Clean to Mean Rack Tones 12/27/25

[Anje]

I like to fully run through my old DDLs, being the Lexicon PCM41/42, Roland SDE or Korg SDD 3Ks.
Part of their "specialness" is how their I/O analog stages impact the overall sound, beyond the effect itself.
= when running a pair I usually put them after the whole mixer, and adjust the dry/wet mix on the units themselves.

The TC2290 is one of the classics I've yet to have, been putting that aside for years I don't know why (maybe the price? lol); ifever I'm getting one that would be to run through it as a main "in front of amp" delay and/or stereo split, depending on the rig.

 

[ChurchHill]

That's why I'm looking at the PCM41/42, they do something special just being there and the delays always sit just right in the mix. The SDEs and SDDs are really special, too, just different flavors. I've never had a PCM41/42, though, so it's another one of those bucket list items.

Speaking of those Rolands, I've got a DEP-5 that does some really interesting things. The SRV-2000 is nice, too, another flavor.

With the 2290, I've been using it as a stereo-split and sending the pass-through to send to mix two if I want some dry in the wet cabs. It works really well, although I sometimes feel like I'm not using it to its greatest potential with all of its loops. I think I could build a decent little rack using the 2290 alone as a switcher, but the RJM that I'm using now just makes that redundant in my current rack. I've heard some good simulations that get awfully close to the delays, but nothing that quite captures what it does just passing signal through it. Those analog I/O stages, in most all everything from that era, really do some magic.

 

[mentoneman]

That's why I'm looking at the PCM41/42, they do something special just being there and the delays always sit just right in the mix. The SDEs and SDDs are really special, too, just different flavors. I've never had a PCM41/42, though, so it's another one of those bucket list items.

Speaking of those Rolands, I've got a DEP-5 that does some really interesting things. The SRV-2000 is nice, too, another flavor.

With the 2290, I've been using it as a stereo-split and sending the pass-through to send to mix two if I want some dry in the wet cabs. It works really well, although I sometimes feel like I'm not using it to its greatest potential with all of its loops. I think I could build a decent little rack using the 2290 alone as a switcher, but the RJM that I'm using now just makes that redundant in my current rack. I've heard some good simulations that get awfully close to the delays, but nothing that quite captures what it does just passing signal through it. Those analog I/O stages, in most all everything from that era, really do some magic.

of all the things i’ve tested in the loops of the 2290, the boss rce-10 chorus was the most interesting as it created a hybrid version of the roland sde type modulation with the tc dynamic mod delay as a switchable option.

 

[Little B]

I'm currently running my 2290 in mix 2,although the thing just sits nice almost anywhere you put it.Im experimenting with thier 0050 remote pedal ( originally an option add on if you didn't want their midi pedal).5 programmable preset/ setting changes of anything on the tc.Just wish it would've had cc# capability.That would've made things a lot more interesting. My 1128 eqs have it,but not the 2290. Anyway you look at it,the 2290 still has its place these days.

 

[mentoneman]

I'm currently running my 2290 in mix 2,although the thing just sits nice almost anywhere you put it.Im experimenting with thier 0050 remote pedal ( originally an option add on if you didn't want their midi pedal).5 programmable preset/ setting changes of anything on the tc.Just wish it would've had cc# capability.That would've made things a lot more interesting. My 1128 eqs have it,but not the 2290. Anyway you look at it,the 2290 still has its place these days.View attachment 445142

such a colorful array of gems!

 

[mentoneman]

I like to fully run through my old DDLs, being the Lexicon PCM41/42, Roland SDE or Korg SDD 3Ks.
Part of their "specialness" is how their I/O analog stages impact the overall sound, beyond the effect itself.
= when running a pair I usually put them after the whole mixer, and adjust the dry/wet mix on the units themselves.

The TC2290 is one of the classics I've yet to have, been putting that aside for years I don't know why (maybe the price? lol); ifever I'm getting one that would be to run through it as a main "in front of amp" delay and/or stereo split, depending on the rig.

doesn’t seem like you are hurting for high quality delays

i know the edge put the 2290 in front of his voxes like a really high end delay pedal (!) but i’ve never desired to route my 2290 that way with any of my rigs. it’s always been used post preamp for me.

 

[mentoneman]

That's why I'm looking at the PCM41/42, they do something special just being there and the delays always sit just right in the mix. The SDEs and SDDs are really special, too, just different flavors. I've never had a PCM41/42, though, so it's another one of those bucket list items.

Speaking of those Rolands, I've got a DEP-5 that does some really interesting things. The SRV-2000 is nice, too, another flavor.

With the 2290, I've been using it as a stereo-split and sending the pass-through to send to mix two if I want some dry in the wet cabs. It works really well, although I sometimes feel like I'm not using it to its greatest potential with all of its loops. I think I could build a decent little rack using the 2290 alone as a switcher, but the RJM that I'm using now just makes that redundant in my current rack. I've heard some good simulations that get awfully close to the delays, but nothing that quite captures what it does just passing signal through it. Those analog I/O stages, in most all everything from that era, really do some magic.

2290 as the start of the stereo split:
one thing i really haven’t tried hard to do with the 2290 but should is dial in a deep chorus.

 

[Anje]

doesn’t seem like you are hurting for high quality delays

i know the edge put the 2290 in front of his voxes like a really high end delay pedal (!) but i’ve never desired to route my 2290 that way with any of my rigs. it’s always been used post preamp for me.

Lol yes I used to buy those as much as I could when they were cheaper than the new pedal on the block

Joke aside, a good (or couple of) old modulated delays can do so much, they really are at the core of so many classic sounds; that would be the 1 type of effect I couldn't do without if I had to choose only one.

 

[Anje]

That's why I'm looking at the PCM41/42, they do something special just being there and the delays always sit just right in the mix. The SDEs and SDDs are really special, too, just different flavors. I've never had a PCM41/42, though, so it's another one of those bucket list items.

Speaking of those Rolands, I've got a DEP-5 that does some really interesting things. The SRV-2000 is nice, too, another flavor.

Yes agree, those old PCM41/42 really are their own thing; such a "natural blend" with the main sound, and add that kind of "glue" to the sound running through them.
And like most of those old DDL with great analog stages, I like to push them at the input; they need to see some level to really make their own thing happening.

Love the SDE & SDD too, like you said different flavors.

 

[mentoneman]

I'm currently running my 2290 in mix 2,although the thing just sits nice almost anywhere you put it.Im experimenting with thier 0050 remote pedal ( originally an option add on if you didn't want their midi pedal).5 programmable preset/ setting changes of anything on the tc.Just wish it would've had cc# capability.That would've made things a lot more interesting. My 1128 eqs have it,but not the 2290. Anyway you look at it,the 2290 still has its place these days.View attachment 445142

forgot to ask..
is there some function the 0050 or 0144 controllers offer you that you can’t easily achieve with the RST, besides sampling/looping?

sure would be cool if you, @Anje and @ChurchHill posted video/audio rig rundowns! i’d love to hear what you folks are cooking up these days!

 

[ChurchHill]

Been thinking about doing just that. Still in the planning stages for my next rebuild, so it might be a couple of months, but will definitely put something together.

 

[GuitarVacation]

I'm currently running my 2290 in mix 2,although the thing just sits nice almost anywhere you put it.Im experimenting with thier 0050 remote pedal ( originally an option add on if you didn't want their midi pedal).5 programmable preset/ setting changes of anything on the tc.Just wish it would've had cc# capability.That would've made things a lot more interesting. My 1128 eqs have it,but not the 2290. Anyway you look at it,the 2290 still has its place these days.View attachment 445142

Man, what a rig!

 

[Dave L]

View attachment 445071

Something I´ve always been curious about, but never really heard any details about, is that Suhr Marshall head. It´s probably the one from that Load-out pic - looks like a late 60s or early 70s one if I remember - and that might be the one with a line in for the power section that was used for the development of the 3+ and EVH used with the 3+ on F.U.C.K.

Wonder if Luke had several Marshalls that John worked on, or if they did anything else to it/them besides adding the loop? Is it the same one from the 1987 rig with all those Boogie heads and the SLO? Or was that his old Rivera-Marshall from the early days? Is this one that one? Lots of questions here

 

[mentoneman]

Something I´ve always been curious about, but never really heard any details about, is that Suhr Marshall head. It´s probably the one from that Load-out pic - looks like a late 60s or early 70s one if I remember - and that might be the one with a line in for the power section that was used for the development of the 3+ and EVH used with the 3+ on F.U.C.K.

Wonder if Luke had several Marshalls that John worked on, or if they did anything else to it/them besides adding the loop? Is it the same one from the 1987 rig with all those Boogie heads and the SLO? Or was that his old Rivera-Marshall from the early days? Is this one that one? Lots of questions here

Luke is a legend and had a ton of different eras of gear. was a fan from the first toto album.
i think the two heads as power amps is a thing to provide the widest stereo imaging versus a stereo power amp.

briefly bumped into Luke once at friedman’s shop as he was heading to see dave and i was wheeling my rivera/triaxis rig out of the shop with my 2 yr old son. he patted my son on the head and said he liked my cool roadie dude, saw my rivera tbr-1 and mentioned his new rivera bonehead/matching los lobottom sub.

 

[Dave L]

Yeah, it is interesting that he´s come back to two mono heads instead of a stereo amp several times. The famous IIB Coliseums and the Boogie M180s in the early and mid 80s, that time in the 90s with two Knuckleheads and the last fifteen years with the Bogners...

Not sure if that Marshall or any Marshall was used as power in a live rig for Luke, in that diagram it´s loaded down to a preamp as they were in the biggest rig before the X88R, but I do remember Suhr saying that Eddie recorded with the 3+ thru one of Luke´s Marshalls.

 

[Anje]

Luke is the man indeed; very cool story with your roadie son @mentoneman
I have to say that overall Luke's one of a kind genius playing far out-weights his "sound" to me; even back in the late 70's / early 90's "golden era".

 

[mentoneman]

Yeah, it is interesting that he´s come back to two mono heads instead of a stereo amp several times. The famous IIB Coliseums and the Boogie M180s in the early and mid 80s, that time in the 90s with two Knuckleheads and the last fifteen years with the Bogners...

Not sure if that Marshall or any Marshall was used as power in a live rig for Luke, in that diagram it´s loaded down to a preamp as they were in the biggest rig before the X88R, but I do remember Suhr saying that Eddie recorded with the 3+ thru one of Luke´s Marshalls.

one of the reasons i loved my Mojave amps was being able to run my live fx rig (pedals and tc gforce) into the front of the amp successfully.

i brought the coyote head to a friend’s house who had a herbert and a tsl to help him set up a w/d rig with a h&k replex i sold him.

we tried using his tsl as the wet amp but in the front input it was too noisy and in the loop it didn’t have adequate volume control.
in front of the no loop coyote it was killer. any volume with tone controls.

he was loving the mojave tones and started crazy talking about getting one just for the wet amp but i talked him off the ledge and suggested a $100 crate power block would get the job done although not as tonefully. i used the powerblock for a bunch of w/d & wdw rigs. vivian campbell used one with his mojave rig too.

bradshaw told steve/vht that his early power amps didn’t have the same stereo wideness that two heads or the H&H seemed to present. interesting how many subtle elements can affect the end result.

speaking of bradshaw, his favorite delays:

 

[mentoneman]

Luke is the man indeed; very cool story with your roadie son @mentoneman
I have to say that overall Luke's one of a kind genius playing far out-weights his "sound" to me; even back in the late 70's / early 90's "golden era".

i don’t really think about his tones being in the same legendary category like landau, huff, ej, etc. but he designed his sound to fit the band he was in perfectly and his rock attitude and blues soul + shred + jazz melodies he brought to Toto and his ability to write timeless guitar lines in studio under fire are why he’s my hero.

 

[Anje]

Fully agree!
Fantastic writer / composer / arranger, and his singing isn’t too bad either..

 

[Shask]

Yeah, it is interesting that he´s come back to two mono heads instead of a stereo amp several times. The famous IIB Coliseums and the Boogie M180s in the early and mid 80s, that time in the 90s with two Knuckleheads and the last fifteen years with the Bogners...

Not sure if that Marshall or any Marshall was used as power in a live rig for Luke, in that diagram it´s loaded down to a preamp as they were in the biggest rig before the X88R, but I do remember Suhr saying that Eddie recorded with the 3+ thru one of Luke´s Marshalls.

Lately I have been liking my Synergy stuff into the poweramp of my SLO modded JCA head better than my rack poweramps like the Mesa 2:90. It just sounds bigger. I think it is because it has more sag and is chuggier with a lot of headroom. Both of my rack tube poweramps are much tighter.