How come...

[Just Joe]

my M4 sounds better (to me) thru the loop of my Mod50 than the modules directly in the head Definitely different...

Bought the head and a G-sys to use M4 and all my modules, but G-Sys is just more programming than I really have time for, so thought I'd just go the opposite way and scale down to just the Mod50 and 2 fav modules. But discovered the sound difference.

Any thoughts?

 

[jmgman69]

Different tubes in the path I haven't tried it.

 

[bscfo1]

Is the G system still in the signal path of your MOD 50 for the comparison?

 

[Just Joe]

Nope - M4 straight into series return - nothing else.

Maybe because the M4 has the 2 pre amp tubes also hitting the loop?

I know I prefer the EL84s in my PV 50/50 pwr amp to the 6551s so far...seem to have some more 'give/sag' (??)

 

[Just Joe]

For example, I can put the SL2 in the Mod50 and really not like what I'm hearing even after doing some eqing because of the different tubes.
however, I put the SL2 back in the M4 and run it thru the Mod50 loop, and it's the shit again! FTW?

 

[EWSEthan]

For example, I can put the SL2 in the Mod50 and really not like what I'm hearing even after doing some eqing because of the different tubes.
however, I put the SL2 back in the M4 and run it thru the Mod50 loop, and it's the shit again! FTW?

What power tubes are you running in the MOD 50 and your power amp? How loud are you playing?

 

[jmgman69]

Where's the master set on the M4 I like the way my SL2 sounds threw the Mod 50 but I also like the way it sounds threw the Mod100 and the RT2/50

 

[Just Joe]

For example, I can put the SL2 in the Mod50 and really not like what I'm hearing even after doing some eqing because of the different tubes.
however, I put the SL2 back in the M4 and run it thru the Mod50 loop, and it's the shit again! FTW?

What power tubes are you running in the MOD 50 and your power amp? How loud are you playing?

Mod50 has stock tubes - 6551s

PV 50/50 has JJ EL84s

Tried different volumes - low/hi power. Really no difference as far as tone goes. Just sounds....better to my ear thru the loop and definitely different

 

[Just Joe]

Where's the master set on the M4 I like the way my SL2 sounds threw the Mod 50 but I also like the way it sounds threw the Mod100 and the RT2/50

M4 volume at 2-3 oclock - but also tried at different levels - still always sounds good

 

[EWSEthan]

Only thing I can think of is that one of your preamp tubes in MOD 50 chasis is bad or on its way there.

 

[jmgman69]

For example, I can put the SL2 in the Mod50 and really not like what I'm hearing even after doing some eqing because of the different tubes.
however, I put the SL2 back in the M4 and run it thru the Mod50 loop, and it's the shit again! FTW?

What power tubes are you running in the MOD 50 and your power amp? How loud are you playing?

Mod50 has stock tubes - 6551s

PV 50/50 has JJ EL84s

Tried different volumes - low/hi power. Really no difference as far as tone goes. Just sounds....better to my ear thru the loop and definitely different

What is a 6551 I thought they came stock with 5881s??

 

[Just Joe]

you're right...5881's

 

[jlbaxe]

I will try this in the morning. I have 2 M4's running into the Mod50 with a switcher so I have the use of 10 Modules at the push of a button. I did notice today I put the SL2 in the RM100 and didnt like it. Kept sounding tinny???? but the COD Bman SL all sound excellent. T/D sounded good but better in the M4. I have the XTC and EG5 in the Mod50 but I think the XTC sounds better in the RM100.

 

[JDA]

I always thought my IE4 sounded better through the FX loop of my TOL instead of the amp by itself.

 

[mboogman]

I could be way off base here, but...

I remember watching a video clip of one of the amp building seminars where Bruce is discussing the level changes that occur in an typical series effects loop. The fact that the Amp (Mod50, TOL100) is changing the level of the signal on it's way out, and then changing it back again in its way back in could have something to do with why the preamps sound different than the heads/combos. I'm not very familiar with the M4, but I imagine it could just be putting out an overall "cleaner" signal than the heads.