distorted sound from amp

hooligan

hi guys
first of all i'm using a laney VC 30 212 amp with valves and a ME 50 BOSS
multi effects pedal.the axe is a cort (the one with the red cross on the headstock
with the function to use a single bridge or neck pickup.
i've set the volume knob to only a quarter open on the pedal and my amp on 2
if i press the foot volume on the pedal to about 3/4 the sound do not come out
clean (when i use distortion effect) is it the guitar or the pedal or the amp.
or is it me thats just stupid with the settings because it sound like a hi fi speaker
that cannot take the volume.please if anyone could give some advice
thanks

AlanRatcliffe

Hi Hooligan

Hmmm. I'm no amp tech, but let's try track down where the problem is first...

The first thing to do is plug the guitar straight into the amp. A multieffect like an ME has a few things that can boost the output level a lot (compression, distortion, EQ, etc.) and gainstaging a multieffect is a whole other post...

Plugging the guitar straight in will make sure that the amp is only getting the signal level it's supposed to. You should be able to get to about 4 on the clean channel (you are using the clean channel aren't you? ? ) before it starts breaking up. If so, all is working well with the amp and you just need to tackle setting the ME-50 properly.

If you're still getting the distorted sound on the amp's clean, it could be old tubes/valves that are breaking up too easily which is a repair issue. In fact, at this point, If it is the amp and it is under warrantee (I can hope, cant I?), take it in to have it looked at professionally.

It could also be a mechanical rattle - a vibration from something in the cabinet (Laney are notorius for this) - which would mean laboriously tracking down what is vibrating and damping it.

It could also be that one of the speakers is damaged in some way (hole or tear in the cone, a partially blown coil, a warped frame) - If you can't see something obvious, the only way to eliminate this is to try with another speaker extension cabinet and disconnect the internal speakers.

PLEASE - Don't go poking around inside the amp for any reason unless you really know what you are doing. The internal voltages in a valve amp can be anywhere up to 600V and the capacitors can still be live two weeks after the amp has been unplugged. The innards of a valve amp are a dangerous place to be.

Let me know what you find...

hooligan

ok Alan
i think it's maybe the settings on the pedal,but i'l go and check everything that you have mentioned .then i could give better feedback
and it would be easier to solve the problem
thanks

JoeyBones

I thought my amp was wonky as well when I got it. The way to resolve it is to reduce your input volume (The one next to the input jacks. See pic below) an increase your master volume. My duo jet uses humbuckers and the high output level will cause a fair amount of distortion if you don't lower the input volume.

I think it was designed this way since it does not have an overdrive channel and you can get some nice Tube drive by cranking the input volume. Would be cool to have 2 volume pedals for the input and master volume.

hooligan

hi guys
i only plugged in the guitar and it sounded a lot better and clean
i think it is some of my settings on the pedal i get a little frustrated
sometimes ,but i know it take some time to get the right settings
what effect causes the guitar to hold a note longer or is it the pickups or
wood that causes this?
bones thanks for the advice i've try that too,so i think the secret lies in
the pedal.maybe its time to move to stompboxes?

JoeyBones

What effects are you running ? FET based or buffered effects do tend to cause signal loading and colour your tone a bit. Most people say it's not a big issue with BOSS pedals, but I have noticed a difference in direct guitar to amp tone versus guitar to effects to amp. Plus theres all the cables in between. Good quality cables make a big difference as well.

AlanRatcliffe

hooligan wrote: i only plugged in the guitar and it sounded a lot better and clean

You're probably boosting the volume too much with one of the FX. Turn all of them off and check the sound - if it's still driving the amp too hard, there may be an output level setting on the ME (I don't know them and I have a limited internet connection at the moment, so I can't download the manual to check). If it's OK with the fx all bypassed, then start turning them on one at a time and setting the levels of each effect so it is more or less the same as the bypassed level - this is the "gainstaging"I mentioned the other day - setting the gain (volume boost) of each stage in the effect chain. You can set an overdrive or compressor to boost the volume for solos, but most fx should be set to give you unity gain (the same volume as the bypassed sound). Watch out for EQ too, if you boost a frequency and it raises the volume, turn the EQ's overall volume down.

Hmm, good subject for an article - I have to write one for Bothners soon.

what effect causes the guitar to hold a note longer

Amp volume ;D lots of luvverly amp volume ;D . Also overdrive or distortion will boost the sustain, but change the sound quite a bit. If you want clean sustain, then use a compressor (called a sustainer by Boss, for some unknown reason ;D)

maybe its time to move to stompboxes?

Maybe, but I'd say learn what you have first - it's all the same, setting effects wether they be multi effects or stomps.

hooligan

bones your asking me a question that i don't
know alot about (fet or bufferd) and if you talk
about cables is there a certain price tag on good cables or specific name cables that are
good quality?
the bypass sound is a lot softer then with the fx turned on so i'll just check into my settings
which compressor would you guys recommend?
thanks for all the info ?

JoeyBones

Sorry about that man. Here is link to a page that explains it pretty decently :

http://www.stinkfoot.se/andreas/diy/articles/fetsw.htm

JoeyBones

With regards to bypassed volume, I have the same issue. You either have to drop your pedals level and gain settings so that are pretty close to your clean volume or adgust your volume when you switch between the 2. I'm working on a 2 way line selector that will illuminate my drive and OD pedals when I switch and introduce my booster to normalize the volume. I haven't worked out the details yet, but It seems to be solid theory so far.

AlanRatcliffe

hooligan wrote: about cables is there a certain price tag on good cables or specific name cables that are
good quality?

I make my own with Neutrik Jacks and whatever good cable I can find. Otherwise, it's hard to go wrong with Planet Waves for a premade cable.

the bypass sound is a lot softer then with the fx turned on so i'll just check into my settings

Yup, you're boosting the level too much with one of the effects. Did you see my article on gainstaging? http://ratcliffe.co.za/articles/gainstaging.shtml

hooligan

Alan thanks for that article and yes it explains a lot for me thanks
i'll go tonight and sit down and do some settings only
so i'll coment next time i log in.i went to this gig and saw one guy playing
with a ibanez artcore not sure which exact model but i would like some comments
on these guitars please,it is not the big one this one seems a little smaller (body)
thanks

AlanRatcliffe

GREAT guitars for the money. I tried out three a few months ago and was pretty much blown away by the price vs. quality. Cheaper and better than the Corts - which is saying something.