[Solved] Marshall amps sounds too thin

N

nicolas22

New Member
Hi! I've been using an axe fx 3 and before that, an axe fx 2 for many years now. However, I've never been able to dial in a marshall tone I like. To my ears, they sound thin and doesn't have enough bass.

I've never played a real marshall (jcm 800 or plexi) and I know, these amps can be pretty bright. I also know that marshall tone on records like led zeppelin or ACDC have post processing.

But, when I listen to clips on YouTube of Marshall's, even without a real cab (just an ir), they sound so huge!! I'm wondering, what should I do, to get a sound similar to that (big, punchy, not too much gain, just a nice crunch). Also, is it a volume thing ? Like can you only get nice big, fat tones if you play loud ?

I love my axe fx otherwise :) thank you!
 
nicolas22 said:
Hi, i will try that thank you! I'm using a les paul with humbuckers
Click to expand...
Ah nothing thin there haha.

Whatever model you try, try with all knobs at noon first. It gives a good overall idea.

The yt clips might also be stereo - pan two ir’s 50% each way and see what you think.

If you want high gain, im partial to brit pre.
 
Maybe Marshalls just aren’t for you? Not one of my faves, either, so you aren’t the only one.

If it’s classic “Les Paul Rawk” sounds you seek perhaps the @austinbuddy “Brit Royalty” presets might be up your alley. IMSC there’s a @Cooper Carter episode that includes Buddy’s “Stairway To Heaven” presets you can try out for free.

There’s something for everyone in any Fractal unit — sometimes it’s worthwhile to forget the amp names and concentrate on what you want to hear.
 
You aren't alone. To this day, I can't reconcile the fact that the most iconic rock amplifier brand in the world is one of my least favorites. As others have said, make sure the master volume setting is appropriate, and experiment with the bright cap setting. Pre equalization can also help with ice pick highs, mid frequency bloat, and low frequency flub. You can then post EQ to compensate. I generally move on to a modified Marshall model, or choose a different model entirely. Same holds true for the real amps.
 
1) Crank up the bass knob. With JCM800 or Silver Jubilee amps the bass knob does not do much. I usually lean towards 5-8, and rarely cut it (3-4 at min ever) with the cabinets I’m usually using. With real amps, you usually turn it up to the point where you start to really feel the thump from the cabinet, which is usually around 5-8 and it can be even set up to 10 if you don’t feel the air moving towards your butt otherwise.

2) Crank the master volume up. If it’s set too high, your tone will be flubby. With JCM amps 5 is kind of the maximum I would ever go, which is wall tearing IRL. The real amps peak over 130W, which is nuts.

3) Find the right IR for you. If you’re using the JCM800 (Brit 2203) model, start with bass at 7, master at 4 and drive at 7. If you don’t have enough bass for your liking, try another IR. Even the SM57 IR’s should have plenty of bass, or if not, try one with a ribbon mic.

4) More gain -> more bass response. Some Marshall models require you to crank up the gain to 7-9. Turn it up, it will bite you back though.

5) Push the amp with a drive pedal. I always lean towards the Tube Screamers for Les Paul type humbucker guitars and the Boss OD for strats. TS to the 2203 should already sound great even with basic settings. Turn down the drive if the sound get’s too loose. YMMV.

6) Still no bass? Try the JTM model. Crank up the (Normal) Drive, and your speakers will explode with bass. If you crank the bass knob as well, all you will hear is bass. You’re welcome!
 
Last edited:
nicolas22 said:
Hi! I've been using an axe fx 3 and before that, an axe fx 2 for many years now. However, I've never been able to dial in a marshall tone I like. To my ears, they sound thin and doesn't have enough bass.

I've never played a real marshall (jcm 800 or plexi) and I know, these amps can be pretty bright. I also know that marshall tone on records like led zeppelin or ACDC have post processing.

But, when I listen to clips on YouTube of Marshall's, even without a real cab (just an ir), they sound so huge!! I'm wondering, what should I do, to get a sound similar to that (big, punchy, not too much gain, just a nice crunch). Also, is it a volume thing ? Like can you only get nice big, fat tones if you play loud ?

I love my axe fx otherwise :) thank you!
Click to expand...
Ive found its all in the IR. Find out what mics were used for your favorite tones. For example, a lot of the Angus AC/DC tones were recorded with U47’s or U67’s, which sound NOTHING like an SM57. If you want thicker sounds, look for IR’s of ribbon mics or large diaphragm condensers. Then use the 57 only to blend the high mids punch, but get the body from another mic.
 
1. Turn off the bright cap.
2. Try the Plexi 100W, as it is one of the darker Plexi variants.
3. Don’t turn the mid or treble up too high. To get a more powerful, thicker sound, you need the preamp set on the darker side, and you can add treble back in at the power amp stage using Presence.
Check out this video of AC/DC’s tech giving a rundown, around the 20 minute mark (edit: somehow it pulled up a different video? edited to fix):


4. IR is key. I like the ribbon mic pulled all the way back and off axis. Don’t be afraid to put it all the way to the edge.
 
Last edited:
giantslayer said:
1. Turn off the bright cap.
3. Don’t turn the mid or treble up too high. To get a more powerful, thicker sound, you need the preamp set on the darker side, and you can add treble back in at the power amp stage using Presence.
Click to expand...
I run my 2203 with mid at 7, treble at 9, bass at 4-5 and presence at 3. Bright cap on. SM57 ir’s (custom made 80’s 4x12 G12T75). To tame the ear piercing stuff, I have to lower the input impedance. There’s something I really like when the amp really compresses the high notes in the preamp section, so all the notes are as crisp and punchy across the whole scale of the guitar if you dig in. What I absolutely love about the 2203 is that it’s so dynamic: you can get a treble-rolled off jazz sound as well if you pluck the strings super gently.

No problems with bass response, and I use low cut around 100-170 hz. My ir’s are not made in a well treated, professional studio though, so it’s possible there is some extra rumble in my ir’s.

Some of the professional ir’s are made so well with properly treated rooms, that you might sometimes have to crank the bass to get enough of it going. Especially with SM57 impulses there is a big difference whether the mic has been placed on the upper or the lower speaker. Placing the mic on the lower speaker and closer to the floor should introduce more rumble and vice versa – depending on the room as well.
 
Last edited:
nicolas22 said:
Hi, i will try that thank you! I'm using a les paul with humbuckers
Click to expand...


Definitely don’t turn up the master, for starters. That is the absolute last thing you wanna do when trying to get more low end out of an amp. Seriously, the absolute last thing. Keep the master no higher than 9 o’clock or so. I don’t care if it’s the JVM models, 800, whatever,‘doesn’t matter. The more you turn up the master, the more you clip the power section which cuts low end and high end. That’s why they sound super midrangey when the volume gets high. This applies to all high gain amps by the way. In fact I bias my real diezel Herbert alittle colder than stock for just this reason. Tighter and more lows and highs.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom