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411 Views 9 Replies Latest reply: May 18, 2012 9:43 PM by markcockerill RSS
AlexMcLellan Just Startin'
AlexMcLellan
5 posts since
Oct 4, 2011
Currently Being Moderated

May 15, 2012 6:49 PM

Recommendations for Auditioning Modeled Tones on JTV69

Hi,

 

I've tried the JTV69 twice as well as the Roland G5 recently, but found it was hard to discern the different models. For example, the banjo seemed to barely sound like a banjo and the acoustic models sounded very electric. The sitar was clear, but the strat/tele tones seemed almost identical. I tried the guitars with two tube amps and a solid state amp. I'm very much a beginner with guitars but I checked the obvious things like ensuring the gain wasn't electrifying the tones. On the various youtube videos the different tones are clearly discernable e.g., Simon Bradley from Guitarist magazine).

 

Any suggestions for how to best hear the different tones? A specific amp? Specific amp settings for specific tones? Headphones?

 

Thanks!

 

Alex

Tags: model, variax, jtv69
  • Rewolf48 Just Startin'
    Rewolf48
    133 posts since
    Aug 9, 2010
    Currently Being Moderated
    May 16, 2012 4:54 AM (in response to AlexMcLellan)
    Re: Recommendations for Auditioning Modeled Tones on JTV69

    To hear the tones properly - especially the acoustic ones you need a really clean amp that can repreduce the full range of frequencies (FRFR = Full Range Flat Response); guitar amps (tube or otherwise) do not do this as they don't have the tweeter required to output the high frequencies properly, and the main speaker often colours the sound anyway.

     

    For a shop test I suggest either a dedicated Acoustic Guitar Amp, Keyboard Amp or a PA (e.g. a powered PA speaker) - as long as it can accept an instrument level signal on a 1/4" Jack.

     

    Or you can use something like a POD HD 500 with a new patch (nothing in the chain at all) into a pair of headphones.

     

    My personal set-up is JTV69 via VDI Cable into a POD HD 500 into a pair of FBT MaxX 2A powered PA speakers which allows me to go completely clean or add a little compression, eq and reverb if required.  I hadn't touched the chime, semi or jazz variax sounds much before, but with just a light bit of compression (Tube Comp) they all sound great amplified this way.

    • Iknowathingortwo
      MerlinFL
      1,667 posts since
      Jul 17, 2007
      Currently Being Moderated
      May 16, 2012 2:03 PM (in response to Rewolf48)
      Re: Recommendations for Auditioning Modeled Tones on JTV69

      Another option is to using an good quality bass amp with an adjustable gain for the horn/tweeter in the cabinet.

       

      I use my bass gear for all my acoustic patches for just this reason.

       

      Almost forgot to ask - what JTV software version are you running?  Your description of the sounds seems like your are runing JTV 1.81?

      • Rewolf48 Just Startin'
        Rewolf48
        133 posts since
        Aug 9, 2010
        Currently Being Moderated
        May 17, 2012 4:41 AM (in response to MerlinFL)
        Re: Recommendations for Auditioning Modeled Tones on JTV69

        Merlin,

         

        When I wrote my reply last night it was while I was upgrading 1.81 to 1.82.

         

        I am one of those who prefers the 1.8x Acoustic sounds anyway - especially when playing solo, but I didn't get a chance for more than a quick check to make sure that the upgrade had worked last night (I am in the UK). 1.82 seemed ok, but I didn't get a chance to test the alt tunings.  One fault that is still outstanding is that using the HD500 Tuner with an alt tuning selected will tune against the alt tuning, but when you exit the tuner the JTV still resets to standard tuning.

         

        My view is that the Variax Acoustics should sound like an Acoustic in isolation with the body sounds coming out; I know that this won't fit well into a mix, but for that situation you should EQ just as you would with an Amped Electric, which will mean cutting a lot of the low end out and perhaps boosting higher frequencies if you really want it to sound like a peizo pickup being used.

         

        Your view may (and probably does) vary, but each to their own ears

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