Custom Controls and 3-band equalization - tips on handling
The AMP 1 has two ways of using EQ: a 3-band EQ on the front control panel, and the Custom Controls on the side of the amp. In order to get the best sounds out of your AMP1, it is helpful to know what the differences are between 3-band equalization and the Custom Controls, and how best to use them together.
The 3-band tone controls (bass, middle, treble)
The 4 channels in the AMP1 are built separately and have been optimally tuned to each other in terms of frequency, so that all 4 channels can be used with shared tone controls. The effect of the EQ has been precisely matched to the channels and enables a wide range of sound nuances. In each channel, the tone control intervenes in the frequency ranges characteristic of its basic sound.
In contrast to the Custom Controls, the tone control is not intended to change the basic character of the channels. Rather, you should use this global setting option to adapt the AMP1 to your speaker cabinet(s), the room, and/or your guitar(s). This is a great advantage, especially in live situations, because otherwise 4 tone controls would have to be readjusted.
The AMP1 sounds most balanced in the middle position. If necessary, however, extreme settings also work.
By the way: In contrast to conventional tone controls, the controls on AMP1 do not influence each other. This means that a treble boost does not cause a mid-cut, and vice versa. This greatly simplifies setting up your perfect sound.
Caution: The working range of the tone control is designed to be very effective. If all CONTROLS are set to 0, there is no sound!
The Custom Controls
If you want a fundamentally different sound character in a channel, then use the Custom Controls - these were specially developed for this purpose. We recommend the following procedure for tuning the individual channels:
- Start with the VINTAGE channel and tailor it to your guitar, cabinet and room using the 3-band equalizer.
- Then switch to the CLEAN channel and adjust the two channels using the CLEAN TONE custom control. Also use the CLEAN VOLUME on the front panel as well as OVERDRIVE GAIN and OVERDRIVE MASTER to adjust the distortion and volume of the two channels.
- Then switch to the CLASSIC channel and determine the basic character of the channel with the custom control CLASSIC TONE. Next, adjust the volume of the CLASSIC channel to that of the VINTAGE channel using the CLASSIC VOLUME custom control.
- Switch to the MODERN channel and adapt it analogously to the other channels.
In order to get to know the amp and the basic sounds, we recommend setting all of the Custom Control TONE controls to about the middle position at first. Settings in the same ratio, e.g. 7-7-7 or 9-9-9, will result in balanced sound patterns.
At the beginning, you will certainly have to experiment a little with the settings, but once you have found the settings that suit you for the individual channels, you can forget about the Custom Controls and from now on only make global adjustments via the 3-band tone control.
By the way: This is also the reason why the Custom Controls are designed as trim pots. This means they'll never get unintentionally knocked out of position!
In practice, this concept will help you a lot. Because if you change something in the tone control, for example because you are missing some mids, you will have more mids on all channels. Thomas Blug put a lot of time and practical experience into coordinating the channels so that everything fits together so naturally.
The Custom Controls on the AMP1 Mercury Edition and the AMP1 Iridium Edition
You can find more information about the sound properties of the preamps of the AMP1 Mercury Edition and AMP1 Iridium Edition and fine-tuning them with the help of the Custom Controls in the following articles: