software

Sometimes at band rehersals I play through a Mesa F-50 Combo. When using the gain for the hard rock/heavy metal stuff, it cuts through with ease. However, when switching to the clean tone it seems as if my playing just disappears?!

Can anyone help me out with this problem?

I have this same problem with my MESA if I'm not using the solo switch. It seems as if the notes just aren't fluid and sustainy enough.

Of course I found an amp that doesn't have this property but I'd still like to see what responses this thread gets.

Compressor and eq will both help. If you were playing blues on that fine line between clean and distortion I'd never recommend a compressor, but with hard rock/metal the cleans usually aren't that dynamic, so the compressor will add sustain, give you a touch of boost and clean up pick attacks.


Originally Posted by RainmakerSometimes at band rehersals I play through a Mesa F-50 Combo. When using the gain for the hard rock/heavy metal stuff, it cuts through with ease. However, when switching to the clean tone it seems as if my playing just disappears?!

Can anyone help me out with this problem?

You could try using more mids. Try to stand about 10 -15 feet away from your amp and have someone adjust the EQ while you play. Once the tone is where you want, go to the amp and see where the tone controls are set. You may be suprised at the results. It worked for me. good luck.

Maybe you just need to turn the clean channel up some? But BB has a point. You just might need more mids if your sound seems loud enough by itself but gets lost in the shuffle when the rest of the band kicks in. A sound that rocks by itself can quickly disappear when put into context. Ears are more attuned to middle frequencies than high and low frequencies. That's why many players want to scoop them out when playing alone.

Midrange and presence


Originally Posted by SlyFoxxMaybe you just need to turn the clean channel up some? But BB has a point. You just might need more mids if your sound seems loud enough by itself but gets lost in the shuffle when the rest of the band kicks in. A sound that rocks by itself can quickly disappear when put into context. Ears are more attuned to middle frequencies than high and low frequencies. That's why many players want to scoop them out when playing alone.
1 on this and the idea of using a compressor

.5

Yes and no. Mids will definitely make your guitar come out more, but it could just as easily turn your rich clean tone into a spanky percussive tone. For this scenario, I'd go with the fender treatment-bass down, treble up, and if you have that graphic EQ on the mesa: notch up the very high mids. Treble WILL give you serious cut into a mix, and when playing with a band it tends to sound just right.

By yourself, it will sound annoyingly piercing, but the other sounds of a band will fill in the space left by your EQ in the bass and mid region, as they will leave plenty of space in the treble region until you hit the cymbal range. This is THE clean tone configuration that has worked for thousands of musicians for the past 50 years.