swap electronics (PU, pots, capacitors).
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    trb


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    Post by trb Wed Dec 02, 2015 4:28 am

    and my Cabs:
    - 2*12 TT CAB REX with celestion G12M, eminence C REX
    - 1*12 Palmer with eminence Wizard
    - 1*12 home made eminence Governor
    gravydb
    gravydb


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    Post by gravydb Wed Dec 02, 2015 8:07 am

    trb wrote:and my Cabs:
    - 2*12 TT CAB REX with celestion G12M, eminence C REX
    - 1*12 Palmer with eminence Wizard
    - 1*12 home made eminence Governor

    My H&K CC212 cab is loaded with stock G12M's.... me likey Smile
    namklak
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    Post by namklak Wed Dec 02, 2015 10:49 am

    I asked because I felt once I installed JJs, the "need" for a full time EQ was reduced.  It seems to me a tube swap is easier than needing an external device.
    bordonbert
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    Post by bordonbert Wed Dec 02, 2015 8:07 pm

    Conrad, I'm a firm non-believer in magic component types, for good practical and real life reasons.  However since giving it a go I've had to back pedal and adjust my stance to remove valves from that.  If you change from the original Chinese to something like JJs you will hear the difference immediately.  It's not a new amp but it is obvious.  In my shocked experience, the rough edges go off the sound and everything becomes more kind of tactile.  Speaker changes produce a more obvious change and are the more important to get right first in my opinion but valves do genuinely add a different type of improvement on top of that.

    Do you not have a friend who could lend you a set of name valves for a test run?  It's an eye opener especially if you are a sceptic like me.  One other quick bit of advice, change the make not the type!  To start with stick to 12AX7s.  Not all "equivalents" are really equivalent!  There's info on this issue in other threads.

    EDIT:  Meant to add that I'm with Namklak and the eq in the loop approach, it opens everything up with most amps I find.  With the speakers and valves right it isn't so important but is still useful.
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    ConradK


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    Post by ConradK Thu Dec 03, 2015 3:23 am

    That's what i wanted to hear - I've never changed valves I play rock , hard rock and blues rock - what brand and specifications do I order ?

    I have NO knowledge on this so please be as specific as you can as I'm going to get this done ASAP
    bordonbert
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    Post by bordonbert Thu Dec 03, 2015 3:56 am

    I would go a bit slow with this choice.  My own experience says that JJs all round will give the amp what it needs and a lot of others recommend the same.  I have tried a NOS Mullard 12AT7 in the first V1 slot but it somehow didn't stick with me.  Overall I don't like the idea of a 12AX7/12AT7 swap, it isn't a good match at all.  However, there are some other choices.  I'd digest the valve swapping thread on the forum first and see what alternatives you have before you order anything.

    As you said you play a relatively high energy type of music you might even consider that the amp may become too smoothed out for you.  Maybe not for your Blues Rock though. Only make that change once everything else is sorted and you find you think it still needs a bit more.

    Maybe a few of the others could quickly list some alternative approaches they use.  It really isn't a case of "This make IS the best", it's down to personal preference a lot of the time.  And in my limited experience I seem to have found that differences between aftermarket valve makes are generally more subtle than the difference between the originals and any substitute.  As you said, you could also wait until you basically need a valve change naturally and just do it then.  With your musical taste you'll be able to give it a good thrashing during it's use so shouldn't be too long!  Razz  No sense in doing something when you don't really feel you need to just because someone else does.

    And of course you have found that your eq loop idea works for you too so is it crucial to spend that money?
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    trb


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    Post by trb Tue Dec 08, 2015 9:17 am

    Dears,

    From my perspective to use it at home and rehearsal with friends, and to play blues rock love my preamp tube set.
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    ConradK


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    Post by ConradK Sat Dec 19, 2015 5:59 am

    Yeah you are 100% right as the eq is working perfectly for me so I'm not going to spend the money now - if I do in the future it'll be out of choice not necessity
    bordonbert
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    Post by bordonbert Sat Dec 19, 2015 8:37 am

    As an update Conrad, (EDIT: should have said guys as this has included contributions from a few), your advice to get the Eq in the loop has worked out great for me too.  I used to do it in my Valvetronix days and it really lit up that amp and gave it an increased depth of tone, even when just set flat.  Somehow it added a liveliness to the feel on top of any adjustments in frequency.  (I reckon it was better matching of impedances.)

    So now you jogged my laziness I've tried it with the GM.  I can report that, it works for me here too though less prominently than with the Vox, there is still a side to the character I need to alter.  The GM doesn't benefit from any increased liveliness, it is lively enough on it's own, but adjusting just the top couple of bands with a steepish cut does tame a lot of the forwardness in the top end.  And it can be kicked in and out as you want with the loop control if you don't use that for anything else.

    Anyway, it's another useful dimension to have.  Good spot and helpful post! Very Happy

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