Need help with my Seminar head!!!

[Beyond Black]

I own a Seminar head with the effects loop and depth control. My amp has a very muddy,flubby,loose bottom end. I can turn the bass down and crank the treble and it's still loose and muddy. I'm playing a PRS with the HFS/vin.bass pups. Im also using Scumback, Celestion, and Eminence speakers in my cabs so its definitely not my guitar or cabs causing this. It's got groove tubes (el84 and 12ax7) that it had when I bought it used more than a year ago so it can definitely use new tubes. I'm sure you've all heard clips of samhill with the seminar head. Thats the tone I want. His amp destroys mine. Much tighter and more defined. Do your amps sound like his? What kind of tubes are you using and what are you biasing your amps at? Any other suggestions? Please help! I want to keep this amp so badly but only if I can get that sound! Any help is greatly appreciated.

 

[Buckeyedog]

Sounds like at a bare minimum you need new power tubes. Also try a Tung Sol reissue in V1, then some chinese in the other two.

Have you biased your amp?? Has it sounded this way from the start? Just may need a proper bias, or your power tubes are shot.........at least that's the way it sounds to me.

I'd go maybe JJ E34L's from a reputable dealer. The SED EL34 is also very good, but they'll break up a bit sooner than the E34L's.

Some of the Mod 50 guys are diggin' the GT E34L-S in their amps. Or the Tung Sol EL34B is getting good reviews.

BUT, I can't stress strongly enough.........use a reputable dealer ala dougstubes.com, kcanostubes.com or Bob at eurotubes.com for strictly JJ's.

If that doesn't do it, then there is a problem somewhere else. Definitely not your speakers/cabs or axe.

 

[jmgman69]

Sounds like at a bare minimum you need new power tubes. Also try a Tung Sol reissue in V1, then some chinese in the other two.

Have you biased your amp?? Has it sounded this way from the start? Just may need a proper bias, or your power tubes are shot.........at least that's the way it sounds to me.

I'd go maybe JJ E34L's from a reputable dealer. The SED EL34 is also very good, but they'll break up a bit sooner than the E34L's.

Some of the Mod 50 guys are diggin' the GT E34L-S in their amps. Or the Tung Sol EL34B is getting good reviews.

BUT, I can't stress strongly enough.........use a reputable dealer ala dougstubes.com, kcanostubes.com or Bob at eurotubes.com for strictly JJ's.

If that doesn't do it, then there is a problem somewhere else. Definitely not your speakers/cabs or axe.

Good place to start,trust me,it will sound like that if there are no problems with the amp as I had one and THE only reason I got rid of it was I bought an Mod 100.The Seminar head SLAYS!!!!!!Don't give up on her as there are some good people around here to help get your amp tto SLAYYVILLE!!!

 

[guitarslinger]

put the resonance on zero, and try some new preamp tubes.

 

[blumuz123]

There are a couple of factors in Mark Day's (sam hill's) amp.

I bought my seminar amp because of his tone. My amp slays and is awesome but dosent sound exactly like his. it sounds just as good but in a little different way. its still mean and animal like.

1. my seminar head started sagging and new tubes fixed that. my tubes are most likely different than his. (My fingers too)

2. He uses a Randall 2x12" with Celestion 70/80's. Closed back 2x12's usually get a much tighter bottom end, chuga chuga vibe.

3 he uses the les pauls w/emg active pu's

4. and the big difference is he uses the emg spc tone control built into the guitar that gives his EMG pu's an even more fatter sound
http://www.emginc.com/products/category/144

hope this helps

 

[jasco]

I didn't know the seminar heads were ever done with EL84s, but I definitely wouldn't start with an EL84 amp for tight low end. All other things being equal I would expect an EL84 amp to be less tight in the low end than EL34 or 6L6.

Does it sound flubby at low volumes? Have you tried it with different guitars and cabs? This might help troubleshoot the issue. And as everyone said, swap some new tubes in to see if a bad tube is causing the issue.

 

[jmgman69]

I didn't know the seminar heads were ever done with EL84s, but I definitely wouldn't start with an EL84 amp for tight low end. All other things being equal I would expect an EL84 amp to be less tight in the low end than EL34 or 6L6.

Does it sound flubby at low volumes? Have you tried it with different guitars and cabs? This might help troubleshoot the issue. And as everyone said, swap some new tubes in to see if a bad tube is causing the issue.

typo probably,the seminar head use EL34s,or 5881/6L6.

 

[Len Rabinowitz]

I don't know the amp- But I know those pickups in the PRS. They are a little muddy. Just for the heck of it, do you have a buddy with a Strat or a Tele you could throw in there and see if you get the same problem?

Len

 

[Beyond Black]

Thanks for all of the great advise everyone. I will use it wisely. I am new to this forum and got eight replies from you guy's right away. That's awesome, thanks. I am going to order some new tubes from dougstubes. I've also got a good amp tech to have it biased properly and check everything else out. Hopefully that will remedy the problem because I really want "that" tone(you know what tone I'm talking about). Jasco, that was a typo. I meant to type el34's. Sorry,my bad. Also, yes I've tried it with other guitars and cabs. Splawn 4x12 with Eminence Manowar/Gov x pattern. Splawn 2x12 w/ Scumback H75LHDC's. Les Paul with Burstbuckers. Gibson 50th anniversary V with 57's. All with the same result(even at low volumes). I'm off to order tubes and take it to my amp tech. Hopefully it returns a fire-breathing beast WITH a tight low-end. Thanks for all of your help guys. Much appreciated. What do you guys have your Seminar heads biased at?

 

[jmgman69]

Thanks for all of the great advise everyone. I will use it wisely. I am new to this forum and got eight replies from you guy's right away. That's awesome, thanks. I am going to order some new tubes from dougstubes. I've also got a good amp tech to have it biased properly and check everything else out. Hopefully that will remedy the problem because I really want "that" tone(you know what tone I'm talking about). Jasco, that was a typo. I meant to type el34's. Sorry,my bad. Also, yes I've tried it with other guitars and cabs. Splawn 4x12 with Eminence Manowar/Gov x pattern. Splawn 2x12 w/ Scumback H75LHDC's. Les Paul with Burstbuckers. Gibson 50th anniversary V with 57's. All with the same result(even at low volumes). I'm off to order tubes and take it to my amp tech. Hopefully it returns a fire-breathing beast WITH a tight low-end. Thanks for all of your help guys. Much appreciated. What do you guys have your Seminar heads biased at?

The seminar head is very easy to bias,save your self tube money and do it yourself,unless you are not comfortable.

 

[Buckeyedog]

What do you guys have your Seminar heads biased at?

I think mine's around 34 or so??

New tubes (and bias) should help this out man. These heads rock man.....you should have no trouble getting great tone out of it. Good luck and keep us posted.

I spent a few bucks on a Weber bias rite and now I can do all this stuff myself......it's well worth it man.

 

[jmgman69]

What do you guys have your Seminar heads biased at?

I think mine's around 34 or so??

New tubes (and bias) should help this out man. These heads rock man.....you should have no trouble getting great tone out of it. Good luck and keep us posted.

I spent a few bucks on a Weber bias rite and now I can do all this stuff myself......it's well worth it man.

I biased the E34Ls in it at 75ma 37.5 aside Man I miss mine

 

[guitarslinger]

I go 70 mA, or 35 per tube.

Seriously, I would try some different preamp tubes first.

You'd be surprised how much V2 can effect the tone of the seminar head.

Also, did the seller give you the info packet on draining the caps and biasing it yourself?? Are you anywhere near Fort Wayne, IN?? I own two seminar heads, and I'm pretty sure, I could have yours breathing fire for free. Have you considered going to Sweetwater amp fest?

 

[blumuz123]

I go 70 mA, or 35 per tube.

Seriously, I would try some different preamp tubes first.

You'd be surprised how much V2 can effect the tone of the seminar head.

Also, did the seller give you the info packet on draining the caps and biasing it yourself?? Are you anywhere near Fort Wayne, IN?? I own two seminar heads, and I'm pretty sure, I could have yours breathing fire for free. Have you considered going to Sweetwater amp fest?

For $100.00 my tech extended the bias points to the back of my seminar amp.
now I can swap tubes as desired like my mod 50