It's done. First clip

[jnew]

100% stock all the way. 2.7K on V1B, No 330uF on V2 (.68 only) 100K on 4 ohm tap, 100uF PI. Still waiting on the last 4 68K Iskra's but threw in some Allen Bradley CC's in the meantime to fire it up. PU is the MM 1300 but I think the Duncan Custom is better for the job. Will be putting that back in.

All controls on 10 including Vol I. Vol II on 4 (not jumped) Guitar, home brew EP-3, cheap ass Akai analog delay pedal and into the head. Re-amp'd to the new 2X12 with Celestion 6402 cones that I bought from Jeremy. Cab pic here:

http://s1381.photobucket.com/user/jnewl ... g.html?o=1

Sound clip here:

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_so ... D=12990280

[Star*Guitar]

Sounds awesome so far. It would be great to get clips of more EVH to evaluate further. Super nice man!!

[rgorke]

Sounds killer James!!! Has that new amp tightness to it so it will only get better.

Give it a go with Volume 1 down a bit (8) then slam the front with an MXR and see what you get.....

Well done!!!

[dirtycooter]

That is pretty damn good. The extreme top end is still missing to my ear through my phone though-will have to listen through decent speaks later. And even if it still lacks top then it could be as simple as worn strings, mic tweak, main cable lead swap, pre tube swap, harsher brighter 53H1777 cones. Or a combo of the above that brings it to final polish.
Lets not forget also a slight bump at the desk of super mild e.q. or mic pre in the equation. I would dabble here some and see what cooks up and out. Take a studio scope look at it and re-assess. Fiddle around there.
Then I think it might be really hard to decipher from the old original take. Or if your using one mic and not two that may be your winning yield here to try.
I think your on the edge here but lackin that polished sparkle/sheen treatment and thats again-very manipulatable many ways without goin back into surgery on the amp.
You got a clip of a different riff?? I am intrigued here.

[ttowne]

James

Very nice clean build. Is your guitar a single pickup guitar and are you using a 500k pot?

[Strat78]

Sick build, the question is can you keep your mitts out of it now. What is that ceramic mixer cap? I think those 68k CC's sound pretty good there. The 2.7k seems to be a componant in the VHI tone, just not sure if it is the 50w or the 12301, at any rate your 12xxx has got that girth and pick response that is absolutely killer! Are you picking up any Big Band stations with that bright cap.

[EJSLPlexi]

sounds really good! what is your guitar?
I ask because this track was a destroyer originally and was curious what you used for it?

[jnew]

Thanks guys. Certainly much can be done post wise but I just wanted the naked, raw amp tone for you to hear. IMO, even on 10, it doesn't have quite the sustain I hear in Strat78's clips. I also agree that it doesn't have the killer sheen on top. I hope these are things that will come around as the amp gets mileage on it but I don't know if things work that way or not.

The guitar was the old beat up Swamp Ash strat and right now, it is just the MM 1300 with a 500K pot. Strings are definitely old.

Only one SM-57 used and it's in line with the cone but angled off center about an inch and about 3-4 inches from the grille clothe. This could probably be done better though.

Strat78, mixer cap is an old, vintage 506pF. Pretty sure it's an Erie. I'd love to keep my hands out of it but you know the sickness I don't have a head box for it yet so that will make it even harder. And the 68K Iskra's still have to go in so temptation will be all over me. Let's not even start talking about the polarity and death cap thing although, Chris said it was safe to reverse the polarity with the amp grounded. Also said it does affect how the high's behave (the polarity, not the cap)

Have to go spend time with the In Laws today but will be making more clips soon. Will mic Scum PVC's in the 4X12. Those speakers do have more sheen IMO.

[jnew]

Tried dirtycooter's advice and just boosted 8.2K in post for some added high's. Boosted about 8dB but after it got compressed down to and MP3, the difference almost goes away. There is a difference though.

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/default ... ID=1214336

[Strat78]

I really like your amps tone. Sure there could be more hair and slightly more squish, but it seems that there are days when these things magically happen other days when they don't. This tone can be taken in many directions just by how and what you run it with, and thats why I think the 12301 was such a special amp. Maybe raise the pole piece under the B string because I'm not hearing that part of the chord. Mix in some Black Backs. I really like the 2.7k and will try at least a 1.5k in StarGiutars amp. Great stuff!

[rgorke]

Tried dirtycooter's advice and just boosted 8.2K in post for some added high's. Boosted about 8dB but after it got compressed down to and MP3, the difference almost goes away. There is a difference though.

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/default ... ID=1214336

The second version there seems some kinda something that makes is not sound as organic as the first. I am thinking you can get more top end by mic placement or speakers or what have you.

Does that make any sense?

[jnew]

I really like your amps tone. Sure there could be more hair and slightly more squish, but it seems that there are days when these things magically happen other days when they don't. This tone can be taken in many directions just by how and what you run it with, and thats why I think the 12301 was such a special amp. Maybe raise the pole piece under the B string because I'm not hearing that part of the chord. Mix in some Black Backs. I really like the 2.7k and will try at least a 1.5k in StarGiutars amp. Great stuff!

I cannot believe how you pickup up on that. When I was EQ-ing this last night, I kept going over it trying to find that frequency was just wan't there. Only to realize that I wasn't mashing on the fretboard all the way across to cover those notes on the B string. Damn, you're good .

Roger, absolutely it makes sense. It's the main reason I try to stay away from EQ ing altogether. Things can get crazy pretty quick and the ears start futzing with the brain. Hate it when that happens I just wanted to make that one little bump just for comparison. My focus won't be on engineering the tone at the board (although it really was if you think about it) but more so in getting the amp/rig closer. I want it to sound like Strat78's "68 50-100" clip as far as the gain and front end push. His pick slides are the best in the business. If I hit the strings with my pick and don't get it back off the string almost immediately and get my left hand in the right position and tempo, then I get this horrible chirping sound and the game is over. I don't know how he does it but it's the best. And I think a lot of it is beyond the technique and in the amp setup.

[jnew]

Here's my old amp down to 75 volts with the variac. Strat78 is right on the money. That hairy fry factor comes in with the amp starving for voltage. My old amp sounds better than my new build Well at least for now. But it does have more saturation and sustain going on. Mic on the same speaker in the same position, yet a whole different voice.

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_so ... D=12991736

[rgorke]

What voltage was used for the recording of the new amp?

[jnew]

New amp was at 90V's for that clip. Gonna lower down to 75V's and A/B MXR 6 band since I have a looper for it now. Are we re-biasing when changing voltage or just leaving the bias alone. Seems they would be biased pretty cold, I think.