Guitar Rig Basics - Stereo Rack Rig with 6L6 Tube Distortion

[thumdar]

Hello community ~ my first post!

~ I've been playing guitar since 1977
~ I'm currently conceiving of my ideal portable stereo rack rig
~ I require genuine warm, breathing, responsive tube distortion
~ I'm aware that stereo rigs are 95% for my own pleasure and not so much for the audience
~ This will likely be used at home the majority of the time

I'm envisioning a single rack (4 - 8 space) that includes a stereo amp and preamp. I'm thinking of using two 1-12 cabs that can be separated for a wide stereo field. The idea is that it's easy to transport, light(ish) and of course sounds like Alex Lifeson's rig.

MAIN QUESTION
What is currently making me is what is going to generate my tone (preamp) and how am I going to get my dream VanHalen-meets-Lifeson sounding 6L6 tube power amp distortion. Also of concern is having a Fender Deluxe Reverb style or Mesa Mark V clean sound.

I love the idea of using an Axe-FX II because of it's features and midi capabilities, which is imperative (I'll be programming user banks for each song and switching with a midi foot switch). My concern with the Axe-Fx II is the distortion. I'm aware it has some remarkably good sounding modeling distortions but it's modeled ~ not the real thing (commence argument). People like Alex Lifeson are using the Axe-Fx, but not for their distortion and I can't believe it can feel as good as real 6L6 power amp distortion.

Is it possible to get that distortion using a stereo rack tube amp like the Mesa Fifty/Fifty or Stereo 2:Fifty or other rack tube amps? I've been told that, if you use the rack Mesa amp, you're going to have a very Mesa sounding rig no matter what. Guess I prefer more of that California brown plexi sound. Anyone used any of the Carvin or Peavy stereo tube amps?

Any rack mount tube preamps that are particularly amazing?

Thanks for any thoughts!

 

[RJF]

With modern gear, your "distortion" is going to come from the preamp, not the power amp. Infact, most folks want their power to be as clean as possible with no breakup what so ever. WHen you say you want "6L6 power amp distortion" what is it that you are looking for exactly? A fender amp cranked to 10?

I believe Van Halen's tone with the 5150 is pretty much all preamp gain, not necessarily any power amp distortion. But, VH is not really my thing, I'm sure there will be tons of guys here quickly to explain everything about the "brown" sound.

As far as what to build......

I would start out with a Furman power conditioner, then decide on what you want to use as a midi switching system. Do you plan on running a few analog pedals in this rig? Axe FX or a more traditional tube preamp? Some tube preamps like the triaxis (IIRC) is midi capable, as is the Marshall JMP-1 (again IIRC, going off memory). Another is are you going to run a single preamp that is stereo capable or do you plan to run two preamps and run them in stereo?

If no pedals, and if you didn't mind the Axe FX, you could run:
Furman
Axe
Ground Control Pro
Mesa stereo power amp.

Something a little more complicated, but with a tube preamp and set up for pedal switching:
Furman
Marshall JMP-1
TC Electronic G major2
GCX switcher
Ground Control Pro
Mesa stereo power amp

More details on what it is exactly you are after and we can help you narrow down options.

 

[Kelly]

Fryette power amps are pretty much the best out there.

 

[mentoneman]

simple physical rig is axe fx
but get ready to start editing deeply to find your tube amp experience.


i have used mono, w/d, stereo, and wdw live over the years including an axe ultra and currently i am going from conventional w/d rig to a silent stereo live rig using a moderate amount of stuff-that's my current live rack on the right:

but for halen my suggestion is wd is easiest and doesn't need to be a mountain of effects. some of the best vh tone i have heard or conjured was done with a w/d rig where a delay pedal splits off of a line from the dry rig and feeds the wet amp/cab.

https://youtu.be/qPhUiYuyq3k

and as recently as last week i had a bad monkey hitting the front of my peacemaker set on 7, out a rivera rock crusher then out of that into a holdsworth juice extractor load box and the sound in my headphones was violently VH.