The Gain Wars.

[GTR37]

There was certainly a bit of a "race for the most gain" going on in the 1990s and early 2000s. There's just tons of amps out there with "lead" channels that have unusable amounts of gain. I remember the Diezel Einstein I had was basically all the gain I'd ever need with the gain knob at around 10 or 11 o'clock, and the rest just added more noise.

I remember actually being impressed that an Orange Rockerverb let you crank the gain all the way and only then it felt like too much, so it had a lot of granularity to the knob.

Even on my BluGuitar I like to knock back around 20-30% gain using MIDI to set the max gain per channel. But that's mainly because the bright cap behavior is so tied to the gain knob position, where e.g gain on 5/10 might be enough but it's a bit harsh, whereas gain on 6-7 is the right brightness, but too much gain.

IMO the best mode on The Einny was ch1 Mega Crunch or mode 3
IIRC that was 3 gain stage like an 800 and w a boost in front sounded stellar and open
Ch 2 was way too much compression and gain

 

[laxu]

IMO the best mode on The Einny was ch1 Mega Crunch or mode 3
IIRC that was 3 gain stage like an 800 and w a boost in front sounded stellar and open
Ch 2 was way too much compression and gain

Absolutely. Ch2 was a good high gain lead channel...and nothing else.

I did like all the modes on Ch1, it was just stupid that you had to pick one of them.

 

[KingsXJJ]

I’ve had this crazy idea for a while. It might not be any good but I’ve always wondered what the result would sound like. Take a crazy amount of preamp tubes used for gain… let’s say 7 or even 9 for example. Have each tubes add just a hint of gain, compression and hair. Cascade those mo-fo’s and see what you get. Same idea but with a pedal too, 7 op amps instead. I guess I could stack 7 pedals to get an idea.

 

[PLX]

I’ve had this crazy idea for a while. It might not be any good but I’ve always wondered what the result would sound like. Take a crazy amount of preamp tubes used for gain… let’s say 7 or even 9 for example. Have each tubes add just a hint of gain, compression and hair. Cascade those mo-fo’s and see what you get. Same idea but with a pedal too, 7 op amps instead. I guess I could stack 7 pedals to get an idea.

<Billy Gibbons has entered the chat>

 

[la szum]

<Billy Gibbons has entered the chat>

Haha! Exhibit A in the argument that the more gain you use the worse your tone can become.

I also don't think there are absolutes when it comes to gain--so much depends on the style of
music used. Some music you can't live without gobs of gain, and other music you kill with the
slightest hints of it.

 

[KingsXJJ]

<Billy Gibbons has entered the chat>

Glad to know I’m in good company and not completely bonkers! Spent my best teen years driving my first car and listening to Billy when he ruled Houston’s airwaves.

 

[laxu]

I’ve had this crazy idea for a while. It might not be any good but I’ve always wondered what the result would sound like. Take a crazy amount of preamp tubes used for gain… let’s say 7 or even 9 for example. Have each tubes add just a hint of gain, compression and hair. Cascade those mo-fo’s and see what you get. Same idea but with a pedal too, 7 op amps instead. I guess I could stack 7 pedals to get an idea.

That's literally how most high gain amps work. They dump a good chunk of each stage output and send the rest to the next gain stage.

 

[KingsXJJ]

That's literally how most high gain amps work. They dump a good chunk of each stage output and send the rest to the next gain stage.

I’m aware of that. I mean to do it differently. Not with a good chunk of gain but just a bit spread out across more stages. I thought I was clear about that, I guess not. Maybe like 9 very low gain preamp tubes… cascading.

 

[GTR37]

On the other hand; I feel like the internet has done a lot of "gain-shaming" over the years. Like, how dare you turn the gain past 2 on the amp. Pick till your wrist is bleeding and make it work!

Thats is fair , I have seen enough Jazz and Blues Guys saying a Jcm800 stock is too much gain
I think it is also dependant on style to like if you are light touch legato you need some gain
Having to little gain can also work against you too , I love George Lynch he is one of my idols but him in his dry Plexi no drive boxes and a Fender Strat phase trying to play his solos and riffs is a horrible listening experience
George SLO of GTFO

 

[Aelred]

My amp purchases in 2024 were a Bad Cat Black Cat and an Engl Fireball 25, to upgrade from my Orange Terrors.

I like the Clean channel on the Engl, with the Presence control more than the Orange Rocker 15, but felt I had more control on the Gain with the Terrors. The Engl on Lead feels to me like too little, too little, WAY TOO MUCH. But I need to learn it more thoroughly – I’ve had the Terrors for years.

Obviously the Black Cat is not meant for high gain and I don’t try to force it to be with pedals when I have Engl and Orange around. But most days I like to practice/noodle with cleaner sounds, then bash about some Gain stuff and chugga-chugga for fun.

I should get myself a Princeton or something, but Blues Junior is all that’s available here.

Maybe a Mesa Mark VII would solve all those issues…

 

[Sirloin]

Gain amplification and signal distortion are not the same thing

 

[laxu]

I’m aware of that. I mean to do it differently. Not with a good chunk of gain but just a bit spread out across more stages. I thought I was clear about that, I guess not. Maybe like 9 very low gain preamp tubes… cascading.

I'm sure eventually it just doesn't make sense to do that. E.g a Peavey 5150 already has something like 6 gain stages, each gain stage a half of a 12AX7 tube.

 

[KingsXJJ]

I'm sure eventually it just doesn't make sense to do that. E.g a Peavey 5150 already has something like 6 gain stages, each gain stage a half of a 12AX7 tube.

We won’t know that until I try! For science!

 

[PLX]

Gain amplification and signal distortion are not the same thing