frankensamurai

Hi Everyone,

I am trying to get a sort of ACDC type sound, basically like any of this guys videos: YouTube - Plexi335's Channel

I have a 2007 '68 Reissue Les Paul Custom with Classic 57 pickups, two 50 watt JMP Marshalls, one from '73 and one from '74, running into an Orange 4x12 loaded with G12T-75s or a Marshall 1965A 4x10.

My problem is this: Channel 1 on both amps is just way, way too bright (worst on the '73). So bright that it's not a matter of taste, it's just awful. I can't use my bridge pickup at all unless I roll the tone knob all the way back to at least 2. The neck pickup is a little better.

Now that said, channel 2 is good- for the bridge pickup at least. In fact this is where I can get the best tones -- not like in those videos, but good. The neck pickup on channel 2 is very heavy and muddy, and almost, but not quite unusable.

I thought maybe I needed better preamp tubes. So after looking around a lot, I have acquired NOS Mullards. There is definitely a tone improvement overall -- but it has not helped with the brightness problem. I tried adjusting the pickup height -- this too helped my tone overall, but not the problem. I've thought maybe I needed different speakers, and so after looking for months I finally found and bought a 1974 slant cab, but it has not yet arrived.

I know about the bright cap, and I am going to disconnect that, but I understand that it doesn't affect tone if the volume is all the way up (I use an attenuator). Though I'm sure when I disconnect that it will help some. I am also thinking of changing the 6550s to EL34s (I found some NOS Mullards for that too), but that probably won't help with the brightness either, plus anyway the '74 has EL34s already. (Though the '74 is not as bright as the '73).

Ok, whew. Sorry for rambling, I just wanted you guys to have all the facts. Anybody have any ideas, comments, suggestions? I really want that sound! Or at least not this terrible screeching. Thanks a lot!

Frankie

G12T-75's just aren't going to give you AC/DC tone. They're, as you noticed, way too bright. I'd recommend replacing those with some sort of Greenback type speaker. Also, '57 Classics aren't my choice of pickups when it comes to those tones either, those pickups are too aggressive. Try some Duncan Seth Lovers or something alone those lines.

Depending on the value of the bright cap, you'll still hear it unless you're absolutely dimed. I personally like the tone of a 4 holer with the cap disconnected, but if you play against another guitarist, it's hard to get your lead out without it.

Also, where is the presence and treble on the amp set? You could turn those down. I don't even have a presence control anymore, way too bright.

What attenuator are you using?

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Frankie

Here's my Metro 50 watter, no bright cap, totally choked through a THD Hot Plate at -12db, running into a 2x12 with G12T-75's:

http://www.cowboymafia.net/frankie/metro50.mp3

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MartyStrat54

Yeah, like Frankie said. I think it is a combination of the wrong speakers and the wrong pickups. That's just not an AC/DC combination.

I will give you kudos on the NOS tubes. You get the right speakers and pickups and you should be rocking. If you do change pickups, talk to a few other guitarists and try to audition some of these other pickup choices before you go through the ordeal of changing out your own pickups.

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MARTY

2009 Gibson Explorer-Hell Raising Machine
1989 Fender Strat Plus USA
2008 Fender Tele USA
2004 Schecter Elite w/DiMarzio's

TSL100 with custom 4x12 cab. TSL122 with Man 'O War Speakers.
TSL602 #1 with JBL D123 Speakers and 602 #2 with Altec 417 Speakers. "Oh so sweet my friends."
DSL401 #1 with Red Fang Speaker and 401 #2 with JBL D123 Speaker.

Tubes: Let's just say they are NOS that kick ass.

BluesRocker

for pickups i would try some GFS pickups. they are sold exclusively through Guitar Fetish. and their prices are cheap. I have 2 sets, one in my les paul and one in my SG and i can get a killer ac/dc sound. I want to try out their alnico 2 pups but just havent found the guitar to put them in yet.

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Fender Stratocaster (x4)
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frankensamurai

Thanks for all the replies everyone!

Frankie: For channel 1, I have tried various settings with the treble and presence, and I can get it to be somewhat less, but still too bright. And even when dimed on the volume control. Although when less than 10 it gets much worse, so I'm pretty sure I'm going to disconnect the cap.
I'm using an Ultimate Attenuator.

Marty: Yeah the tubes are great -- I think I had read you suggesting them in an old thread, and so I wanted to check them out.

I am really hoping that the '74 cabinet with greenbacks I bought, which will arrive in a few days, will make the difference. Because I was hoping to not have to mess with the pickups. But I've been reading about other people complaining about how bright Classic 57s are...

So if I do have to, I'll keep GFS pickups and Seth Lovers in mind, thanks. I have also heard very good things about the Tim Shaw pickups that were used on some of the 80s model LPs. I've also heard a lot of people saying that Fralins are good -- the guy in those youtube videos is using them. Anybody used either of those?

Jesstaa

Make sure you really crank you mids.
I've found on my amp at least, if I crank my mids then the volume, it doesn't sound that bright, just very raw, but if I drop the mids, it's really bright and ice picky.

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Frankie

Chop out the bright cap then, or at least inspect the value. I use a 500pf cap now in mine.

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frankensamurai

Okay I just got the cabinet in the mail today, a '74 with creambacks, and it makes a HUGE difference. I didn't think speakers could make that much of a change. It sounds much much better now.

Still gotta take care of the cap though.

LesBalls

Also, check the filter caps. If they are old and dried out, you will lose a lot of bass and the sound will become too harsh.