Getting a pretty decent brown tone out of a Fargen Mini Plex

[Meathead]

I didnt have any luck with the Eh's. But anyone could get a bad set. I'm currently using the winged C's. In my amp they sound noticably better than the JJ's. Better string to string clarity. The top end sounds a little sweeter too. Not a huge difference but enough for me to notice. I'm going to try the Ruby's that SAH5150 puts in his amps next time. I can't think of which exact EL34. I've also heard good things about the Tung Sol's

I have some EH EL34 tubes in there now. They are smoother in the mids. I'm not sure if that's better or not. The JJ's seem fatter sounding compared to the EH's.
Since I really like the Tung Sol 12ax7 tubes in there I'm gonna try the Tung Sol EL34 tubes next.
Let us know how the Ruby's sound if you get them.

 

[Meathead]

I thought that tone sounded killer!

Thanks!

 

[Meathead]

The SD pickups works well with that circuit...great tones and playing! Cheers!

Thanks, I will always put an SD in a strat. They should come that way from Fender.

 

[Meathead]

nice tone!

Thanks Darrin!

 

[Meathead]

That sounds great. I look forward to seeing it in the classifieds.

Thanks...and never!
I've had this amp for almost two months and I'm still learning new things it can do. The 60's-70's-80's switching on it is awesome to keep you from getting bored of it.
The different era modes aren't just subtle changes either, they really remind me of the JTM and the JMP that I used to own.

 

[Meathead]

I didnt have any luck with the Eh's. But anyone could get a bad set. I'm currently using the winged C's. In my amp they sound noticably better than the JJ's. Better string to string clarity. The top end sounds a little sweeter too. Not a huge difference but enough for me to notice. I'm going to try the Ruby's that SAH5150 puts in his amps next time. I can't think of which exact EL34. I've also heard good things about the Tung Sol's

Is this the Ruby EL34 tube you're thinking of?
http://www.thetubestore.com/Tubes/EL34- ... ang-EL34-B

 

[skoora]

That sounds very full and open. Nice tone and playing.

Thanks...that was tv volume using a Bad Cat Unleash.
I played with a band Friday cranked up and holy heck...sounds much better getting the speaker working as well. Can't do it at home.

Think I'm on the search for some better sounding EL34 tubes. These are JJ's, not bad, but I think it could do better.

Hear you about the speaker moving. The one thing I hate about being an apartment dweller. My attenuator helps the amps open up a bit but the difference in just getting some dB's happening is huge, even if it's just Fletcher Munson trickery. I just got an amp that may be the antithesis of the Fargen, a Mesa Mark V but the way the top end opens up on it when I get the Master up through the attenuator is sweet, now if I could just move the speakers too I'd be in Heaven (sung in the style of a Canuk)

 

[Meathead]

That sounds very full and open. Nice tone and playing.

Thanks...that was tv volume using a Bad Cat Unleash.
I played with a band Friday cranked up and holy heck...sounds much better getting the speaker working as well. Can't do it at home.

Think I'm on the search for some better sounding EL34 tubes. These are JJ's, not bad, but I think it could do better.

Hear you about the speaker moving. The one thing I hate about being an apartment dweller. My attenuator helps the amps open up a bit but the difference in just getting some dB's happening is huge, even if it's just Fletcher Munson trickery. I just got an amp that may be the antithesis of the Fargen, a Mesa Mark V but the way the top end opens up on it when I get the Master up through the attenuator is sweet, now if I could just move the speakers too I'd be in Heaven (sung in the style of a Canuk)

For sure...sounds better, feels better, way more sustain, warmth, feedback at will. Volume is important to playing IMO. It will even change 'how' you play.
I'm in the same having to play quiet situation at home. Still fun though. The Unleash is a pretty cool dummy load/reamp unit for low volume playing. I enjoy it much more than the ole Hotplate from years ago.

 

[threadkiller]

So I tried those settings and it's pretty spot on for the tone you were getting. Thanks for that. I don't have an attenuator or unleash so I was just running it full out and after about 20 min my ears were ringing like hell with all that treble going. I lowered the master to 7 on the dial and brought the power scaling up about 2/3's and it sounded good but I agree not as good as without it. Don't know if it is from the lower power or lower speaker excursion but still pretty good, just not as good.

Mainly I was impressed with my combo cab design. Single greenback in open back combo and it sounded great. Ben told me I'd have plenty of low end and I was skeptical but he is right. I plugged into my closed back 212 with a V30 and G12H30 and really wasn't impressed that it was any tighter. Had that V30 mid spike going but I liked the greenback in my combo cab better.

I never would have tried these settings. Thanks again. I did find myself bringing the bass up to about 9 o'clock and liked that better but I suspect that would go away with a bass player.

 

[Meathead]

So I tried those settings and it's pretty spot on for the tone you were getting. Thanks for that. I don't have an attenuator or unleash so I was just running it full out and after about 20 min my ears were ringing like hell with all that treble going. I lowered the master to 7 on the dial and brought the power scaling up about 2/3's and it sounded good but I agree not as good as without it. Don't know if it is from the lower power or lower speaker excursion but still pretty good, just not as good.

Mainly I was impressed with my combo cab design. Single greenback in open back combo and it sounded great. Ben told me I'd have plenty of low end and I was skeptical but he is right. I plugged into my closed back 212 with a V30 and G12H30 and really wasn't impressed that it was any tighter. Had that V30 mid spike going but I liked the greenback in my combo cab better.

I never would have tried these settings. Thanks again. I did find myself bringing the bass up to about 9 o'clock and liked that better but I suspect that would go away with a bass player.

No problem, that's great you are getting a brownish tone as well. Fun to play on. I hadn't tried these settings either until the other night on stage. I just thought screw it and went for it, glad I did.
If you don't buy an Unleash you may need to buy a box of those yellow foam earplugs.
It's a tone that sits well with a band. I don't think you even need to boost volume levels for soloing, single notes just cut right through.
I agree that adding back some bass up to around 9:00 sounds great as well.
I almost went for the combo, but worried it wouldn't thump enough with it being an open back.

 

[Meathead]

I didnt have any luck with the Eh's. But anyone could get a bad set. I'm currently using the winged C's. In my amp they sound noticably better than the JJ's. Better string to string clarity. The top end sounds a little sweeter too. Not a huge difference but enough for me to notice. I'm going to try the Ruby's that SAH5150 puts in his amps next time. I can't think of which exact EL34. I've also heard good things about the Tung Sol's

Think I found the Ruby EL34's you were talking about...gonna try some out along with some Tung Sol El34 tubes.
http://www.dougstubes.com/ruby-el34-bstr.html

 

[IntenseJim]

Sounds great. Mine never sounds that good but is probably due to the operator. So eq maxed except bass all the way off huh. I'll have to try it. 70's mode I assume? So you aren't using the power scaling at all just master wide open and using your unleash to set the volume right? Also, what speakers in that cab? I just want to duplicate your setup and prove to myself that I can't play.

Part of it is the guitar as well. Good old standard strat with a Dimarzio SD pickup in the bridge. It's a Weber Legacy low wattage speaker in a closed back.
Using the Unleash to bring the volume way down. I don't really like the sound of the power scaling.

Setting were:
power scaling and bass off
mid, treble and master full
preamp gain at 3:00
70's mode

Sounds fantastic as is the playing. If you listen to some of Eddie's tracks from mixes....you nailed it.

 

[threadkiller]

I've been learning some Van Halen tunes. Always liked em' but never really spent any time learning them beyond Panama and a few others. What I've discovered is the OP is a hell of a player. That makes a big difference in the tone as well.

 

[Schaf]

I didnt have any luck with the Eh's. But anyone could get a bad set. I'm currently using the winged C's. In my amp they sound noticably better than the JJ's. Better string to string clarity. The top end sounds a little sweeter too. Not a huge difference but enough for me to notice. I'm going to try the Ruby's that SAH5150 puts in his amps next time. I can't think of which exact EL34. I've also heard good things about the Tung Sol's

Think I found the Ruby EL34's you were talking about...gonna try some out along with some Tung Sol El34 tubes.
http://www.dougstubes.com/ruby-el34-bstr.html

Pretty sure that's them. It'll probably be a while before I even need new ones. But, I'm kind wanting to try them just for kicks. But, I can't imagine it being a huge difference. Especially for the money.

Hell for about 50 bucks more a pair than the sed you can get those NOS RFT's. The upside of those is they last a lot longer, so I don't know if they aren't worth it.

 

[Meathead]

Sounds fantastic as is the playing. If you listen to some of Eddie's tracks from mixes....you nailed it.

Thanks!
I don't know about nailed it...some guys really have Eddie down to a T ....I just fake it.

I've been learning some Van Halen tunes. Always liked em' but never really spent any time learning them beyond Panama and a few others. What I've discovered is the OP is a hell of a player. That makes a big difference in the tone as well.

Thanks, you may need to get used to playing harder with your right hand maybe. Not a lot of preamp gain and dig in hard.
Eddie's right hand picking and muting is really special. Love that guy!

 

[Meathead]

I didnt have any luck with the Eh's. But anyone could get a bad set. I'm currently using the winged C's. In my amp they sound noticably better than the JJ's. Better string to string clarity. The top end sounds a little sweeter too. Not a huge difference but enough for me to notice. I'm going to try the Ruby's that SAH5150 puts in his amps next time. I can't think of which exact EL34. I've also heard good things about the Tung Sol's

Think I found the Ruby EL34's you were talking about...gonna try some out along with some Tung Sol El34 tubes.
http://www.dougstubes.com/ruby-el34-bstr.html

Pretty sure that's them. It'll probably be a while before I even need new ones. But, I'm kind wanting to try them just for kicks. But, I can't imagine it being a huge difference. Especially for the money.

Hell for about 50 bucks more a pair than the sed you can get those NOS RFT's. The upside of those is they last a lot longer, so I don't know if they aren't worth it.

I find the EH's sound better than the JJ's. The JJ's are pretty strong on mids. Not a very big differences though.
I'm wondering if swapping out EL34's will really be that noticeable. Certainly not going to go nuts on lots of different brands and spend a lot of money.

 

[Schaf]

I didnt have any luck with the Eh's. But anyone could get a bad set. I'm currently using the winged C's. In my amp they sound noticably better than the JJ's. Better string to string clarity. The top end sounds a little sweeter too. Not a huge difference but enough for me to notice. I'm going to try the Ruby's that SAH5150 puts in his amps next time. I can't think of which exact EL34. I've also heard good things about the Tung Sol's

Think I found the Ruby EL34's you were talking about...gonna try some out along with some Tung Sol El34 tubes.
http://www.dougstubes.com/ruby-el34-bstr.html

Pretty sure that's them. It'll probably be a while before I even need new ones. But, I'm kind wanting to try them just for kicks. But, I can't imagine it being a huge difference. Especially for the money.

Hell for about 50 bucks more a pair than the sed you can get those NOS RFT's. The upside of those is they last a lot longer, so I don't know if they aren't worth it.

I find the EH's sound better than the JJ's. The JJ's are pretty strong on mids. Not a very big differences though.
I'm wondering if swapping out EL34's will really be that noticeable. Certainly not going to go nuts on lots of different brands and spend a lot of money.

I here you. I've said many times on here that I had 2 JCM 800' sat the same time. One with EL34's and one with 6550's . There were some very subtle differences but not like everyone will lead you to believe. I tend to dial an amp in a certain way and those amps sounded nearly identical side by side. So, in lots of amps the tone isn't going to be dramtically different even if yoy use different types of tubes.

But I'm sure you'll have someone jump in here to tell you of the dramatic difference they make, but I've done some swapping and they will make a difference, but it'll be very subtle. I've found that preamp tubes and speakers will make a lot bigger difference.

 

[Meathead]

I find the EH's sound better than the JJ's. The JJ's are pretty strong on mids. Not a very big differences though.
I'm wondering if swapping out EL34's will really be that noticeable. Certainly not going to go nuts on lots of different brands and spend a lot of money.

I here you. I've said many times on here that I had 2 JCM 800' sat the same time. One with EL34's and one with 6550's . There were some very subtle differences but not like everyone will lead you to believe. I tend to dial an amp in a certain way and those amps sounded nearly identical side by side. So, in lots of amps the tone isn't going to be dramtically different even if yoy use different types of tubes.

But I'm sure you'll have someone jump in here to tell you of the dramatic difference they make, but I've done some swapping and they will make a difference, but it'll be very subtle. I've found that preamp tubes and speakers will make a lot bigger difference.

I wouldn't be surprised if you are right.
I'm going to pick up a few EL34 brands that people speak highly of and give it a go....you need backup tubes anyways. Gonna check out the Ruby and Tung Sol EL34's.
I really like Tung Sol preamp tubes in Marshall sounding amps...and I'm hearing their EL34's are great as well.