Kiesel to the metal

This was the set up yesterday. I had the opportunity to let loose for about 15min so it happened. Strictly no soloing or extended legato passages, just apocalyptic metal riffing from start to end. The Kiesel pickups here are quite devoid of FAT. There are low frequency servings in there but you need to keep your EQ checked for excessive hairy top end. It happened just by cranking the amp up- way more treble than I expected. It might also be the fact that the smaller amp driver contributed to the treble poke, I didn't rule this out. One thing for sure, these are my kind of metal mayhem pickups. Not for Gibson humbucker lovers, definitely.

Marshalling the 'burn

It's a joy to hear singing single coils with a little bit of crunch. I'm not backing down on intensity though, the set up here is simply not for that objective. I'm enjoying more of that clean single coil twang with just a pinch of drive. However, utilising pedals isn't quite the formula here. It somehow dampens the highs & adding some more at the pedal end just renders the tone really shrill. 

I resorted to the JVM for a simple reason- it's got some of the best crunch in there without turning into Fender alley. I still believe in a straight to the amp set up & letting the amp do the magic.

The mean machine

Powered this up today to check the crunch tones out. Hardly more than 25% of gain used. No cleans, no high gain stuff involved, just good ol' crunchy tones to dirt things up for some measured twang. I bought the JVM for a simple reason- it's a versatile beast.

Marshall 1960A: Tone test 1

The first guitar to be plugged into my new Marshall 1960A is my Ibanez SZR520. I've chosen this one in view of its original pickups on board. A good amp/ cab should manifest good guitar tones regardless of the instrument's pickups, then again, there are some amps which aren't transparent enough to let your tone through, the 1960A possesses this characteristic.

Before we dismiss the 1960A to be Marshall-biased, do note that the Celestion G12s on board are some of the most proverbial drivers for distortion, regardless of the brand name cab they reside in. They do sound attractive in clean mode but they aren't as defined as the V30 for instance. With this in mind we know why the Sound Drive SG-612R & Randall RT/RC amps (among others) sound superb with their on-board distortion activated; these amps feature the G12s to help propel distortion. As such, my JVM's 3 distortion channels sound very commanding but the real surprise comes with the clean settings. The G12 gives me a less pointed top end so the overall clean tones are warmer & less intrusive. Of course, no Fender-esque chimes to be heard here.

My Ibanez SZR520 features a pair of very high output humbuckers but the cleans heard through the 1960A are glassy enough to invite some jazz-type chord works. Since I am a distortion fan first & foremost, the 1960A is a winner with me in this aspect; no regrets whatsoever. I didn't get sick & tired of the (Celestion) Seventy 80 drivers in my CRATE the last time round but those drivers serve another purpose while I have distortion as priority. It's money well spent; certainly one of my most fulfilling purchase this 2010.

Thanks to the good people of Davis GMC who went ahead with the item delivery despite the downpour- thumbs up to you guys!

Crunched PPE

I've never plugged a high drive/ intense distortion pedal into my Marshall's crunch channel because I deem this a desecration of Marshall's greatness but on days I get bored, anything goes. I plugged my Pocket POD Express into the aforementioned amp's channel & it was great- a pleasant concoction of tube crunchiness & digital intensity. Without the noise gate in the chain, the background hissing was excessive.

Distortion overkill

This is quite a distortion overkill: A Marshall amp in its most blistering channel with drive set to full blast & an overdrive pedal set to maximum effect as well. Adding fuel to the distortion incendiary would be a guitar with an active humbucker; my formula for a face-splitting aural assault.

It's only wise to include a proceedings referee here; my Beta Aivin Noise Gate unit. I played this scorching set up last evening- room door closed & the ceiling light threatening to spill its guts with that excessive rumble. You've heard what they say: Nothing beats an angry Marshall. Well, try beating an angry Marshall on Red Bull...

Had to stop because the spouse was in need of assistance to shower the daughter... there will be a next time anyway.

Amp line-up

Here're my amps to date. I did not regret buying the Killer Ant as it sounds great both clean & driven. How different is it compared to my TUBE7? It has an attenuated output (if it doesn't, it sure as heck sounds like it) which has a saturated output that I like to hear.

Weekend metal assault

This was my set up last weekend:

• Kramer Vanguard
• Marshall JVM
• MXR Distortion

I played standing up & it was rather taxing for the back but it's nothing compared to my RG7. This guitar retained tuning very well; I didn't tune it upon plugging it in.

In addition to all things metal, I did end up playing some blues, employing the pickups' split mode despite them still being humbuckers by doing so.

Tonal bliss...

This was last weekend's tonal bliss = Marshall + Fender + overdrive pedal

A well set-up guitar can do wonders to one's playing in terms of inspiration. My advice to everyone out there- make your gear slave for you (mod it, upgrade it, etc...).

Make that crunchy

I've not been on intense distortion lately. The crunch channel of my Marshall JVM is rather underutilized mainly because it sounds rather unikeable with the (Ibanez) TS7. I hooked up my (BOSS) DS-1 to it for a different distortion voicing but the outcome isn't quite enticing so out comes a forgotten gadget; my (MXR) Distortion +. Unlike its orange BOSS counterpart, the Distortion + has more grizzle & this greatly contributes towards saturation which I prefer. The combination manifests a very British voicing which doesn't require excessive fretting to achieve that punch.

When Dad's not looking (Part 2)

Mum's just gotten me this cool stool so now I can just reach for Dad's picks when he's away; I put them back when I'm done so no big deal (I like the Stylus pick)... he won't notice. Of course, I've just messed with his Marshall amp settings... he he.