How to get the sound of Iron Maiden Somewhere In Time, Gallien-Krueger 250 RL

[@joelt6174]

My favourite Iron Maiden album. They surely have a great guitarsound on that album. Thank you for the research and demonstration.

[@sheikyerbouti3082]

Yes, think so too

[@happyderwolf4704]

Hi, thanks for this really interesting & and historical Investigation! I‘m really proud to be the owner of one of the original GK 250RL Amps Iron Maiden used on the Tour! And what can I say, the quality of these GK Amps is unique, the amplifier still works! It is also interesting that on the board an additional circuit to adjust the distortion is attached, Apparently a tuning especially for Iron Maiden...

[@sheikyerbouti3082]

Thank you so much for that comment. I really would like to see and hear the differents of your and my amp. Where you from?

[@happyderwolf4704]

@@sheikyerbouti3082 I‘m from Southern Germany living near to Stuttgart, Im actually repairing my GK 250ML, got new speakers but unfortunately destroyed a resistor by switching on… the 250RL used by Iron Maiden is working fine … Where are you from and how we can get in touch?

[@sheikyerbouti3082]

@@happyderwolf4704 Hi, ja dachte ich mir doch bei deinem account-namen. Ich komme aus RLP. Also garnicht so weit weg. Vielleicht kriegt man da mal ein Treffen hin. Grüße

[@alexni6087]

@@sheikyerbouti3082 Hi seid ihr inzwischen zusammengekommen? Könnt ihr genaueres zu dem zusätzlichen Distortion-Schaltkreis erzählen? Klingt richtig spannend, wenn ich diese spezielle Modifikation richtig verstanden habe. LG

[@lovecraftmusic8717]

So, there is another pcb circuit added to the original one?

[@luthiervandros]

You look like every 80’s bad guy. And you have amazing taste in music.

[@henrydouberly3950]

I cannot BEGIN to thank you for this video!! I have this amplifier in the Combo varient and always felt like it's tone pushed and pulled in the wrong ways. Then I adjusted the amp underneath the panel and now it sounds like a beast!!!

[@sheikyerbouti3082]

Thank you

[@beeps123]

Seriously. I remember buying a pirated copy of the tape in 1998. That was when I first heard of this album. There was no way to get it at the time. I did think the sound was very different and strange. Every song is good on the album. And now to see the e exact equipment that was used. Thank u very much. This video does mean a lot. The guitar tones are indeed very cool.

[@endlesspath3044]

The designers must have been high, “Let’s put half the controls inside the amp!”. Still, it’s a great tone, way better than the JMP. Thanks for the detailed explanation!

[@sheikyerbouti3082]

@@endlesspath3044 jes, this was my idea to.

[@parkesy82]

Thank you so much for the video! I’ve been waiting to see someone explain the trim pots properly and what each one does. I have the 250ML and re foamed the original speakers and it sounds awesome but needed a bit more drive than my eq pedal can do. I was thinking they might have used a tubescreamer but wasn’t sure how it would sound with a solid state amp but it’s perfect.

[@sheikyerbouti3082]

🤘🤘🤘

[@angusorvid8840]

Cool video. While I never owned a GK I did play through one for band rehearsal in L.A. at my old drummer's house around '87-'88. He was a big Maiden fan and so was his older brother who played guitar. But as his brother was off to college I was free to use his amp, and I used it for band rehearsal as it was already right there. It was the two-speaker combo version of the 250 ML. It was very, very loud. I would use it to power a Marshall cab that was handy. When we played stuff from SOT and Seventh Son it totally nailed the guitar tone. It was a lot of fun.

[@LordPrutsikas]

Herzlichen Dank für das Video

[@mca1960]

Nice, a Vintage Amp 4x12 box. I've own the amp the 1956 with E-Voice 12s Speaker. The best sounding amp ever.

[@sheikyerbouti3082]

Hi, what Amp do you mean? "vintage Amp" is a German company building cabinets and transistor-amps

[@mca1960]

@@sheikyerbouti3082 I mean the german company. The model 1956 is a 2 channel all tube amp, similar to the Mesa Boogie Mark 2. I got this amp in a nearly new condition a few years ago, because I live in Germany. The PCL Vintage company was out of production. But now they build some really good, and I mean really good, 3 channel solid state amps. The tube amps are out of production since the mid '90 I think. Hard to find, but awesome in sound.

[@sheikyerbouti3082]

@@mca1960 Hi, ich wusste nicht, dass die früher auch Röhrenamps gemacht haben. Ich kenne die nur mit ihren Transistor-Amps. Habe selbst ein Topteil zu der Box. Das ist wirklich großartig. Grüße

[@mca1960]

@@sheikyerbouti3082 Die haben mit Röhrenamps angefangen. Es gab noch den Stage Master, der kleinere Bruder von meinem Amp, den Companion und im Laufe der Zeit noch andere Modelle. Rory Gallagher hatte auch mal einen gespielt. Mit dem Model 1956 fing aber alles an. Alles Vollröhrenverstärker wahlweise mit EV12s oder Celestion Lautsprecher. Das Ganze als Combo und/oder als Topteil mit diversen Boxen. In meiner original Bedienungsanleitung von damals ist das noch aufgeführt. Meiner stammt so von ca. 1985 oder so.

[@barthiaegtberts]

Great video, SIT and SSoSS are my all time favorites. Always been facinated by the guitar sound on those records and for last 15y been experimenting with different gear as the GKs are rare nowadays. Any particular settings you used for the TS?

[@marekestocin7079]

I once was after the SIT sound with my GK250ML and got pretty close with Channel B on low gain setting with homemade Rangemaster treble booster on full gain and Chorus + Echo on. I think I also adjusted the internal trim pot for the last gain stage to about halfway. I have a feeling that they used the internal speakers of GK250ml and simply miked them. Thats how I percieve that kinda midrangey, slightly boxy sounding guitar tone from SIT record. Seventh son guitar tone sounds different, much more widespread frequency wise as I think they used 4x12 cab miked.

[@themadmattster9647]

Agreed. I tried plugging it into a 2x12 cab and still got closer results micing the actual amp speakers

[@alexni6087]

Sounds interesting. I maybe shouldn't have bought the RL instead of the ML!

[@PippPriss]

From what I know, on 7th Son they used the 2100SEL, which is the 2100CPL with a power amp. But take that with a grain of salt, just saw it somewhere here on KZbin in the commentsl sections , but that video also showed the 2100SEL and nailed those 7th Son tones!

[@barriem5318]

Fantastic video!

[@sheikyerbouti3082]

👍

[@Nightdare]

Yeah I also got VERY close with just a Super Distortion Strat, JMP-1 and Boss GX-700 (basically all Boss pedals in a rack unit) But that signature midrange honk in the guitars on the album kept alluding me, I later figured out this was inherent of the GK amps (and I didn't have IRs to experiment with in 1998)

[@WildChildMcCloud]

They used the Gallien Krueger amps on Seventh Son of a Seventh Son as well.

[@sheikyerbouti3082]

Yes but another Modell.

[@WildChildMcCloud]

@@sheikyerbouti3082 which model?

[@WildChildMcCloud]

I read they used the 250ml on SIT and the rl on SSOASS

[@sheikyerbouti3082]

@@WildChildMcCloud Hi on ssoass they used the GK 2000 cpl !

[@WildChildMcCloud]

@@sheikyerbouti3082 actually they used the 2100sel. I just found an ad for it with them in it.

[@scottdunn2178]

One of their trucks crashed in a dust storm on the way to Tucson,AZ during the Powerslave tour. This destroyed most of their Marshall heads. They then started using the 250RL.

[@carlosvenegasmeza8467]

Great video my friend, thanks!

[@Mojen_Marc_Music]

A really great deep dive here 😊 The only time they used GK? Also Seventh Son 😉

[@sheikyerbouti3082]

Yes that's true they used the gk 2100 on ssoass

[@themadmattster9647]

Hell yeah awesome video, subbed. I have a 250ml, it’s the one amp I’ll never sell, v Been chasing the tone since I was a kid, just need the Roland guitar synth now

[@jedimasterthrash2761]

The SIT/GK chorus is the dimension chorus (Boss DC-2W) not the CE/CH

[@sheikyerbouti3082]

Thank you. Do you have a reference for this information?

[@PippPriss]

​@@sheikyerbouti3082I believe that SilasCF had a video about this amp as well claiming that. I have a schematic of the RL250, I'll see if I can compare that with a DC-2 schematic and check it it's really as claimed.

[@Tu3ePh0x200]

No need to break out the schematic. It’s known that the Chorus of the GK and the Rockman is closer to the Roland Dimension D, or next in line maybe a Boss CE-1. More like a wide doubler/Detune. Not a swirly modulated chorus like the CE-2, CE-3, CE-5, or CH-1.

[@DanDunhem]

This is awesome dude. Thanks!!!

[@DanielHuman1996]

What a cool amp!

[@professorproton3252]

Great video! I picked up a GK 250ml. I’m trying to reproduce early Green Day tones from their Kerplunk Album. Have you dabbled in other bands with your 250RL?

[@alexni6087]

What settings did you dial at your tube screamer together with the 250RL? Same as shown at the picture? I have a lot of noise unfortunately. Did you maybe use some kind of noise gate additionaly?

[@sheikyerbouti3082]

Hi no noise gate. Settings for tubescreamer: gain very low or zero. Volume at 10. Tone 5.

[@alessandrobeati5454]

Hi, thanks for the nice video! If I may ask a question: I have a GK 250 RL myself, and I notice that when the chorus is activated, one side of the stereo signal gets significantly quieter. I currently do not have the chance to test it with an actual cab, so i take the stereo out from the head and run it into a Helix. Is this something you also experience with yours or is the signal balanced in level between L and R when the chorus is on? Thanks again!

[@sheikyerbouti3082]

Hi, no, when i activate the chorus both sides a equal.

[@alessandrobeati5454]

@@sheikyerbouti3082 Alright, i will then need to have this looked into. Thanks a lot for the response!

[@MuvoTX]

Cool vid... wasnt Alex Lifeson also using GK in the mid 80s?

[@scottdunn2178]

Yes

[@urquides839]

thank you so much for this video it really helps!!!!!! also do you know what the day time is it seems to be around 610 ish???

[@cecilnoriega7276]

My Galen Krueger amplifier head was stolen about 30 years ago I would like to be able to purchase one of these again

[@RaffaeleDanieleQuarta]

ich wette Sie sind Deutscher, starker, sympatischer Akzent! Danke für diesen Artikel! Es muss nicht immer Röhre sein.

[@nicklebac6753]

Wicked sensationnnnnnnnnnnnnnn

[@vsavage_old_rockerz]

great video. you play well also. have the GK 250 ml and the 2 100 sel head. peace

[@Metaltech80]

Very nice video!

[@TylerViscerine]

I have the GK250MLII and I’ve compared the sounds and found out 2 things that are missing. Reverb (probably obvious) but what no one is mentioning is a harmonizer. Like the mid 80s ADA Pitchtraq. Double those up in the mix and you’ll get that lush sound from the CD. \m/

[@sheikyerbouti3082]

Hi, this is a very interesting aspect. But is there any evidence that this ada unit really was used on the album? I wanted to mention only gear that is shurely profen, that is was used. Unfortunatly there a only very few pictures of the studiogear used by Martin Birtch.

[@TylerViscerine]

Oh sorry about that. It was just a suggestion as I can tell harmonizer is used but of course, not sure their approach.

[@PippPriss]

How do you come to the conclusion that they used a harmonizer? I only hear tracked harmonies and overdubs on the album. But having that much melodic content is just simple average Maiden stuff 😅

[@dranordarinson6284]

hello i would like to know the jmp1 settings for the csit era thanks! thanks my friend! (i have both jmp1 and 250ml... fans are always looking for the sound they don't find! ;) )

[@hexrockstar]

Are the trim pot settings you used the default factory settings?

[@sheikyerbouti3082]

No much higher gainsettings as default

[@riccardococcia]

You should have more subs just because of the channel name :D

[@sheikyerbouti3082]

Thank you. So please support the channel

[@gabrielbrouwer]

I think they also used these amps for Seventh Son.

[@metalinsights9664]

Can you provide a source confirming that Maiden used a Tube Screamer on Somewhere in Time?

[@sheikyerbouti3082]

Sorry, but no. There are a lot of photos showing that they used tubescreamers from 1980 till today. But especially with the GK there are none. So to be honest, it is possible that they used no TS particular with the GK-Amps. But i don´t think so. Using the TS in front of the GK the sound comes closer to the SIT sound than without. But try yourself.

[@nunoharris]

Hi. What are the settings of the Jmp 1 to get close to somewhere in time ? Do you can use tbe tube sceamer pedal before the chorus pedal ? Thanks a lot. ..

[@sheikyerbouti3082]

Hi The Chain is: Tubescreamer --> JMP 1 --> Chorus (Stereo) --> Poweramp (Stereo left dry - right modulated)

[@dominikpohli2381]

whitch speakers you use in cabinet is this the celestion g12t75

[@adnanosmanovic5240]

Mil Dollar video.Danke Mann

[@sheikyerbouti3082]

Thank you

[@Metaltech80]

1:56 interesting!

[@BillDerBerg]

MAIDEN

[@user-en1tw4ge4b]

No friend maiden use marsall and mesa boogie amps

[@hansemannluchter643]

Go away.

[@diversionesconvenuslausinr8791]

I think maiden don't use this for record, this amp sucks!!!!

[@sheikyerbouti3082]

I respect your opinion, but the facts are different. Maiden used the GK 250 for the SIT and the GK 2100 for the SSOASS.

[@hansemannluchter643]

I think you talk, just like parrots do. 30 seconds on the Internet would have spared you the embarrassment.

[@MetallicAssault]

Really nice video! Great job!