Getting More Out Of My Marshall Amp Options

[Saddlefall]

Hi everyone!
I'm using a Marshall JDM1 2x12 combo amp, and i'm very happy with how it sounds on it's own with no effect pedals etc. But recently since I've joined a band and begun jamming with some friends, with drums, bass, vocals and another guitar it sounds a little thin..

So is there any booster pedal, og tube screamer or something I can use to get a more powerful sound?

[PosterBoy]

A lot of people use a tube screamer with the drive set a minimum and use the level control to boost the front end of the amp. It helps to give a tighter bass response from the amp and should help beef up your sound. Then you can probably bring your gain on the amp down a little, as too much gain will thin out your sound.

[korblitz]

love the sound of the Xotic AC Booster pedal

[Darius Wave]

I'm afraid the thing You consider as "thin" sound is rather not a matter of input but of the amp and cab freq response. That's probably a lack of low middle frequencies and it's a very popular issue. Much of this depends on what Your band plays. Sometimes that wideness and breath of tone hides beofre cymbals and bass guitar. What is left for the guitar and vocals in a live mix is the middle. At first try to borrow some EQ and plug it into the fx loop of Your amp. You can try to boost some 200-500 range and make a cut off above 6kHz. This usually gives a tone that maches real drums sound live. Of course if the room is well prepaired or You are playing on the open spece rules changes. But as far as I know how usually look most of band checking rooms or small pubs for underground music playing this is where You could search for the fatness of Your tone.

Of course...if it's just a matter of gain than friends already wrote some advices

[Saddlefall]

Thanks guys! I will probably try to tweak the EQ and prescence on my amp a little more first, then maybe invest in a tube screamer as well.

I'll check out some reviews of pedals, like the Xotic. I also heard the ibanez tube screamer is good?

[klasaine]

A lot of people use a tube screamer with the drive set a minimum and use the level control to boost the front end of the amp. It helps to give a tighter bass response from the amp and should help beef up your sound. Then you can probably bring your gain on the amp down a little, as too much gain will thin out your sound.

+1

Too much gain is many times the culprit when going from playing on your own to playing with a band.
Also, which pre-amp model are you using? If you're primarily using the 'modern' settings try using the classic or vintage models (plexi?).

[Saddlefall]

+1

Too much gain is many times the culprit when going from playing on your own to playing with a band.
Also, which pre-amp model are you using? If you're primarily using the 'modern' settings try using the classic or vintage models (plexi?).

I think Im using modern.. Ill try some of the others, thanks!

[jstcrsn]

I'm afraid the thing You consider as "thin" sound is rather not a matter of input but of the amp and cab freq response. That's probably a lack of low middle frequencies and it's a very popular issue. Much of this depends on what Your band plays. Sometimes that wideness and breath of tone hides beofre cymbals and bass guitar. What is left for the guitar and vocals in a live mix is the middle. At first try to borrow some EQ and plug it into the fx loop of Your amp. You can try to boost some 200-500 range and make a cut off above 6kHz. This usually gives a tone that maches real drums sound live. Of course if the room is well prepaired or You are playing on the open spece rules changes. But as far as I know how usually look most of band checking rooms or small pubs for underground music playing this is where You could search for the fatness of Your tone.

Of course...if it's just a matter of gain than friends already wrote some advices

along these lines as well, guitarists tend to eq their guitar to a professionally mixed sound rather than eq-ing for a live band . This makes it thin and blends with the bass - geting lost in the mix. mid-range ish frequencies will thicken your tone as well as let your guitar be more distinguishable - problem with this is the mids do start reducing the tone/drive that most desire.
I have come to realize that in a live show I want my guitar to stand out more than getting this so called perfect guitar tone, and when I can hear my guitar standing out it lets me feel comfortable to let loose

I don't think Marshalls have closed back cabs, if you can plug into a closed back for a sound comparison, usually they have some bass/ mid response that opened back cabs don't