[Philbutt]

If I want to get overdrive from my amp do I crank up the volume but but reduce the master volume. Or do I increase the gain and reduce the volume but increase the master volume?

I have a Marshall MG50fx that has gain volume and master controls. It has preset channnels for clean/ crunch and two overdrive settings. I would like to make my own overdrive and store them (as the overdrive presets are guite heavy distortion sounding not bluesy sort of almost metal which ain't my thing) but not sure how to get overdrive and then boost it. Any suggestions. Im trying to get away from the whole pedal thing and just use the amp if I can. Somebody must have the technical knowhow to set me straight. What I'm looking for is a clean setting with a secondary boost, on my clean channel, then on the overdrive I want a good blues overdrive sound with a second channel set to boost the overdriven sound. Basically it has four presets that can be played around with but no sure how to go about it. The settings can then be stored in a foot switch that has four stomp switches, kind of clever stuff really.

HELP!!!!!!!!

[TXgump]

When people normally talk about "natural overdrive" they are usually talking about driving the preamp of the amp into break up, from what i remember the MG series from Marshall are solid state so its not going to break up like it would with tubes. GOTTA GO WITH TUBES BROTHA!!

I'm not sure how to program those new marshall mg's so cant help you there, sorry

But as far as driving tubes i crank up the gain on my clean channel to around 8/9 and the volume to around 5 (the loudest i can crank it and hear an audible difference in volume). But then when the volume is cranked you open another door and key to tone, Driving Your Speaker(s).

One thing i had a problem with tube amps is when i front-ended my boost pedal i'd reach the highest amount of headroom available on the amp and it would break up which i wouldnt want, i just wanted it to be louder, not more distortion

i know your trying to get away from pedals, but one thing i have done recently is Put a boost pedal in your effects loop. this puts the volume boost inbetween your preamp & power tubes so the preamp isn't getting pushed anymore, its just increasing volume which was what i was going for.

***I'm not sure if the MG has an effects loop but you can try having one clean channel you use and one overdrive channel with a boost in the effects loop for your volume jump i think your looking for!

Hope this helped you!

[trick]

Crank the pre amp and use your master as the volume, turn the pre amp volume to 10 or 11 depending which Marshall you got ....The Nigel Tufnel model (11) or the reg. model (10) LOL! That will give you the most gain!

[Stangmaster]

I am really sold on my DigiTech RP55. It does it all, and you can even simulate the overdrive and distortion of a tube amp. You can select a few tube amps, cabinets and levels. Your settings can be saved.
It has boost built in, and will replace all of you pedals except a manual WAh Wah, even though it has a Wah setting Each effect can be indepedantly adjusted for level.
There is a plug in for the Wah Wah and or on/off pedal.

[Philbutt]

TXgump. Yeah I've got an fx loop at the rear of the amp send and return. I'll have a play around with this then. I've got a Marshall Blues Breaker II which has a boost function. Also have Boss OD3 and a Boss Blues Driver which can also be used as a booster so I will experiment. If I blow my amp up though I'm coming looking for you. LOL!!! I'd like to go with "tubes brother" but they cost a fair bit and knowing my luck I'd set the thing on fire.

My amp is a Marshall MG50fx. It has clean and overdrive channels an fx loop and a footswitch to change channels which is kind of cool. It also came with programmable foot switch so you can save upto four of your own presets, which is what I wanted the info for so I could get the overdrive sound and store it. Prests are fine but its good to have some technical know how so that you can develop and know why you are doing somehting to the controls.

Thanks folks I dig this forum always somebody that can point you in the right direction. I am a self taught Strat player in the early stages and have to say that a good quality guitar and amp have really opened my eyes ears and soul. Can't read music to save my life play by ear and copying others. I just love being able to feel the sound if you know what I mean.

Rock On!!!!!!!

[Stangmaster]

Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, and many other giants in music, cannot read music.
The good stuff comes from the soul.

[poeman33]

On the MG you don't have power tubes, so you get your distortion from using the gain. The master volume should not affect the distortion level, just loudness. (theoretically anyway)

I don't read music either, but have fooled a few who swore I did. As I progressed musically, I purposely chose not to learn to read music. When I was using written notes...the music came from a different place than when I just used my ear. Nothing against those that read though...it's just my personal way of expressing music has to be that way or it loses it's heart and soul and natural flow.

[candy apple 62]

the problem is transistor amps aren't as touch sensitive ,but my advice if you don't want to use pedals is, set the amp to a reasonably loud volume , back off the treble as tranny amps are very edgy and fizzy, set the gain about half or whatever suits , then use your guiatr volume to back off a bit then full up when you want to give a boost for solos etc it's how it has always been done without the use of the distort evrything box!
also for the similar price you bought the MG 50 for you could have bought a good 2nd hand fender blues JR that's still loud enough to gig and has one of the best natural overdrives for the money, turn it up and wail!