My Yamaha PAC112

Dimarzio Super 3 bridge, Area 58 middle/neck

Gibson Les Paul (EMGs) Heavy Tones (Part 6 - Mesa RA-100)

The last set of heavy tones with the Les Paul with EMGs into the Mesa Royal Atlantic RA-100 head.  For the both the rhythm and lead tones used the Vintage Hi Channel, 100 watts, no multisoak.  For a boost I used the Protone Misha Mansoor OD.  The cab I plugged into is the Mesa Recto 4x12 which is miked up with an SM57 and an MD 421 (same mic setup as the Dual Rec and Mark V)

Again this was done with a reamp box.

Settings

RA-100 Settings

Boost Settings

Clips

Vids

Mix

Raw Camera

Gibson Les Paul (EMGs) Heavy Tones (Part 5 - Peavey 6505+)

Even MORE heavy tones with the Les Paul with EMGs into the Peavey 6505+.  For the both the rhythm and lead tones used the Lead Channel unboosted.  The cab I plugged into is the Mesa Recto 4x12 which is miked up with an SM57 and an MD 421 (same mic setup as the Dual Rec and Mark V)

This was done with a reamp box.

Settings

6505+ Settings

Clips

 

Vids

Mix

Raw Camera

Gibson Les Paul (EMGs) Heavy Tones (Part 4 - Mesa Mark V)

More heavy tones with the Les Paul with EMGs into the Mesa Mark V.  For the both the rhythm and lead tones used Channel 3 Mark IV mode, 90 watts full power.  In back it's set to Pentode.   No boost on this guy.  The cab I plugged into is the Mesa Recto 4x12 which is miked up with an SM57 and an MD 421 (mics setup the same way as in the Recto clip)

I used a reamp box for these clips.

Settings

Mark V Settings

Clips

Vids

Mix

Raw Camera

Gibson Les Paul (EMGs) Heavy Tones (Part 3 - Mesa Dual Rectifier)

More heavy tones with the Les Paul with EMGs into the Mesa Dual Recto.  For the rhythm tones the amp is set to Ch 3 Modern, Bold, Silicon Diode.  The lead part is set to Ch 2 Vintage, Bold, Silicon Diode.   I used the Protone Misha Mansoor as a boost.  The cab I plugged into is the Mesa Recto 4x12 which is miked up with an SM57 and an MD 421.

This time I used a reamp box!  Will do this for all the rest of the clips.

Setup:

Amp Settings

Close-up

Mics

Boost

Gates

Clips

Videos

Raw Camera

Mix

Gibson Les Paul (EMGs) Heavy Tones (Part 2 Mesa Mini Recto)

Continuing heavy tones with the Les Paul with EMGs into the Mesa Mini Recto.  The Mini is set to 25 watts in Modern mode.   I used the Protone Misha Mansoor as a boost.  The cab I plugged into is the Mesa Recto 2x12 which is miked up with an SM57 and an MD 421.  For the lead part I used the tc electronic Flashback delay.

This is getting time consuming for a few minutes of recording.  I think next clips are going to be reamped instead.

Note - I used the ISP Decimator as noise reduction in the loop - I think it clamped down on the held note in the lead.  Need to either keep it off for leads or tweak it.

Settings:

Amp Settings

Mics

Boost

Delay

Gates

Clips:

Videos:

Raw Camera:

Full Mix:

Gibson Les Paul (EMGs) Heavy Tones (Part 1 Marshall JVM)

Moving on to some more heavy tones.  For this set of clips I used my Chicago Blue Gibson Les Paul Traditional w/EMG Het Set pickups.  I was tuned to C# standard for all everything.

Gibson Les Paul Traditional

The first amp I ran it through is the Marshall JVM with the 1960a cab .  As usual I am using a Shure SM57 and a Sennheiser MD421.  The 57 is on a Vintage 30 and the 421 is on the 75.  The amp channel is OD Green, and is boosted with an MXR Classic OD.

Here's the setup:

Amp Settubgs

Mics

Classic OD

Delay

Gate

Clips:

Vids:

Raw Camera

Full Mix

Some Gibson Snapshots

Not getting to anything this weekend... uploading some closeup shots of the Gibsons.

LP Traditional - Heritage Cherry

LP Traditional - Chicago Blue w/ EMG Het Set

Joe Bonamassa LP Studio

Explorer

Honeyburst LP Standard

PRS Custom 24 Heavy Tones (Wrap Up)

So that ends it with the PRS Custom 24.  All in all fun stuff to mess around with... need to get a better workflow though so I can rip through each of my other guitars.

One thing I wanted to note before finishing up was that there was NO post processing on the guitars.  I wanted to get the original source as best as possible.  In Logic X there was some master bus compression/limiting to get the level a little hotter, and the bass had some basic compression/eq/dist added to make it sit a little better.  The drums were Superior Drummer/Metal Machine using the stock out of the box main preset.

Listening back through all the clips this is tough to pick a best amp for the guitar.  All amps worked great and sounded pretty good.  All the Mesas were great, the Peavey was good, and the Marshall JVM while not my favorite held it's own.

For rhythm tone I would rank them as follows: Mark V, RA-100, Dual Rectifier/6505+ tied, Mini Recto, then the JVM.

For leads: Dual Rectifier (Vintage Channel), Mark V/RA-100 tied, 6505+, Mini Recto, then the JVM.

Guess if I had to pick an overall winner it would be the Mark V for the PRS as it sounds and FEELS great while tracking.  The other amps all sound great and work well for the heavy stuff as well but the Mark V just has something to it that doesn't come across so much in the recording.

For fun here is a *final* clip with a mix - Mesa Mark V on the Left Channel, Dual Rectifier on the Right, RA-100 doing the lead part.


And I don't want to hear these riffs or "improvised" leads again.

PRS Custom 24 Heavy Tones (Part 6 - Mesa Royal Atlantic)

The last amp in the profile for the PRS Custom 24... a Mesa Royal Atlantic RA-100 (Vintage Hi Channel, 100 watt mode, no power soak) - using the Recto 4x12.  This guy needs a little boost to get the right gain level - for this I used the Protone Misha Mansoor OD.  For the lead clips I am using my tc electronic Flashback as delay (same settings as my Mark V post).  The Recto cab mics are a Shure SM57 and a Sennheiser MD 421 (again same setup as in my Mark V post).

RA-100 Settings

Boost Settings + Foot

Clips:

Video:

(the RA-100 can get pretty heavy...)

PRS Custom 24 Heavy Tones (Part 5 - Peavey 6505+)

Running the PRS Custom 24 through my Peavey 6505+ (Lead Channel) - using the Recto 4x12.  No boost needed for this setup!  For the lead clips I am using my tc electronic Flashback as delay (same settings as my Mark V post).  The Recto cab mics are a Shure SM57 and a Sennheiser MD 421 (again same setup as in my Mark V post).

6505+ Settings

Clips:

Video:

PRS Custom 24 Heavy Tones (Part 4 - Mesa Mark V)

Running the PRS Custom 24 through my Mesa Mark V - using the Recto 4x12.  I am using Ch 3 in Mark IV mode, 90 watts, Graphic EQ engaged, Pentode on the back.  No boost needed with this guy!  For the delay on lead clips I am using my tc electronic Flashback.  The Recto cab mics are a Shure SM57 and a Sennheiser MD 421.

Mark V Settings

Cab Mics

Gates

Delay Settings

Clips:

Video