Kingsley Minstrel V3 (Humbuckers)
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- Опубликовано: 12 сен 2024
- I got asked how this sounds with humbuckers, so I've done this with my ES-335. It's in Mode 2, keeping the gain up high and the More switch engaged throughout. Going through the Sizzle positions with bridge and neck pickups.
/ bradedmondsonmusic
Lovely player , diggin your timing .
Top pedal , gotta love Kingsley 🎉
Thank you for the kind words! Gotta love Kingsley indeed, I've tried so many other brands but Kingsley are the core of my sound.
Came across your video when looking for minstrel demos. Very fine playing indeed! I subscribed. Do you do any teaching videos?
Why thank you Sir! I've toyed with the idea but I don't have any teaching videos at the moment as I'm not really in a situation to do that kinda thing properly. Although it's something I'll probably look into for sure. I do offer online lessons though. Thanks for the comment!
This is a great. Sounds like it feels good to play. And you play it well. I wish it was a bit more affordable...
Thank you! Yeah it does (did!) feel great to play. They do make you work for it though :-)
Very interesting video and great playing indeed! I'm also on the waiting list, and thinking of going for a Minstrel, and a Page (not the TS version as I think at least to my ears standard Page sounds a bit sweeter for some reason). I see that you're using your Minstrel as a kind of preamp going direct to your interface and into your cab sim, so I was just wondering how it works? I mean, Simon I think suggests that it's better to get a proper preamp pedal such as Constable or Maiden for such purposes of going direct, but then I hear that you're sounding wonderful in your videos with Minstrel which is not really designed as a preamp, and more like an overdrive.
Can you please shed some lights on that? Have you tried Kingsley preamps? I'm a working session player myself and am usually recording either through real amps and cabs when possible, and oftentimes for faster and more convenient outcome, through the amps sims and cabs, especially when I have to meet the deadlines. However, I'm juicing up the amps sims and cabs with my real analog drives and modulations, hence thinking about getting Kingsley as well to add the tube tonality and feel to it. Do you think the standard Page, Minstrel and Jester could be used a tone sweetener as well as overdrives? Would the fullon preamps work better for that?
Also, I wonder that when you say you're going direct to the Torpedo cab sim, then you're going directly from Minstrel into the cab sim without having any power amp sim in the middle, right? Do you feel the lack of power amp in your sound? ...
Cheers and thanks again!
Hi and thanks for the kind words! I had the Page DS and Squire for a short time, but the output was too much as I go front of amp when I'm playing live and they seemed overkill just to use for recording.
Of all my vids so far, it would be either a Minstrel, Harlot or Jester going straight to DAW using Wall of Sound III. Most likely the free Marshall 4x12 cab and with the power section turned on (6L6 valves) and the Ribbon 160 mic. I really felt the Kingsley pedals added that feel and sponginess that I otherwise felt was missing with solid state pedals.
However, I recently got a Suhr Reactive Load so I can use my amp for silent recording, and I think this has made big difference. I'm still using the Wall of Sound III for a speaker sim and recently got their Celestion package for more speaker options. If you're going direct, maybe the preamp pedals would be the proper way to go, but I've never felt I've missed anything using the straight ahead Kingsley drive pedals, certainly not since I got the Reactive Load and can now use my amp. Hope that helps!
@@BradEdmondson Thanks for your great response. Yeah it makes sense. After all I think the main difference between the preamps and the drive pedals is just the higher volume, and more highs and lows. Your videos sound great, so I think I'm also going for the standard drive pedals instead of preamps as I don't have a plan to go into the fx-loop of my amps, or using any discrete power amps.
I think as you said getting preamps just for the sake of going direct into the cab sims might be a bit overkill, and overall I much prefer a darker sound in general especially when recording, so again drives might be better.
Just wondering though, which one of the three pedals you mentioned is your most favourite? I'm thinking of getting a Minstrel V3, and a Page, but I'm also considering to get the Harlot if it sounds more open and versatile. I hear a lot of smoothness from the Minstrel that I love! Is it true that Minstrel has a very mid forward tone to it that cannot be dialled out? Can you lower the mid knob on the Minstrel and set the Sizzle switch to make it sound more like the Harlot? How about making Harlot sound more like the Minstrel? ...
Also, have you ever tried the Jester? I was thinking perhaps Jester might be the best option as it's all tube designed without any JFET inside, and then push it with a solid state pedal to make it sounds more like Minstrel or Harlot? hmmm ideas! haha Cheers!
@@konnektlive yeah, I think unless your setup requires the preamp pedals, I'd just go the old school approach of the drive pedals into the front end of the amp. Works well for me anyway!
Now that's a tough question! I actually sold the Minstrel V3 as I needed the money at the time, and the output was actually pretty too hot for my liking. So at the moment I've got 2 Pages, Minstrel V2, Harlot V2 and a Jester V2. They all have their different uses and flavours... I'd say I use the Minstrel for the vast majority of my drive playing. I hear it as a bit of a bridge between the Harlot and Jester. Regarding the sizzle switch on the V3, that does indeed take it more into the Harlot territory and I've never felt the slightly more mid forward voice of the Minstrel was problematic at all. It's nothing like a Tubescreamer for example. However, I find it harder to get the Harlot to sound like the Minstrel. The Jester is smoother than the Minstrel and also has the added bonus of the boost.
@@BradEdmondsonThanks for the reply Brad. Very interesting indeed. Well, you said you're using Minstrel most of the times, so I'd like to ask what do you like about it? I hear a Dumbley sound in the Minstrel as well in the videos, I also hear a lot of super smooth texture and a very gradual decay (instead of some of those abrupt decay in some drive pedals)
Also, why not Jester instead (with the custom sizzle knob they're supposed to sound similar?) of Minstrel? Is it because it's too thick and fat/boomy/flubby in comparison? Because I think that's what I'm hearing in the videos. I think I hear more tightness in the Minstrel as well.
Lastly, do you think it's possible to get close the sound of Harlot by pushing the Page? I think they're similar in design to begin with if I'm correct.
I'm just torn between getting Page (or Page TS), and also between Jester and Minstrel. Anything that could help me in that is greatly appreciated. Cheers!
@@konnektlive It's just simply the case that the Minstrel is on my main board at the moment and the Jester is on a different board for other situations. I may very swap them over at some point.
I like the Minstrel for exactly the reasons you describe! Personally I don't find the Jester boomy or flabby, but certainly smoother than the Minstrel. Mine are all V2 so i can't really comment how the sizzle creates any similarities...
I suppose it depends on what you're pushing a Page with. The Harlot has a more strident and fizzy top end and there is much more difference between the modes. I often use a Drybell Unit67, maybe I could try the treble boost section into the Page and see how that sounds.
I'd possibly recommend getting Page and Jester (the Jester was actually my first pedal direct from Simon). My reasoning is that there's the added sizzle which can bring in more top end and it has a post drive boost which is great. You could use the Page to push the Jester, or you can use the Jester's Boost to push the Page which is a really great sound.
In all honesty, you really can't go wrong with what ever you go for. The only problem being you'll want more and more of them!
Hi Brad,
Excellent playing! Do you know if your Minstrel V3 had the "Low Volume Mod" done to it by Simon or is it stock? Thanks
Thank you! This was stock as I wasn't aware of the "Low Volume Mod" at the time. If I knew how hot it was, I certainly would've got it!
I had seen a few people on TGP mention it. One guy said Simon described it this way.
"If you want more range in the Minstrel I can modify the output so it is less hot, which means you can turn up the volume pot more to match unity."
I asked Simon about it and said it didn't change the sound of the pedal, but instead of volume at 10 o'clock it would be at 1 o'clock.
Have you tried the Harlot V3 and how does it compare to the Minstrel V3 regarding the volume being pretty hot?
Thanks
@@jda818 Interesting! That would certainly have helped me as the unity on that Minstrel V3 was really soon on the volume dial, it made it too difficult to use live sadly.
I've not tried the Harlot V3, for that very reason as I assumed it would be a similar situation but also because I am still so happy with my current V2 Kingsley pedals. I might go for another V3 now... 😂
sounds great, what amp/cab (or cabsim) are you playing?
TheGuacamoleXplosion thanks for checking it out. I’m using the Two Notes Wall of Sound plugin with the free Marshall (Slash sig?) 4x12 and a ribbon 121 close mic’d.
I read that you still is your V2. Do you think it's worth it to get the V3?
Somedude. That’s a good question. I think the Sizzle switch is a great addition, particularly for different guitars and the More switch is a cool idea too. Due to covid I’ve not been gigging so can’t properly compare, but whilst I think the sizzle switch is the biggest difference I’m not sure I can’t get the same tones out of the V2. More it’s a case of getting them in different ways if that makes sense? One other thing, the output on my V3 is so loud! The V3 is perhaps more versatile as a stand alone unit, but the V2 is still brilliant and I would feel I’d be missing anything if I only had the V2.
@@BradEdmondson Cheers Brad! Appreciate your thoughtful insight. And I get you. I many mods Simon does to his pedal sounds like it could be for convenience of not having to rotate the knobs to get to the sound you want. Not necessarily changing the tonal palette. I think for me if I could have two of the same pedals I'd get the Page again.. Something about Page... yummm.
Nice playing. Any plans to make more minstrel vids? Considering buying one but man they are pricey and there really isn't enough examples online. Sometimes it sounds real brittle, other times nice and smooth. How is this with chords, does it stay tight or this it flub out or anything? Cheers
Sorry for the late reply and thanks for the kind words! No more plans for vids at the moment I’m afraid, but yeah there aren’t a great deal of vids out there in order to make an informed decision. What I can say, is you’ll very like get your money back, or take a very small hit if you decide to sell. Regarding chords, have you a particular approach you’re thinking of? I’ve never had a problem to be honest. It might not be tight enough for metal as I don’t play that style these days. Thanks
Hello Brad, first of all, great videos from you about the Kingsley pedals.
It's very funny that I feel similar to @konnektlive. I ordered a Page V2 from Simon because I think it sounds a bit nicer than the Page TS.
And now I want/wanted to order either a Minstrel or Harlot. but can't decide...
You wrote that you found the Minstrel V3 to be a bit too hot, what exactly do you mean by that?
I mainly play blues, jazz, fusion, so I don't actually need that much gain.
You have now brought a third variant into play, the Jester. In a video, I think it was at the Pedal Show where Page, Minstrel and Harlot were introduced, I heard Simon say the Minstrel was the same platform as the Jester just with a boost on board. You describe it a little differently and say the Jester is a little smoother than the Minstrel. Can you show me some differences between the two pedals? Maybe the Jester would actually be the best alternative for me at the moment.
I would really appreciate an answer from you.
Best Tom
Hi Tom, thanks for getting in touch and for the kind words!
Regarding the Minstrel V3, what I mean by it being too hot is that it was incredibly loud, very soon in the travel of the volume control which made it difficult for me in live situations. Otherwise it's a brilliant pedal and whilst there is a huge amount of gain available, it's very easy to dial it back.
If you need a volume boost then the Jester is a great shout. That was the first one I got direct from Simon and had no regrets. I have a vid up with the Jester to give an idea but I'll perhaps try and do a vid with the Jester and Minstrel time permitting. There is a bit of crossover between the two with a little tweaking of the EQ settings, but you won't go wrong with any of them to honest... thanks probably not very helpful!
@@BradEdmondson Hi Brad,
Thank you very much for your answer and your videos, both were very helpful for me.
I ultimately decided on the Minstrel and am looking forward to it arriving together with the Page V2. According to Simon's information, the waiting list is currently around 6 weeks.
@@gentlyblues you’re very welcome, happy to help. That’s a great pairing right there and 6 weeks is a very good turnaround… considering what the wait time used to be! Let me know how you get on. Cheers
I'm on the list and this demo is why I'm getting a Minstrel V3, do you still have it? is the more switch good enough for a lead boost live? how do you normally use it?
Wow, I’m stoked that this demo influenced you to get on the list! I no longer have it, but I’ll be getting another one in the future for sure. I found the “More” switch great as a lead boost for live work. It’d kinda depend on the situation though. It adds more gain as opposed to volume, so as I’m usually the only guitarist in a band, I rarely had to compete in the mix. I did perceive a slight volume increase, but you might want a dedicated boost pedal after for a proper volume boost. Hope that helps and let me know how you get on when you get yours :)
@@BradEdmondson Thank you! I read that there is a mod that you can order with a second volumen knob, which sounds perfect for a lead boost, thanks! still a couple of months away but I'll definitely let you know how it goes.
@@BradEdmondson The wait is over, its my turn to order, so I'm placing an order for this one!
Thanks for the demo! I love my V2 but lately I'm hearing the sustain flubbing out and not as tight as it once was. Do you think that's a tube issue?
You're welcome, thanks for listening! That's interesting and to be honest I wouldn't really know as I've not experienced that with any of my pedals. It sounds plausible though, so I reckon putting a new tube might be worth a try? Failing that I'd get in touch with Simon Jarrett directly. He's great to deal with and I'm sure he'll get to the bottom of your issue. Cheers
Sounds great! What amp are you using?
@Ken Han thank you! No amp, just straight into the computer and used Torpedo Wall of Sound cab sim.
Hi Brad, what backing track is playing? 👋
I made it myself, it’s the vamp of “Everyone Wants To Rule The World” by Tears For Fears.
@@BradEdmondson Sounds great Brad 👍 Hope you produce more videos. What is the name of your band and where can I see something from you? cheers Tom