Thank You, James Freeman

[dk_ace]

@James Freeman in your video screenshot above I see you have sag, ripple, and hum at 0. Is that really how you’re playing it or was that just for some sort of test?

D

 

[Blix]

I have no idea why James set it there, but that's a pretty typical setting in the real world of real amps. I mean, we're talking a 100W tube amp here. Higher master settings would make the world shake.
After all, the 800 was made to allow for rather high amounts of gain without being cranked too much. So I'd assume that many of the famous tones created with it had similar master settings.

A RL 2203 and (04) sounds pretty thin with the master that low, they come alive around 4! And the audience dies.

 

[timbuck3]

Thank you James

 

[Sascha Franck]

A RL 2203 and (04) sounds pretty thin with the master that low, they come alive around 4! And the audience dies.

Well, my combo sounded quite nice at lower volumes - but I gotta admit that, at least for the most part, I've been using it as a rather clean-ish pedal platform (fwiw, got a killer jazzy tone from it).

 

[synthpenguin]

Thanks! Why is the master so low?

The preamp and power amp have different sounds and dynamics, so pushing one or the other gives you different tones and feels. Balancing the Drive (preamp) and Master (power amp) is how you do that. Then use the channel volume to compensate for any volume changes. Try Drive at 7 or 8 and Master at 2 or 3, and then vice versa with the same EQ settings.

 

[Blix]

Well, my combo sounded quite nice at lower volumes - but I gotta admit that, at least for the most part, I've been using it as a rather clean-ish pedal platform (fwiw, got a killer jazzy tone from it).

I was thinking more of chest-thumping hard rock tones. :)

 

[Sascha Franck]

Then use the channel volume to compensate for any volume changes.

Channel volume back in the days = difference between "Oh, that sounded sweet!" and "Will you turn that sh*t down, mofo?!?"

 

[synthpenguin]

Channel volume back in the days = difference between "Oh, that sounded sweet!" and "Will you turn that sh*t down, mofo?!?"

lol though channel volume in Helix land is neutral afaik

 

[Sascha Franck]

I was thinking more of chest-thumping hard rock tones. :)

Oh I know. But to be honest, when I played through a 800 top for a while (exchanged amps with a mate for around two months or so), I could get decent tones at pretty much civil volumes. But then, I was playing through my trusty old Orange 4x12 (which, for some nostalgic reasons, I still own...), which has got to be the most "sweetening" 4x12 ever (incredibly worn out Greenbacks), which actually didn't sound too great at higher volumes any more.

 

[Sascha Franck]

lol though channel volume in Helix land is neutral afaik

I know. But back in the days there were no Helixes. Just band mates, staring at you (if you were lucky they were just staring, that is).

 

[SwirlyMaple]

Thanks! Why is the master so low?

He changes it throughout the video.

 

[James Freeman]

The preamp and power amp have different sounds and dynamics, so pushing one or the other gives you different tones and feels. Balancing the Drive (preamp) and Master (power amp) is how you do that. Then use the channel volume to compensate for any volume changes. Try Drive at 7 or 8 and Master at 2 or 3, and then vice versa with the same EQ settings.

Exactly.
Add the Low Input to that and you have a huge range of classic Marshall tones from the 2203, genius design if you ask me, no wonder this circuit is still THE benchmark after almost 50 years since its inception in 1976.

 

[0XI0]

I don’t know if it’s the magic of this particular amp, or something special about the modeling process, but the clarity, touch sensitivity, dynamics, response of the tone controls, distortion texture, etc. are superb.

If this is due to improvements in their modeling processes, I’d love to hear some of the oldest Helix amps “re mastered.”

for real, every time they add a new model it sounds lightyears ahead better than models from years prior, the first time I loaded up the Gramatico GSG in 3.60 I was like 'there's no fucking way', so open and fast and light and touch sensitive, I guess the modeling tricks they learn along the way accumulate exponentially as heard with the new JCM800. Dreaming about the years in the future if they ever decide to dig out the old Line 6 Tremoverb and it turns out just as real

 

[rd2rk]

Haha, rd2rk is not happy with the stock JCM800.
Some people just don't like the stock bright Marshall sound, that's why removing the bright cap was very common.

I don't like ANY of the Marshalls in Helix.

Did anyone tell him there’s a treble and presence knob, which are fairly effective?

Et tu, Brute?

Are people truly not liking this amp? That's wild lol

Let me guess, not enough gain? Lol

No, he's just taking another shot at me, because he's such a nice guy.

What amp sounds better than what other is social media stuff. It's discussed here and at TOP, and that's as it should be.

The L6 Forum is more a user2user support forum. That's why we get irritated when people try to make it like TGP/TGF.

 

[SwirlyMaple]

Et tu, Brute?

I actually defended you here. But in all honesty, your remarks over there were a little... aggressive. Do you not see how you sometimes come across, with all the CAPS and exclamation points, calling people trolls, and telling them to LET IT GO (while not realizing you're implying your preferences are more important)?

"this topic has been beaten to death over on TGP and TGF and probably elsewhere, as the major complainer is compulsive about letting everyone know about it"

"Sorry if that sounds harsh (not really) but I am SO sick of hearing this nonsense!"

"Authenticity may be paramount TO YOU, but that's YOUR use case which YOU seem to think should be EVERYONE'S use case, to the point of tedious repetitiousness to those of us who not only DGAF, but understand that snipping the bright cap was a very common mod because MANY users didn't think it sounded all that good."

"What bugged me about the OP was pretending that this issue was never raised before and essentially trolling this forum with that nonsense.

"EVERYBODY KNOWS! LET IT GO!"

"We FINALLY have an AUTHENTIC(?) 2203 with BRIGHT CAP!
It sounds EXACTLY like CRUSHED GLASS AZZ!"

Me asking if you knew there was a presence and treble knob was in response to you saying the new model sounded like "CRUSHED GLASS AZZ!" That's pretty polite, all things considered. And the new 2203 model seems to be almost unanimously popular, so it seems you were not actually the voice of the majority. You're the only person I've come across who doesn't like it.

All that said, I do like you, and I also see the value you provide on the forums. I just wish you'd dial it back a couple notches sometimes, because I don't think it's your intention to be as aggressive as you occasionally come across.

 

[JiveTurkey]

The L6 forum has always been tumbleweeds every time I took a look. All the posters there flooded out to TGP when it first came on the scene. I've popped in from time to time but it made 10000% more sense just tagging Phil at TGP and getting an answer quick vs. waiting for someone to stumble into a thread from 7 years prior.

 

[rd2rk]

Me asking if you knew there was a presence and treble knob was in response to you saying the new model sounded like "CRUSHED GLASS AZZ!" That's pretty polite, all things considered. And the new 2203 model seems to be almost unanimously popular, so it seems you were not actually the voice of the majority. You're the only person I've come across who doesn't like it.

I also said "OK, maybe I just haven't figured out how to use it yet.
I'll spend some more time with it this weekend, maybe I'll have an epiphany."

And I did spend more time with it. "Crushed glass azz" was my initial impression (and a bit of a poke at our friend @DieSchmalle 's posts).
Having applied those arcane Marshall-only "treble" and "presence" knobs I did get it sounding better.

I just wish you'd dial it back a couple notches sometimes, because I don't think it's your intention to be as aggressive as you occasionally come across.

OK, I may have been a bit more acerbic than was called for. I was not the only one, and at one point I did state that I thought the whole thread was a pile....

 

[Sleezy E]

The L6 forum has always been tumbleweeds every time I took a look. All the posters there flooded out to TGP when it first came on the scene. I've popped in from time to time but it made 10000% more sense just tagging Phil at TGP and getting an answer quick vs. waiting for someone to stumble into a thread from 7 years prior.

 

[Perrymusica]

I've noticed this too.
Whatever it is they did, please keep doing that.

I felt that way when they released Vitriol, but I thought it was my madness.

 

[Perrymusica]

I do like this new Marshall! Thanks James and Shwang!!