Sag vs. No Sag? And other amp compression parameters...

[yyz67]

When switching from my AF2 to the AF3, I noticed a difference in string immediacy, feel, and punch, particularly with clean amps, even after tone matching (HiPower) from the 2 on the 3 (played through FRFR e.g. Atomic reactor).

I think I have recovered string immediacy and punch by turning Sag down to 0.01 (lowest setting before turning off the power amp section). I can feel more string attack/punch come through, particularly on notes on low E/A. I also tend to turn down the three speaker compression parameters (drive, compression, compliance). Turning transformer match down a little too can open up the feel as well for overdriven amps. Sometimes I'll turn the cathode follower on (10-25%) for amps that don't normally have it, although that can also seem to muddle clean tones.

On the other hand, these "in amp compression" settings do add a tonal dynamic richness especially for overdriven amps that can sound amazing as well. So for me it seems to be a trade-off between immediacy/clarity and complexity, or something like that.

Wondering if others have played with Sag or other parameters and if you've had similar or different experiences.

 

[AlGrenadine]

Yes i often turn sag to 0.01 for very tight metal rythm tones

 

[666was999]

You might also rise preamp hardness and poweramp hardness. Maybe turning up the dynamics knob is something for you as well.
Rising negative feedback and lowering damping is also worth a try.

I prefer dynamics and poweramp hardness and leave sag where it is, because I think it belongs to the typical sound...but there's many ways to skin a cat.

 

[FPFL]

With the extreme luxury of the AFIII amp list I go the other way. We have SO MANY amp choices, I look for the amp that has the feel I want and then I adjust the gain and tone; It's easier to change the tone than the feel effectively IME.

This actually keeps me out of the deep parameters I don't entirely understand and don't want to spend long fidgeting with and figuring out.

 

[yyz67]

I prefer dynamics and poweramp hardness and leave sag where it is, because I think it belongs to the typical sound...but there's many ways to skin a cat.

Yeah, I normally like the tone with default sag settings, it's just the feel of the strings being compressed that feels a bit remote. I haven't yet played with input dynamics though...