Posted: Mon Dec 13, 2010 12:21 pm Post subject: Robben's Goldtop Super Reverb Tone on Art of Blues Solos
Hey everyone,
I've learned a lot from both of Robben's more recent intructional vids where he's using Larry's GT LP. I also happen to play through a 50's GT conversion with PAF's and a '67 SR with Alnico speakers RCA preamp tubes, Mullard rectifier, and Ruby 6L6's. I get extremely close to Robben's tone with a set of D'Addarios and EQ'ing the amp flat on 5 with volume around 4. The guitar volume is also not cranked but instead around halfway up. The one element of this tone that is lacking for me however is the tiny bit of extra grit that he gets when digging in. Maybe I need to experiment a bit more but I'm curious if this may have something to due with his speakers, tube choice, or bias or something else other than amp or guitar settings. BTW, I'm using this vid as a reference because he goes through all the pickup settings and doesn't engage the Zendrive till past the halfway point.
Posted: Wed Dec 15, 2010 1:02 pm Post subject: Re: Robben's Goldtop Super Reverb Tone on Art of Blues Solos
janalex wrote:
Hey everyone,
I've learned a lot from both of Robben's more recent intructional vids where he's using Larry's GT LP. I also happen to play through a 50's GT conversion with PAF's and a '67 SR with Alnico speakers RCA preamp tubes, Mullard rectifier, and Ruby 6L6's. I get extremely close to Robben's tone with a set of D'Addarios and EQ'ing the amp flat on 5 with volume around 4. The guitar volume is also not cranked but instead around halfway up. The one element of this tone that is lacking for me however is the tiny bit of extra grit that he gets when digging in. Maybe I need to experiment a bit more but I'm curious if this may have something to due with his speakers, tube choice, or bias or something else other than amp or guitar settings. BTW, I'm using this vid as a reference because he goes through all the pickup settings and doesn't engage the Zendrive till past the halfway point.
my first suggestion would turn up the guitar all the way. i know that in my guitars guit on 10 certainly adds "crunch" or i guess "gain" is the better word, but it does introduce a certain overdriven kinda thing.. you might call "grit."
other than that... i'd say with a LPnthe SR you decsribe you should be quite able to get that same sound. also, there[s lots of finger work in that example you gave... that requires certain "adjustments".
so guitar on 10 or very close to it (9). if it's too loud because you still want the amp set where it is, then plug the guit into an EB volume pedal first then to any other boxes then to amp, and rock it (set it) back just a tad or to taste.
btw... where is your bias set? 35-40, i would think. 38?
Thanks for the reply. I'll try turning the guitar up louder. In terms of bias, I have top open the amp and check. The amp came with the Ruby power tubes and I was planning on upgrading the RCA blackplates this Christmas. I have never actually checked the current bias. What would you recommend (closer to 35 or 40)?
Posted: Wed Dec 15, 2010 1:46 pm Post subject: Re: Robben's Goldtop Super Reverb Tone on Art of Blues Solos
[quote="tedro"]
janalex wrote:
Hey everyone,
I've learned a lot from both of Robben's more recent intructional vids where he's using Larry's GT LP. I also happen to play through a 50's GT conversion with PAF's and a '67 SR with Alnico speakers RCA preamp tubes, Mullard rectifier, and Ruby 6L6's. I get extremely close to Robben's tone with a set of D'Addarios and EQ'ing the amp flat on 5 with volume around 4. The guitar volume is also not cranked but instead around halfway up. The one element of this tone that is lacking for me however is the tiny bit of extra grit that he gets when digging in. Maybe I need to experiment a bit more but I'm curious if this may have something to due with his speakers, tube choice, or bias or something else other than amp or guitar settings. BTW, I'm using this vid as a reference because he goes through all the pickup settings and doesn't engage the Zendrive till past the halfway point.
my first suggestion would be to turn the guitar's volume control(s) all the way up.
i know that with my guitars guitars on 10 (with my amps) it certainly adds a "crunch" or i guess a "gain" is the better word, but it does introduce a certain overdriven/distort kinda thing... you might very well call it "grit."
other than that... i'd say with a LP and the SR you describe you should be quite able to get that same sound. finger picking, ala your example, results in a different sound as well... in th case a kind of softer/slower attack (off the strings) --all that flesh takes time. :-)
note the end of the first C- section when he plays those low string double stops... note the distorted sound... that suggests that the guitar is, in fact, turned up all the way.
this is why you hear so often of how things can "clean up" with just the volume knob (the guitar's). wide open volume isn't for or just for more ioud, but for more "grit" or thickness or just for its slight distorted quality.
if it's too loud because you still want the amp set where(ever) it is, then plug the guitar into an EB volume pedal first (then to any other boxes) then to the amp... and rock it (set it) back just a tad or to taste/level. that way you get the guitar pots on full gain but can master the volume with your amp set how you may need it.
btw... where is your bias set? 35-40, i would think. 38?
Just crious if anyone has any info on the potential SR mods mentioned in this thread. Was a blackface modified and how so? Would the silverface used in the aforementioned vid be stock?
Just crious if anyone has any info on the potential SR mods mentioned in this thread. Was a blackface modified and how so? Would the silverface used in the aforementioned vid be stock?
in that thread Super and Super Reverb are mentioned... there are videos of either Matk or Robben )lloks lie, Mark_ playing through a Fender SUPER amp, not a Fender Super Reverb amp.
other than those, which include spkrs samples, and other than spending LOTS of time listening to LOTS of tubes, all there is left are the various values of caps ajd resitors ans stuff like that.
however, considering that RF is known to play with rented SRRIs and what not and even someone else's od pedal (not always zendrive) and in fact other amps... other than those factors and whichever guitar it is... aside from the tone specific/special to a Dumble ODS, the Fender tones which are also very standard type Fender tones (compressed/boosted/ at times OD'd)... other than those things and excellent tone woods and in some cases design of the guitar (ash tele, chambered Fender, 335, etc.)... well, check out Carlton's 335 tone... these are really basic guitar/amp matched-up tones, great guitars, well setup, excellent amps dialed in -- try a Fender tweed deluxe, or BF or SF Princeton, or Bassman --find the sweet spot but STAR with GOOD or FINE instrument --a FINE INSTRUMENT makes A LOT of difference... all you really have to do is play a style suited to that sounds.
i'm rambling, sorry.
i have '66 SR with the original alnico spkrs... and i use a wonderful pedal called an Ethos that i can pretty much get any amp to sound like i want (pretty much) although they may "feel" different.
with a good OD and SRRI and anything BUT a strat (and that's not even totally true ;-) you should be able to get as close (sound wise) as anyone ELSE is going to.
i'm speaking form the position of: last July i bought a '66 SR and i also bought a new tele (in Japan). it's important to let the guitar speak its own tone/voice -- strats quack, teles twang, etc.
and, i have twice in 4 months (with lots of rest time inbetween) gone through days and hours of listening to tubes and in various combinations! not tons of them, but i had to get a few. NOS GEs seem real good, RCAs, and Telefunkens. i also did myself what is called the trem mod... i put in a switch. others disconnect it altogether. once you do that you'll never want to put it back (in the circuit!) i happen to also prefer an AX7 in the PI (v6)... i go back and forth on that. but an AT7 ot AY7 in v2 (or v1)... i thought i liked, not anymore, maybe with a different axe. maybe my tele is "cheap" and just needs that bit of help. :-)
good boost pedals are Exotic RC Booster or EP Booster or just a good OD. i want to try a Hermida Dual Boost, less is best for me. although i can't seem to quit my Lexicon reverb (i like the "plate").
How did you like the RCA blackplates? I just got a set for Christmas and will install next week. I'm hoping to bias them to get a bit more dynamics then my current Rubys.
How did you like the RCA blackplates? I just got a set for Christmas and will install next week. I'm hoping to bias them to get a bit more dynamics then my current Rubys.
those were all preamp tubes i mentioned. i'm currrently using a pair of JAN Philips 6L6WGB (with Mullard GZ34/5AR4 rectifier). i have also used a RCA 5R4 rectifier.
right now this is it, all these are ancient excpet the sovtek (not really doing anything) and the JAN Philips:
v1 -
v2 GE 12AX7
v3 TF 12AT7
v4 RCA 7025
v5 Sovtek 12AX7
v6 TF 12AX7
v7-8 NOS Phillips 6L6WGB
v9 Mullard GZ34/5AR4
biased in low 30's
i have worked on my cheap tele quite a bit, lots of pickup adjustment... and i had to wax pot the pickups myself.
i switch back and forth from GHS to D'addario, but i swear i'm going back to GHS (Boomers).
gonna put some Fralins in it soon as get some funds. i bent the saddle screws... i.e., i manually compensated.
i started on an Esquire, then quickly went to Gibsons where i stayed all my life until now... although i did buy a very special custom shop '57 strat in '97.
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