I would suggest backing off that bass. You're probably fighting a losing battle (and eating up headroom) trying to get all that bass going. But the stuff people are going to hear offstage is not the pants-flapping low-end chunk (especially with a 1 x 12 open-back), however they will hear mids and highs, and that's where a lot of the tonal character resides anyway.
I have found that while it seems counterintuitive, sometimes small amps can make some righteous sounds if you run the eq knobs pretty low and slam the signal elsewhere in the chain. For example, I have a one-channel Peavey with pre and post gain, plus bass/mid/treb. With my single-coil guitar, with pretty low-output pickups, I can get a nice rhythm grind that's bright and cutting but not harsh if I run the bass on 2, mids on 3, highs on 4...but make up the gain by pushing the post gain hard, like 6 to 10, and then setting the grit level to taste with the pre gain...in my case, I like it about 6. This makes a surprising amount of noise from a 12-watt SS amp, with light speaker breakup but it sounds bluesy, not "about to catch on fire." A similar approach might work for you; try backing all the eq down and cranking the channel's post gain and master harder and see what that does. Maybe knock the pre gain back a number or two and see if shifting the gain boost later in the chain, with less in the EQ, sounds "rootsy and organic and cool" or just "stupid." Can't hurt to try it.
From the music you listed, I think this could work for you; none of those bands relied on large amounts of chunk coming from the guitars.
Keep in mind that the bass guitar and drums have physics on their side for producing low frequencies, and if you step out of that realm somewhat you are making it easier to hear them do their thing, while keeping your efforts in frequency bands your equipment's better set up to deliver. Again, even if the sound you get is not ideal to your ear when soloed, it's how it sits in the mix that counts, if you're in a band.
Keep us posted on how the experimenting goes. Maybe you'll find that you just don't like your amp, but if you can make it work for you it's cheaper and easier to carry...
Mexi - Thanks for the ideas - I'll check out your suggestions - I suppose I just thought that I was too bright and wanted to "warm" up my sound so I ran up the bass and dropped treble and recently I've been playing with the mid trying various settings and that's where I last had it. I've also been trying various gain/volume/mv settings. I should probably explain - and this would also go to Phil's post - some more about what I'm using as far as guitars and amp.
Guitars:
- 1982 Ibanez Artist (AR-100) with Humbuckers - this is my "main" guitar and use it for most things.
- 1993 Charvel Strat copy with single coils - - this is my "single" coil guitar for use on the songs that need a single coil sound
- 1993 Fender '57 Vintage reissue Strat - I don't use this right now as I need to do some work on it
Amp:
1992 Marshall Valvestate - 2 channels, Clean and OD - Clean has Gain, B, M, T: OD has Gain, B, M, T, Contour, Vol, - There's in/out effect loop with effect mix (dry/wet), Reverb, Master Vol. Also, each of the channels has a OD level switch - in the clean it just adds a little grit but on the gain channel it takes it from pretty good crunch/dist to "JCM-900ish" scream. Some people don't like the JCM setting because they say it gets buzzy but if you adjust the eq it tones down the buzz. Now the contour is pretty cool, if you max it you get a really scooped out sound and at the minimum setting the opposite - it gives it a really good mid boost/peak. I don't like the minimum setting and the scoop can be good for some stuff (metalish or just really high gain lead sounds). I usually run it at around 6 of 10.
Overall, I play both rhythm and lead - more rhythm probably. Lately I've been switching between the Charvel and the Ibanez when I need to but I really don't change the amp settings other than to switch to the clean channel. I usually don't run the Charvel on the OD channel as it's not shielded (something I need to do) and can buzz/hum a bit if the gain is up. I tend to use an old Boss OD-1 to boost the clean channel with the Charvel if I do a lead. I also have a dist box that I use on the clean if I want some more dirt for lead but for rhythm I just use the basic amp - sometimes the boost and just control volume with my guitar. I tend to use the Ibanez more for the OD/higher gain stuff - we do some Santana and it works well for that. One thing I should say is that I tend to play a lot of stuff, even my leads, on the neck pickup of both guitars - I like a warmer/mellower tone that's not so trebly/biting/buzzy - I guess it's the Santana influence, trying to get the "woman" tone. ;-)
Phil, I'd been thinking about building a small eq since I saw some plans and a PCB someone sells to make one. Where do you find the graphic EQ you mentioned for that cheap? Aren't they rather large? Where do you put them while you're playing? Parametric is also interesting. Oh, as far as pickups, all stock - I was considering changing out the Charvel ones for some SD and possibly getting the stacked humbuckers for the bridge - I'd like them to be switchable between SC and HB mode. Still, to change them all out would be a chunk of change too. I really don't want to mess with my Ibanez as I've read they are now rather sought after and mine is in really good shape - I got all my equipment new and have been the only owner/user. I tend to take good care of my stuff - other guitar players are amazed that they have so few scratches/dings in them for their age, well, I don't to drink to excess, don't do drugs and I put them back into their cases when I'm done using them - no extraordinary measures. Maybe it's the hard shell cases - I like to get hard shell with my instruments and "back in the day" lots of music stores would throw in a case to sweeten/close the deal.
Joe - your post hit as I typing this. That's a good plan but I"m no where near the 4 x12 in terms of ability to build or buy. I think I'm going to replace the internal speaker with a 16 ohm and in parallel with the external 16 ohm that should be 8 ohms right? I was thinking an Emi Wizard but it says on the Eminence site that it's more for closed back cabs not open so I'm looking for something with super high efficiency like the Wizard (103 db!!!) so I won't loose so much "volume" when I put the 16 ohm load on the amp. That way, I can use my Jet City cab with the 16 in there in parallel with the internal for 8. I suppose another option is to replace the Jet City speaker with the 16 ohm Wizard and move the Jet City into the Marshall to see how it will sound. That way I can parallel the 2 or use the ext or internal - with some reduction in power output. - I think that's my plan.
So for now, I'm going to do the following - work on the eq settings, as I beleive and as Mexi has pointed out, this is core to my sound. Try to get/make a low cost graphic or para eq per Phil's idea. Continue with breaking in the Jet City speaker and getting the cab put back together to use with my Marshall for now. Order the Emi Wizard when I get my Tax refund!!! I've already done the jack as Juan recommended, it was super easy - there was already the perfect sized hole in the bottom of the chassis where a wire crimp/holder thing was installed to hold the hardwired speaker wire. I just removed the wire from the speaker (spade connectors) cut off the ends and installed a 1/4 cliff type jack (hole is perfect fit -no drilling required). Made a speaker wire from some 16awg speaker wire I had (stuff that you use for stereo speakers - 2 parallel, copper/silver leads in red/black plastic) and attached spade connectors and a 1/4 plug to the ends. Works good. Now I can run a speaker wire to the ext cab and play through that or plug in the internal speaker. I could also make a "Y" cable to run both the internal and external at the same time - in parallel. But that will be after I get the other 16 ohm speaker - which ever one I decide on. Right now the Wizard looks like a good candidate. I'll look at Juan's list of speakers and see if any of them might be good for the open back Marshall or the Jet City. Not sure if he really only meant them for the 4 x 12.
Lastly, in light of the size and cost of getting and fitting out a 4 x 12, would a 2 x 12 be worth considering? or would it be case of just a "bit more" and you'd have a 4 x 12 so why not go for it. One very big consideration is the size and weight issues of lugging it around.
Thanks again for all the great input - really helps me to figure this out.
Jim
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