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Topic: Solution for hot pickups |
Michael Hill
From:
Arizona, USA
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Posted 12 Feb 2020 6:48 pm |
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The backstory:
I got my first PSG a few years ago. It's a GFI S10 Ultra E9. I've been playing 6 string guitar for many years and have a handful of 6 string guitar amps. Mostly Mesa tube amps.
The problem:
Running my PSG through my guitar amps flat out did not work. The input would always be over-driven and distort. And not in a pleasing way at all. I tried all kinds of settings and simply could not dial in an acceptable tone.
First steps:
I bought a Sarno Revelation Preamp. Without getting into a lot of detail, this thing is awesome. I run it into a Crown solid state power amp and it's great. I can also run it into the effects return of my Mesa guitar amps. This also sounds amazing.
Final solution:
At this point, I knew my PSG could sound great through my Mesa amps. But I needed a solution to stop the preamp from distorting. I tried a lot of things. What ended up working was the 'JHS Little Black Amp Box'. It's a passive device. I opened it up. It only contains 1 component, the pot. The pot is hooked directly to the in and out jacks. It's basically a voltage divider. So there's no black magic to this solution, it simply knocks the signal down a little. I'm sure there are cheaper ways to do the same thing but I'm more than happy with the $45 I spent for this.
I have the pot set around 50%. My signal chain is PSG -> JHS LBAB -> Stomp Box Pedalboard -> Volume Pedal -> Mesa Amp
I'm really happy with this setup. It sounds great, it doesn't distort, the volume pedal works and feels exactly like it should. So far, I can't find any downside with this setup.
I thought I would share my story as the JHS pedal is not marketed for this type of application and I've run across some threads where players complain about the high output pickups. Of course, YMMV! |
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Fred Treece
From:
California, USA
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Posted 12 Feb 2020 7:31 pm
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| Which Mesa amp? When I play steels through my Mark IIC+ (with Volume 1 at about 4) it’s clean as a whistle and can get louder than I’ll ever need. |
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David Nugent
From:
Gum Spring, Va.
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Posted 13 Feb 2020 6:08 am
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| In most situations for pedal steel applications, it is advisable to turn the 'Master' to 10 and regulate your volume with the pre amp setting. |
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Michael Brebes
From:
Northridge CA
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Posted 13 Feb 2020 7:26 am
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The problem with most Mesa Boogies is that the input circuit is like a Fender tube amp but without the #2 lower gain input jack available. Because of that there is no way to stop the first amp stage from getting the full signal of the pedal steel. Without modifying the amp circuit the only options are (1) use that pot on the input, preferably as close to the input as possible, or (2) try a 5751 or 12AY7 tube in place of the 12AX7 in the first amp stages, which will bring down the gain internally.
_________________
Michael Brebes
Instrument/amp/ pickup repair
MSA D10 Classic/Rickenbacher B6/
Dickerson MOTS/Dobro D32 Hawaiian/
Goldtone Paul Beard Reso
Mesa Boogie Studio Pre/Hafler 3000
RP1/MPX100 |
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Donny Hinson
From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
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Posted 13 Feb 2020 7:49 am
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| David Nugent wrote: |
| In most situations for pedal steel applications, it is advisable to turn the 'Master' to 10 and regulate your volume with the pre amp setting. |
That's my experience too. Turning the amp up keeps you from flooring the volume pedal, which is when the distortion normally starts. If you use a powered pedal, then the pedal should be turned down (usually by a control on the bottom of the pedal). If you use a pot pedal, it's usually not a problem. But here again, you can almost always avoid overdriving by turning up the amp. Adding another pot into the line will work, but it's not what I'd recommend as you're just losing amp power and the "almost endless sustain" you have with full power at your command. |
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Fred Treece
From:
California, USA
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Posted 13 Feb 2020 9:10 am
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| Unless you leave the preamp volume at 1 or 2, turning a Mesa master volume up to 10 will get you arrested, or thrown out of a band. Setting the preamp volume between 4-6 opens up the amp’s natural tone and sustain so you don’t have to rely so heavily on the VP. If it’s breaking up at that level, with your VP at about 75%, then maybe a change of preamp tube is in order. Or a speaker swap. I have an EV 12L in my Mark II cabinet, so it’s like having Mister Clean in there. I rarely run my master volume past 5. |
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Chris Reesor
From:
British Columbia, Canada
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Posted 13 Feb 2020 12:01 pm
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You haven't mentioned what sort of volume pedal, if any, you are using.
Lowering the pickup a bit to reduce the output voltage is another possible solution that hasn't been mentioned. That, plus a 12AY7 or 5751 in the first preamp tube slot should help.
Aside to Fred: Wish you hadn't reminded me of the Mk.III Boogie w. EVM12L that I (sadly) sold off some time back. That amp made anything you plugged in sound great. Including the Dekley S12U w. stock single coil I had at the time (early 90's).
No breakup at all, even at positively frightening volume levels (unless you switched to the Rhythm 2 or Lead channel, of course).
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Excel Superb U12, MIJ Squier tele, modified Deluxe Reverb RI, Cube 80XL, self built acoustics & mandolins |
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Larry Bressington
From:
Nebraska
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Posted 14 Feb 2020 8:54 am
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Lowering Pick up height will help big time to reduce pre-amp saturation, there is a trade off in note sustain so its sparingly.
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A.K.A Chappy. |
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