MHG module?

[broknstuff]

Just wondering about this module and if anyone out there who has had it can describe it. I know it's the module the eg5 replaced and was based off of, and that they gave the eg5 more mids and highs to cut through a mix. The eg5 has a truck load of distortion, but to my ears is not what I consider modern. Does anyone still use it? Anyone prefer it to the eg5?

How does it compare to the erect? would there be a lot of overlap between the two making it redundant? On paper at least it seems like they may be fairly similar to each other, but I've never played the MHG.

 

[bscfo1]

I still have a MHG, and I used to have the EG5. Most of the people on this forum prefer the EG5 over the MHG because they say it cuts better. That may be true, but I just don't like the tone of the EG5.

Too brittle for me because I like single coil pickups. Even with the treble dialed way back I couldn't warm it up. My SG sounded a little better though. But the midrange shift is in a place that I don't find that musical. Especially for leads. It's not too bad for rhythm, I thought it actually sounded jangley but not like the VX jangly.

To my ears the MHG is more like a SL2 with more gain and a little tighter. Less sag. I don't have any trouble cutting through with my MHG. I don't understand why people hate this module. Turn up the mids - it'll cut.

The EG3/4 is more like the SL2 in the way it compresses, but it is warmer and seems to have a midrange boost that's great for soloing. For rhythm it's okay. Maybe you should consider that one too.

 

[EWSEthan]

With EG5 bass boost on 2 you get MHG thickness and with the added cut you need. MHG might work with a one guitar band, but with two or more guitar players you will have trouble being heard.

 

[sebygerry]

I would definitively not choose the MHG for modern metal rythm, there is a loooot of gain for sure but the tone is not really modern to me, well if I compare to my Diezel VH4 channel 3...

IMHO, the MHG is really good for soloing ! it's a little less dark than a EG 3/4 which is very good too (the EG sound a bit more early 80's/ old Mesa sound to me). But it has a lot more gain than the EG, and this is sometime helpful in solo. the gain on this module seems endless. I was missing the solo tone that I had with my previous rig (triaxis) but the MHG come very close (not in tone, but in quality).

I've still not decided which one I'll keep between EG 3/4 & MHG, because the EG 3/4 is really versatile. You can get from vintage rock to 80's rock, rythm or solo...

 

[richedie]

I loved the MHG and never had cut issues live but never had enough time with it live.

With the SL2, EG3/4 and ERect...I haven't missed the MHG much. I thikn with the gain cranked on the SL2...I can get into MHG territory. I hated the EG5 and traded it. Sorry, EG-5 lovers.

 

[broknstuff]

I had the eg5 for a while and I had it with bass boost on 2, but I didn't bond with it as much as my other modules and ended up replacing it with an erect i love. Eventually there may be an eg5 in my future again, who knows, but it won't be for a while if it happens.

I'm getting an eg3/4 soon, but i wonder if between that, erect, and sl2 if an MHG would be redundant? I heard a solo with it and it had this great thick "chewy" lead tone, but from what I hear the eg3/4 has that as well. I've already got an m4 on order when they start shipping again and may even do a little stereo experiment, and figured that could be a cool one to mix with too.

 

[bscfo1]

Lots of good advice here, and it's nice to see some love for the MHG, I still don't understand how you can't make the MHG cut, even with two guitar players.

It has a very sensitive EQ - you can make it as bright as the EG-5 and bump the mids too so it'll cut. Hasn't anyone tried that? If you don't use much density and presence you can brighten the sound and turn it up! No problem. I also like the fact that I can warm it up too because I don't like razor like treble tones. The EG-5's EQ circuit made it difficult to get any bright guitar to sound good. Especially for leads. I think of the EG-5 as a high gain rhythm module. But I don't need it - it's just not versatile enough since the voicing only sounds good with humbuckers.

I've owned all of the modules except the ERECT. I think the EG3/4 is nothing like the SL2 or MHG. The EG3/4 sounds more like my Mesa Mark IV's 3rd channel with the gain turned down. It has about the same gain as the SL2 though. And it is pretty good for solos. It just doesn't have any teeth - no sizzle on the high end. The SL2 and MHG have a nice sizzle in the presence - the harmonics are more complex to me. And if you want to play smooth flowing legato lines without a boost, the MHG is the best.

They're all good if you know what you want and you know how to use them.

 

[richedie]

I agree! Someday, I'll be looking for another used MHG. I miss her....but the SL2 holds me over. I love all my mods....

 

[richedie]

Set the bass boost on the SL2 to 1 and turn up the gain and you can make channel B sound a lot like the MHG! Scary close.

 

[bscfo1]

Set the bass boost on the SL2 to 1 and turn up the gain and you can make channel B sound a lot like the MHG! Scary close.

True - and this is exactly the reason why I can't understand this forum not liking the MHG. We ALL like the SL2 right? What's the difference besides gain? Not much to my ears.

Too much gain will make the sound not cut because it compresses all the frequencies. If you can't cut, turn down the gain and boost the midrange. It works on all modules and all amps. Hey - we're guitar players. The midrange lane is the only one left for us to stand out in a band situation. Everything else is being used.

You can't expect heavy distortion to cut if you can't or don't EQ it.

Here's a perfect example for the over forty group. I saw Night Ranger in the '80's and if you're familiar with them you know they had two lead guitar players, both using humbucker loaded guitars. One played a heavy distorted Marshall and the other played a moderately distorted Mesa. Who do you think was heard all night? .............the heavy midrange laden MESA.

 

[broknstuff]

I agree with the midrange thing, ever since getting the egnater I've loved all the midrange on all the modules. The bass accompanies it rather than competes with it, so you have midrange and still sounds full on the lower end. I have el34s in there too so I wonder if that's helping me out.