[bluesforbuddha]

Hello,

This is a first time topic post from a new member to the forum. Thanks, all, for the great conversations and info that I've enjoyed reading as a lurker.
I've been playing guitar for many years, though I have only really begun getting to know the depth and genius of Jerry's approach for the last few months. I've always been a fan, but somehow the obsession with this music hadn't grabbed me until recently. Now that I'm "all in" and going down this musical rabbit hole, I've begun assembling a rig or two along Garcia inspired lines. As such, I've purchased a SMS JG mod preamp and a Carvin DCM200l. I'm also putting together a JBLe120 speaker cabinet, and the pedal board is already set. I have three questions about this and any help would be deeply appreciated.

1. For recording directly into a DAW with a UA Apollo Twin interface, would it make sense to plug the SMS preamp directly into the Hi-z input or unbalanced line input? And, would it makes sense to be then running into cabinet and mic emulation plugins without an amp head? Also, it occurs to me that this would emulate a preamp running directly into the cabinet without an emulation of a power amp. Would the power amp actually need to be in that signal chain? Pardon my ignorance, but that doesn't seem right and wouldn't want to blow the interface.

2. As simple as this question is, for live applications and practice with the preamp/poweramp/cabinet, should I simply run a mono 100watt 1/4" out from the Carvin into an 8 Ohm cabinet? While I'm waiting on the build of the JBL cabinet, I'm currently planning on running into a 15" cabinet from Anderson Amps that sounds great with a Ceriatone ODS head at present.

3. Not sure that the 15" speaker will work well with a Jerry inspired tone, but it will have to do for a couple of weeks. Does anyone have thoughts on this?

Thanks for taking the time to chime in, if you have any advice or suggestions.

After gigging, recording and studying the guitar in several related styles for decades, the music of The Dead and Garcia is just re-enlivining my relationship with music, and also my soul, this Summer. I'm so grateful for this forum and community. Thanks, Dennis

[hippieguy1954]

You might find out some of what you need to know here. forum/viewtopic.php?f=419&t=15422&hilit=Carvin+DCM200l

[chipperj]

As for getting your signal into the Apollo, I would recommend you mic that JBL rather than try to go directly from the preamp. IMO, the JBL has as much or more to do with getting 'that' sound as any other part of the rig. Leaving that out will make your job way tougher.

[SarnoMusicSolutions]

Miking a speaker is vital to a "real" tone. Going direct into an interface, even with some modeling, will likely sound horrible, very sterile, gravely missing the mojo, terribly unpleasant peak transients and dynamic response, very UN-Jerry sounding. The preamp really wants to drive a power amp hard into a real speaker, and then THE TONE comes miking/capturing a JBL being driven pretty hard and loud, that magical combination of magnet, paper, voice coil and that special JBL aluminum dustcap. I've tried DI and would never consider it again, direct simply doesn't sound right. Just listen to when Jerry switched over to going direct with his GT Trio preamp in '93 or '94. It was the end of Jerry's tone, so terrible, so sad, it literally ruined the Grateful Dead concert experience for many of us. It was a national tragedy. Direct is the enemy .

B

[SarnoMusicSolutions]

As for getting your signal into the Apollo, I would recommend you mic that JBL rather than try to go directly from the preamp. IMO, the JBL has as much or more to do with getting 'that' sound as any other part of the rig. Leaving that out will make your job way tougher.

Amen!!

[bluesforbuddha]

I completely agree with the value of actually recording mic'ed amplifiers. I collect boutique and vintage tube amps,
and my happy place is in the midst of real tone emanating from real tubes and speakers, hitting a simple sm57. Since I'm
just beginning with this journey into new musical and gear directions, I appreciate the perspectives of the experts and the experienced.
So, we can write off going direct at all, and continue to mic the cabinets. Thanks! Any thoughts about using a 15" speaker with this preamp
and power amp combination? I'll be assembling a 1 x 12" and 2 x 12" cabinet with e120's soon enough, but was curious about others' take
on a 15" jbl with this rig. Thanks.

[MattMan]

Yeah, mic it up. I built this small beast so that I can push the speakers with some serious power with my MC2100 and record in my home studio without breaking up my marriage

Its quite amazing when recording because its dead quiet in the room, but the board gets a very nice mic'd speaker. The only complaint I have is that I miss the open back sound that gets some air moving, but the tonal difference is very subtle.

For Jerry tone I use the tried and true E120/K120.

Pretty simple to make actually. Any box in a box will do.