Got my M4 up and running: quick review and a few questions

[Bucksears]

At long last, I finally got my M4 and RT2/50 connected yesterday, but not under the best of conditions: my TM212 won't be here until later this week, so I only have my Mojotone 212 cab with Jensen C12K's to run it through. That cab sounds dark anyway with my Super Reverb head, and does so with the Egnater/Randall units as well.

The M4 is loaded with the following mods: DLX, VX, SL and SL2X. I was using Channel 1 of the RT2/50, with Presence and Density about 1/2 way. Guitar is an Ibanez AR300 with DiMarzio Norton bridge and DiMarzio 36th Anniv neck.

DLX - I was pleasantly surprised to hear how darned close this thing is to the clean tone on my Super. Probably has a lot to do with the 6L6s and the same cab I'm using with the Super as well, but I'm sure there are other clean channels on other 6L6 amps that could very well sound different. Channel A is my quintessential clean tone; Channel B is much darker and more compression/OD, but more on that later.
VX - really really good-sounding mod; can't wait to hear this one with EL34's and that TM212; seems to have plenty of volume and more gain on Channel A than I thought it would. Channel B sounds just, big. One of the better clean/lead combos I've heard out of these four.
SL - ok, this one was a bit of a dissapointment (sacrilege, I know). Very dark and I really needed to turn up the treble and switch the bright switch on to play with it some. Seems to have a decent amount of gain, but might get the EG5 as well and move the SL2X into this one's place.
SL2X - like this one - has the gain and cut that I want.

OVERALL COMMENTS
I probably shouldn't have reviewed this just yet since I am waiting on a new TM212 cab; I'm hoping that will brighten things up more than my Jensen-loaded cab does. In it's current form, and I have to be honest, this preamp/poweramp is probably not for me. The only mod that sounded really well with it is the DLX. All others were a bit too dark and needed almost extreme treble tweaking.

A few questions:
1) How are you M4 guys setting your volume controls? I have the volume on the module, the master volume on the M4, and the volume on the power amp. Not sure what the SOP is for a separate preamp & poweramp since this is the first time I've used a rig like this.
2) Fan noise: has anyone switched out the fans on these for something quieter? Seriously, between the fan on the M4 and the louder one on the RT2/50, they are bit much. It's not ball-bearing noise, it's just the airflow.
3) Having a hard time getting registered on the Randall forum page - On the RT2/50: if I'm just using one cab, and I connect that to the 'main output' of Channel 1 (set to 'switching' instead of 'stereo'), can I effectively switch to Channel 2 on the front panel for the EL34's, or do I have to connect the cab to the 'main output' of Channel 2 first? (don't want to switch to channel 2 if there's supposed to be a speaker load there)

Thanks for your time guys,
Buck

 

[mboogman]

No help with the fans, but I can at least comment on the volumes.

I've found that running the Master on the M4 about half-way up gives me the best results. I generally set the modules about like I do with my Mod50, which usually leaves the gain module masters between 9 and noon, depending on the module as they're all a little different, and the clean modules up around noon. I typically take my cleanest module, set that, and then set all my other modules to that.

Then, once you have ally your module masters and M4 master set, you can use your power amp volume to adjust your actual stage volume.

Hope that helps.

 

[Bucksears]

Then, once you have ally your module masters and M4 master set, you can use your power amp volume to adjust your actual stage volume.

Hope that helps.

Ah, so in then end, my power amp volume will be the 'master volume' for all?

 

[mboogman]

That's what I do. I've got other rack effects after my M4, so I try to keep the M4 output levels consistent so I don't have to adjust input levels on the other rack gear. Works well enough for me.

 

[rlord1974]

That's what I do. I've got other rack effects after my M4, so I try to keep the M4 output levels consistent so I don't have to adjust input levels on the other rack gear. Works well enough for me.

+1

 

[marvcus]

On the SL, dial up the mids and treble.

I use:
Bass: noon
Mids: 2:30
Treble: 3:00 -3:30
No switches

Lots of bass and good top end. Not as bitey as an old Marshall, but I'm running 6L6s -haven't tried EL34s.

 

[Bucksears]

Ok, had to take it from an IT perspective......
Cracked open the M4 and RT2/50, took out the case fans and looked up the specs for each model.

The one in the RT2/50 has a noise level of 38db(!!!!) and the one in the M4 is around 28db. Ordered a couple that have comparable airflow (cfm) and around 14db each. Should be here on Friday, so I'll replace them over the weekend.
I'll report back when that's done.

Oh, and the RT2/50 I got had a quad of JJ 6L6s, no EL34s. Weird since channel 1 was much darker than channel 2; preamp tube need replacing, maybe? No tube layout in the RT2/50 manual......