EMS Lead Spec settings

[texaspicker11]

Hello all! How are you setting the EMS for that classic lead spec sound? I'm using a CAZ45 Z best cab so it has a Vintage 30 and a creamback. Is the classic superlead sound with cranked or scooped mids? I suppose the Zeppelin MSG tones are what I am shooting for here and my mindset is to crank the mids, bring in a healthy serving of treble and dump most of the bass. However by scooping the mids a bit it seems to have the clarity I am looking for when I roll down the guitar volume on a neck humbucker. Curious what y'all are doing to get there, thanks guys!

[wraparound (Steve)]

Well I don’t know the answer to your question, but I would reach out to Adam here on the forum and he may know, as he has worked through much of that stuff with different cabinets and speakers.

[adam]

I think the best you can do is just mess with the controls and see what you like. Everything matters, like heavier strings or higher action on the guitar is going to have a lot more low end for starters. Or like how much of the Zep stuff was done on a tele, or a V with MSG isn't going to sound like a Les Paul. I personally really like the 800 side with the gain down pretty low, like 9-10pm. Kind of a good range where it's crunchy when you dig in, cleaner when you play light, and you can hit it with a pedal for more gain when needed.

I recently found out something pretty fun. If you have say a Les Paul with 50's wiring and put the tone control (say bridge) on about 1/2 and then roll down the volume, it almost gets brighter when the guitar volume goes down. If you compensate your volume on 10 and tone on 5 by adding more treble to the amp that you lost with the tone control, the cleanup is even better. In general, I think you need some brightness for that "cleans up" when rolling down the volume. Give it a try if you can.

This might be an example of what I'm talking about with amp settings I mentioned. Beginning arpeggiated part is the volume/tone all the way up and playing lightly, then playing harder, then using the boost. The solo thing is the boost on the whole time and having the bridge volume down then switching to the neck pickup full up. Not sure that answers the lead spec thing, but just throwing out some ideas.

[texaspicker11]

Yessir. I appreciate the input! I’ve basically screenshot all of your settings I could find to try out. Killer amp! I’m amazed how much gain is in the power section of this amp. Seems like getting past 3 o clock on the master surpasses any Marshall I’ve played even in the low gain input. That being said I’m not the most knowledgeable on the plexi thing

[Mark (Basement Enthusiast)]

A true early-70s Lead setting would be solid-state rectifier and sensitivity on Lo. (Touch I'm not sure, though.. could maybe be either.) Of course, the types of speakers you're using might shift things around on account of the fact that it would've been mostly 25-W greenbacks back then.