EQ in the Effects Loop :)

[splawnboy]

I just joined the Splawn family with the purchase of a Competition with KT77s and the standard Splawn 2x12 cabinet. I'm playing a mid-80s Musicman EVH. I'm not a professional musician, just a hack who loves playing.

Although I'm still getting familiar with the amp, I was initially disappointed because I was accustomed to the Metal-Zone stompbox sound. When I cranked up the volume, the sound was quite loud and a bit harsh. I tried lowering the presence and treble as other have successfully done on this site.

Finally, after checking out Windsen's setup, I decided to try an EQ. I purchased the MXR 10-band EQ and placed it in the effects loop. Wow! I'm absolutely amazed at the sound now. The EQ acts like a gain booster and with a few tweaks, I was able to eliminate any harshness that I noticed before.

Like most Splawn users, I've freed myself from the stompbox and am now enjoying the Splawn tube-distortion everyone else raves about.

[Ayton(e)]

Interesting. Maybe post some clips with the EQ engaged/bypassed? I'm also very new to the Splawn family, but I notice switching to triode gets rid of anything I'd call harsh, rolls off the top end ever so sweetly. Sometimes I want the bark and the bite, and I flip back to pentode. Then again, these are very early impressions, and I'm not running KT77s.

Also: are you absolutely certain you're playing a mid 80s Musicman EVH?

[splawnboy]

Ayton -- Thanks for the correction about my Musicman EVH guitar. I had the wrong decade in there. I purchased it in the mid-90s (1994), not the mid-80s. Thanks again.

P.S. -- I can't post clips yet since I don't have any recording gear.

[LooseCannon]

I don't like triode mode that much, although it is warmer, it loses its presence and aggresivness and the sound is less big. Regarding the EQ pedal, I used to do that with my old amp, but with the splawn it's not really usable for me cause the effects loop takes away from the tone in lower volumes.