Early 70's Superlead users. Need advice.

[War Admiral]

I recently aquired a 71 Superlead and I'm looking for tricks on how to run it. This is the first time that I'm using a four holer NMV amp. Last night I tried a setup but was not satisfied with the result. I was kind of in a hurry.
This is what I have to work with: THD Hotplate, Morely wha, Keeley SD-1, Phase-90, DD-20, GE-10.
Can someone point me in the right direction with the channel jumping thing if needed. Y cord, or patch cable, pros and cons. Stuff like that. The sounds I like are Lynch, Eddie, etc.
Any insight will be appreciated.

 

[Chubtone]

Here's what I would try. Crank everything on the amp except the bass. Add bass as needed. Run into your Hot Plate and use as little attenuation as you can. For EVH use the GE-10 set in a frown shape with the mids boosted. This should get you in the ballpark. How close depends on your speakers, your guitar and if you have one of the few Marshalls that sound better than all the normal ones. A PAf type pickup in your guitar helps.

For Lynch I would set it up the same way except use the SD-1 to boost it instead of the GE-10. I don't think jumpering the channels is the right approach for either of these tones you mentioned though it can sound cool in a different way. Once you have the tones right with the head and the boost pedal I would add the other effects one at a time to make sure none of them screw things up too bad.

Good luck. A Marshall Super Lead and getting it to sound right can be one of the most frustrating/rewarding tone quests ever. I'm getting really close with mine. After using them for 15 years I'm almost there

I would also spend as much time as possible on the Metro Amps forums in the Marshall and EVh forums.

 

[killertone]

That is good advice above. Here is my take...

I use a jumper or a Y, I like it either way. Do not crank both Ch. Volumes, adjust them until you like the amount of drive and tone and then attenuate if need be. Cranking both volumes is a sure fire way to get to mudtone city, IMO. I set all eq controls at noon and go from there. I still fervently believe in the trusty old TS-9 for OD/Boost and also the Maxon OD808. Good luck.

 

[War Admiral]

Thanks Chubtone. So no jumping you say? Just straight in upper left input and use VolI?

 

[skoora]

It depends on the amp. Some of those have a useless channel 2 or start overdriving so fast jumpering is not needed. Jumpering matters more if your going cleaner, classic rock settings which it seems you're not. When I used to jumper I'd only be putting Vol2 up to about 9'OClock anyway. I agree with not automatically maxing the volumes but raising the bass to taste. I've never had a superlead, original or reissue that needed to go above 6, especially with a Gibson. Once again it all depends on what beast you have. Also the speakers you use with it will make a big difference.

 

[Vrad]

Here's what I would try. Crank everything on the amp except the bass. Add bass as needed. Run into your Hot Plate and use as little attenuation as you can. For EVH use the GE-10 set in a frown shape with the mids boosted. This should get you in the ballpark. How close depends on your speakers, your guitar and if you have one of the few Marshalls that sound better than all the normal ones. A PAf type pickup in your guitar helps.

For Lynch I would set it up the same way except use the SD-1 to boost it instead of the GE-10. I don't think jumpering the channels is the right approach for either of these tones you mentioned though it can sound cool in a different way. Once you have the tones right with the head and the boost pedal I would add the other effects one at a time to make sure none of them screw things up too bad.

Good luck. A Marshall Super Lead and getting it to sound right can be one of the most frustrating/rewarding tone quests ever. I'm getting really close with mine. After using them for 15 years I'm almost there

I would also spend as much time as possible on the Metro Amps forums in the Marshall and EVh forums.

+100000... Everything Chubtone said is true.
I spent more than a year tweaking mine in every concevieable way (with the exception of modding the shit out of it). I finally settled on a few things.

1) Greenbacks.
2) Hotplate
3) Rich mod ( as psychodave suggested)
4) tweaked the feedback to the tightest setting (16ohm tap)

That's not even going into all the boosts of tried.
At the end of the day, it turns out the lowly SD-1 and the BB Preamp gives me the best tones.

But I have to say, the amp is pure magic. It's just about every great guitar tone I've heard in the 80's in one box.

 

[skoora]

The Boss Super OD (gain low, level high) into a SLP has been the best lead tone I've ever had.

 

[Meathead]

Here's what I would try. Crank everything on the amp except the bass. Add bass as needed. Run into your Hot Plate and use as little attenuation as you can. For EVH use the GE-10 set in a frown shape with the mids boosted. This should get you in the ballpark. How close depends on your speakers, your guitar and if you have one of the few Marshalls that sound better than all the normal ones. A PAf type pickup in your guitar helps.

For Lynch I would set it up the same way except use the SD-1 to boost it instead of the GE-10. I don't think jumpering the channels is the right approach for either of these tones you mentioned though it can sound cool in a different way. Once you have the tones right with the head and the boost pedal I would add the other effects one at a time to make sure none of them screw things up too bad.

Good luck. A Marshall Super Lead and getting it to sound right can be one of the most frustrating/rewarding tone quests ever. I'm getting really close with mine. After using them for 15 years I'm almost there

I would also spend as much time as possible on the Metro Amps forums in the Marshall and EVh forums.

+100000... Everything Chubtone said is true.
I spent more than a year tweaking mine in every concevieable way (with the exception of modding the shit out of it). I finally settled on a few things.

1) Greenbacks.
2) Hotplate
3) Rich mod ( as psychodave suggested)
4) tweaked the feedback to the tightest setting (16ohm tap)

That's not even going into all the boosts of tried.
At the end of the day, it turns out the lowly SD-1 and the BB Preamp gives me the best tones.

But I have to say, the amp is pure magic. It's just about every great guitar tone I've heard in the 80's in one box.

I recommend listening to guys like this (Chubtone and Vlad) who have spent a lot of time with them...words of wisdom that can save you months of trial and error.

 

[Strat+Marshall]

If you were able to crank it up and boost it and you still didn't like the tone I suggest selling it. If your issue was with getting the tone you want at a lower volumes level I would suggest a master volume.

I like the regular old master volume instead of the ppimv myself but either one is better than a hotplate IMO. Ive heard good things about the allesandro attenuator but I haven't played one.

I'm not really into low volume marshall tones myself, they all sound better when opened up. You can get a good gig-volume marshall tone with a decent master though.

As far as boosts go a klon sounds really good at lower volumes and up.