Same. Used to love the Shirley then post Cygnus I couldn’t make it sound to my liking. Who would have known a cranked MV would make such a difference. Thanks @epicicity again!
So glad it was a hit! I have read all of Yek's forum threads about the individual amps, and I think I've internalized the idea of how some amps are meant to be played by the default settings, thinking that for MV it's something that just doesn't pay to crank with some amps. But I'm realizing that's just not the right way to look at it. Along these lines, today I was cranking the 5150 Lead Channel! And that was so freaking awesome; just added more character to my ears. I had to use wildly different settings, but it was totally worth it. I'm thinking the power amps give you more on some of these amps than I realized, and I've got to be more adventurous about it. Of course, forget about doing this with a Dual Rectal Fire, but I'm sure there are other good candidates. I'm definitely going to explore.
I read a few Gear Pages threads by owners of the real world BE-100, and so many people chimed in that you can get there with a Plexi and an overdrive, which is true in a way, but let me just say that I've been a Plexi + pedal man in the Axe for a while now, in every combination I can think of, and instantly I liked the BE-100 better. Maybe it's just me, but I think Dave Friedman hit upon some magic formula here. And Sashman's recommendation to switch to the Plexi tonestack is also genius, brings out more nastiness, in a good way.
The Dirty Shirley was the first amp I stuck to in the Axe, but never stock. I would just mod the shit out of it, and I loved what it gave me. But eventually I discovered the 6CA7 Plexi, and that was all she wrote, until that was replaced by the 1959 SLP for me. Of course whatever amp hits it just right depends on you and your gear, but Man, this BE-100 is just so damn easy to dial in once you get a basis of mids in there from the MV. Then it's like you can't go wrong.
