Harsh Marshall tone, need help

[evilrocker]

So, I have this problem with a harsh upper mid guitar tone that I never
get rid of.

My chain is Gibson Les Paul Classic with SD JB -> Marshall JMP -79 100w Master volume -> 1960 4 x 12

Got tubes replaced, got JJ now, also replaced the pre tubes, got three Mesa sitting there now.

Anyway, no matter how my settings are almost no treble etc I always find the tone very harsh
around 2.5-3 kHz. Why? How do I get rid of this? My JMP is original except for a gain mod
so I can increase gain and volume with two pots on the back and then switch it with a pedal (a solo channel).
Is the only solution here doing more mods and taming those frequencies?

 

[steve_k]

Get yourself a parametric EQ pedal to tame those frequencies. Up front or in the loop, if you have one. Sounds like you know exactly what you want to fix.

Steve

 

[War Admiral]

Might be a stupid question but did you bias up the amp when you changed the tubes?

 

[The Hoff]

Get yourself a parametric EQ pedal to tame those frequencies. Up front or in the loop, if you have one. Sounds like you know exactly what you want to fix.

Steve

 

[LP Freak]

So, I have this problem with a harsh upper mid guitar tone that I never
get rid of.

My chain is Gibson Les Paul Classic with SD JB -> Marshall JMP -79 100w Master volume -> 1960 4 x 12

Got tubes replaced, got JJ now, also replaced the pre tubes, got three Mesa sitting there now.

Anyway, no matter how my settings are almost no treble etc I always find the tone very harsh
around 2.5-3 kHz. Why? How do I get rid of this? My JMP is original except for a gain mod
so I can increase gain and volume with two pots on the back and then switch it with a pedal (a solo channel).
Is the only solution here doing more mods and taming those frequencies?

What you have are inherent qualities of a Marshall. As already stated, an eq in the loop will do the trick.

 

[Bloodrock]

A duncan JB is a ver mid-spikey pickup as well, might try a less harsh sounding pickup.

 

[Vrad]

What speakers are in the 1960?
You may want to try a different pickup too like someone suggested. The JB has it's moments of being very ice-picky.

 

[Rogue]

My chain is Gibson Les Paul Classic with SD JB -> Marshall JMP -79 100w Master volume -> 1960 4 x 12

That does seem like a recipe for pronounced harsh upper mids. Are those GT75s? Those, in my opinion, are harsh speakers and trebly. The suggested EQ route will probably be the cheapest. Finding another pickup won't be too expensive. 4 new speakers would get pricey.

Modding the amp may or may not be pricey, but if you like the tone otherwise, you could lose it.

 

[MrDan666]

If they are Celestion 75's, then that is your problem. Get some well broken in V30's (MUST be broken in well) or Greenbacks and you will have a bigger/fatter tone without the harshness!

 

[D-Rock]

Yank out that JB!
Try a Duncan Custom instead.

 

[evilrocker]

Might be a stupid question but did you bias up the amp when you changed the tubes?

Yep it was, not by me though.

 

[evilrocker]

What speakers are in the 1960?
You may want to try a different pickup too like someone suggested. The JB has it's moments of being very ice-picky.

Stock speakers, g12T75

Wow is the JB harsh? But I don't believe the pickup is the problem here.
Ive had gibson collection through the years and Ive tried them all, same problem.

 

[evilrocker]

My chain is Gibson Les Paul Classic with SD JB -> Marshall JMP -79 100w Master volume -> 1960 4 x 12

That does seem like a recipe for pronounced harsh upper mids. Are those GT75s? Those, in my opinion, are harsh speakers and trebly. The suggested EQ route will probably be the cheapest. Finding another pickup won't be too expensive. 4 new speakers would get pricey.

Modding the amp may or may not be pricey, but if you like the tone otherwise, you could lose it.

But Ive heard vintage 30s are harsh too? I was about to purchase 4 scumbacks but i wasn't sure if this was the problem.

I really don't want an external eq, besides I don't have an effect loop.

Yeah I talked to the guy who modded my amp and he told me he could tame those freqs for 150 euros and
get exactly the sound I want.

 

[Rogue]

Wow is the JB harsh? But I don't believe the pickup is the problem here.
Ive had gibson collection through the years and Ive tried them all, same problem.

I don't think the JB is harsh, but it's definitely going to highlight the frequencies you are not happy with.

Maybe try a known cab that has different speakers just to get a sense of how they sound?

 

[Vrad]

What speakers are in the 1960?
You may want to try a different pickup too like someone suggested. The JB has it's moments of being very ice-picky.

Stock speakers, g12T75

Wow is the JB harsh? But I don't believe the pickup is the problem here.
Ive had gibson collection through the years and Ive tried them all, same problem.

I would start with the speakers. Greenbacks/G12H-30's/65's will tame the harshness you're hearing.

 

[university81]

I'd second the diff cab/speakers

have an old greenback cab in the practice room (i think it's the 1960ax thick grillcloth) and a relatively new v30 box (1 year old) , i definitely prefer marshalls through the greenback cab, it sounds more harsh in the v30s have to really EQ to compensate and even then it's still there

 

[Rogue]

But Ive heard vintage 30s are harsh too? I was about to purchase 4 scumbacks but i wasn't sure if this was the problem.

I really don't want an external eq, besides I don't have an effect loop.

Yeah I talked to the guy who modded my amp and he told me he could tame those freqs for 150 euros and
get exactly the sound I want.

V30s can sound pretty good if they've been broken in good. Greenbacks are my preferred speaker, but I'd like to try some other speakers based on them. Scumbacks are good, although expensive. You can look into Warehouse Guitar Speakers. They are pretty good and a nice price. I'd like to try out the Invader and a ET-65 sometime. Their website has clips for each speaker type.

Something to consider though is that the GT-75s do have a big and tight bottom end that you might find you miss in other speakers.

 

[SFW]

Try an alnico 2 magnet in your JB. It's a $4 fix. As suggested, get a Greenback loaded cab. See if you can borrow one to see if it does what you are looking for. And a well broken in set of V30s are not harsh.

 

[MrDan666]

It is absolutely the speakers causing the harshness. Nothing else. I have used JB's in so many guitars and never had a problem with harshness.

Swap out those 75's immediately and check out some Greenbacks or well used/broken in V30's. Like SFW said in the post above, well broken in V30's are not harsh at all. Infact very big and chunky sounding.

 

[glpg80]

It is absolutely the speakers causing the harshness. Nothing else. I have used JB's in so many guitars and never had a problem with harshness.

Swap out those 75's immediately and check out some Greenbacks or well used/broken in V30's. Like SFW said in the post above, well broken in V30's are not harsh at all. Infact very big and chunky sounding.

this!