Just bought an M4...??

  • Thread starter Thread starter drneely
  • Start date Start date
D

drneely

Member
Just bought an unloaded m4. Trying to decide on modules at the moment but as usual i want them all. The m4 will operate with less than all 4 modules in at one time correct? since im going to try and buy used im sure it will take me a bit of time to get all 4 but say if i had 2 in there and the bottom 2 slots were empty the top 2 modules would still operate right? Also trying to decide between vht 2/50/2 and randall rt 2, it seems everyone agrees the vht sounds great but the option of having midi switchable 6l6 and el34 sounds is pretty darn cool. Ive been reading around a good but but anything else i should know being new? Im very excited about the purchase finally i can get all that crazy flexibility found in crappy sounding digital deals but with a warm real tube amp sound.
 
Congrats dude! Yes the M4 will work with even one module. Its switching is dependent on how many modules are installed; it will switch between channels/modules actually installed.

The RT/250 gets a lot of praise and attention. VHT is supposedly good, too. I have neither, so cannot comment. I will say that Egnater has a proposed 30-watt stereo power amp "in the works" but no timeframe has been set/announced for its release/production. A lot of us are anxiously awaiting it, though...
 
Yeah I doubt I can go wrong with either of those power amps. As far as modules I know for sure I was the T/D since I want a completely clean and then maybe a pushed stones type fender sound. I will have an A/B rig with this and my bad cat black cat so I don't need the vox since I've already got that el84 jangle sparkly cleanish thing in spades. I know I want the SL for plexi and older Marshall tones so I can get my AC/DC on. Other than those 2 modules i've got se deciding to do. It really is so exciting to think that really in just those 2 modules I have essentially 4 tube amps.

Also wanted to see if I am correct in my way of setting my rig up. I have an effects gizmo with overdrive and some effects pedals in loops 1-8, then delays and an m13 in loops 10-12, if I put the m4 in loop 9 then the out of the gizmo to the power amp does that sound like I'm on the right track?

Also how does the t/d module, in fact all modules take pedals in front? If I kick on a tubescreamer into the T side will I get that sound?
 
drneely":x2pszj5j said:
Yeah I doubt I can go wrong with either of those power amps. As far as modules I know for sure I was the T/D since I want a completely clean and then maybe a pushed stones type fender sound. I will have an A/B rig with this and my bad cat black cat so I don't need the vox since I've already got that el84 jangle sparkly cleanish thing in spades. I know I want the SL for plexi and older Marshall tones so I can get my AC/DC on. Other than those 2 modules i've got se deciding to do. It really is so exciting to think that really in just those 2 modules I have essentially 4 tube amps.

Also wanted to see if I am correct in my way of setting my rig up. I have an effects gizmo with overdrive and some effects pedals in loops 1-8, then delays and an m13 in loops 10-12, if I put the m4 in loop 9 then the out of the gizmo to the power amp does that sound like I'm on the right track?

Also how does the t/d module, in fact all modules take pedals in front? If I kick on a tubescreamer into the T side will I get that sound?
Click to expand...

I would recommend EG3/4 or SL2X for modern gains. Of course the EG5 gets a lot of love around here too.

Your set up looks correct. You could also leave the M4 out of the looper just taking the output of loop 8 to the input and output of the M4 back into the looper. Either way will work. I would probably use the built in buffer though. I know it helps in my RG-16.

The T/d takes pedals well, moreso on the D channel. One of my faves is a BB preamp into the D channel. Great blues tone!

Good luck with your decisions...
 
Just FYI, there is an RT2/50 on eBay at a good buy it now price:
https://cgi.ebay.com/Randall-RT2-50-MTS- ... 978wt_1167

I've been using this power amp with my M4 and love the combo (running in stereo). T/D is an awesome module and great clean chn.A chn.B for those Stones sounds your after. Like Mudrock said takes the BB preamp perfectly (both channels). SL module is probably your best second choice module for all the classic rock tones.
 
I'm for sure going with the sl and the td. I would think maybe the other 2 would me the slx and then I do want a high gain that can give me that metallica mesa triaxis type of thing. Not sure which one to go with there. Again very excited to join the family seems like a great place with awsome sounds!!
 
I'm not sure I'd call the EG3/4 modern. It's great but not modern IMO. If you like modern tones, look at the MHG, EG5 and E-rect.
 
Still trying to make up my mind on the power amp, im really thinking that randall rt2/50 having 6l6 and el34 would be great, i could go into my marshall 4x12 in stereo and use 2x12's at a time one side with the 6l6 and other with el34.

Does it matter which output i go back into my loop on the effects gizmo with? there are 2 and i didnt know if it mattered which on i used.

Also another point, i was wondering how everyone goes about setting all their levels. With a master on the module, a master on the M4, and then a volume on a power amp. Im wondering how they all interact, would you set the levels on the module and M4 and then use the volume on the power amp strictly as a volume control?
 
drneely":35lz0omy said:
Still trying to make up my mind on the power amp, im really thinking that randall rt2/50 having 6l6 and el34 would be great, i could go into my marshall 4x12 in stereo and use 2x12's at a time one side with the 6l6 and other with el34.

Does it matter which output i go back into my loop on the effects gizmo with? there are 2 and i didnt know if it mattered which on i used.

Also another point, i was wondering how everyone goes about setting all their levels. With a master on the module, a master on the M4, and then a volume on a power amp. Im wondering how they all interact, would you set the levels on the module and M4 and then use the volume on the power amp strictly as a volume control?
Click to expand...

The RT2/50 is a great power amp. I chose that after comparing a couple VHT's. It sounded right to my ears with the M4. The different tube options and channel switching is a bonus.

If your referring to which output of the M4 to go back into the looper with, It doesn't matter. I use the left.

For levels, I set the module masters and M4 overall master first so that the signal is hot to the FX units after it, but not clipping. It is important to get the levels set correctly or noise can be introduced into the chain. I use the power amp volumes as overall rig master volume. This has worked for my setup. I am running delays and reverbs, etc after the preamp in a serial set up so once I get the rig volume set, I can use the output control of the Gmaj2 for small volume tweaks.
 
I appreciate it I was at a bit of a loss on how I wanted to go about setting the levels and what order. I will just have a delay pedal and the an m13 in the loops after the m4 so I'll just set all the levels so that it pushes all my delays and then use the poweramp to adjust overall volume.

Turns out I went ahead and bought that rt2/50 listed above, thanks for
throwing that up there. I have ready around that some people have had trouble with switching the channels on it
via midi, something that it need to be set on the same channel as the m4 or something, anyone had any experience with that?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top