Stomp: high string ghost notes

[sliberty57]

Here is my setup:

 

Wireless and tuner into input of Stomp

Block 1: LA Compressor

Block 2: fx look containing my 3 favorite physical overdrives

Block 3: Rotary effect

Block 4: Amp + Cab (Cali Texas Clean w/ H30’s)

Block 5: Delay effect

Block 6: 63 Spring Reverb effect

 

amp+cab eq is rolled off at 90hz and 5khz

 

When the amp+cab is turned off, and the output goes to my Princeton or my Vox MV50, it sounds fantastic. But when I enable the amp+cab, and the output is feeding my Alto TS310, the high e and b strings sounds harsh and almost doubled like there are ghost notes.

 

This is currently preventing me from using amp sim at all. Any suggestions on how to resolve would be greatly appreciated.

[rd2rk]

The answer is in the question.

 

1 hour ago, sliberty57 said:

When the amp+cab is turned off, and the output goes to my Princeton or my Vox MV50, it sounds fantastic. But when I enable the amp+cab, and the output is feeding my Alto TS310, the high e and b strings sounds harsh and almost doubled like there are ghost notes.

 

The word "harsh" is like others applied to individual perceptions of sound - fizzy, creamy, chewy, etc. Subjective.

 

I had the same issue with my TS210. The crossover is at 2.5khz. After trying everything with eq, I bought an amp with 1-12" speaker and FX Loop (Egnator Tweaker 15 - Marshall, Vox and Fender tone stacks).

 

Problem solved. We don't like the sound of the tweeter, that simple. With a real guitar amp, using 4cm, it's possible to use either the amp's preamp or the Helix preamps. No harsh, fizzy tweeter.

 

Unfortunately, in your case, neither the Princeton nor the Vox have an FX loop.

 

I'd like to see a two-way speaker with adjustable crossover AND tweeter level. AFAIK, that doesn't exist. At least, not in a product that I can afford.

[DunedinDragon]

4 hours ago, sliberty57 said:

 

 

amp+cab eq is rolled off at 90hz and 5khz

 

When the amp+cab is turned off, and the output goes to my Princeton or my Vox MV50, it sounds fantastic. But when I enable the amp+cab, and the output is feeding my Alto TS310, the high e and b strings sounds harsh and almost doubled like there are ghost notes.

 

This is currently preventing me from using amp sim at all. Any suggestions on how to resolve would be greatly appreciated.

 

I'm not sure if you mean your high and low cuts are at 5khz and 90hz, but if that still sounds harsh I suspect it may be more related to the type of mic you're using on the cab and it's placement, or even the cab selection itself.  It would help to know what cab you're using and which mic or mics you have selected and how you have them placed.

Most commonly if you want a more natural sound you're going to want to mix mics to get the best tone just like they do in most recording studios and on most concert stages.  You do that by using a dual cab block if you're using Helix cabs and mix different mics like a dynamic mic and a ribbon mic.  Typically the dynamic mic is positioned further from the center to bring out more low frequencies and limit the highs, and the ribbon mic is positioned closer to bring out more highs and reduce low frequencies, but it's all a matter of what you're looking for in your tone.

I personally use IRs that are a mix of a MD421 dynamic mic and a R121 ribbon mic in various arrangements on different types of cabinets and speakers.  Sometimes I even use IRs that are a mix of up to 5 different mics to get the sound I want going through my Yamaha DXR12.  With the right placements my typical high cuts are in the 8-9 kHz range and low cuts are between 80 - 130 Hz using the parametric EQ, all fairly dependent on the type of guitar I'm using.  The Helix speaker block cuts are more gradual in their rolloffs than are the ones on the parametric EQ.

[codamedia]

Mic choice will make a huge difference... combined with the distance set. 

Take the time to really try the different mics and distances.... there is a reason engineers and producers spend most of their time getting those choices right!

 

If you are running 2.8 there is another option, but you will have to sacrifice one of your blocks to do it on a Stomp. 

• Insert the TILT EQ after the amp/cab block
• Set the x-over frequency to 2.5k or even 3k
• Lower the "tilt".... and don't be afraid to go as low as you need. I often take it to somewhere in the "dark 60 - dark 80" range. 

I find this really removed the "shrill" from some mic's / cabinets, yet still retains the character of that mic/cab.