My rig doesn't like my GE '66. Would an MKII be better?
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- cubba
- Posts: 1546
- Joined: Wed Aug 27, 2008 5:48 am
Re: My rig doesn't like my GE '66. Would an MKII be better?
I had an epiphany recently,
running my Ge 1966 into my 60's Ampeg.
I wasn't digging it so much prior, running it into my Vox AC15.
The AC15 has an EF86 in the front end, which has double the gain of a 12ax7 and the '66 was getting too saturated with the gain up, tho' not necc. too bright.
Now into the Ampeg, whoa, totally different results.
I like it even better into the Ampeg than the MKII, which is probably my favorite DAM pedal.
Now, the '66 has this beautiful, blistering, compressed, reedy tone when the gtr. volume's cranked, which is great for leads.
For the most amazing rhythm tone, turn down the gtr. volume to 80% and the clear, defined crunch tone is to die for.
I'd love to see how the Si version compares.
running my Ge 1966 into my 60's Ampeg.
I wasn't digging it so much prior, running it into my Vox AC15.
The AC15 has an EF86 in the front end, which has double the gain of a 12ax7 and the '66 was getting too saturated with the gain up, tho' not necc. too bright.
Now into the Ampeg, whoa, totally different results.
I like it even better into the Ampeg than the MKII, which is probably my favorite DAM pedal.
Now, the '66 has this beautiful, blistering, compressed, reedy tone when the gtr. volume's cranked, which is great for leads.
For the most amazing rhythm tone, turn down the gtr. volume to 80% and the clear, defined crunch tone is to die for.
I'd love to see how the Si version compares.
What gets me is all the tweaking,
just crank that bitch and be done with it! -- duende
just crank that bitch and be done with it! -- duende
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- Joined: Tue Oct 21, 2008 12:26 pm
Re: My rig doesn't like my GE '66. Would an MKII be better?
Yes, my Dr.Z also has the EF86. I'm going to experiment more tomorrow running the '66 into the Fargen.cubba wrote:The AC15 has an EF86 in the front end, which has double the gain of a 12ax7 and the '66 was getting too saturated with the gain up, tho' not necc. too bright.
Me too!cubba wrote:
I'd love to see how the Si version compares.
Thanks for the feedback.
- playon
- Posts: 145
- Joined: Wed Nov 12, 2008 4:36 am
Re: My rig doesn't like my GE '66. Would an MKII be better?
Jeff, I have the other Ge 1966 from the recent ebay sale that is the twin of yours... these pedals can't really be compared to the other '66s because he used different transistors in these, dual SFT circuits. As the captain said -- 1 SFT353 followed by a SFT317.
Mine sounds a lot different than my pal Tommy's earlier 1966 with the Mullards in it. This one is brighter and a hair fizzier sounding, it can really cut through and it sounds excellent in both super bee and normal mode. It sounds totally great thru both my 1959 Bassman and my mid 60s Princeton Reverb, but it's not as mellow as the older '66 of Tommy's. It almost sounds like a cross between silicon and germanium. I'm really surprised that you say it's too woofy sounding, because mine is a lot tighter sounding than most GE fuzzes I've tried. I assume you are running it alone into the amp without any other pedals in line?
Personally I love the tone of this thing , only thing I don't like about it, is that when you back off the guitar volume, it cleans up instantly -- you can't get those groovy in-between tones. When you turn the guitar vol. back up to full, the gain comes up really fast -- it goes from clean to full-on fuzz in the last 10% of the volume knob (from 9 to 10 on a strat). Does your pedal do that too?
Mine sounds a lot different than my pal Tommy's earlier 1966 with the Mullards in it. This one is brighter and a hair fizzier sounding, it can really cut through and it sounds excellent in both super bee and normal mode. It sounds totally great thru both my 1959 Bassman and my mid 60s Princeton Reverb, but it's not as mellow as the older '66 of Tommy's. It almost sounds like a cross between silicon and germanium. I'm really surprised that you say it's too woofy sounding, because mine is a lot tighter sounding than most GE fuzzes I've tried. I assume you are running it alone into the amp without any other pedals in line?
Personally I love the tone of this thing , only thing I don't like about it, is that when you back off the guitar volume, it cleans up instantly -- you can't get those groovy in-between tones. When you turn the guitar vol. back up to full, the gain comes up really fast -- it goes from clean to full-on fuzz in the last 10% of the volume knob (from 9 to 10 on a strat). Does your pedal do that too?
"That's a nice little global economy you've got there -- it'd be a real shame if something happened to it..."
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Re: My rig doesn't like my GE '66. Would an MKII be better?
That is correct.playon wrote: I assume you are running it alone into the amp without any other pedals in line?
Yes, the acceleration in gain on the last 10% is extremely dramatic on my guitar. I cannot run my pickup fullly maxed when using the pedal; if I do it's complete gainy mush. My pickups are pretty hot so I have to turn down the guitar volume knob even more than what you describe to get that fuzz ringing clarity. I wished I had a Fender amp to test with.playon wrote: ... only thing I don't like about it, is that when you back off the guitar volume, it cleans up instantly -- you can't get those groovy in-between tones. When you turn the guitar vol. back up to full, the gain comes up really fast -- it goes from clean to full-on fuzz in the last 10% of the volume knob (from 9 to 10 on a strat). Does your pedal do that too?
- playon
- Posts: 145
- Joined: Wed Nov 12, 2008 4:36 am
Re: My rig doesn't like my GE '66. Would an MKII be better?
Well most of these fuzz pedals do work.sound better with lower-gain pickups.
"That's a nice little global economy you've got there -- it'd be a real shame if something happened to it..."
- jimi_dylan
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Re: My rig doesn't like my GE '66. Would an MKII be better?
I do about the same.theatomicjeff wrote:Best results so far: guitar vol backed off about 2/3's; fuzz gain backed off to about 3-4 o'clock.
- thesjkexperience
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Re: My rig doesn't like my GE '66. Would an MKII be better?
So what IS the difference between a 66 in super bee and a MKII??? Will the MKII have more gain and not be so bright?
Thanks.
Thanks.
Steal a little and they throw you in jail. Steal a lot and they make you a King. -- Bob Dylan
"ripped out of the sky reforming thought into creation electric motion begins" - Linzi
"ripped out of the sky reforming thought into creation electric motion begins" - Linzi
- The Captain
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Re: My rig doesn't like my GE '66. Would an MKII be better?
Nope, I doubt it man. The main problem be...theatomicjeff wrote:....so I'm wondering if the DAM MKII fuzz would be a better fit for my rig?
Good rule of thumb with old school GE fuzz boxes is to remember what gear they would have been used with when they were designed. For example, a 1966 won't sound at its best with an ESP guitar and a Randall amp. Lower output pick-ups (say around 8K tops) will give you better results and allow the fuzz to do its thing and an amplifier with good amounts clean headroom will allow the fuzz to breathe. If the 1966 its getting woolly with your set-up the MKII will be much worse. The 1966 is usually a little more forgiving of a little drive where as the MKII tends to bag out and over compress. Sounds cool on single notes but can sound a little farty on the bass strings.theatomicjeff wrote:The pickups are fairly hot...
- 1bottlerocket
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Re: My rig doesn't like my GE '66. Would an MKII be better?
I haven't had a chance to test my silicon '66 with anything else than my Champ with low output strat pickups. I do have a similar experience with the fuzz coming on between 9-10 on the volume knob. I want to run the silicon through my Park 2x12 combo with EL34's.
When I tried my new pedals out, the '66 seemed to be the odd one out that day but that could all change next week when I give it another go. Update coming next week.
On another note, I am looking at getting into a Zoom H4 for recording and I may be able to put some clips up.
When I tried my new pedals out, the '66 seemed to be the odd one out that day but that could all change next week when I give it another go. Update coming next week.
On another note, I am looking at getting into a Zoom H4 for recording and I may be able to put some clips up.
Never argue with an idiot, they bring you down to their level and beat you with experience
-Garfunk M. Rafferty
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-Garfunk M. Rafferty
_________________________________________
For all things stomp: http://www.effectsdatabase.com/
Big Muff History Page: http://bigmuffpage.com/
- The Captain
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Re: My rig doesn't like my GE '66. Would an MKII be better?
The 1966 is usually a raspier fuzz tone where as the MKII is a little smoother and more heavily saturated. The 1966 in the super bee mode will still but a tad brighter. The nature of the 1966 means it will cut through way more than a MKII regardless of settings. So aye, more gain and not so bright.thesjkexperience wrote:So what IS the difference between a 66 in super bee and a MKII??? Will the MKII have more gain and not be so bright?
Thanks.
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