10 Nov AC/DC’s “If You Want Blood (You’ve Got It)” New Series
Well, with the arrival of the Aracom PRX150 DAG (Power Attenuator) I can finally reach new heights. Why? Because this is a REAL attenuator, like I’ve never owned before (review coming soon). This attenuator – a passive one – lets me crank properly any amplifier power section – included the ones of MVs amps, such a 2203 or a 2204, as in the case with this video – and obtain finally proper sound. I know, I seem a bit too revolutionary, but please listen for yourself.
Technical Details.
The Aracom PRX150 DAG receives a cable from the amp and sends a cable to the cabinet (image coming soon). This way, it serves as a power/loudness attenuator for a tube amp.
The sound from the amp goes to the cabinet once it has been attenuated, retaining as much as possible the characteristics of transparency that most if not all attenuators on the market strive to provide. This way, I cranked the power section of a 2204 (50 watts Marshall JMP) to 6-8 (depending on the part to be played) with the preamp around 6-8 as well (depending on the part, rhythm or solos). Impressive. This is the way that one can reproduce decently true Marshall cranking at bedroom levels.
Cabinet was a 1960B with G12Ms. Two AT4047 Microphones used. Equalization was not dramatic this time, since the amp delivers better tone from the start (equalization curves to be added). A tad of reverb (Sonnox) and it was done.
Tutorial for this song coming soon.
Guitar is a recent acquisition, not yet catalogued here, another 1969 Gibson SG Standard.
The original track has been separated, and right channel has been muted (Angus). Then, the left side has been made mono, so now you have Malcolm in the centre.
I played on the right side (all to the right) the rhythm track, while solos are in stereo.
I think I am extremely close to “If You Want Blood” Angus’ tone. I won’t say to the whole “HighWay To Hell” Album, as I have to study the other songs. However, I may stretch to the point of saying that most if not all of the album was played with Marshall Master Volume amps. I can hear Angus clearly using some both on rhythm tracks and solos. Distinctive pre-amp tone!
rpatzelt
Posted at 15:44h, 11 NovemberHe, he, what can I say: “It’s criminal…”
RiffRaff
Posted at 15:37h, 11 NovemberI see you’re doing something with your middlefinger when you’re playing the verse. Are you muting the A-string after the A chord?
SoloDallas
Posted at 20:52h, 11 NovemberOh no, that’s nothing, it’s instinctive position
SoloDallas
Posted at 23:53h, 11 NovemberYou know what RiffRaff, you meant with my LEFT hand I’m doing that? IF so, you were plenty correct. Believe it or not, I had never seen myself do that, but that’s that: instinctively muting the A string, yes sir. Great eye you have there. My right hand has also a middle finger going somewhere, but that’s doing nothing 😛
cupcake
Posted at 15:02h, 11 NovemberPlease Solodallas, post the amp settings. I’ve suggested this before, and i think it would help ALL of us. I don’t just mean the volume and pre-amp, but mids, highs and lows 😉
PLease that would be sooo great, unless you don’t want to reveal your secrets :D. Anyone agree?
SoloDallas
Posted at 17:29h, 11 NovemberYou’re right, I forgot. I almost always do add settings. However, with these recordings, the amp settings are not so important. Surprising, isn’t it? More or less, the settings were presence 6, bass 0, treble and mids 5, master 8, pre either 6 or 8 depending on rhythm or solos. What really makes the differences here – at least, in my room, is the mic placement (two mics here) and their individual equalization. Basically, the same way it is in studios. It’s a number of variables that one has to play with. The settings alone – on record/album tone – mean almost nothing. More important, is the amplifier type or model and the speaker, too. Even prior to mic placement. The microphones should only capture the amp voicing and the speakers.
Kinglance
Posted at 14:00h, 11 NovemberDon’t know where to post this… In the deluxe version of the backing tracks set from AC/DC you can find three lithographs. One from them is a litho from Malcolm Young while sitting and playing guitar and behind him you can see a Marshall. My question: can u find these photo somewhere on the net. For me it’s a beautifull picture, and it would be very nice if I could find it somewhere… Thanks!!
banane
Posted at 14:08h, 11 NovemberWell, drop me a pm when you don’t get it, I’ll put it on the scanner then.
Kinglance
Posted at 18:59h, 11 NovemberSomebody who knows what amp and cabinet that are? Cabinet looks very nice with AC/DC on it. Did Angus played with amp too or only Malcolm. The picture interests me a lot! Sorry! :p
SoloDallas
Posted at 19:03h, 11 NovemberCabinet should be a 1960B (for sure) loaded with either G12Ms or G12H30s. Don’t know for sure, obviously. The amp should be an early ’70s Marshall Bass amp, Malcolm was known (still uses them today) to use it. Basically, a Super Lead for bass players
Kinglance
Posted at 19:10h, 11 NovemberThanks!! I like this place (www.solodallas.net) a lot!! U can ask everything, get good answers, interesting answers, everybody helps eachother, very nice place!! Thanks for everything (not alone Fil, but Fil ofcourse too :D, but everybody, thanks!!) Gr J-L
06AngusSG
Posted at 21:45h, 11 NovemberHey Fil, if you look at the next couple of pages after this pic you will see that it is actually Angus that is plugged into that amp. (into the #1high input I might add)
SoloDallas
Posted at 22:03h, 11 NovemberAhhh… I even have that pic lol Yep, then it’s Angus “first” amp. A Super Lead 😉
Kinglance
Posted at 22:34h, 11 NovemberHow do you go to the next pages/photos? Can’t find them 🙁
06AngusSG
Posted at 23:57h, 11 NovemberThat pic of Malcolm is also in the photo book that came with the Deluxe Backtracks. The pic I’m talking about is a couple of pages past that. I tried to find it online but can’t. If you don’t have that book I’ll try to scan and post a link from flickr.
Kinglance
Posted at 19:13h, 11 NovemberFound something strange… Wanted to send u a pm, but couldn’t find our name in the list… Wanted to thank you for the help!! But got the link already from Dries 😀 Our really a nice guy, helps me a lot, answers a lot on my questions!! Merci! If u want to add me on msn, to chat, no problem!! jl_demurie@hotmail.com
Dries
Posted at 18:04h, 11 NovemberHeb hem digitaal staan denk ik, moet er maar eens na vragen via msn.
grts
Dries
Posted at 18:10h, 11 NovemberHere he is!
EDIT (Fil: Dries, I allowed myself to edit your comment adding img tags to show the image. However, I realized that the comment indentation will cut it. So I am adding your original link as well: http://i52.tinypic.com/35iudrp.jpg Thanks, Fil
Kinglance
Posted at 18:56h, 11 NovemberThanks Banane and thanks Dries!! Very kind of you guys!! Thanks a lot!! 😉
cody12rocks
Posted at 08:58h, 11 NovemberSpeechless after this one Fil…
It’s truely amazing on how you can get it to sound like the real deal.
KyleSG
Posted at 03:44h, 11 NovemberAwesome!!!!
LeroyKincaid
Posted at 03:35h, 11 NovemberNailed it. Perfect.
guitarlord26
Posted at 00:43h, 11 NovemberWow, how are you gonna outdo yourself now? Its perfect! Hey, maybe now you’ll start duck walking and going spaz like Angus?!
That would be sick and awesome, bro!
You should try it out.
Cheers,
Jimmi.
Hardrockerdave94
Posted at 00:38h, 11 NovemberHey Fil, like I said on your Youtube vid of this, is there anything you recomend doing to a Gibson SG Special to make it a bit more like a vintage SGs? Like replacing hardware with vintage, or maybe replacing pickups? I’m 16, so I don’t have the money for a proper vintage SG, yet. Anyway, I gotta say, this sounds great.
06AngusSg
Posted at 01:49h, 11 NovemberHey, not trying to step in or anything. I know you’re asking Fil..
But I’m actually dong that very thing to my ’06 SG Standard. Which the same would apply to your Special. After I’m done this weekend the only thing original to the guitar will be the wood.
I’ll be doing a “how to” posting here after I finish for people like us who can’t afford the vintage wood.
(nothing against anyone who can 🙂 )
SoloDallas
Posted at 12:44h, 11 NovemberWell, do NOT add vintage parts to a new guitar. I never do that, unless it’s the pickups, and I only do that with Les Pauls, but I don’t do it anymore now. I use replica parts. Yes, there are a number of things you could do to improve tone and playablity:
– tonepros parts (bridge, stop bar)
– new pickups (boutique PAFs)
– a new harness (circuit) that you can find on RSguitarworks
This is basically what I do to my new guitars
Hardrockerdave94
Posted at 17:22h, 11 NovemberThanks a lot Fil, and you too 06AngusSg. I’ll look into it
06AngusSG
Posted at 01:04h, 16 NovemberDidn’t see this untill now but I guess I should clarify. I’m not replacing my parts with true vintage ones. I am replacing them with vintage “style” parts. I’m going for the vintage “look” and as close as I can get to the tone of a 60’s SG. It’ll be a lot more clear in the post. I’ll have a list of parts and suppliers.
I do agree, however, to never use vintage, other than pickups, on a new guitar though.
headwhop26
Posted at 23:48h, 10 NovemberWow. Just wow. This is perhaps my favorite video youve ever recorded. Great guitar. AMAZING sound. I would have thought it were the original track if i had heard it and not seen it.
Ryley
Posted at 23:08h, 10 Novemberomgg and i thought it was perfect beforeee… AMAZING Fil 😀 now uve got the EXACT gear and technology to best urself once again 🙂
Michael91
Posted at 22:39h, 10 NovemberYou got it once more!!
Tyler
Posted at 21:19h, 10 NovemberSpeachless Fil! You have literally nailed this tone! Thats basically the tone for the rest of the album with the exception of some of the solos and some parts of songs. This is exciting!
TheBrowling
Posted at 21:18h, 10 NovemberAmazing tone, amazing cover and amazing new guitar. This song is definitely one of those great accadacca songs that is underestimated, maybe a little like shoot to thrill!
06AngusSg
Posted at 21:06h, 10 NovemberNothing to say but…… PERFECTION!!!!!
Dave4433
Posted at 20:52h, 10 NovemberYou know what, Fil, try to do some more songs without changing a thing in the settings, ‘cuz I think that You’ve actually got that HtH tone.
SoloDallas
Posted at 17:36h, 11 NovemberThanks Dave. I followed your suggestion and I started recording Highway to Hell. While I found THE KEY element playing wise that determined Angus’ part on Highway to Hell (the song: It will be pretty much illuminating everyone, and it will be showed on the performance I started recording today just to try and see if your idea would work i.e., using the same settings), It didn’t work. The “sound” of the track is different, and using the same settings simply wouldn’t cut it. For the rhythm part, I left the microphones in the same position I used here, but for the solo, I even had to change mic positioning. The equalization for the rhythm is pretty different, too, for all parts.
dubsharayko
Posted at 20:32h, 10 NovemberDefinitely sounding like you nailed HTH tone.
Alex
Posted at 20:23h, 10 NovemberHey Fil,
Sorry if you’ve talked about this before, but does an uncovered pickup sound better than a covered one? Or is there no sound difference at all? People I’ve talked to said there is no sound difference, but I think there must be some, no matter how small.
SoloDallas
Posted at 12:50h, 11 NovemberUncovered pickups DO sound different. Usually, the sound brighter and since you can raise the pickup higher (no obstruction from the pickup cover) they can deliver more output. Some people used to do it and still do it for these two reasons.
banane
Posted at 20:08h, 10 NovemberMan, that sounds great…really kicks ass, yes. Have to hear it several times more, but this seems to be really really close.
Kinglance
Posted at 20:04h, 10 NovemberSounds terrific, beautifull, kicks ass as always. I bought myself a JMP Marshall 50 watt. Payed 850 euro’s… Too much? Or nice price? Greetings to you and keep on rocking. Everybody here loves your kick ass-work! Thanks for all! :p
banane
Posted at 20:11h, 10 NovemberI payed 800 for mine, same model. 850 should be ok too.
Kinglance
Posted at 20:26h, 10 NovemberAh OK, thanks!!
Kinglance
Posted at 20:30h, 10 NovemberMaybe a stupid question… But is it easy to find an JMP? Is there a lot of question after such amps? Are there a lot of JMP’s in the world? Marshall don’t makes them anymore, but did they make a lot of them ago?
banane
Posted at 21:10h, 10 NovemberNo, its not a stupid question 🙂 For now, its still relative easy to find them, it seems that there are a handful of them on ebay most times. But I fear this will change.
Don’t know how many were produced back then.
SoloDallas
Posted at 12:49h, 11 NovemberAgreed. I don’t think there is stupid questions on solodallas.net. There may be stupid answers though (mine 😛 ). I don’t know how many were produced, but I suppose quite many. The thing now is that many seem to have JMPs for sale, and the word is spreading fast (I for one, am spreading it!). There is always time to purchase gear, don’t rush it.
SoloDallas
Posted at 12:51h, 11 NovemberI paid mine around USD1200 or more, considering shipping. You guys scored great prices
banane
Posted at 13:25h, 11 NovemberYes, had a lot of luck here. The first one I was bidding for closed with 980 Euros while my internet connection went down during the finish of the auction. Was a very great moment 🙂 However, this one was in a very good condition and had new tubes in it.
Mine has very old tubes and I fear a bit of the tube change. I would give it to a service shop, but I’m unsure wether its better buying the tubes myself or let them chose the correct tubes. Dont want any changes to the tone.
SGACE
Posted at 14:18h, 11 NovemberI payed 730 € with shipping from Scotland UK for the JMP combo.. to be nohest I would pay more for it.. The price range for a 1975-1981 JMP goes from 600 to 1000 €.
Banane, you can change the tubes by your self relatively easy.. if you will need some help I can tell you how to do it. 7 minutes work..
If your amp has the original Mullards then you have to pay alot of money to replace them with original NOS Mullards..
banane
Posted at 14:33h, 11 NovemberSGACE, well, i would also pay more for mine. It’s just the ultimate amp ever made 🙂
Thanks for helping me out here, that would be nice.
Well, they are so old that its hardly to read what’s written on them. The white marking is almost gone. I would have to remove one for having a closer look at it.
And won’t I have to rebias the new tubes?
SGACE
Posted at 14:55h, 11 Novemberyes you do have to rebias..
If you remove one, check if there are some codes with white lettering.
banane
Posted at 15:17h, 11 NovemberI shoot 2 photos, can be viewed here: http://www.banane.at/media/tubes/
The grey lettering says: 6L6 GC USA
SGACE
Posted at 15:38h, 11 NovemberOk there are General Electric tubes.
I found on web this,
Original equipment in most Fender guitar amps from the 1960s on until the late 1980s. Sweet, powerful, responsive and great tone
banane
Posted at 15:47h, 11 NovemberThank you very much. I looked around a bit and found these:
http://www.thomann.de/de/groove_tubes_gt6l6ge_duet.htm
(German text there, saying “Reissue of the legendary General Electric clear tube”)
Seems to be an adequate replacement, what do you think?
But weren’t the JMPs originally equipped with EL34s?
SGACE
Posted at 15:52h, 11 Novemberthe 6550 is the US version, EL34 is the UK version, 6l6 is a bit odd.. If anyone else knows something more about it….
banane
Posted at 16:08h, 11 NovemberYes, i was also irritated about that. Neither the US or the british tubes.
However, as far as I know the tubes are pin compatible, so maybe the former owner just used them because they were available.
Would be interesting how the amp sounds with EL34 tubes.
Maybe the best thing is ordering both 6L6 and EL34 and bringing them together with the amp to a service shop.
SGACE
Posted at 16:15h, 11 NovemberMy opinion is that EL34 is the way.. if you want more headroom then with a small mode you can put 6550..
banane
Posted at 16:37h, 11 NovemberYes, my opinion too. So I think I’ll order 2 EL34 and 2 6L& just if there are problems with the EL34s.
What do you mean by “a small mode”? More headroom at bedroom loudness level?
SoloDallas
Posted at 17:39h, 11 NovemberFranz, I’d go with EL34s with eyes closed.
banane
Posted at 18:15h, 11 NovemberAlright Fil, thanks 🙂