3,968 posts
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Post by salteedog on May 23, 2016 13:28:37 GMT
I agree with what the others have said. A 12 inch speaker is a great improvement over an 8 inch.
As it happens I have the American pedal and one of those Marshall MG15s - I have the model without reverb. Without pedals through that amp, clean tone and light crunch is okay but overdrive is terrible.
And tell the truth I don't ever use it anymore since since I picked up an old Laney keyboard amp - which is very road-worn (broken handles, missing knobs etc) apart but has a 12 inch speaker and spring reverb in it. That amp sounds great with my American and AC-Tone pedals as well as with my zoom multi-effects units.
If I was you I woudd keep the Mustang and buy the American sound (or one of the other similar pedals) to run into it once you find a usable setting on the amp.
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Post by Deleted on May 23, 2016 13:53:06 GMT
thanks for your comments @defjef , I had not seen that vid... so watched it and still feel I'm struggling with it. That said I do like a couple of the Fender amps a lot ... 59 twin as an example, so perhaps I can work with that. I'm not sure if it's me, but playing around with the knobs as per the vid didn't really do much for my ears... especially the reverb switch  and as I understand it once set you can only switch from one setting to another with a footswitch. Didn't realise just how important this might be. At the time I was looking I also considered the Marshall MG30CFX .. that is very similar, but no need for a computer and you can get a 4 way switch... one part of me says I should cut my losses and get that one ....... So, s taying with the Fender for the moment...... Maybe I can do without the American tone one, that would leave me free to get a better reverb switch....
Oh yes ... the amp has a closed back by the way.... Really? God knows what photo I was looking at then. Whatever it was I really fancied it! No the sounds that guy got didn't do much for me either! Certainly seems like a simpler setup may be the answer. I love knowing what the pedals I have will do and will do it when I want them to. I wish you luck in your search. It may seem painful but it's worth it. And remember, you never REALLY get to the end of your search. |
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Post by Deleted on May 23, 2016 15:47:47 GMT
. And remember, you never REALLY get to the end of your search. Wise words  |
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167 posts
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Post by tich65a on May 26, 2016 9:46:43 GMT
Thanks to the ideas given to me here I've spent more time looking at the Mustang and have found a wonderful tone which to my anyway is spot on ... here's a shot of the Fuze software to show you what one has to do to change effects....  As you can see it's a Fender 57 Twin-Amp... with 63 Fender Spring Reverb.... sound great.. the only thing is one cannot adjust the reverb unless connected to the software....  also it is not possible to adjust the Middle as there is no 'real' one on the actual machine ....  Then I'd like to know what the 'Presence' control does? anyone know? again it's not built into the actual machine, so can only be adjusted using the software. However... when the pedals papache suggested arrives I may just have cracked it ...... Just got the learn how to play .......  |
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Post by Deleted on May 26, 2016 10:12:50 GMT
Presence is a bit like a "soft" Boost, the more you crank it the more it brings forth the sound. Something between the Tone Pot and Boost I think. Others with more knowledge can enlighten us both.
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167 posts
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Post by tich65a on May 26, 2016 11:06:30 GMT
Presence is a bit like a "soft" Boost, the more you crank it the more it brings forth the sound. Something between the Tone Pot and Boost I think. Others with more knowledge can enlighten us both. thanks, was thinking about adding a boost pedal to the mix... which makes a lot of sense now you've explained that...  |
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Post by Deleted on May 26, 2016 13:04:36 GMT
Presence is a bit like a "soft" Boost, the more you crank it the more it brings forth the sound. Something between the Tone Pot and Boost I think. Others with more knowledge can enlighten us both. thanks, was thinking about adding a boost pedal to the mix... which makes a lot of sense now you've explained that... Oh, I do suggest to get a proper clean Boost pedal  Presence will never boost as much as a pedal can. Presence is not a Booster more of an EQ than booster. Booster pedal is so cool to engage to help the overdrive or even just boost the cleans for a solo. My NUX Drive Core overdrive has a Booster knob which I use always with this pedal. Great option to have |
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Post by Lm2 on Jun 4, 2016 22:23:27 GMT
Presence is a bit like a "soft" Boost, the more you crank it the more it brings forth the sound. Something between the Tone Pot and Boost I think. Others with more knowledge can enlighten us both. thanks, was thinking about adding a boost pedal to the mix... which makes a lot of sense now you've explained that... There used to be a fender foot pedal for use with the mustang. Alas you cannot buy any more. |
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Post by Lm2 on Jun 4, 2016 22:32:44 GMT
I have a mustang II too. It's a nice amp but it is a modelling one. You never seem to get a clean tone out of it.
Reason i bought a normal transistor amp too.
When i like to play around with pedals i use the mustang with a pc. It's nice to be able to work with boxes in the preamp and a rack between preamp and master amp.
Just like you have a combi of head and cabinet.
Pity, as i already mentioned, that the pedalboard for it is NA anymore. It would make it possible to handle the amp with no pc.
Something i learned using the amp. Want clean tone ? Select amp and turn all effect knobs completely to full and back to zero. The effect for the amp type will be gone.
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167 posts
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Post by tich65a on Jun 5, 2016 7:08:28 GMT
I have a mustang II too. It's a nice amp but it is a modelling one. You never seem to get a clean tone out of it. Reason i bought a normal transistor amp too. When i like to play around with pedals i use the mustang with a pc. It's nice to be able to work with boxes in the preamp and a rack between preamp and master amp. Just like you have a combi of head and cabinet. Pity, as i already mentioned, that the pedalboard for it is NA anymore. It would make it possible to handle the amp with no pc. Something i learned using the amp. Want clean tone ? Select amp and turn all effect knobs completely to full and back to zero. The effect for the amp type will be gone. Thanks Lm2 for your thoughts.Frankly I've had enough of this amp... 12 inch speaker is it's only asset as far as I can see... I've ordered a cheap Subzero V35RG Subzero V35RGNot sure if it will be any good, but I'll sell the Mustang and buy some pedals from Thomann to go with it ... |
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Post by Abel on Jun 5, 2016 8:42:10 GMT
I was also not a fan of the Mustang, although I had the Mustang I. I feel like less is more: all those knobs and different parameters just stand in the way of actually playing your instrument. There was always one more parameter to tweak. I now have an amp with simple controls: gain, bass, middle, treble and volume. I just buy a pedal if I really want to add a certain effect or flavour. Much more fun!
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Post by Deleted on Jun 5, 2016 9:07:46 GMT
This is all very interesting and is helping me to appreciate my Blackstar idCore more. Apart from the bit of hiss that it always emits at least it's quick to plug in set up a sound and play. I NEVER plug it into the computer for any of that software nonsense.
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3,968 posts
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Post by salteedog on Jun 5, 2016 12:14:39 GMT
Yes - I like my modelling stuff too (can be great to get you into more experimental territory) but when I just feel like playing I plug straight into my American Sound pedal connected to my ancient Laney Keyboard Amp - 12 inch speaker and spring reverb (eq set flat - only amp knob I use is volume). That's gets me a selection of tones I can take to the bank any day of the week. I swear that American Sound pedal gets me compression, eq, and overdrive right at my fingertips.
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Post by Abel on Jun 5, 2016 12:21:12 GMT
Yes - I like my modelling stuff too (can be great to get you into more experimental territory) but when I just feel like playing I plug straight into my American Sound pedal connected to my ancient Laney Keyboard Amp - 12 inch speaker and spring reverb ( eq set flat - only amp knob I use is volume). That's gets me a selection of tones I can take to the bank any day of the week. I swear that American Sound pedal gets me compression, eq, and overdrive right at my fingertips. Hey I'm not the only one! Only thing I might do is bump the treble a bit but most of the time I prefer using my tone and volume knobs on the guitar. |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 5, 2016 13:53:44 GMT
Yes - I like my modelling stuff too (can be great to get you into more experimental territory) but when I just feel like playing I plug straight into my American Sound pedal connected to my ancient Laney Keyboard Amp - 12 inch speaker and spring reverb (eq set flat - only amp knob I use is volume). That's gets me a selection of tones I can take to the bank any day of the week. I swear that American Sound pedal gets me compression, eq, and overdrive right at my fingertips. It does do that doesn't it. I used to have my Boss comp/sus pedal on all the time into my Joyo Vintage overdrive but with the American Sound I only ever use it for the sustain element. I have a Peavey keyboard amp with a wacking great 18" speaker in it. It's lovely but I wish I could track down the electrical crackle/rumble that builds up and fix the reverb pan. |
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