The Nuances of Guitar Rig 3 Amps

well, so be it! But that's not all there is to it. Now, since the thread starter title was something in the line of "Nuances..." I wonder how far we could or should probe deep, before it starts getting to ridiculous bickering.

What I wanted to convey, is that - just as when you WATCH a computer monitor screen, or tv (not the LCD flat screen type) you sense the flicker MORE when the monitor/tv running at 50 HZ than at 60 HZ. I think it's the same with hearing, the slower the fluctuating AC current, the sooner you detect it, and the higher HZ, it is not noticeable as much. However, this is very very subtle. Also, it was on bass notes only. Not on any guitar.

This is entirely nitpicking and bordering on audiophile mumbo jumbo fairy dust.

But check the following comparison chart out, where the blue 50 hz line compareds to the red 60 hz line. THe 50 hz has a wider rollercoaster line, and is mostly connected to 220v and above. 60 Hz is more related to 110v. If you look at that chart and try it our for yourself, you will see what I mean...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:50Hz60Hz.svg

And I don't want even to get into that some bass players "stretch" their tuning downards, so the low E and A is actually tuned lower than standard to compensate for things, i e tuning open A lower than 55 hz. Like "Buzz Feiten" system and such things. It's not in the Hz anyway, perhaps at most 0.5 Hz.

Still, the low A on bass isn't as cluttered on 60 HZ than on 50 hz. The Bb may be compromised on this, for sure, but it's not as detectable. As for some botique amp maker says their GUITAR amps sounds better on 50 hz, has to do with that their run on 220/240 v as well.

Just keep from playing you tune in the key of A, then Bobs your uncle, and you will not notice anything

 

Frequency of notes. I have this stuff written down in a little book, helps with the mixing process.

http://www.phy.mtu.edu/~suits/notefreqs.html

My favourite digital guitar tuner, it's free.

http://nch.com.au/tuner/index.html

 

Ok, here's another one for you - as if we haven't probed deep enough already - it's important to know that it's not only 50 hz or 60 hz, but generally speaking, mains hum does have heavy harmonic content...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mains_hum

Listen to the examples given on both 50 and 60 hz.

The last one, gives certain debate on another psychoacoustic geekery page, where there's quite a few - contradicting to mine actually - perceptions about the HEARING difference between 50/60 Hz:

http://korgmeister.dreamhosters.com/bhm/?p=1543

I don't know it if you can read it, but ordinary people like you and me tells us the following:
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In the Wikipedia article for colours of noise right near the bottom they have samples of AC power hum for both 60Hz (American frequency) and 50Hz (what they use here, and pretty much every other continent).

To me, the 60Hz hum sounds rather unpleasant and jarring, while the 50Hz hum is actually oddly soothing.

Is this a “because I’m used to it” thing, or does America just have nastier-sounding electricity than here? Compare both and let me know how they sound to you.
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And most of them agrees. So there you go. Each to their own.
I do think there's some merit to it. You can't say red is better than green, but just try it for yourself and see if you can hear the difference when putting an amp inside GR3 to 60 hz instead of 50. Mostly on bass guitar and the A string.

Conclusion:

For what it's worth, I really do think that a setting inside GR3 should follow your countries mains hum. If you live in a 50 Hz country, adding a 60 hz TOO inside GR3 amps MAY cause additional "cluttering". And of course, the other way around if you live in a 60 Hz country.

If you use a laptop running on batteries only, and earphones only - i e totally self contained, you may get rid of any mains hum and 50hz or 60hz are unimportant. As fast as you plug into anything auxillary you may follow the mains "hum" frequency of your country.

Mind you, I said "may", "might", or "should" ... not "must" or "thou shalt".

 

Interesting thread - Talk about nit picking, I've often wondered why Wusikstation has about 1,000 different tuning systems? Sorry - off topic.

Re OP: I haven't experimented with it that much but I would think the Variac parameter would produce the most noticeable differences.

I wouldn't take any of these + (advanced) controls lightly. I don't know if the story is true, but I once heard that the Fresh Cream album was hastily recorded in the US using British amps that were designed to use higher voltage mains. This created some major Variac-like anomalies totally by mistake and created some classic recordings in the process - the rest is rock history. Invention is often haphazard!