Tube amp with a Tube Screamer - question about it's behavior.

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Dave Modisette
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2012/01/06 18:29:20 (permalink)

Tube amp with a Tube Screamer - question about it's behavior.

I'm not looking for a cure here but a little understanding of the result I am getting as I experimenting with amp set ups and mic/pre/compressor settings.
 
I bought a little Vox AC15C1.  I've got an A/B box set up between the Vox and a Fender Pro Junior.  Both are 15 watts and I have made adjustments volume wise where they are close to the same volume when I switch back and forth.   The amps are in an Iso booth so I'm monitoring them via my studio monitors in my control room and watching the meters on my output bus.
 
What I am noticing is that engaging the Tube Screamer with the Fender amp is giving me a signicant volume increase over what I am getting with the Vox when the Tube Screamer is engaged.  It's like 3 dB or better.  Since we have some technically minded amp experts here, I'm wondering if someone can give me an layman's explanation as to why that is happening.
 
 

Dave Modisette ... rocks a Purrrfect Audio Studio Pro rig.

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#1

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    batsbrew
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    Re:Tube amp with a Tube Screamer - question about it's behavior. 2012/01/06 18:37:01 (permalink)
    the preamp circuits are completely different between the two amps.

    they will react to a boosted signal differently.

    it's partially a 'preamp headroom' issue, partly a 'gain structure' issue, and partly a power amp 'headroom' issue.

    this is part of the magic (or pain in the @ss) of mixing/matching effects to tube amps.

    it's part of the voodoo, and this wonderfully illustrates why what is good for the goose, is not always good for the gander.

    FWIW.....
    if it were ME...
    and i wanted to keep the two-amp combo...

    i'd get a treble booster, or clean boost, for the Vox....

    keep the tube screamer on the Fender.....
    and tweak them both separately until you get them at the same volume.

    the way the tube screamer works, will react completely different between the two amps, better not to settle on a compromise setting between the two, better to commit the pedal to one amp or the other....

    more shortly......


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    Dave Modisette
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    Re:Tube amp with a Tube Screamer - question about it's behavior. 2012/01/06 19:01:28 (permalink)
    keep the tube screamer on the Fender..... and tweak them both separately until you get them at the same volume.

     
    Good idea.  I've also got a Barber Barb EQ that I bought primarily for the Fender to make up for it's lack of tone controls (it only has one).  I could put the Tube screamer ahead of that and since the BEQ can also add a little boost, I might get some nice effect out of that.
     
    Looks like I've got some playing to do.  Fun stuff (considering I'm a bass player and all I do is plug in an go most times.)

    Dave Modisette ... rocks a Purrrfect Audio Studio Pro rig.

    http://www.gatortraks.com 
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    Sidroe
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    Re:Tube amp with a Tube Screamer - question about it's behavior. 2012/01/07 09:53:39 (permalink)
    Here's some fun stuff. Some pedal makers make an a/b/ab pedal. I have two Blues Juniors in my collection of amps. One of those pedals is great to have around. You set one amp for clean and one amp for distortion and switch between the two. Old School Channel swithing! Then there is another button that allows you to have both on at the same time. It sounds great when you have the edginess of the clean sound combined with the fat mid distortion! This also works well with unmatched setups like yours. Many of the tracks you hear on classic rock recordings were actually done this way. Not just one amp, but a combination being recorded at the same time. Depending on the cabs and speakers, this can sound HUGE! Just a tip from a guitar player.LOL! 

    Sonar Platinum, Sonar X3e, Sonar X2a , Sonar X1 Expanded and 8.5.3 (32 and 64 bit), Windows 10 on a Toshiba P75-A7200 Laptop with i7 @ 2.4 quad and 8 gigs of RAM and secondary WD 1 Tb drive, Windows 10 desktop, Asus i5 @ 3.2 quad, 12 gigs RAM, 1 Tb drive, 1 500 gig drive, MOTU 24io, 2 Roland Studio Captures, Saffire 6 USB for laptop, Soundtracs Topaz Project 8 mixer, Alesis Monitor 2s, Event BAS 20/20s, Roland Micro-Monitor BA-8s, and 45 years worth of collecting FX, Mics, Amps, Guitars, and Keyboards!
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    Dave Modisette
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    Re:Tube amp with a Tube Screamer - question about it's behavior. 2012/01/07 14:31:00 (permalink)
    I've been looking at those.  I think the "Y" would be cool.  Add the Fender sound to the Vox sound.  I've been on the hunt for an A/B/C box too since the Vox has a Normal and a Top Boost Channel.

    Dave Modisette ... rocks a Purrrfect Audio Studio Pro rig.

    http://www.gatortraks.com 
    My music.
    ... And of course, the Facebook page. 
    #5
    Sidroe
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    Re:Tube amp with a Tube Screamer - question about it's behavior. 2012/01/07 14:45:21 (permalink)
    Also try the reverse. The Vox can be very chimey when overdriven while the Fender lends a little more bottom fatness.

    Sonar Platinum, Sonar X3e, Sonar X2a , Sonar X1 Expanded and 8.5.3 (32 and 64 bit), Windows 10 on a Toshiba P75-A7200 Laptop with i7 @ 2.4 quad and 8 gigs of RAM and secondary WD 1 Tb drive, Windows 10 desktop, Asus i5 @ 3.2 quad, 12 gigs RAM, 1 Tb drive, 1 500 gig drive, MOTU 24io, 2 Roland Studio Captures, Saffire 6 USB for laptop, Soundtracs Topaz Project 8 mixer, Alesis Monitor 2s, Event BAS 20/20s, Roland Micro-Monitor BA-8s, and 45 years worth of collecting FX, Mics, Amps, Guitars, and Keyboards!
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