Grateful Dead Music Forum

Hi Folks,

Thanks to all the information generously shared here over the years, I've finally put together a satisfying Jerry rig that should keep any sane individual happy for years. Like many of you however, I am not sane, and will probably continue to obsess forever, or at least until I can spring for a real high-end Tiger tribute.

Below, I'm posting a few links to some clips from my last gig. I was hoping to get some feedback from you good people.

My Rig:
Troy Post Wolf (w/OBEL, Waldo Buffer, Three Super 2s)
FYD TRP Preamp (sweeeeet! Especially appreciating the spring Reverb with added dwell control)
McIntosh MC-50
1x12 JBL K-120
---------
GCX Switcher
Q-Tron
Boss OD-1
Boss OD-2
Boss OC-2
MXR Phase 100
Lexicon MPX-1 (for delays, chorus, space)
Lexicon MPX-R1 Midi Controller

Following up on the recent "Scaling things down.." thread, I am running my MC50 off the 16 Ohm tap to my 8-ohm K120. As discussed in that thread, this allows the mac to push about 80 watts and can drive the JBL to clip. I was watching the speaker cones rock at various times during the gig, and I got some clipping here and there, although I wouldn't say that it was always a pleasing clip. It's a very tough line to walk. It is pretty loud, but with the cab backfired, pointing at my gut, even on a small stage with two drummers, we managed to maintain pretty reasonable levels. It definitely helps that I use in-ear monitors.

Something I'm struggling with is getting balanced tone across the entire fretboard. Specifically, I'm really digging the fullness, clarity and distinct Jerry-like "burp" I'm getting from the lower strings, and the entire low end of the fretboard sounds full, but I'm finding the upper strings/upper fretboard to be a bit thin and brittle. I'm running the the FYD preamp at Bass=0 Mid=5-6 Treble=10. Boosting the mids and cutting treble would seem an obvious approach, but I find that I lose the snap and crispness on the lower strings when I do so. I'm using a 10 - 46 guage string set. Any secret tips for getting some more even responses? Perhaps it's the tone woods used in the guitar, which are not the same as wolf/tiger. Pretty sure it's solid maple.

Anyway, once again, big thanks to all who have shared here. Here are the links.

The band name is Terrapin Station, comprised of a several members of the former Lost Sailors, here in Ithaca, NY. These are some rough mixes I threw together off a raw multitrack capture. Thanks for any feedback!

China>Rider
https://www.dropbox.com/s/hdvstna0j4nkj ... 3.mp3?dl=0

Sugaree
https://www.dropbox.com/s/0ziytwx4rbzmt ... e.mp3?dl=0

I sure hope someone has figured this out because I am in the same boat with my rig.

+1 I have this problem as well and now am in the unpleasant habit of continually dialing back the tone knob when playing the upper frets.....similar set-up to you with Carvin DC400A with split middle Super 2..........

I have a question, I am not very technical but is it okay to run your MC 50 out of a higher ohm to a lower ohm speaker load? And does this help at lower volumes?

I currently have a 2x10 with K110's running at a 4 ohm load. My MC 50 has two outputs, one for 4 ohms and one for 8 ohms. Would it be better for me to use the 8 ohm output to run at lower volumes? I always thought that was bad and could hurt your equipment. I thouhgt you had to match ohms?

Sorry, if this is a stupid question.

+1 I have this problem as well and now am in the unpleasant habit of continually dialing back the tone knob when playing the upper frets.....similar set-up to you with Carvin DC400A with split middle Super 2..........

Are you all running your main guitar volume at 10? If so, try turning up the preamp/amp and turning the volume on the guitar down just a bit...

I would suggest you use a heavier gauge string should help out a bit. Also maybe stating the obvious here but changing were you pick the string could help even things out.For example try picking a little farther away from the pickup selected but with a little more attack.Great chops and tone is definitely well in the ball park.

Sorry for the download only links I provided. Here are links to streams:

China > Rider
http://www.reverbnation.com/terrapinsta ... -you-rider

Sugaree
http://www.reverbnation.com/terrapinsta ... 25-sugaree

I have been using the last poster suggestion of opening up the preamp and amp volumes, and dialing back the guitar volume. It was eye opening to have that sort of control on the guitar. I may need to continue to mess with those levels. I have the MC-50 up about 50% with the preamp almost at 8 on the back volume control. Hard to imagine going much louder, as my guitar volume control was way down around half.

Still hoping for some feedback on my tone if not the band as a whole.

Thanks!

Bobbyg wrote:+1 I have this problem as well and now am in the unpleasant habit of continually dialing back the tone knob when playing the upper frets.....similar set-up to you with Carvin DC400A with split middle Super 2..........

iu got the same problem too...some upper register notes on my b and e string do not resonate well at all. so frustrating..i got a carvin dc400 as well

I've had the opposite problem in the past meaning the lower strings produce too much energy putting too much bass into the signal. I lowered the bass side of the pickups to correct for this and balance out the low-high input energy to the pickups especially to get the mutron to react on the high E string as well as the rest of the strings. I'd try either lowering the bass side of the pickup or raising the treble side. I ended up with a pretty crooked looking middle pickup when viewed down the neck but it sounds right.