Can a "high" gain TR Emerald pro be modded to a "low" gain model?

[color_tones]

hey guys i was looking to purchase a two rock emerald pro. I have noticed that there are two models floating around one being the high gain and one the low gain. Im getting the feeling from others posts that the low gain model is the more desirable model. My question is can the high gain be modded to the exact specs of the low gain? what is involved in this mod? how much would i expect to pay a tech to do the mod? I read on a two rock thread that it is an easy mod for any qualified tech to do. Also are there any parts that are different (silver transformer etc...) ? Thank you very much for any help!

[color_tones]

anybody? I tryed calling two rock and left a message but no return yet. Probably busy. I sent an email and no return eathier so i need some help because im looking to purchase one and need to know. thanks

[color_tones]

hey guys i was wondering if the high gain model can be modded to the low gain? if so what is involved in the mod? Are there any different parts between the two models? What should i expect to pay a qualified tech to do the mod? thanks
shawn

[Yossi]

If you have any questions about modding the amp you should call Two Rock and ask. They are always very helpful with questions abut their products.

My question to you is: Why would you want to do mod on that amp that already has two channels; a high and low gain?

[Yossi]

I just put an answer on your other post before seeing this post.

I have the emerald 50. I don't know if that is the same as the pro or not.
I would highly recommend their stuff. I doubt that you would need to put a mod on the amp. If you don't like it you could re-sell it.
Just my opinion.

[guitarsnguns04]

I would bet its the same circuit with different values. I would think you could mod it to low gain ..or just turn the gain down :rotflmao

[Randy]

I've had 3 Emerald Pros... a low gain, a 'high' gain, and one modded by K & M to be more like the Opal - 'wireless'. Additionally I've owned a Custom prototype, a Custom 'custom' reverb, a modded Topaz and an Emerald 50.

Of the 3 Em Pros, the low gain model stood head and shoulders above the rest. So much so, that after I foolishly sold this amp, I tracked it down through numerous owners and paid through the nose to get it back.

The difference between the low and high gain versions is supposedly just a couple of resistors on the internal tone trimmer board - easy to swap out. But my experience with the Two Rocks from this time period is that there was a lot of variation in their builds.

I find it hard to believe that just swapping out 2 resistors which controlled the input gain would have transformed the other 2 E-Pros I had into the incredible tone machine that is this low gain model I still own. I personally think there were changes going on all the time, and that the 10 (or 12 - whatever the number) of low gain E-Pro's that were built just happened to have occured when all the elements fell into place.

Anyway, I'm sure others will dispute this and I will say that all the Two Rocks I've owned or played were flat out great amps. But of the ones I've played two from the bunch stood out as just spectacular, - far above the rest, and one of them was the low gain E-Pro.

If I were you I'd contact Ken at Ultrasound. I believe he still has at least one (maybe 2) more low gain E Pro's new in the box. Not cheap, but if it's as good as the one I have, it is well worth every penny.

[clunk]

Randy you are correct. I had an Em Pro, low serial # at one time. I was curious about the difference in the low and high gain versions at the time. Mine was probably during the transition between the low gain to high gain.
At the time there was discussion of just the resistor values being swapped on the tone relay board. Mine had the "high gain" values. I had pictures sent to me by 3 other TGP'ers that had the low gain version, or i should say earlier versions. I found differences not only in the circuits but there were also a changed output transformer. The earlier ones from my understanding used Fender output transformers which mine also had. There were also differences in the wiring between them.
I dont think the earlier models had a deffinitive "low gain" version, at least not just a simple resistor swap. Nonetheless it was a great amp for what it did. I decided to sell the amp at the time to another fellow TGP'er. I'm more a Marshall/Fender guy.

Clunk

[clunk]

Wanted to add. From what i gathered the early models all seemed to be unique. From the pictures i had no 2 were alike between mine and the othere pics i was sent. I think when Two Rock went to the "High gain" models or i should say the later models they probably stayed more consistant between each amp.

Clunk

[Randy]

Randy you are correct. I had an Em Pro, low serial # at one time. I was curious about the difference in the low and high gain versions at the time. Mine was probably during the transition between the low gain to high gain.
At the time there was discussion of just the resistor values being swapped on the tone relay board. Mine had the "high gain" values. I had pictures sent to me by 3 other TGP'ers that had the low gain version, or i should say earlier versions. I found differences not only in the circuits but there were also a changed output transformer. The earlier ones from my understanding used Fender output transformers which mine also had. There were also differences in the wiring between them.
I dont think the earlier models had a deffinitive "low gain" version, at least not just a simple resistor swap. Nonetheless it was a great amp for what it did. I decided to sell the amp at the time to another fellow TGP'er. I'm more a Marshall/Fender guy.

Clunk

Well, that's good to know... I'm not really sure what was happening back then, only that there was a lot of variation. I understood the 10 or so 'low gain' E-Pros were actually built towards the end of the E-Pro time frame (short though it was). Mine is S/N 261 and I think that Tag's was only a couple of numbers away from mine. Yet, the Emerald 50 I owned was S/N 208, the high gain E-Pro was somewhere around S/N 240, and the Topaz I had was somewhere around s/n 300 I think. So, we're talking about a relatively small number of amps overall, in which (I believe) there was some sweet spot.

Anyway, I know I orginally sold my low gain E-Pro thinking I could always find another, then going through 2 more only to find they didn't compare to my memory... and finally getting my original one back to find my memory had been right all along.

That's my take anyway.

[Steve Snider]

I have had both versions many times over. The low gain has two different resistor values and the silver tranny vs. black tranny. Both were pretty good IMHO. Not the same but good. The Topaz came along based on the same circuit but it had less low end. All are variations of a Dumble HRM circuit.

[Randy]

I have had both versions many times over. The low gain has two different resistor values and the silver tranny vs. black tranny. Both were pretty good IMHO. Not the same but good. The Topaz came along based on the same circuit but it had less low end. All are variations of a Dumble HRM circuit.

Well, my low gainer has the black tranny, so there goes that... :)

Hope you are well SS!

[Scott Peterson]

Threads merged

[ToneGurus]

I had Emerald 50 s/n152, and later Emerald Pro s/n257. Owned them each for a year (2000 & 2001). I wonder where they are now....

Mike

[Steve Snider]

Well, my low gainer has the black tranny, so there goes that... :)

Hope you are well SS!

Transition model!!!:drool

I am doing great Randy and hope you are too!

[color_tones]

so from what i understand the low gain models have the silver tranny? the high gain models were using the black tranny? im looking at buying a two rock off someone that has the serial number 268 im wondering if its the low gain or high gain. thanks

[Randy]

so from what i understand the low gain models have the silver tranny? the high gain models were using the black tranny? im looking at buying a two rock off someone that has the serial number 268 im wondering if its the low gain or high gain. thanks

I don't think there is any hard and fast rule about silver vs black with the high and low gain versions. Mine is definitely low gain and has the black tranny.

I think I might have owned 268 at one time - does this one have an extra preamp tube up front in the chassis and does not use the V1 slot? Check for that.

[FlyingVBlues]

I had Emerald 50 s/n152, and later Emerald Pro s/n257. Owned them each for a year (2000 & 2001). I wonder where they are now....

Mike


Mike,

I have SN257, which I bought from you. I also still have the Indoor Storm Emerald Pro Prototype.

FVB

[zoooombiex]

Well, that's good to know... I'm not really sure what was happening back then, only that there was a lot of variation. I understood the 10 or so 'low gain' E-Pros were actually built towards the end of the E-Pro time frame (short though it was). Mine is S/N 261 and I think that Tag's was only a couple of numbers away from mine. Yet, the Emerald 50 I owned was S/N 208, the high gain E-Pro was somewhere around S/N 240, and the Topaz I had was somewhere around s/n 300 I think. So, we're talking about a relatively small number of amps overall, in which (I believe) there was some sweet spot.

Interesting. My EP is #305. I was told it was one of the last built. I don't know if they continued the numbering right into/through the Topaz or started over.

[griff3]

Seems like you guys know a lot about these amps. I have an Emerald 50, SN 118. Can you tell me the difference between the Emerald 50 and the Emerald Pro? I've been trying to find out on the two-rock forum to no avail.

Also, for you guys that have one, do you have impedance problems with the FX loop? Apparently the output is 450K which doesn't jive with a cable run out to the front of the stage for a volume pedal. Stupid as it sounds, I have a boss eq pedal (off) plugged right into the FX send jack to buffer the signal so it gets to the front of the stage and back intact. Do you know if there's anything that can be done to the amp to combat this, or do you have any recommendations on a good buffer?

Thanks in advance.