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Post by fonziedog on Jun 8, 2017 13:44:54 GMT -7
Hi All,
First post on my first Dr Z amp. I picked up a DB-4 1x12" combo recently. The sounds coming out of it in the store and at home are amazing. Fantastic tones: non-fizzy gain; complex mids.
However in a band setting with 2 guitars (other guitarist plays a Strat thru a Hot Rod Deluxe), bass, keytar, drums and 3 vocalist it is too dark. I usually play a Les Paul but I've tried a Tele and even then it's not bright enough. I run the rotary on 3 and Cut on 10. Volume around 4-5. Half power. I've tried positioning the amp differently e.g. on the floor vs. on a stand pointing up to the ears.
Anyone able to offer up suggestions?
Thanks! -Brian
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Post by Deleted on Jun 8, 2017 14:08:56 GMT -7
Welcome!
Rotary on 2 is probably better for a Lester. 3 fattens up pretty good, and I only use that for Teles and Filtertron equipped Gretsch's - and sometiems when I'm practicing at home. Even with my T'Armond Duo Jet, I run the rotary on 2 because those are beefy sounding pickups.
Also, the Gold needs to break in. I used to hate the Gold, turns out I never actually played one long enough to properly break it in. Now, I couldn't imagine a better speaker for cutting live than the Gold. I pair mine with an ASW KTS70 (G12H30 variant).
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Post by nmz on Jun 8, 2017 14:58:46 GMT -7
Go full throttle man, turn that thing up! And what he ^ saidđ.
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Post by Norrin Radd on Jun 8, 2017 15:05:51 GMT -7
Yeah - that speaker needs some good playtime to break in. I initially had the same reaction as you did. Then I started playing my amp loud as bejesus. After a while it really broke in and the tone changed very noticeably. Give it some time.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 8, 2017 15:13:49 GMT -7
When you say Cut on 10 do you mean 10 o'clock or Wide Open 10?
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Post by fonziedog on Jun 8, 2017 19:46:44 GMT -7
When you say Cut on 10 do you mean 10 o'clock or Wide Open 10? I mean full up, all the way clockwise. Thanks for all the comments everyone!
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Post by pcns on Jun 8, 2017 20:37:18 GMT -7
I support the speaker break in thought.
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Post by fonziedog on Jun 16, 2017 10:11:11 GMT -7
Thing are much better with the rotary on 2. Cut still full up - even with the Tele. Will to wind it up this weekend to break in the speaker some more.
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Post by goodez on Aug 1, 2017 14:38:50 GMT -7
I feel you on the darkness struggle being that I'm also running humbuckers. I haven't done any gigs with it yet but I will say I had the amp on half power, cranked up to 8 (3-o clock) on the volume today and it just came to life. There's a lot of different tones in there, also play with the volume nob. I actually set the rotary on 1 with cut half way up, again power at 3 o-clock, and it just crunched nicely with the humbuckers. Billy Squire "lonely is the night" intro sounded perfect on the bridge pickup with rotary at 1.
I guess don't feel alone, I'm wrestling with the darkness thing now and again but finding 1-2 is good for humbuckers and the cut from half-full in that same order. Also, currently breaking in speakers and hoping they'll brighten up more.
Edit-hearing protection advised for volume that loud.
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Post by tumeniamps (Tom) on May 21, 2021 9:55:45 GMT -7
I added a 3-way bright switch to mine. Now I have all the sparkle I want available. It's awesome to get that position 5 thickness and flip on a bright cap to make it chime. An absolute must as far as I'm concerned.
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Post by jhen86 (jordan) on May 21, 2021 20:13:43 GMT -7
I was also thinking a bright switch on the volume pot. Very low invasive, takes 5 min and doesnât mess with the integrity of the actual circuit. Probably something in the 250pf range. If you canât do it, a competent tech shouldnât charge more than $30 to do it.
If you have 6N14Nâs in there, those are also warmer to my ear. Some plain ol EL84s would give a little more top end as well.
Speakers would be a final option but more expensive. Plus the Gold is good and bright and just a great choice.
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Post by tumeniamps (Tom) on May 22, 2021 3:31:32 GMT -7
I was also thinking a bright switch on the volume pot. Very low invasive, takes 5 min and doesnât mess with the integrity of the actual circuit. Probably something in the 250pf range. If you canât do it, a competent tech shouldnât charge more than $30 to do it. If you have 6N14Nâs in there, those are also warmer to my ear. Some plain ol EL84s would give a little more top end as well. Speakers would be a final option but more expensive. Plus the Gold is good and bright and just a great choice. On mine I made the middle position stock, down is 90pf and up is 180pf. Those are perfect values to my ears. 250pf would be quite bright. I use many different cabinets including Gold/V30 combo in my 3rd Power Dream Series cabinets.
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Post by gotmojo on Aug 15, 2021 18:26:24 GMT -7
Whoa!!!! How do you wire one of those caps in there for the sparkle? Can you just put it across the volume terminals?
jj
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