3d tone with 4 hole amps...

[212Mavguy]

One of the benefits of having an amp stable is the opportunity to take a music lesson from the amp you are playing through. I discovered this thang by accident.

 

The sound is to get some sustain and distortion while retaining good note definition, with less "splat" at the pick attack. There is a deep, vowelly sound during slow bends, especially with a bit of delay added. Sustain is excellent.

 

I have two Hiwatt type amps, but this would work with any tube amp having the classic 4 hole hi low inputs for normal and bright channels.

 

What I found was by using a jumper across the two high inputs, then plugging into one of the lower inputs was the starting point. Using the low normal produces a darker tone than using the low bright. Some guitars might display a preference to your ears as which side to use.

 

I start with turning the bright channel volume off, then turning the normal gain up to a low gain clean. Then I start diming the tone controls until I get to a setting as close to dimed as possible with the tone still in similar balance as the "normal" closer to noon settings. I'm reducing the amount of guitar signal lost to ground that way.

 

Then I crank the gain knob on the normal channel to the amount of distortion desired.

 

Next, I turn up the gain knob on the bright until it starts to be heard, but I keep that one at least a quarter turn less, yep more than 90 degrees less rotated up than the normal channel.

 

The result is a nice lead tone. You hear the bright channel define the notes with some decent clarity, smoother attack, but you also get the fat deep sounding voices of the distortion, violin-ish sustain with a smoother sounding edge to the tone.

 

Kinda Gilmour-ish through a Hiwatt style amp...

[Yooper]

Hmm. Would this work on a 5E3 and Deluxe Reverb? Never understood or tried jumpers. This combines the channels to make the "3rd tone"?

 

A new world of tweaking possibilities has opened up.

[212Mavguy]

Best is to just plug in and try it, I do the same thing on my '61 Harmony H-306A, it's also a normal/bright 4 hole amp. The thing that makes it work is two parallel preamp sections with greatly different levels of gain.

[Yooper]

So there's no harm in any pattern of jumpering? I keep thinking I could damage something by making the wrong connection. I will give your formula a try.

[212Mavguy]

As long as the two channels are in phase with each other it should work, best in an amp with a master volume equipped preamp.

[Yooper]

So I'll hold on to my pedals. Luckily I have my little hand wired Champion through a 12" speaker for ear-friendly tube overdrive.

[Steiner]

I love doing this. So much so that I searched out an amp with two power sections. Nothing but fun!

 

The other option is to use an ABY pedal and plug into two amps.

[Gitfiddler]

Cool info. The Heritage Victory and Liberty amps have dual channels that are internally jumpered...but only one input

 

Is that the same principle, but on a more limited scale?

[212Mavguy]

Not familiar with the Heritage amps mentioned, but if there are both normal and bright volume knobs... should be able to get it to happen. On my Siegmund Midnight Blues Breaker head there is a tube buffered effects loop in parallel with the preamp. It has a knob to balance it against the preamp and another knob to adjust the amount of drive, compared to the preamp it's darker tonally. So in that amp I set the loop buffer drive knob more than halfway up to grind some, and keep the preamp clean, using that preamp/loop balance knob to achieve the same idea, it sounds scary nice.

 

A/B/Y with a couple amps IS also a secret weapon if the requisite jumpered inputs/parallel pre channels/separate gain controls aren't available in one amp.

[Gitfiddler]

Here are the specs on the Victory Head. Combining both channels and pushing the Master Volume gets all 22 watts singing sweetly.

 

A head version of the Victory, with a 2nd channel, and global master volume control, in place of the reverb circuit found in the combo version. The two channels can be used on their own or blended together for a variety of tones and textures.

Control Panel:

Channel 1:

Bright Switch:A three position switch which, in conjunction with the treble and cut controls, allows the player to tune the treble frequencies to better match the type of guitar and pickup position used.The middle position is "off". The lower switch setting is a little brighter, while the higher setting is very bright.This can be just the thing to add life and sparkle to a dark neck pickup.

Volume: Controls the volume/gain for Channel 1

Treble: Adjusts the amount of high frequencies for Channel 1

Focus: Adjusts the low mid voicing of the tone controls. This will allow you to scoop or increase the low mids.

Middle: Adjusts the amount of mid frequencies for Channel 1

Bass: Adjusts the amount of low-end frequencies for Channel 1

Channel 2 / FX Return:

Volume/ FX Level: Controls the volume/gain of Channel 2. When this channel is used as the FX loop for channel 1 this control becomes the FX loop return level control. The processed signal is blended into the dry signal, which remains intact.The effects processor should be set for a pure wet signal.

Tone: A unique tone control that can brighten or darken the sound of the channel and works independently of volume knob settings. This will also effect the channel when used as the FX loop, allowing EQ-ing of the processed signal.

Cut: Reduces high frequencies in the power amp section. This will smooth out and darken the overall tone. This control operates for both channels.

Master: Post phase inverter Master Volume control that operates with both channels.

Back Panel:

Channel 2 Input / FX Return: Channel 2 is wired to the input jack on the front of the amp allowing both channels to be used at the same time. When this input is used the connection is broken allowing the two channels to be used separate. An ABY box can be used to select between the two channels, or combine them. When being used as an FX loop this becomes the FX Return jack. The output of the effects processor is connected to this jack.

FX Send jack: The input of the effects processor is connected to this jack

FX Send Level: Adjusts the signal level sent to the effects processor. The level should be adjusted so as not to overload the input of the effects unit.

Speaker jacks: 4, 8 and 16 ohm. The speaker in the Victory extension cabinet is 8 ohm.

Bias pot and test points: See biasing instructions

Fuse: 3 Amp fuse housed within the detachable AC power connector

Head Cabinet Dimensions and Specs: Birch ply cabinet, Width: 23.25" x Height: 9" x Depth: 10.25". The Victory head comes standard in green. Please see our vinyl and grille cloth section for custom colors.

Speaker Cabinet: 1x12 open back, pine cab. Width: 26.5" x Height: 18"x Depth: 11.5". The cab is loaded with 1 Celestion G12H30 8 ohm, 30 watt speaker.

Weight: Head: 33.5 lbs., Speaker cabinet: 35 lbs.

[212Mavguy]

Looks to me from here that you should be set to give it a try...