Hall & Collins Signature Echo

[Stratly]

I see, on Charlie Hall & Friends site, that Dave has been making great headway experimenting with EQ units to fine tune 'that sound', using the H&CSE, with Charlie Hall.
It would be very interesting if he could list his tips for using a parametric EQ, or preferably a simple 10 band EQ, like the MXR or Caline,with the H&CSE, to get closer still to the sound, together with tweaks to the knobs on the echo unit, when fed into a modern Vox AC15C1 fitted with an English Blue speaker.
I suppose I'll be asking for the Vox knob settings as well, to go with all this. Be rude not to, really!
Especially if this is achievable at reasonably 'pc' volume!
Yeah! Right!
So many knobs; all interacting; so much potential confusion!
This might be a big ask, but you're BRILLIANT at this kind of stuff Dave! ( And so are your recordings on the Hall & Collins Signature Echo website! Well done!)
Many thanks,
Stratly.

[dave robinson]

I haven't tried the latest Vox AC-15 that you have Malc so it would be giving advice blindly to make suggestions at this point.
I'll look for that model in local stores and if I find one I will take my Hall & Collins and give it a test drive so I know what I'm talking about. Knowing Vox, the sound should be 90% there depending on where you position those controls. To begin with I would avoid graphic EQs as the sound is usually fine without them. My use of parametrics has been in an attempt to re-create the Abbey Road recorded sound and it isn't as easy as one would expect. I'll happily give the settings that I use when I'm fully convinced it's the answer.

[Stratly]

Hi Dave,
Thanks very much for that. I find all this stuff absolutely fascinating; not just because I enjoy playing the stuff so much, but because tinkering with sound for sound's sake is so interesting.
Your experiments with parametric EQ, are the kind of stuff I like. I'm not even near your league in terms of playing ability, and achieving "That Sound" emulation; but nevertheless I still love attempting it.
I suppose a good analogy is that you don't have to be able to paint a picture yourself, to enjoy visiting an art gallery.
I also remember a quote from the late, great and wonderful Dennis Muir, who said "if a thing's worth doing; it's worth doing badly." I know exactly what he meant, and it's a great motto.
Currently I'm using a Strat 63 NOS and Vox AC15 C1 with a Celestion English Blue, and a H&CSE. I've also got a Cutting Edge and a Gemini III in my toy cupboard.
Thank you so much for your help,
Malc

[dave robinson]

If you connect either the Cutting Edge or Gemini, but not both, you should get close to what you are seeking. Use the cut control on the amp to tame the treble.

[Stratly]

Hi Dave,
Thanks for that. I've dusted off the Gemini III, and I'm going to do as you suggest.
Many thanks,
Malc

[David Martin]

The Gemini is the better of the two... A wonderful piece of work. Instant result, no knob twiddling!

[dave robinson]

The parametric facility is in my Logic software on the iMac and Macbook Pro, I'm told that Cubase doesn't feature this option, or at least the one my friend uses doesn't. For live use with an amplifier, I have a dual 31 band graphic EQ that is quite helpful, but in all honesty for what it adds to my already 'very close' sound through my Vox AC-30 or Mesa Boogie, I really can't be bothered to set it up at a gig.

[dakwah]

Hi all

for those who gig. The echo unit of course has various patches to suit the tune. But do you actually adjust the tone controls on the amplifier for each tune or leave it set and twiddle with the tone control on the guitar?


thanks Stan

[dave robinson]

Hi all

for those who gig. The echo unit of course has various patches to suit the tune. But do you actually adjust the tone controls on the amplifier for each tune or leave it set and twiddle with the tone control on the guitar?


thanks Stan

I never have to touch my amp during a performance, nor should I. People pay to see a show, not someone on stage forever twiddling knobs on their equipment. Any tonal changes required should be made at the instrument, the echo patches are easily changed by foot, without the need to turn away from the audience. Hank is a wonderful example for anyone learning the craft, it's called professionalism.

[dakwah]

thanks Dave

It's only to my ears that a lot of the tunes are tonally different, so having an eq for each tune (say with a graphic equaliser) would not be practical and as you have pointed out the audience are interested in your performance.

perhaps its the echo patterns that creates an illusion of greater eq difference than that is really there.

Stan