Rdodson
Well-known member
Yes to all this.Dude, listen. This isn't hard. There's PLENTY of clips out there, with stock NMV Marshalls and the gain they get. Again, I USED to believe that a stock NMV Marshall HAD to be modded, to get VHI/II gain. Not after hearing MANY clips, including George's Plexi, AND after just changing the parts I mentioned which we all know are FACTORY on occasion, and I was SHOCKED as to the AMOUNT of the gain. Did my amp sound just like EVH's?
NO..absolutely not...BUT the AMOUNT of gain was EASILY 2204 + a little more. Especially through greenbacks.
I never said it was EXACTLY THE SOUND of Ed's magic 68 but the gain levels are EASILY explained by what I experienced, and we all know every Marshall sounds a little different to the next. Then, adding in the other items Ed and the studio used to record, one can easily see that the amp could have been totally stock, albeit with the factory 'accidents' that led it to have a bunch of gain.
Again, I'm only talking about the amount of gain here, NOT the overall tone of the records.
Lets not forget, how much gain is actually used when you record....I've only recorded twice in my life, way back in 89 for a professional demo with 2 inch tape, and then early 2ks for more demos but that was with a pro tools board. With 2 inch tape, my tone to my ears was SUPER clean with a hint of gain...yet, on the tape, it was very gainy. Maybe you've heard a cranked Plexi and it doesn't have much gain? Yet, you record that amp and you'd be surprised how much gain is there.