TM4212 Tone Questions

  • Thread starter Thread starter AlienRocker
  • Start date Start date
AlienRocker

AlienRocker

New member
Hi .... Anyone that can help with their experience on the TM4212 combo I'd appreciate it.
Finished getting my amp transformer replaced along with channel 1 volume which was too low and a PCB problem with the contour feature resolved. Now that I have it all working again, I didn't recall that my amp was so bright sounding as when I first bought it on clearance at GC. I mean, I really have to turn the treble down alot to get some kind of thickness out of the higher tone strings even when I'm on OD1 and OD2 ..... even with my PRS Korean which usually its tone is on the midrange to thick side compared to my other guitars. So I'm coming to you all for input. On most amps, usually the treble is around 1 to 3 o-clock or the least 1 o-clock and the bass is around 2 o-clock. On my TM 4212, I can hear the low end strings become more full on the low end side but the higher strings retain this thin and bright quality and I have to turn the treble all the way to like 11 o-clock and bring up the depth to like2 o-clock.

I am also aware that although the Elite 80 speakers were used instead of the Vintage 30s in the combo because they matched better, Actually Elite 80s and Classic lead 80s fall on the bright side of tone. That may be one result why the tone is really bright.

Is this normal? Any one else experience this? Have some of you had this and found some modifications helpful? Any settings I can try?

My thanks in advance.
 
I had a TM 4212 for years and I don't recall any of this issue. Of course, I was using different guitars, and I also like a bright tone. I might try the following:

1. Live with for a while and see. See if you adjust to it, rather than the other way around.
2. Try some different guitars through.
3. Put all that tonal flexibility to the test- use what the amp offers. I used to keep the presence and density fully off, for example.
4. Try fooling around with the power settings. That can influence tone.
5. Try re-tubing it.

I'd stay away from the radical speaker surgery for awhile. Let the two fo you get used to each other before you try something big like that.
 
One other thing- Try using the low input. A little darker sounding. Also- Egnaters are a little bit bright to my ears. They are Fendery-marshally-Voxy sounding. To my ears that was refreshing after years with a dark sounding Mesa.
 
Len

With all due respect, those suggestions arent going to cure his amp. Im convinced its the new pt. Mine sounds different too

Mine has calmed a tad, but its definitely brighter since the new pt. Its beyond frustrating
My amp sounds a lot different which im fine with but now im waiting for a reverb transformer
And theres no eta on them. On top of that, apparently the rev trans failing in these amps is also a known issue. And im being told i have to buy it once they r back in stock. Ill leave it at that.
 
Len ....
Already tried all your recommendations. My thanks for your time and input....
I need to check another working TM as I think my power grid is not working but need another one to compare it to to really know. :-(

Yeti ....
Yep .... Mine sounds different and I see by your experience as well that its not just my imagination or how much time since I last played my amp. :-(
OW!! You have to pay for a known issue??? Thats just not right!!! Sorry to hear. Actually, I don't really like the reverb in this amp. I wrote yesterday on another thread that was active regarding all these TM4212 issues. I still like the amp but not all the issues and the hassles. I may go with what I stated in that thread I wrote on yesterday and just have my amp tech here which is only 10 minutes away from me and has modified and repaired a few Egnaters, to just start looking at mine little by little instead of sending it off with expensive shipping and a long length of repair away time and just accept it. From all the online rants I have read, I was convinced a long time ago, that whoever was the outsource contracted to build these amps screwed the pooch! I knew that no matter how much I loved Egnater's masterpieces, this was one to stay away from because of lots of online talk that pointed to outsourced manufacturing issues. I knew but still bought because of a recommendation from a good reputable friend. The money for it was hard to come by and now I'm feeling a little burned but it was me that made the decision. :-( I so far changed the speakers now to Celestion G12-T75 moderns. The sound on the higher strings is a little warmer. I have some Vintage 30s coming which I'm hoping may work out even better.
 
Well, I tried! I never had any issues with my power transformer so I can't speak to it. I just generally try to warn people against big surgery if something lesser might do it. Good luck!
 
sorry for the terseness of that last post Len, it was from my phone...hate typing on that thing!

yeah, i definitely noticed a difference with my amp after the new PT. for what it's worth though, it DID seem to get less harsh on the top end since i put it in though, or, maybe it's just my ears readjusting to this amp.

still a monster amp...just a lot of issues. i did all the "M" mods on mine, and they're all on switches so stock is up, mod is down.. the bass mods, or the r243 and c180 mods were slightly tricky to think through to do on separate switches, but i figured it out, and it's pretty killler to hear the differences how tight/loose the amp is respectively.

with the r68 and r79 mods, it's a gain mod...a substantial one. i also wired in a 15k potentiometer with the lower rated resistor that mods it for lower gain, so i can actually adjust the amount of gain as needed on the fly.

it was fun doing that, but, now, i just want my reverb tranny, and honestly to be able to put the amp back together and use it.

there's a few cool tricks you can do with this amp. pm me. i'll let you in on a few secrets if you wish.
 

Attachments

  • tourmaster mod.jpg
    tourmaster mod.jpg
    140.6 KB · Views: 418
just so you know too....those mods are REALLY easy to do yourself...i have actual pics of mine after the mod b4 i put it on switches...if you're interested in seeing them pm me.

also, i dont know if we bs'd b4 about preamp tubes...you can kinda tame that high end down with the right preamp tubes too....pm me.
 
Yeti ....
Yeah we did one time go over your research and suggestions on preamp tubes. I have that still here on file. That was a lot of hard work and good knowledge to just lose it. So I have it. ;-) Yes, I'm interested in what mods you can share my way! I'll PM you by tomorrow if not later tonight.
I appreciate it!

Len.... I appreciate your input. Anything you can tell me from your experience with this amp is of value and greatly appreciated!
 
BTW ... I probably don't have any of those mods on my amp. As I can tell from my serial number, being TM4212-04081088 my amp must have been an old floor model from 2008 (and I bought it late last year). These mods may help build my hopes back up! :-)
 
it'll have a "m" in front of the serial # itself...not just the tm4212. tape the sticker on, in case you haven't already.

the mods do make a difference, but dont expect to change the world with them.. the just refine the amp a bit.
 
Yeti ... I'm getting the materials for the mod before i actually stick my head in there .... Need to ask you as I want to make sure .... R68 and R79 as shown on the diagram ... are those Caps or Resistors I'm replacing?
 
Different tone after replacement of the PT eh? I don't think I experienced this! As for my amp, I have the treble past about 1:30-2 o clock on every channel and the bass is ALWAYS less than about 7 o clock...on OD2 I have the bass at 6. Anything past this on my amp and there's no need for a bass player anymore because the tone gets MAD bass heavy. I do use a mesa oversize cab though. I've had to really tinker with the tone on this amp because there are so many variables such as the contour, the power grid settings, the input you use, presence, density, and the volume you play. Ill find "good" settings practicing at home then have to tweak things at band practice because the louder volumes make it a whole different beast. Also, if you are running effects through the loop, I have found that unless you have the loop tweaker perfectly you will get tone and volume alteration. Setting up my loop settings was a 2 man job to get it PERFECT. I think I will end up doing the M mod because I feel like tightening up the lower end may help sculpt my attack and make higher gain rhythmic riffs sound better (hopefully?)

Anywho, the amp sounds good without the mods and I feel like you should be able to achieve a tone you like if you play with it enough. It took me weeks to find my tone on this amp because lets face it, after sitting there for hours everything just starts to sound the same. Tweat it, sleep on it, tweak it again!
 
All the tonal flexibility of Egnater amps can have a bit of a downside. They do kind of encouraging constant fiddling with things. With both the Tourmaster and the Renegade I have found that I have to re-EQ everything whenever I use a different guitar.
 
All the tonal flexibility of Egnater amps can have a bit of a downside. They do kind of encourage constant fiddling with things. With both the Tourmaster and the Renegade I have found that I have to re-EQ everything whenever I use a different guitar.
 
the m mod totally changes the flubby bass to tighter. but, as said, the option to have it flubby or loose feeling was a good option, so, that's why i ended up putting that one on a switch...then, i liked it so much, i put all them on switches...and i actually made it so the gain mod is on a mini pot...so i can dial my gain in as needed instead of a fixed value....im not sure why this wouldn't be a stock feature anyways.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top