Chasing Jimmy Page tone
- Thread starter iamjackslackof
- Start date
finebyfine
Well-known member
I am not the biggest Page tone chaser with the exception of Black Dog, which has been a holy grail of mine.
It seems reasonably well documented online that his sound for Black Dog is the result of using two 1776 Urei Limiters in series into a console. I haven’t tried out the stacked Cali 76 - which seems perfect for this - but I have used two FET Rack Limiter modelers in my Katana and was *shocked* at how close it got. Not exact, but just enough to start believing it was in fact the tone for Black Dog and to make me contemplate spending $500 on a Stacked ‘76.
It seems reasonably well documented online that his sound for Black Dog is the result of using two 1776 Urei Limiters in series into a console. I haven’t tried out the stacked Cali 76 - which seems perfect for this - but I have used two FET Rack Limiter modelers in my Katana and was *shocked* at how close it got. Not exact, but just enough to start believing it was in fact the tone for Black Dog and to make me contemplate spending $500 on a Stacked ‘76.
iamjackslackof
Well-known member
Did you use a real T-Top? I have a custom wound set that simulates a T-Top brdige, along with the neck (I think) being hotter than the bridge, which apparently is part of his middle tone. This set was designed to get that middle position honk, and pretty much nails it.
I'm a pretty big Zep fanatic, but I haven't heard this. I knew it was direct, but that was it. Now I'm gonna GAS for a Cali 76 lol. Though I find it easier to get his live Black Dog tone, and I like it just as much.
iamjackslackof
Well-known member
I built the Apollo, and was never very happy with it. I just bought a real RAH recently, and it blows away the Apollo. Granted, I built the Apollo very early on in my pedal building journey, since part of why I got into this was to chase Zeppelin tones, so it very easily could have been my fault. I have not built the Prince Albert, but I'm tempted to now just to see if I can get it to sound the same as my RAH so I can sell it.
All that said, the RAH sounds incredible!
hamerfan
Well-known member
There are two vers. of the Apollo. Mk1 is based on the Catalinbread WIIO, mk2 on the Catalinbread RAH which is the improved version with mid control. Which one did you make?
iamjackslackof
Well-known member
I did the Apollo Mk2, for sure. I'm sure my lack of experience was the source of any less than optimal tone out of it. I've been meaning to get the Prince Albert and try again, since my real RAH sounds so good.
hamerfan
Well-known member
I compared the two schematics (Apollo 2 and Albert): I found a different input cap (3n3 vs 100n), a different treble pot (250k vs 500k) and variable feedback on the Apollo2 vs fixed 220k on the Albert. Did you play around with this trimmer? It should make quite a difference according Kevin V.
iamjackslackof
Well-known member
I still need to play with it more. I remember setting and forgetting it. I've not messed with it as much since I got the real RAH.
iamjackslackof
Well-known member
This might interest you
finebyfine
Well-known member
Oh wow that looks cool. Thanks for sharing. If it was analog I’d have bought it before replying. The boss katana’s rack models are just too good to justify buying another modeler. The UA sounds better don’t get me wrong, but it just doesn’t fill a space for me right now.