I realise each amp is going to sound different, and requires different EQs to get the tone you're looking for out of, but I need some general advice.

It usually takes me hours to find a somewhat decent setting on a new amp, and before I go out shopping for a new one, I'd like something to base the tone I'm looking for on. I love the tone I'm getting out of my current Spider II amp, but can't recreate it (I set it to a preset, and the knobs have been moved since then).

I'm looking for tones in the power/progressive/thrashy range, so if anyone could recommend where to start the lows, mids, and highs so I don't spend hours trying out each amp, I'd be eternally greatful.

Thanks.

power/progressive/thrash

well i dont relaly understand power so i wont try to explain

now, progressive, i LIKE. You probably want to just maximize clarity in your distortion. So you'll want about... around 12oclock for bass, 11oclock-3oclock on your mids (depending on preference), and 3oclock or higher on highs.

Thrash, some bass, LOTS OF MIDS MIDS MDIS, and lots of highs.

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Uh... thrash has mids? What have you been listening to? Most thrash bands scoop their mids out mildly.

Just tweak your amp until you find something you like. There's no set tone for any kind of music.

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lamb of god is thrash to me, very middy.

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Yeah well some thrash bands used a ton of mids in their guitar tone, Coroner comes to mind as an obvious example. It's all a matter of interpretation and how you like your tone, which is why I find it kinda pointless to ask for 'specific knob settings' for each metal genre. I tailor my high-gain sound to what guitar I am using, not what style I'm playing. No matter if it's Cryptopsy or Emperor or whatever, I use the same gain & tone settings when playing. I just have 4 settings based on my favorite amp models to choose from. Go for whatever you like in a metal sound, don't be insecure and worry 'if it's good or not.' Your ears don't lie.

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Lamb of god isn't thrash.. I had a Spider II when I was like 15.. the only decent metal tone on the thing was:

Gain: 9, Bass: 10, Mids: 4, Treble:7..

Clip:


(It was my first recording I did last january haha)

Then the peice of shit blew up.. I used a EMG 81 through my old Kramer.

Best suggestion is sell the Spider II while its still working and pick up a better combo/head.. I don't know which version you are planing on using.

Pick up a JCM combo and get a Boss SD-1.. One of the best old thrash to smooth powermetal of today tones i've heard.

i still have a spider II, and the dumbest thing you could ever do was dime ANY of the knobs, it turned the distortion into flubby fuzz... reminded me a of a fat chick trying to run. The goddamn gay ass knobs had envelopes... in other words, they only had specific points where they would sound good. Basically, from 7 olclock to about 1-3, it would keep adding in your given colour, and then act like you've scooped out the knob entirely, and then act like its been boosted... in a bad way.



i like how you think, mine blew up too, but i got it in fast enough to get covered by warranty to get the entire thing retooled. And ironically enough, i'm using it as a trade in on a jcm

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I like to have a inverted V for my EQ for progish leads. It gives that hollow Opetish sound.

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Yeah, I was considering trading it in and upgrading. I have a good $500 in the bank aswell. This is gonna seem like a stupid question, but how do you trade amps and stuff in? Just bring them to a guitar store and talk to the cashiers? And do you get cash or credit?

My cab is also, unfortunately, 16ohm stereo. I've noticed a better tone coming from my friend's 8ohm mono (I think it's mono), but it might just be a better cab. Should I consider trading that in aswell for an upgrade? It's an Avatar 4x12.