amp growl

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i guess there are many different adjectives/subjectives/descriptives people use to describe amp growl

to me, it means that when you strum a chord with hi gain, or even mid gain....as it sustains, and starts breaking up and the gain starts loosening up and almost pulsating (or growling), the mids/lower mids start to actually growl like a dog.

my 5150 does it, if i have the master above 4 or so when it's good and warmed up.

my tourmaster sounds like it wants to start doing it, but it does something different...it has a tighter gain that doesn't fall apart, it almost purrs, but doesn't really fall apart enough to call it that either.

i've had other tube amps, but none of them really had "that growl" save for a mark 3 i owned briefly and sold.

what controls this or contributes in the circuit, if anything?

i know ahead of time, obviously there are a lot of variables in amps and circuits that could or do contribute...but im trying to narrow down where in an amp circuit this starts to occurr, and what, if any mods to components i can make to enhance this in my amps.


im also looking for good examples on youtube right now to post of it...

feell free to offer your insights....or examples of what growl means to you.
 
I generally hear 'growl' when the mids are pumped hard and they have the power sections running really hard. Somehow I really think its the output tubes saturating that gives it that edge but I could be wrong.
 
THIS is what I get out of my Original Krankenstein with a Maxon boosting it.
The Krankenstein+ seems smoother....
but the GROWL that is in the original amp is making me go bananas for these amps lately.
That, and the combination of my Bare Knuckle Warpigs (now those indeed have a Mid Growl in them that is awesome).
 
I think you're definition of "growl" sums it up Yeti.
High mids has a lot to do with it I believe (2500-3500hz range).
"Bark" would be a darker and more low midrange tone. The guitar tone on Metallica's MOP album has a lot of "bark" and Motely Crue's Shout at the Devil has the "growl".
 
Bogner Shiva EL34 models - perfect definition of amp growl on gain channel
 
2:36 the 5150....it has a growl to it you can hear...obviously, more prominent in the room cause you can also feel it.
the Dual rec at the beginning kinda has it too, but not exactly what i mean. thats more of a purr (sounds really good though!! i love that purry sound for sustained chords too). the vhts also have it, but it's kinda subdued, compared to the 5150s growl.


 
UberschallEL34":22lghnld said:
Bogner Shiva EL34 models - perfect definition of amp growl on gain channel
Click to expand...

holy fuck!! RIGHT on the money dude! absoLUTELY what i mean...and i love the focus of the highs with these amps!!!

this to me, the perfect blend of upper midrange purr and mid/lower mid growl.
right at 2:14 when he hits the open drop D and lets it ring....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pl ... RifqwuR3hE

embedded for that one disabled
 
wow
thats it....to the T! thanks guys!

any marshalls stock that do this?

anyone know what in the circuit contributes that?

wow. love that tone.
 
FourT6and2":3d7ryoud said:
Kinda like the first 20 seconds of this?

Click to expand...


yep. fucking love it. nice fluttery growl...perfect speed too....
 
so now, the shiva and the einstein are on the list for me!!!!!

they both REALLY have it!!!!
 
yeti":319s2h26 said:
i guess there are many different adjectives/subjectives/descriptives people use to describe amp growl

to me, it means that when you strum a chord with hi gain, or even mid gain....as it sustains, and starts breaking up and the gain starts loosening up and almost pulsating (or growling), the mids/lower mids start to actually growl like a dog.
Click to expand...

That's what I think of. "Amp growl" is a really strong and deep prominent central to low midrange that pulses and ripples, just like this:



I'd say that "growl" is a specific part of the low mids but also has a secondary part in the central mids (kind of a squawky/honky sound)- just enough to keep it out of the "mud" to so speak.


I've managed to make a growly sound out of my MarkIV, but that is helped by using different speakers (EVs help a lot).


Old Marshalls are often said to have a "bark" sound, but I think that is in a slightly higher register. I guess it has more central mids than the low/er mids, particularly if you look at it phonetically. "Aa" sounds are more in the middle of the frequency range, while "ooww" is lower down. Try it out on any wah-wah pedal.
 
yeti":1s8kayn6 said:
any marshalls stock that do this?
Click to expand...


Possibly- but I would set the controls quite dark (very low treble and presence, a lot of mids and bass) and maybe even throw an EQ pedal in front to push the low mids some more? Either that or use it with some dark-sounding speakers.
 
man, i was obsessing over the shiva tonight all night at work!!!!!!

damn...i gotta start hammering some overtime and get me that amp.....

i already am saving for a kemper....the GAS continues.
 


Bogner to me is that signature sound Listen to the end of the clip about 715 on
 
the einstein also has it.....but that shiva.....man....it just speaks to my soul!!!

so, what causes this low/mid growl we all love?
 
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