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Post subject: Mustang III v2 - Better sound with cabinet emulation off?
Posted: Fri Nov 28, 2014 8:17 am
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Am I the only one who turns OFF cabinet emulation on all of my presets? It just sounds better to me that way. I started doing it because I read that it improves live sound and performance on the M3V2 (cuts through mix better) but I found I like it even for practice and home use. I do end up tweaking the EQ after turning off cab emulation but I think it results in a much CLEANER and CLEARER tone. With cabinet emulation on the tone sounds kind of muffled to me. Note that so far I pretty much only use the "basic" presets since I'm using my new M3V2 after decades of playing through fender tube amps and like clean fender tones.

Why would you want cabinet emulation turned on when using the M3V2 as a combo amp? I mean it has its own nice Celestion-loaded 112 cabinet? Wouldn't turning cabinet emulation on be more appropriate if you are going direct to PA (via XLR out) or direct to recording (via USB) where the M3V2's speaker/cab is not in the tone stack? And if that's true, why did fender turn on cabinet emulation on all of its factory default presets given that most players will simply use the M3V2 as a combo amp?


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Post subject: Re: Mustang III v2 - Better sound with cabinet emulation off
Posted: Fri Nov 28, 2014 8:29 am
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Aspiring Musician
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Not for me, but i DO find it to be yet another option just like any of the other cab sims. Try the bassman cab or celestion 2x12 cab and tell me those sound muffled ! Actually you just have to look at the cab sims as one more EQ in the chain. I choose them based on what i need. My fav preset is one i tweaked from the tweed bassman model and left the bassman cab in it. Many of my tweaked presets use different cabs that the one that is default for the model. But i use the bassman's default cab because it just suits it perfectly and for me definitely sounds much better than sims off. It gives it a character that really makes it for me. I HAVE found some presets that sounded good with it off, but it's like i said....i just find it one more option but not better or worse than any of the sims. I just look at it like another sims.


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Post subject: Re: Mustang III v2 - Better sound with cabinet emulation off
Posted: Sat Nov 29, 2014 10:53 am
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Quote:
... turns OFF cabinet emulation on all of my presets? It just sounds better to me that way ... Why would you want cabinet emulation turned on when using the M3V2 as a combo amp? I mean it has its own nice Celestion-loaded 112 cabinet?

The different cab emulations sound different to each other, and different to the 'no cab' option. Which ones sound 'better' is subjective and depends on the type of sound you want. If 'no cab' sounds best to you, that's just subjectively what you prefer. For someone else, other options may create a 'better' sound for them. So there's no right and wrong to this, just different choices for different people and uses.

Yes, the Mustang does have a nice sounding cab and speaker in its own right. But the point of it being a modelling amp is that it can also create the sound of other cabs and speakers. It just gives the user versatility to experiment with different sounds.


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Post subject: Re: Mustang III v2 - Better sound with cabinet emulation off
Posted: Sun Nov 30, 2014 2:43 pm
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If no cab emulation works for you, great! I find that often, cab emulation gives some much needed depth and definition to the models, but sometimes "matched" cabs don't quite sound right. Case in point - I've been working on a low to mid-gain Super Sonic preset for a while, and while I liked the sound of the model itself, it presented itself through the Mustang IV as sounding canned and brittle. Adjusting the sag, bias, and swapping the cab to a Bassman emulation blew all artificiality to kingdom come, and now it sounds super warm and fat. Conversely, I've found that the Bassman cab doesn't fit the Bassman amp quite as well as it should.

But hey, [great sounding] options. Its what makes the Mustang so much fun. :mrgreen:


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Post subject: Re: Mustang III v2 - Better sound with cabinet emulation off
Posted: Sun Nov 30, 2014 7:09 pm
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Clifton J wrote:
sometimes "matched" cabs don't quite sound right.


I would go even further in saying MOST of the time they don't. One exception tho IMO is the tweed bassman, and the matching bassman cab is by far the best choice to my ear. In fact, it's my fav model once tweaked to my preferences, It resides in the 00 spot on my III. But i find most other models do better with a cab other than their matching one.

I also never go by whats "correct" when it comes to gear. Rather than try and get a particular amp's sound, i mainly go for what sounds and works best for me. If a amp has a desirable sound but one character detail isn't making me happy i will change it even if it removes some of what is normally expected from that amp. For example, as much as i love neil young and love the tones on his records, i could never be happy using that sound. It works for him, not for me. So if i had his amp you might see me putting a EV12L in it to tighten to slop in the low end !


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Post subject: Re: Mustang III v2 - Better sound with cabinet emulation off
Posted: Mon Dec 01, 2014 8:30 am
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I agree that sometimes the cab emulations are a bit limiting tonewise (Fender if you are listening PLEASE consider adding a parametric EQ effect in the future, is the one feature that I miss the most in this amp) but here's my tule of thumb:

-to boot highs and/or clarity try 2x12C or Bassman
-for a boxy feeling try Champ
-for mid warmth try Princeton and Deluxe
-For all kinds of rock tone try 4x12G
-For bass boost try the SS cabs


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Post subject: Re: Mustang III v2 - Better sound with cabinet emulation off
Posted: Fri Dec 05, 2014 4:16 pm
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I had to turn off cabs in some of my presets due to pickups used and sought after sound. The 60's sparkle? With the 2X12 closed cab? With TV Jones classics and the right eq? Amazing!

I thought about a tube amp would be a better option,, Well the 57 twin, no cab emulation and some eq tweaking? Better sound with Seymour Duncan jb/jazz pups... So many options with the Mustangs! It is simply amazing!


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Post subject: Re: Mustang III v2 - Better sound with cabinet emulation off
Posted: Sat Dec 06, 2014 5:17 am
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Over the years, here are some of my general takes on cab emulation:

(1) Yes, use whatever sounds best.

(2) Cabs come across more distinctly and essentialy on FRFR systems (and this includes tracking).

(3) Greenback cabs are great for adding a more tube-like, natural compression to the overall sound. They also tend to help in adjusting the breakup point for the volume pot on your guitar

(4) If the cab has a "room" adjustment that allows more ambience into the cab simulation (like Line6 stuff), you'll probably want to set it as dry as possible for live use.

(5) If you're getting that overly resonant response on a note or a narrow range of notes, it's probably time to readjust/reconsider the cab model.

(6) Sooooo much stuff, sooooo little time!

Paj
8^)

BTW, I think that the Speaker-Cab-PowerAmp combination in the M3v2 is exceptional.


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Post subject: Re: Mustang III v2 - Better sound with cabinet emulation off
Posted: Sat Dec 06, 2014 7:23 am
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I'm very interested on your point 5 as it happens routinely to me on many different tones (b string too loud). I was thinking on lowering pickup pole but would like to try your idea.


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Post subject: Re: Mustang III v2 - Better sound with cabinet emulation off
Posted: Mon Dec 08, 2014 5:14 pm
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jedi2b wrote:
. . . it happens routinely to me on many different tones (b string too loud) . . .


That sounds like adjusting your pole piece is the way to go.

Paj
8^)


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Post subject: Re: Mustang III v2 - Better sound with cabinet emulation off
Posted: Tue Dec 09, 2014 7:52 am
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I find the deluxe sounds best with sims off. I could not get that model to sound good to me no matter what i did till i turned cab sims off. Many other models however are worthless without sims. So it's just dependent on the model, tho for me most benefit from them. I haven't tried it on some models tho because i'm just too involved in playing the amp rather than tweaking because i have one patch, a tweaked bassman that i love so much i hardly spend time trying to tweak anymore. But i need to remember to try this with other fender models. The BF twin now that i'm thinking about it may just be the perfect one to benefit from it because it sounds a bit weak and lifeless in the top end compared to a real twin used clean. It's missing that very high end glassiness. Maybe no sim might bring it alive. Gotta try that tonite.


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Post subject: Re: Mustang III v2 - Better sound with cabinet emulation off
Posted: Tue Dec 09, 2014 3:37 pm
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Yeah the top end of the twin becomes really crisp with cab sims off. With sims on the top end seems a bit weak. You may need to back off the treble some if its too bright.


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Post subject: Re: Mustang III v2 - Better sound with cabinet emulation off
Posted: Tue Dec 09, 2014 5:32 pm
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Someone else on the forum had recommended turning off cabinet sims when playing live. I tried it and I agree, to my ears it sounds more like a normal amp (in a good way) when I do that.

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Post subject: Re: Mustang III v2 - Better sound with cabinet emulation off
Posted: Fri Dec 19, 2014 5:21 pm
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On a couple of patches I have it off. Just use it as another option.


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Post subject: Re: Mustang III v2 - Better sound with cabinet emulation off
Posted: Fri Dec 26, 2014 3:41 pm
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PajFender wrote:

(2) Cabs come across more distinctly and essentialy on FRFR systems (and this includes tracking).



GREAT, pajfender.... now what does FRFR mean? thx.


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