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Post subject: Hi & Help
Posted: Sat Apr 30, 2011 4:36 pm
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Hello, I just bought at used G-DEC 520 at GC. The price was right and it seemed like a lot of equipment for the $. Since I am new to the guitar I like playing with as clean a sound as possible. I'm sure at some time I will enjoy a more distorted sound. When I plug my guitar into the imput what I play is distorted. Is there one of the presets that is cleaner then all the others, or do I just lower the gain to reduce distortion. I apologize if this is a stupid ? I'm just trying to decide if I want to keep it or return it before the 30 days is up.
Thanks,
Bill


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Post subject: Re: Hi & Help
Posted: Sun May 01, 2011 12:34 pm
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Not sure what a G-DEC 520 is... :shock: But if you go through the presets you should definitely find some clean tones, they're not ALL distorted. And it's pretty easy to change the tones right on the amp, just hit the AMP button and scroll through amp, volume, etc. If you can't find what you're looking for in 28 days or so, best take it back.

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Dennis in CR
Rockin' since 1963


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Post subject: Re: Hi & Help
Posted: Sun May 01, 2011 2:43 pm
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Dennis, thanks for your help. Other then the amp being a G - DEC, the only other identifying thing that I can find is PR520 on the back. Thanks again.
Bill


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Post subject: Re: Hi & Help
Posted: Wed May 04, 2011 7:14 pm
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If the top of the amp is flat and has a broad fabric strap in place of a handle you have the original G-Dec, and you're right, it is a lot of amp for the $.
For the cleaner tones try "Happy Strum", press the amp button and twist the silver dial and listen to the different amp models. You might also want to look at http://www.mygdec.com.
lots of tips and answers there.

Cheers,
John.E


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Post subject: Re: Hi & Help
Posted: Thu May 05, 2011 11:58 am
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John, that is what I have. Thanks for your help. I'll check ou the G-Dec web site. I'm probably keeping the G-Dec, because of the functions and the price. Thanks again, Bill B


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Post subject: Re: Hi & Help
Posted: Thu May 05, 2011 1:36 pm
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John, a follow up to finding the Happy Strum setting you mentioned in your post. It is not listed as one of the presets. How would I find that setting ? Thanks, Bill B


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Post subject: Re: Hi & Help
Posted: Thu May 05, 2011 5:00 pm
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broad113, I own an original GDEC 15 and don't know of any "Happy Strum" preset that exists by default on the amp. Perhaps the preset is on an original GDEC 30 or John.E has that preset on a GDEC 3 series amp and expects it to exist on earlier models.

I can help you to write a "clean" preset on your amp. First, the original GDEC's have two sets of presets. One set is labeled P00 - P49 and the other set is labeled U00 - U49. The "P" presets are written in stone and may not be overwritten. You may overwrite of the "U" set presets you like.

The U00 preset should be the preset that is selected when the amp is first powered on so, it is probably the one you want to alter first.

Press the "AMP" button once and look at the LCD screen. You'll see that "Amp Type" is highlighted. Turn the large silver selector knob until the type of amp is "Blackface 1".

Press the "AMP" button once again and the LCD screen will show "Gain" highlighted. This works just like the input gain on a real tube amp, the higher this is set the more overdriven the amp will become. Turn the large silver selector knob and set this between 3 - 5.

Press the "AMP" button once again and the LCD screen will show "Amp Volume" highlighted. This is of course the overall volume of the amp. Turn the large silver selector knob to adjust the setting to 9.

The tone Stack:

Press the "AMP" button once again and the LCD screen will show "Bass" highlighted.
Press the "AMP" button once again and the LCD screen will show "Middle" highlighted.
Press the "AMP" button once again and the LCD screen will show "Treble" highlighted.

The GDEC emulates the actual amp so the tone stack reacts in the same way as the real amp does. Just like on the real Fender amps, too much bass causes muddiness in the upper frequencies and the treble control actually works both treble and mid. I suggest you start out with:

BASS 3, MID 5 & TREBLE 10

Press the "AMP" button once again and the LCD screen will show "Compressor" highlighted. Turn the large silver selector knob until the setting reads OFF.

Press the "AMP" button once again and the LCD screen will show "Timbre" highlighted. This setting most closely resembles the type of speaker cab used. Turn the large silver selector knob until the setting reads NONE.

Press the "AMP" button once again and the LCD screen will show "Noise Gate" highlighted. Turn the large silver selector knob until the setting reads OFF.

Now press the "Save" button TWICE.

The preset will likely still have FX on it. If so and you don't want them, Press the "FX" button once and turn the large silver selector knob until the setting reads NONE.

Press the "FX" button as many time as you need until the LCD reads "Rvb Type". Turn the large silver selector knob until the setting reads NONE.

Again, press the "Save" button TWICE.

Much is going to depend on the guitar's pickups so the gain, amp volume and tone stack will no doubt need tweaking to your tastes.

Good luck,

dude


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Post subject: Re: Hi & Help
Posted: Thu May 05, 2011 6:13 pm
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Dude, thanks for the info. This I think I can figure out. I was back and forth over all these setting trying to get the right combination for a cleaner sound. I'll give it a shot and let you know. Thanks again, Dude and John.
Bill B


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Post subject: Re: Hi & Help
Posted: Thu May 05, 2011 7:37 pm
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My bad, the "Happy Strum" preset is on the G-Dec 30. Lots of good direction from P90sdude.The only thing I would add is WRITE IT DOWN. Get a legal pad or a spreadsheet and write down all the existing components of a preset you are changing as well as all the changes you make. This way you can always go back and tinker or just restore the original
preset

Cheers,
John.E


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Post subject: Re: Hi & Help
Posted: Fri May 06, 2011 5:22 am
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Got it, Bill B


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Post subject: Re: Hi & Help
Posted: Fri May 06, 2011 6:52 pm
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Dude & John, used the settings that Dude suggested and it sounds very good. I am getting together w/my guy on Mon , I will explain it to him. I like what you told me to do, so I thank you again. Bill B


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Post subject: Re: Hi & Help
Posted: Fri May 06, 2011 8:06 pm
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Hey ya Bill,

Now that you have a basic clean setting, you can try this... copy it to a new slot (U01 ?) and just just change one data setting... change the AMP TYPE to "TWEED 1". Now you'll have a only slightly more "dirty" preset but still fairly clean yet with a different flavor.

Here are some other tips...

Changing any AMP TYPE with a value greater than "1" to a lower number, then decreasing the GAIN and increasing the AMP VOLUME will clean up the patch substantially.

The TIMBRE also can also factor in on the amount of dirt a patch has - NONE will always be the cleanest.

I'm sure you know that not all dirt is bad, but the factory presets are mostly all "over the top". Try using the tips above to make modified versions that better suit your tastes.

dude


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Post subject: Re: Hi & Help
Posted: Sat May 07, 2011 1:35 pm
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Dude, thanks , now that I have an idea how the gdec works I'll try your suggestions.

Bill B


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