Clean to Mean Rack Tones 12/27/25

[mentoneman]

all this Tekton chatter had me reaching for my 2007 PRS SE custom set neck w/tone specific 1974 randy rhoads pickups



day 1 clip using this axe II/randall rig so definitely a work in progress tone wise. the axe II has a billion options to prod through and i’m trying to understand the way they all interact.

my goal is to balance out the currently honky peak in the atomica mids with this prs, find a little more bloom in the touch, open up the raw top end without harshness, blend in a carol ann OD2r amp i’ve dialed on another preset with the atomica, and copy/paste a really nice 2290 delay block i dialed from another preset.

 

[PhilC]

Rack update. I found a good deal on a 2/50/2 so added that to the rig. It’s different from the power section of the Rivera that I was using. The Rivera is an S120 so it’s a stereo power section with 60w per side EL34. Fryette is a lot more forward and present and was the missing link for cleans and semi cleans to add some clarity. The Rivera is rounder and warmer and probably a bit louder. Reminds me of the difference between my 72 JMP vs my 67/68 plexi. Present and punchy vs warm and round.

 

[Anje]

Great rig Phil! And cute puppy

Haven't played my racks in ages, hopefully soon to be put back to work.
At least they shined a nice light in the room while I was pulling back the old Tyler today

 

[Jakem]

Jesus Christ, there is so much goodness in this thread! Amazing rigs You guys have!

 

[mentoneman]

Rack update. I found a good deal on a 2/50/2 so added that to the rig. It’s different from the power section of the Rivera that I was using. The Rivera is an S120 so it’s a stereo power section with 60w per side EL34. Fryette is a lot more forward and present and was the missing link for cleans and semi cleans to add some clarity. The Rivera is rounder and warmer and probably a bit louder. Reminds me of the difference between my 72 JMP vs my 67/68 plexi. Present and punchy vs warm and round.

View attachment 463873

good move!
i used to have the rivera TBR-1 for 60 WPS stereo power in my triaxis rig,
but when i upgraded to the 395 it was a huge improvement.

 

[mentoneman]

Great rig Phil! And cute puppy

Haven't played my racks in ages, hopefully soon to be put back to work.
At least they shined a nice light in the room while I was pulling back the old Tyler today

View attachment 463881

the formula

nothing much cooler than a wall of marshalls and a tyler plugged into it!

 

[mentoneman]

Jesus Christ, there is so much goodness in this thread! Amazing rigs You guys have!

the Lord has been very good to me!

i’m starting to navigate the axe II menu more efficiently and really having fun with some of the sounds in it. the randall power amp and mahalo stereo cab seems to be a great match with the axe.

my top 5 presets i’ve been dialing in the box so far:

1) Atomica mixed w/ Carol Ann OD2r, 2290 mod delay, concert hall reverb and 30 second looper.

Having owned the CA, 2290, and babysat the Atomica, it’s really cool how nicely the axe II is making my tele sound like gary moore’s corridors of power tone!

2) Fuchs ODS
Having owned the 100 watt version, it captures the vibe well.

3) Double Verb
probably the one that needs the most work to get it into the right transparent pillow zone

4) Plexi
Has the raw bite and chewy sag at the same time

5) AC30 top boost w/trem
another project under way— the right raw tools seem to be there

 

[Anje]

the formula

nothing much cooler than a wall of marshalls and a tyler plugged into it!

Thanks!
Pulled the Tyler back from storage, I had forgotten how nice this one feels!
It's an early 90's classic, Burning Water / Landau specs. I've been considering either making it into a vintage EJ kind of setup, or hot-rodding it to a custom SE setup with the preamp and my own "best-off" features; thinking about it..