Atomic amplifier.. you guys still digging it?

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Kapo_Polenton

Kapo_Polenton

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This thing is interesting... sometimes i hear clips that sound amazing, other times I feel they are a little flat or one dimensional. A lot of that I imagine comes from which cab IR's are being used. Anyone own one? How does it feel? Record compared to your amps?
 
Kapo_Polenton":dul1aagg said:
This thing is interesting... sometimes i hear clips that sound amazing, other times I feel they are a little flat or one dimensional. A lot of that I imagine comes from which cab IR's are being used. Anyone own one? How does it feel? Record compared to your amps?
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I was seriously considering one recently and almost clicked the buy button. There are so many great things about it, and I think it sounds as good as a POD HD. I've listened to a couple of hours worth of videos and audio clips. However, going on what I've heard, I'd still put it behind Fractal and Kemper at this point. For me a lot of it has to do with feel and response to my pick and fingers, and the only solid state technology that comes close is the AxeFX and AX8. If I get my hands on one and it feels right to me, I'd buy it. The problem with that is you can't judge that over the Internet. You can find Line6 stuff pretty much anywhere, and there is enough to go on after many years of Fractal (and now Kemper too) that you can probably be safe taking a dive on one of those, but you'd be hard-pressed to find an Amplifire anywhere.
 
I know some guys love them. i had one and was thoroughly unimpressed. Amp sims were pretty meh, and effects very limited. I sent it back within their trial period and bought an AX8 which I have been using for almost a year now. WAY better IMO. The new Amplifire 12 looks interesting. More along the lines of Helix and AX8.
 
I had both the amplifire and the ax8 . Got rid of both and I'm looking for a tube amp again. Amplifire it's so easy to use and the ax8 was too complicated for me. In my opinion they sound good but the feel is not there.
 
The "feel" thing continues to be tricky because like you guys, I know that nothing feels like an actual amp you are playing. (even solid state has some feel to it) When you play a modeler, you are playing an almost imprint of that. The start and stop of the notes are not subtle. They are just there. This is why I lasted a few minutes trying out the plugin amps and moving on. So feel department, it is a no brainer. What interests me though, is in a mix. Already lately I have been hearing some really good Axe II sounds in a mix but I would never pay 2K for that when I could own an AC15, JCM800, and a good cab for that price. As amplifire is coming out with the 300$ "firebox" that will store a bunch of amps and cabs and a few effects on board ( you can rotate whichever you want in the setup), the possibility of a bassman or Vox at my fingertips I thought would be really cool. The Vox so far though I think is lacking the bite when I hear it through the amplifire.
 
Kapo_Polenton":2vw5aptv said:
The "feel" thing continues to be tricky because like you guys, I know that nothing feels like an actual amp you are playing. (even solid state has some feel to it) When you play a modeler, you are playing an almost imprint of that. The start and stop of the notes are not subtle. They are just there. This is why I lasted a few minutes trying out the plugin amps and moving on. So feel department, it is a no brainer. What interests me though, is in a mix. Already lately I have been hearing some really good Axe II sounds in a mix but I would never pay 2K for that when I could own an AC15, JCM800, and a good cab for that price. As amplifire is coming out with the 300$ "firebox" that will store a bunch of amps and cabs and a few effects on board ( you can rotate whichever you want in the setup), the possibility of a bassman or Vox at my fingertips I thought would be really cool. The Vox so far though I think is lacking the bite when I hear it through the amplifire.
Click to expand...

Get an AX8 for half the price. I think it has a different processor or whatever, but I've used one and think it sounds spectacular. You would have to play the AX8 side-by-side with the AxeFX II for a while before you really notice any difference. I've been really wanting an AX8. It's a real useful and great sounding unit.
 


Is it me, or does the Ax8 sound the closest here? The Kemper sounds fizzy and off the original..
 
I have always used a tube of some type directly after my passive pickups with any modeler or ampsim or SS device. Period.

The feel is created between the passive pickup, electronics, cable and grid of the first stage of the input tube. There are suble differences in tone and feel depending on the design and voltages at this input.

That having been said, there are many all tube HV devices that can be used in this manner.

First the buffers, vht valvulator, effectrode glass a and sarno black box.

Second ANY HV tube clean, cleanish or boost pedal such as the effectrode firebox, kingsley page, squire, etc. will work to restore true tube anp feel though these will modify the tone more. Less transparent.

There are also some tube DI etc. just make sure the input is all analog directly to the tube. Nothing inbetween like an FET.

Try it. Youll like it.

Real tube amp feel no matter what you're plugged into.

If you think more harmonics are necessary get something with a hair of dirt or warmth. If just looking for feel use the cleanest. (Sarno, glass-a)

You can also use two, one after the modeler you can push into to add THD to the entire signal.

AFAIC a marriage of tube and SS is what is best at the moment.
 
I keep the Amplifire in my gig bag as a backup to my AX8. Great little unit.
 
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