Hell froze over....

[tweed]

hijack away my man-
you are the resident metal axecat and the perfect one to ask about zack tones. and even though i don't gravitate to hi gain as my practical live sound i really enjoy what you do with it. good tone is good tone period.

now if you could only embrace the srv/ej/landau/hendrix clean and dirty realms with the axe......

Pat, I wish Lincoln would update his site with his Axe presets already. It's in there brotha, I have heard it a few weeks in a row now. It's one of the tones I am looking forward to if I can ever scrape up enough duckets to get one.

Friday night he did an acoustic set, with a gorgeous Anderson quilt top acoustic, thru the Axe and it sounded EXCELLENT.

 

[Digital Jams]

i will swirl a scintillating snifter of vermouth as i relish a luxurious pull from a scandinavian hailing horn brimming with apple rum tobacco, in my burgundy smoking jacket and matching slippers, before a roaring fire issuing from the glimmering ultra.

do tell kind sir; is it three twists and a clockwise rotation of the wrist when removing your corks?


pa-pa will be ever so vexed if I implore him yet again for such pedestrian matters.

A man of substance would never use such a crude device as the same results could be had by using an ant-eater to clean your fine jewels.

I use this....

For bottles that are more roguish and need some additional persuation I suggest this..................

Fa getabouit!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Rogue]

my first impression is this:

immediately it does not "feel" as gratifying and pure as it does plugging straight in to a very great tube amp, but i do see that you can easily reproduce the "sounds" of most any amp, so if you are willing to wade through tons of variables to get to the sound you're after, it's probably in there. so the velvety touch of valves loading and exploding, and the interaction of a pulsing 4x12 is missing at the moment. and when you try to reproduce it using compression, or cab thump, or bass controls, it's not the same. but it's way better playing through a power amp/speaker than it is with headphones. i need to try it with my bogner 4x12

there is also a thing in the highs i'm struggling with. with a real amp the zing of the metal in the string comes though clearly on a nice fendery clean tone and touch controls how bright or how dark you make it. i come from an acoustic background so i'm very picky about touch affecting tone in that regard. that part doesn't seem as delicate on the axe, although it is surprisingly sensitive to pick nuances on gainier patches. but higher gain sounds are always easier to achieve on any modeller. it's the clean and low gain tones i feel modellers earn their keep and the axe so far is great in this realm but i'm not totally satisfied yet.

my biggest complaint about the thing is:

i scoured all 300+ presets to find 10 i could start working on.
steve did mention i could download dry patches and start from there, which i will probably do, but not right of the bat until i know the unit better and feel comfortable storing and transferring data. i'm curious about the IR but that seems light years away from my ability and depth with the thing right now.

i'd suggest the factory starting with the first 10 presets being classic dry amps with knobs at noon, from fender twin clean, fender bassman dirty, vox ac 30 clean and dirty, marshall jtm 45 clean, marshall plexi dirty, mesa clean, mesa dirty, dumble clean, dumble dirty,

with drive box, cab, compression, reverb and delay in the chain but disabled, and all of these items set to ideal parameters ready to go if the user enables them in the chain.

then as you scroll up the preset numbers the sounds can become more boutique and fx laden. maybe the next 10 presets should be the top 10 user designed presets owners are downloading and liking (brown, U2, echoplex, tristereo, etc)

i love the sounds of the effects in this box. the best rack effect unit i have personally ever owned. and it's not a knock against my gforce because that thing is sick too, but it doesn't do lexicon verb like axe does, nor does it do eventide pitchshifting like the axe does, nor does it do a 2290 emulation as well as the axe does! pay attention tc!

Thanks for your input. If I'm reading you correctly, you are setting up your basic amps without effects and tweaking those until it is working for you? If so, how are you feeling about that? Are you getting them close?

Also, my bigger concern is how does it sound in the room and that looks like what you are doing. I'm sure you can get great recorded tones fairly easily and quickly, but what about standing in front of it? You know what I'm getting at. Is it there, or do you feel it can get there?

According to manyaxes, it appears the moment this happens is inevitable and you have reached the epiphany moment. Soooo, I'll fairly interested to see how this plays out.

 

[Rogue]

Don't wish to hijack tweed's thread.
Here is my basic AxeFx tone...while playing No More Tears...no chorus. It's live so forgive the quality.
No More Tears is in the vid from about 4:00 to 6:00mins

Mark

Yes, I have listened to this vid, along with dozens of others trying to figure out if this truly is the real deal.

It seems to me the tone you are getting is a more modern sounding than what I'm wanting to see from it. IMO, modelers do pretty well at the modern thing. I'm just wanting to see it nail the more classical tones....that earthy, full, almost solid feeling tone.

I'm not knocking your tone, just that it isn't what I'm wanting to see from it.

 

[Mark Day]

Don't wish to hijack tweed's thread.
Here is my basic AxeFx tone...while playing No More Tears...no chorus. It's live so forgive the quality.
No More Tears is in the vid from about 4:00 to 6:00mins

Mark

Yes, I have listened to this vid, along with dozens of others trying to figure out if this truly is the real deal.

It seems to me the tone you are getting is a more modern sounding than what I'm wanting to see from it. IMO, modelers do pretty well at the modern thing. I'm just wanting to see it nail the more classical tones....that earthy, full, almost solid feeling tone.

I'm not knocking your tone, just that it isn't what I'm wanting to see from it.

It's funny usually when I post my vids, I get "it's so 80's dude"

I have tried other modellers..the AxeFx is VERY different. This coming from a tube lover...I still have my Egnater head and my OD100se+ rig.


Mark

 

[Rogue]

It's funny usually when I post my vids, I get "it's so 80's dude"

Odd. I can see where it's kind-of-ish, but it sounds much more modern than classic to me. IMO, of course.

I have tried other modellers..the AxeFx is VERY different. This coming from a tube lover...I still have my Egnater head and my OD100se+ rig.

I am deeply considering one, because they cover everything and seem to be good enough.

 

[Mark Day]

It's funny usually when I post my vids, I get "it's so 80's dude"

Odd. I can see where it's kind-of-ish, but it sounds much more modern than classic to me. IMO, of course.

I have tried other modellers..the AxeFx is VERY different. This coming from a tube lover...I still have my Egnater head and my OD100se+ rig.

I am deeply considering one, because they cover everything and seem to be good enough.

I'm in agreement with you...I think it's sounds more modernish as well, but I am always bombarded with the 80's comparison..kinda strange if you ask me. I mean I tend to play alot of 80ish riffs but the tone itself I find more modern than 80's.

Mark

 

[manyaxes]

I think the tech21 is influencing your opinion on the axe, and I don't think it is a great amp (but I could be mistaken), I don't even know if you have to keep the cabinet sims thru it. I mean you're hearing the axe thru an active guitar cab with its own sound, that is going to colour what the axe is producing. But then you try to compare it to various sounds and feeling you've gotten from several tube amps plus their cabinets (or combos). And if you play thru monitors, you should expect them to sound like a miced tube amp from the control room, which can be a quite different feeling.

If you want an apples to apples comparison, I would get your bogner or whatever head you're familiar with, and A/B it with an axe + a good solid state poweramp, all thru your guitar cabinet of choice. If you do it correctly, after a few tweaks you should get them sounding and feeling VERY close. That is the moment when most people realize its power (and sell all their tube gear).

Some people are able to get a FRFR monitor or a PA sounding just like a real guitar cabinet, but that takes more work and/or skill. Some people don't get it exactly the same, but actually prefer the PA sound. YMMV.

i'm using the tech 21 power engine..a neutral powered celestion open back 1x12 with tone controls

and a mackie studio monitor with a tweeter

just to see what the axe can do through either. i'll try it through the return of my eggie tol 100 and in the front of my super champ as well.

definitely in experiment phase so my opinions may change over time.

A 1x12 cannot be neutral, ever, it's a physics issue. And on top of it it's open-back, which will give you open-back tones even if you dial it for the brewtals .

I'm sure it will sound fantastic thru the eggie, but the overall tone will always have the eggie flavour, no matter how you dial the axefx. I don't think it's gonna sound that well in front of the champ.

I recommend you to try to borrow a good solid-state poweramp with tons of headroom and plug it into your favorite cabinet. If you hook up everything correctly and set up the axe right, I think you're gonna be surprised. Great tube tone and feel without a single tube.

In the end, an axe rig is only gonna sound as the weakest link in the chain, and for the axefx, the less tube character and coloring the stronger the link is.

 

[Rogue]

I'm in agreement with you...I think it's sounds more modernish as well, but I am always bombarded with the 80's comparison..kinda strange if you ask me. I mean I tend to play alot of 80ish riffs but the tone itself I find more modern than 80's.

Mark

Perhaps those that say it sounds so 80's were born in the 90s.

 

[Rogue]

Let me ask you guys something. Now this is certainly not the optimal way to setup an AF (I understand that), but just out of curiosity, can you have your presets defined on your midiboard, and then a midi assigned to just turn on a tube screamer, or delay, but keep the current preset you're on?

Hmmm, that seems confusing.

Let's say you have two presets, a clean and crunch, and would like a tube screamer in the front of them for some more umph. As opposed to having two patches without and two patches with a tube screamer, can you just have a midi slot that turns on a tube screamer in front of whichever preset is current? Or a delay?

 

[Anonymous]

Let me ask you guys something. Now this is certainly not the optimal way to setup an AF (I understand that), but just out of curiosity, can you have your presets defined on your midiboard, and then a midi assigned to just turn on a tube screamer, or delay, but keep the current preset you're on?

Hmmm, that seems confusing.

Let's say you have two presets, a clean and crunch, and would like a tube screamer in the front of them for some more umph. As opposed to having two patches without and two patches with a tube screamer, can you just have a midi slot that turns on a tube screamer in front of whichever preset is current? Or a delay?

Of course! No problem. I have my presets setup this way and toggle six effects in/out of the preset using the instant access buttons on my GCP...

Steve

 

[Mark Day]

Let me ask you guys something. Now this is certainly not the optimal way to setup an AF (I understand that), but just out of curiosity, can you have your presets defined on your midiboard, and then a midi assigned to just turn on a tube screamer, or delay, but keep the current preset you're on?

Hmmm, that seems confusing.

Let's say you have two presets, a clean and crunch, and would like a tube screamer in the front of them for some more umph. As opposed to having two patches without and two patches with a tube screamer, can you just have a midi slot that turns on a tube screamer in front of whichever preset is current? Or a delay?

Of course! No problem. I have my presets setup this way and toggle six effects in/out of the preset using the instant access buttons on my GCP...

Steve

+1 me too....IA's for drive, phaser, flanger, Pitch Detune, Delay and tuner.

Mark

 

[Rogue]

Of course! No problem. I have my presets setup this way and toggle six effects in/out of the preset using the instant access buttons on my GCP...

Steve

Ah, cool. Now, I've never used midi controllers before, but understand the concept. What are the "instant access buttons?" Are they a specific type of control on a midi controller? I have a midi buddy controller that has been laying around here forever that I've been trying to sell with no luck but now may find a use for it. Assuming it works. But I don't know what a instant access button is.

 

[Mark Day]

Of course! No problem. I have my presets setup this way and toggle six effects in/out of the preset using the instant access buttons on my GCP...

Steve

Ah, cool. Now, I've never used midi controllers before, but understand the concept. What are the "instant access buttons?" Are they a specific type of control on a midi controller? I have a midi buddy controller that has been laying around here forever that I've been trying to sell with no luck but now may find a use for it. Assuming it works. But I don't know what a instant access button is.

On the GCP for instance you can assign a midi cc to a specific switch. Then on the AxeFx you assign that number to a parameter in this case bypass for that particular block. Don't sweat it, it is easy as pie to configure. Once configured it is like having a virtual pedalboard in front of you

Mark

 

[mentoneman]

Of course! No problem. I have my presets setup this way and toggle six effects in/out of the preset using the instant access buttons on my GCP...

Steve

Ah, cool. Now, I've never used midi controllers before, but understand the concept. What are the "instant access buttons?" Are they a specific type of control on a midi controller? I have a midi buddy controller that has been laying around here forever that I've been trying to sell with no luck but now may find a use for it. Assuming it works. But I don't know what a instant access button is.

On the GCP for instance you can assign a midi cc to a specific switch. Then on the AxeFx you assign that number to a parameter in this case bypass for that particular block. Don't sweat it, it is easy as pie to configure. Once configured it is like having a virtual pedalboard in front of you

Mark

but on a conventional midi controller like the rolls midi buddy, i don't think you can create an instant access button function.

BUT

you should be able to plug a momentary *or* latching switch into one of the two 1/4" controller ports in the back of the axefx and assign it to control the virtual tube screamer in any of your presets

 

[Rogue]

but on a conventional midi controller like the rolls midi buddy, i don't think you can create an instant access button function.

Then I assume an instant access button is not a plain old button?

you should be able to plug a momentary *or* latching switch into one of the two 1/4" controller ports in the back of the axefx and assign it to control the virtual tube screamer in any of your presets

Dang. They've covered the bases, eh?

 

[Mark Day]

On the GCP for instance you can assign a midi cc to a specific switch. Then on the AxeFx you assign that number to a parameter in this case bypass for that particular block. Don't sweat it, it is easy as pie to configure. Once configured it is like having a virtual pedalboard in front of you

Mark

but on a conventional midi controller like the rolls midi buddy, i don't think you can create an instant access button function.

BUT

you should be able to plug a momentary *or* latching switch into one of the two 1/4" controller ports in the back of the axefx and assign it to control the virtual tube screamer in any of your presets

Correct on both points

Mark

 

[ejecta]

but on a conventional midi controller like the rolls midi buddy, i don't think you can create an instant access button function.

Then I assume an instant access button is not a plain old button?

you should be able to plug a momentary *or* latching switch into one of the two 1/4" controller ports in the back of the axefx and assign it to control the virtual tube screamer in any of your presets

Dang. They've covered the bases, eh?

Yeah you need to factor in a midi controller that will allow you to do this into what you looking at purchasing. The Voodoo Labs will do this and the Rocktron All Access will as well I think.

 

[Rogue]

Yeah you need to factor in a midi controller that will allow you to do this into what you looking at purchasing. The Voodoo Labs will do this and the Rocktron All Access will as well I think.

Well, eventually I had planned on getting something cooler, assuming I got one and assuming I like it, but in the mean time use this dust collectoring midibuddy.

Hear that ring?

 

[mentoneman]

but on a conventional midi controller like the rolls midi buddy, i don't think you can create an instant access button function.

Then I assume an instant access button is not a plain old button?

you should be able to plug a momentary *or* latching switch into one of the two 1/4" controller ports in the back of the axefx and assign it to control the virtual tube screamer in any of your presets

Dang. They've covered the bases, eh?

just thinking,

this might be a cool thread to post my discoveries and axe functionality as i stumble on to them while dig deeper.

2 - 1/4" controller ports on the back of the unit

can be controlled directly by either generic momentary or latching footswitch, or continuous control expression pedals.
just select which type of pedal you are using, and which port you are using, in the appropriate control menu in the axe.

then i assume it's a matter of assigning an effect to the footswitch to turn it off or on within a preset,
or a parameter like wah or volume or reverb/delay mix level etc., to the expression pedal if that is what you are using.

how/where to execute this assign function is my next mission.
probably a modifier page in the menu where i attach a link from the control pedal column to the tap tempo or drive pedal row in grid fashion ala gforce.

i'm also assuming,.... like tap tempo is global on my gforce, so no matter what preset i'm in, the momentary contact switch i have plugged into my gforce control jack ALWAYS controls just tap tempo.

although i can program individual *effects* capable of being modified via tap tempo within a given *preset* to ignore tap tempo--like i want delay to listen to tap tempo, but i don't want chorus to change with tap tempo, so i program chorus to "ignore tap tempo" within that preset.

and i assume the same is true with axe. like it will always be the drive pedal on/off function for every preset if i assign the pedal to the drive pedal device/block, unless i tell the drive block to ignore the control pedal.