set theorist said:
[quote="The Shredding Hand":1x7gsev1]Fellow forum member Mark Day (member name: Samhill) uses the ART SLA-2 and a guitar cab and he gets killer high gain tones. Search for some of his posts here and there are links to tons of youtube videos he has done. This man has the high gain sounds nailed!
I've seen Mark's vids on youtube and they are sick. In fact, he's the reason i bought my Axe in the first place....but then again, a youtube video ain't exactly of the highest fidelity, so who knows? Cron's post kinda scares me that I may never achieve my sound...but, I guess I will just persevere and try some of the other suggestions I've heard.
I should get my hands on that Crest CA-6 power amp on Thursday and I'll see if that makes a difference. I really hate that this $2K peice of equipment is causing me to go out and spend additional money to get to the place I was before I started; but for me, the whole reason I got the Axe was to not have to tap dance to change sounds, to have greater flexibility and to save my back with lighter equipment. It definitely achieves those goals; but if the sound ain't there, none of that matters.[/quote:1x7gsev1]
Id like to know how the crest sounds compared to the Art.
I put my axe through the Orange Thunderverbs loop return today. It did seem more fizzy, less middly and more full. It was more noticable when I went back to the Art as opposed to when I went to the Orange. Having said that, I could get very closed by using the global graphic out. Basicallt adding 0.8 db at 125 an 250 hz, 0.2 at 500hz, 0.8db at 4k and 2.0 at 8k. I also cut at 1k bu 1.0 db and at 2k by 0.3db. It wasnt quite there but much closer.
Thing was, when I played along to the band later with these global settings, I found myself wanting to re-eq my patches. The sound was more lively and less miidy and flat - BUT it was now a little harsh and flabby in places. The sound ended up somewhere between my original sounds through the Art and through the Orange.
When I tried a differnt cab (the orange 2x12 rather than my VHT 2x12) My original global settings actually sounded better - though it still needed the 8k boost. Im thinking that while the Art has a different feel to a tube PA (at least one in a real amp) the cab being used makes at least as much difference again. The magic combo would seem to be the right patch settings, the right Power amp and the right Cab - BUT - very good results can be obtained with only 2 of these in place. BVy that I mean with the right cab for you and good patch settings, the PAs deficiencies can be overcome. Similarly with the right PA a not so good cab can be overcome. If both PA and Cab are perfect the patch settings are not so critical.
Despite this I now find myself wanting a new PA !!!!! however, It has to be light and 1U. This rules out valve PAs, so Im only going to replace my Art IF I can find a 1U SS PA that is nearer in sound/feel to a tube PA. If anyone can chip in here great - but I susspect not. If a 2U SS PA is better then that would be usefull as I could try one - then try to find a similar sounding 1U unit.
The only 1U options I know of with sufficient power (im looking for 300W into 8 Ohms min) re the powersoft amps - which are expensive. I dont know where to try one though. Lab Gruppen do a 100W amo but thats not beefy enough. The New Carvin isnt avilable in the UK so thats out (and a little under powered). There are some cheaper models but I susspect there not actually as good as the Art - Though I have a 2U Alesis 100W amp kicking around and it acxtually sounded closer to the heads Power section than the Art. Maybe a cheap on would do?
