Sounds like it behaves exactly like my TC Spark.
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JHS Morning Glory Clean
- Thread starter chiphaleonbass
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Be nice. Just looking for users experience with the MG Clean and use cases and settings.
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I have a Morning Glory, but the clean blend really gets the tones I want from an OD pedal. Or maybe it just has a larger range of adjustment in the tonal range I like. Will pick up one of these shortly.
Well by working in a pedantic order of controls you can dial it in quickly. The amount of drive you end up with depends on the input signal.
Here is my setting with a bass with flats when I need it to bite more
Here’s my normal setting for a bass with rounds.
I love to tone of the mgc but, every one of my basses distorts the clean side of the pedal. Otherwise, it may have been my perfect od.
I've had mine for just over a week. I've been experimenting with it on both my solid state and my tube amps.
With my SS amps (Fender Rumble 40 and Ashdown Studio 10) it sounds best to me as most everyone has described, as an (always on?) low level drive sound. I've yet to try it with a compressor before or after to see how that will affect it's response through these amps.
I find there is much more to it through my Ashdown CTM30 and/or Little Bastard 30 (LB30). The VOLUME is much more useable, to boost the signal, especially when used with the drive. It's set to unity here, but will push the preamp tubes nicely. I like to use the DRIVE to mix in the gain as wanted. The TONE stays about there (+/- to taste) as I prefer a darker sound. Generally I like the CLEAN about in the middle to about 4 o'clock for a soft/low drive. I also like to push it noticeably below half (10 o'clock or lower) for a grindy overdriven sound. It will go to a low distortion type of drive.
It's responds well with the natural tube compression and soft clipping. I'm using my tube amps much more than my SS amps and this pedal responds well with the tubes. It sounds good with the SS, but seem much more limited on it's range. Without the CLEAN control, it might work well as just a light distortion, but would be much more limited.
With my SS amps (Fender Rumble 40 and Ashdown Studio 10) it sounds best to me as most everyone has described, as an (always on?) low level drive sound. I've yet to try it with a compressor before or after to see how that will affect it's response through these amps.
I find there is much more to it through my Ashdown CTM30 and/or Little Bastard 30 (LB30). The VOLUME is much more useable, to boost the signal, especially when used with the drive. It's set to unity here, but will push the preamp tubes nicely. I like to use the DRIVE to mix in the gain as wanted. The TONE stays about there (+/- to taste) as I prefer a darker sound. Generally I like the CLEAN about in the middle to about 4 o'clock for a soft/low drive. I also like to push it noticeably below half (10 o'clock or lower) for a grindy overdriven sound. It will go to a low distortion type of drive.
It's responds well with the natural tube compression and soft clipping. I'm using my tube amps much more than my SS amps and this pedal responds well with the tubes. It sounds good with the SS, but seem much more limited on it's range. Without the CLEAN control, it might work well as just a light distortion, but would be much more limited.
So … after a few weeks: How are things going? Everybody still cool with the MG? I got mine yesterday and loved it. 'Til I set it vs my Spark today: I'm really asking myself if I should keep it …
Spark or MG?
Spark or MG?
I've recently been stacking it with my Pulp-N-Peel's distortion.
The TC Spark is a boost. Try running the Spark into the MG to push the drive even further.
The MG drives more with my hotter pickups, so the Spark should push it even further.
I have the Spark Mini, but it's wired into my big board and can be a little tedious to get it out, so I haven't tried it before the MG yet.
The TC Spark is a boost. Try running the Spark into the MG to push the drive even further.
The MG drives more with my hotter pickups, so the Spark should push it even further.
I have the Spark Mini, but it's wired into my big board and can be a little tedious to get it out, so I haven't tried it before the MG yet.
Yeah that would mean the Both of ‘em … the question for me is: do keep the MG or Return it and get the same sound with the spark for much less 
Yeah that would mean the Both of ‘em … the question for me is: do keep the MG or Return it and get the same sound with the spark for much less
I used to have a Spark, but sold it quickly. I just didn't like the EQ points on it, but it could be i didn't give it enough of a chance. I was treating it like a preamp, and maybe I should have just treated it more like a simple OD. What I like about the MG clean are the top jacks and simple layout. I don't want an EQ on an OD pedal, and the MG clean gives me exactly what I want with no extras. I also like the character of the breakup, flexibility of the clean blend, and ample clean headroom. That's just me though. If the Spark really does sound the same to you for less money (and it may, I can't remember as it was years ago) maybe you've answered your own question.
It's Ironic that the biggest selling point of the Morning Glory Clean is the clean blend but it distorts.
I tried it with my highest output bass, totally clean, played aggressively and yes, it is overdriving a bit. The one redeeming thing I'll say about it is that the overdrive isn't an ugly clipping, but the way the overdrive circuit is supposed to sound. For me it isn't a deal breaker, as it's blending with my overall sound just fine and still retaining lows, but I'm wondering if it might be possible to run this pedal at 18 volts and increase that headroom. I just messaged JHS customer support, so if/when I get an answer I'll try to follow up.
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I really love the distorted side of the pedal. It’s fairly flat so, it blends with a clean sound better than some TS type overdrives that can sit on top of the clean side. I have a moonshine v2 where the clean side is rock solid with my relentless pickup almost touching the strings. If the MGC did that, I’d buy another. I swapped mine for a regular MG to use with a P90 loaded strat. I’ve recently started falling in love with low output bass pickups and those would work well with MGC. But really, why wouldn’t you just use the same clean blend as the moonshine v2?
I would think it's got to be defective. I've never heard of a clean blend distorting before.
I sent it back to JHS. They tested it and said it was perfect. I exchanged for a regular one as it has more guitar tonal options. I’m not the only one with this issue. I used it with a boss ls-2 for a true clean blend and you then need another pedal to invert the MGC’s signal to blend properly. The tone was probably the best OD tone I’ve gotten with pedals but, I’m not taking up that much real estate on my board and powering 3 pedals for it. JHS, if you’re listening, give this pedal a solid clean blend and I’ll gladly buy another. Damn it!
With it set clean I also noticed that it overdrives a bit. However to me it firing sound like digital clipping, but rather the OD circuit bleeding in a little. I asked them and it seems the circuit is just designed that way.
I still put this in the same category among the best bass OD like the jellyfish or grizzly, but I’m a light OD player in general.
I still put this in the same category among the best bass OD like the jellyfish or grizzly, but I’m a light OD player in general.
I do have a touch of OD, with my hottest pickups, when turned all the way to fully clean, if I have the drive turned up past about 1-2 o'clock. This tells me the clean isn't fully clean, it still has some drive in there.
With my Ashdown SS amps, the drive is much more noticeable, but they are more mid range focused.
With my Rumble amps, there is more clean headroom, with the more mid scooped voicing. I do run them right about the true flat 10, 2, 2, 10 setting.
With my Ashdown tube amps (CTM30 & Little Bastard/LB30), the drive isn't as noticeable and seem to come on more gradually. I do run these amp at the edge of break-up, so the MGC voice might be buried under the natural voice the amps. As the MGC Drive gets turned up and the Clean is turned down, the drive starts coming forth.
I haven't tested it with my Bassman yet, as it's currently offline, as I do some work on it.
With my Ashdown SS amps, the drive is much more noticeable, but they are more mid range focused.
With my Rumble amps, there is more clean headroom, with the more mid scooped voicing. I do run them right about the true flat 10, 2, 2, 10 setting.
With my Ashdown tube amps (CTM30 & Little Bastard/LB30), the drive isn't as noticeable and seem to come on more gradually. I do run these amp at the edge of break-up, so the MGC voice might be buried under the natural voice the amps. As the MGC Drive gets turned up and the Clean is turned down, the drive starts coming forth.
I haven't tested it with my Bassman yet, as it's currently offline, as I do some work on it.
