Even stock 2203/2204's have too much gain

  • Thread starter Thread starter Shiny_Surface
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Shiny_Surface

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Just imo, for my specific application/scenario. :lol: :LOL:

I can't go higher than 6 on the preamp gain before it starts to lose definition.

I have to put in a disclaimer that this is at lower basement jam volumes, not band volume.

Once the power section is opened up the preamp gain settings becomes less sensitive so I do understand that aspect of course, I just wish I could play that loud all the time. :lol: :LOL:

In the past I've owned quite a few high gain amps and with the majority of them I ran the amp gain lower and boosted them anyway. At least for *rhythm* work.

For leads and/or single note lines, I don't mind the gain past 6 it doesn't bother me as much. It's the rhythm tones I like to stay clear and defined.

So in my situation a medium gain amp like the 2203/2204 not all the gain is useable. Many high gain amps I've owned in the past not all the gain was useable either.

My latest "high gain" clip below was with a '79 JMP 2203. The only mod is a Metro effects loop, no gain or tone mods.

The "high gain" was achieved by setting the preamp gain at 6 stacking a Digitech Bad Monkey and Fulltone OCD.

 
So you need two od pedals for an amp with too much gain?

Okay then...Might as well add another one.
 
Those two stacked pedals are a shitload of gain my friend.. I am with you to a degree though that 2204's with preamp on 10 I don't like so I usually play around 7 or 8 and boost with an OD with the gain barely cracked. Preamp on 6 is still some pretty good crunch... adding TWO OD's is essentially giving you tighter gain then say those high gain amps that got too loose on the low end. Chris Oliva used to stack SD-1's.. Norum apparently stacked two screamers in front of his plexi's and JMP's back in the day. Whatever gets the job done i suppose... just don't kid yourself into thinking you aren't playing with gain! ;)
 
Oh for sure. :lol: :LOL:

I was trying to say that with the 2203/2204 or even many high gain amps, the built in gain isn't all useable (for me). Even for a medium gain amp I don't like the way the gain is past 6 or so.

So I back down the gain and boost it.
 
IT actually is a better way to go to decrease the fizzies! A circuit that produces less grind. I do 2-3 swaps in my 2204 circuits to get a tad more gain but i still don't use all of it.
 
What pup do you have in your guitars? Usually hot or med output? As mentioned countless times before, most of our favourite tones were recroded boosted. Not sure where the obsession with an amp providing all the gain came from but unfortunately it resulted in a lot more fizzies. My word of the night... "fizzies"
 
I never thought of a stock 2203 as having too much gain. I have modded MArshalls where the gain is a boatload and they still retain allot of grind, feel, harmonics, note separation, and low end. A stock 2203 with a pedal to push the front is cool but I much prefer a good modded one.
 
Do you guys crank the gain up to 10? I don't think I ever run it past 5 or 6 on most of my amps...7 tops on my Mesas I think.
 
GuitarGoat":2vvs9x3n said:
Do you guys crank the gain up to 10? I don't think I ever run it past 5 or 6 on most of my amps...7 tops on my Mesas I think.
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Never but there are some amps where 10 on the gain isn't a bad thing. Maybe an early Plexi.
 
I run a 2203 and 2204 the same way and to my ear, it is still one of the best sounds out there. Feels great, sounds great, easy to record.
 
Some amps sound like poop with the gain maxed. Other sound different tonally but still great no matter where it's set.
 
glip22":23kg9v59 said:
GuitarGoat":23kg9v59 said:
Do you guys crank the gain up to 10? I don't think I ever run it past 5 or 6 on most of my amps...7 tops on my Mesas I think.
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Never but there are some amps where 10 on the gain isn't a bad thing. Maybe an early Plexi.
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Makes sense. I used to have an old Traynor YBA-1 that sounded sweet with the gain maxed out!
 
Kapo_Polenton":2eysuqa0 said:
What pup do you have in your guitars? Usually hot or med output? As mentioned countless times before, most of our favourite tones were recroded boosted. Not sure where the obsession with an amp providing all the gain came from but unfortunately it resulted in a lot more fizzies. My word of the night... "fizzies"
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Thanks, this was a stock NT II with bridge JB. I usually replace them but don't have anything against them really, they are just so standardized in many guitar models I just like to switch them out to fine tune the tone. :lol: :LOL:

I appreciate the comments from everyone. :)
 
Stock or modded, rarely have I seen a 2203/2204 circuit that can be run past 1:00-2:00. The amp will lose feel, definition, compress and usually get noisy. At gig volumes, it would easily get lost, plus it leaves no room for boosting. I think you are spot on in your approach/set up to a stock Lead amp.
 
glip22":3ms6fyig said:
I never thought of a stock 2203 as having too much gain. I have modded MArshalls where the gain is a boatload and they still retain allot of grind, feel, harmonics, note separation, and low end. A stock 2203 with a pedal to push the front is cool but I much prefer a good modded one.
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I concur with this ;)
 
Mine is slightly modded and I can play it on 4 pm without losing definition but yeah generally speaking, when you pin these, they can compress and get a little messy. (where as the NMV can really shine)
 
Everything is at 12 o clock for me. Sometimes with my strat I'll tweak it a little differently.
Tube screamer for lead.
I still have not heard a more useable amp.
 
i think i get what you're saying, i have a 2204, with 12ax7's it was a bit too hot for my style of playing/using the amp,

I wanted it to clean up a bit better, and have more room between medium gain and boosted higher gain stuff

i put a JJ 5751 in V1 , also running a 12at7 in the PI slot, which makes a difference to me, but the 5751 in V1 helped a lot, i run the preamp gain at 6/7 which is plenty, and responds well to the boost will still remaining defined and easy on the ear

might be worth a try, as others have said I wouldn't say it's an amp that has too much gain, (unlike say a JVM in orange/red mode..or a 5150 iii)

as you say at lower volumes not sure how much of this applies, the amp really needs to get the master at least around 3 to start cooking, i run it with an attenuator in practice at 3-4 , sounds really good
 
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