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I posted about my recently purchased Polytone Mini Brute II and my highly modified Epiphone Broadway (upgraded hardware, wiring harness and Fralin Pure PAF pickups). The Polytone arrived today and after spending some time tweaking tone controls I managed to get a tone that almost brought tears to my eyes- pure classic jazz tone perfection. Dark, but not muddy, warm and mellow but with great dynamics and just a touch of something that I don't really know how to describe. I lowered the master volume and turned up the channel volume (needed to keep it fairly quiet to not disturb my wife), so I guess there is some distortion involved, but it still sounded clean- not an edge of distortion tone like you would get driving a tube amp. But there was something there- maybe in the overtones/harmonics that went away if I lowered the channel volume a little.
I spent the afternoon playing with what I can only imagine was a stupid grin on my face thankful that I decided to give jazz guitar another try. This is what it is supposed to sound like!
So, for me Epiphone Broadway with Fralin Pups, TI Swing .012 flatwounds, a D'Andrea Plec Pro pick, and a Polytone Mini Brute II (90s?)
I started this thread not so much to compare equipment, but to share and discuss the joy of discovering one's Holy Grail rig- be it acoustic flattop, Telecaster, Marshall stack or DV Mark Little Jazz.
When you find something that works for you it is fun to talk about it and maybe it will give some ideas to those who haven't quite got there, yet.
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08-15-2024 08:58 PM
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Congrats! Please do share some audio or video soon!
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Hey,
I bought myself a Polytone minibrute iii last week for a 100 euro's. Non verb one. Had expected more of it. But hey, I had a 15 inch speaker (8ohm) lying around on the attic. Came out of a Fender Excelsior (mk1). It was to thinny in the Excelsior. But in the MiniBrute! I guess i have the same grin on my face as you. Removed all the Rockwool/Glasswool as well. Got inspired by my tone. So maybe don't like the orignal Polytone tone. My guess it's more of a Bass speaker (amp) than as for guitar. The speaker made a huge change. More open, more headroom it sparkles now. I own a Ibanez JP20 and played it occasionally, preferd my Ibaez 2616. Totally different guitars though. But the JP20 and the minibrute are a match made in heaven. Much better than playing over my Koch Jupiter (tube preamp solid poweramp). I guess the 2616 sounds better over the Koch.
Soundclips? Hmm i'm a bit embaressed for that. My playing is not that good. Start lessons in september. Play on ears for 35 years now.
I have some questions about the Polytone.
The reverb (Fender Marine Layer) in the fxloop causes a real annoying hiss. Same as my Roland JC40 i got rid of for that. Fx in front of the amp no hiss at all. My Holygrail nano reverb was even worse. Worked as a volume boost in the fx loop. Anybody any idea what can cause this?
Next question, The gain knob doesn't seam to work at all. It's not a big problem because it sounds well enough. Or is it my ears that doesn't recognise any difference? Maybe other minbrute users recougnise this so i can stop my search in what causes this. Maybe i have to ask this in a seperate thread. For now i'll wait and see what answers pop up in this one.
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For the FX loop hiss, try pluging in a short cable in the loop and see if it also causes the noise. If not, it is not a problem with the fx loop. If it does it could be a loose or dirty connection in the loop. Having the pedal too close to the amp and ground loops can cause noise, but usually a hum and not a hiss. My MB does not have a gain knob, so don't know about that.
Originally Posted by Rolf Field
Glad you got a tone you like, though.
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Thnx Ray,
I'll find a day to open the amp for a cleaning. Maybe there's 30+ years of dust and muc. For now i stay with the pedal in front of the Amp. I used some short cables of my pedalboard. Guess that's not the problem but i will check it.
Well, checked yor advise. Took some longer cables and guess??? Problem solved. Maybe a ground issue or bad cable. thnx pal.
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Glad to help. Before you open it, get a can of Deoxit. Amazon.com : deoxit Originally Posted by Rolf Field
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I've been very happy with my Loar 700 with KA floater through my MBIII - the 3 knob version. Since I got my 3 knob Teeny Brute, that's the one I now use. They are very similar or rather I can dial in the same sound on both. I bought a Behringer EQ700 a couple of weeks ago and used it for a couple of gigs. I 'think' I preferred the tone with just the highest band up a couple of notches but not much. TB on dark setting. I've read alot about using a graphic for boosting the signal but I don't find that necessary. I was also mic'd so TBH I had to rely on others' ears FOH. Forgot to charge my wireless!!
With regards to the Polytones with loads of knobs, for jazz, are they really necessary or even detrimental to the sound? I borrowed a newer MBII for my Double Bass years ago and couldn't get a sound I liked.
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The rig I will never forget was when I was invited to a jam session at a frat house in east lansing. I brought my univox high flier, the big muff, and my yamaha 30 112. Bought the guitar and amp at a pawn shop in flint for $100. I had been playing just over a year and was starting to be a able to jam decent. Couldn't play a chord, but could jam. Anyway, got there and the guy said plug into that and pointed to an old wooden amp in the corner. I can not put into words what it sounded like. It was like heaven. It was fun as all get out. People were impressed and clapping at the end of jams. Then there was this weird noise, and the amp went completely dead. No one there, including myself, knew anything about figuring out what had happened. It took a few years before I figured out it was a leslie.
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