The importance of playing loud?
Hi all,
I recently got my hands on a GNX3000 and have tried it through the power section of a top class boutique amp, through a mixer desk and out to the PA, and also into the line in of a Roland Microcube (which sounded really very good even with a slightly knackered speaker). In all cases it seemed to me that the tone doesn't really sound right unless the amp is running pretty loud. There always seems to be a minimum point below which it just ain't happening.
This is also my experience with normal (i.e. not modelled) valve amps.
So I'm wondering why this is, could it be that there isn't a fat enough signal when the volume is low? Maybe the speakers don't do there job properly until they start shaking properly, or is it something to do with the guitar interacting with the sound coming from the amp? I guess it could also just be some psychology thing too.
Anyway, anyone else notice this? or even better are you able to explain it.
I recently got my hands on a GNX3000 and have tried it through the power section of a top class boutique amp, through a mixer desk and out to the PA, and also into the line in of a Roland Microcube (which sounded really very good even with a slightly knackered speaker). In all cases it seemed to me that the tone doesn't really sound right unless the amp is running pretty loud. There always seems to be a minimum point below which it just ain't happening.
This is also my experience with normal (i.e. not modelled) valve amps.
So I'm wondering why this is, could it be that there isn't a fat enough signal when the volume is low? Maybe the speakers don't do there job properly until they start shaking properly, or is it something to do with the guitar interacting with the sound coming from the amp? I guess it could also just be some psychology thing too.
Anyway, anyone else notice this? or even better are you able to explain it.
Comments
Part of the answer, however, lies in gain staging. Think about a regular amp: your guitar puts out a tiny signal, which goes the the preamp. Preamp boosts the signal, and if the boost is loud enough, the preamp \"clips\". That's your pre-gain distortion. This will dictate part of the sound quality.
Next, the signal goes to power amp. Power amp boosts the signal to the point where it can drive a speaker. You can also turn up the power amp boost to the point where it \"clips\" - that's your post-amp distortion.
So, three basic stages: guitar, preamp, poweramp. Now you have options. If you turn up the preamp low, and poweramp low to medium, you get a clean sound. If you keep turning up the poweramp, you get the master volume overdrive that's familiar to users of big stacks. If you turn up the preamp high, and poweramp low to medium, you will get a compressed tone that's usually buzzy. And so on. You can throw in stuff like distortion or compression before the preamp to add more stages; some amps also have multiple internal gain stages.
Now, add GNX into the picture. For one, it simulates all that is described in the previous paragraph. However, that happens internally within the GNX and in the digital domain - unlike a regular amp, there is no internal electrical (analog) signal. But, you do have electrical signal going in and out of the GNX. Next, it goes to an actual power amp that will drive an actual speaker (like your MicroCube). There, you generally want a \"clean\" signal - meaning, not distorted by anything other than GNX's internal processing.
How to do this? Well, first off set a decent level of output on the GNX - I like halfway, but for some mixers/speakers I'll turn it up almost 100%. That will ensure that your power amp gets a good enough signal to amplify. Looking at it this way, GNX is really just a preamp. Finally, you will also want a decently strong boost on the poweramp to make sure that the speaker's movement that produces sound reflects the electrical signal that's coming out of the GNX.
Hope this helps. Post if confused.
Maybe it's all in our heads. Still, isn't sound quality mostly subjective anyway?
What some do is to add a Hotplate or other additional power reducing load on the amp and speaker cab. This allows a great reduction in volume but maintains the amps full bore roar at less than stage levels. The second thing to remember is that the amplifiers used will lie differently in a band mix than they do at home. Venue environments can also add or detract from the response and sweet spot attributes.
Typical Fender amps really liven up when pushed as do Boogies, Marshalls and other designs. It's really how they are designed to be used. Those special qualities in dynamics and compression, soft clipping and even hard clipping occur at various sweet spots of most amps. These spots are a balance of all the amp's components and it's reaction to the external speakers. You really couldn't crank a Mark III through an 8\" 20W cabinet and get the Mark III tone. So much is about the cabs, its interaction with the amp head and components used.
Tube amps generally have a Even harmonic content that seems more pleasing to the ear. This timbre is often called warmth. The next stage of amps are low power units like the 5:25, 5:50, Tiny Terror and other amps that use a unique output transformer and different tone stack designs (some ganged) to create an equivalent sound of a full bore head. Some like to say the TT is a rendition of simulclass amps using the ganged preamps as output drivers. Regardless of methods, it's just a blend of ideas to formulate hi power sound at 7 or 15w.
It seems like hooking up your GNX (or whatever other toys you use) needs some attention to detail to get the best out of it. Just like a \"real\" amp. I do wonder how many people who are against using modellers really never get to hear them properly.
And speakers are the same - they have that \"sweet spot\" where they sound best. And it's probably the same for amps, etc...
Why are cats spending mega bucks on 5 thru 15 watt botique amps???
I have boutique amps that run from 4-50 watts and they are ALL pretty loud, certainly enough to get the neighbours upset. And maybe even a visit from the Landlord or the local Police.
But really that wasn't the point of my post, it was that there seems to be a point below which amps of all types just don't seem to function at there best. The point varies depending on what amp, speakers etc. are being used.
I guess I was a little surprised that this was also the case with my GNX and wanted to discuss this phenomenon to see if other had the same experiences.