Live WITHOUT a safety net!

[Robotechnology]

This past Sunday, our band opened up for Sebastion Bach at the Emporium (NICE venue!) out on Long Island. I in my infinite wisdom chose to go without a backup guitar or amp

Where as EVERY guitar player in the 4 bands had a half stack (50% of them Marshall), I set up on stage with a Mesa 3/4 Back 2X12 with an EVH 5150 III 50 watt head on top of it with a Fractal Audio Axe-FX II on top of that. I had only my Suhr GG model with me.

Note: An EVH 5150 III 50 watt head has A LOT of headroom. I used it as the power section (ran the Axe thru the FX loop return of the amp) and I ended up turning it down (without being asked) as it was every bit as loud as anyone's 100 watter with a 4X12!

So I used an EVH 5150 III red amp model, power amp sim on and cab sim off. WOW did the tone come through loud and clear on stage! I was concerned that maybe it wouldn't cut though (frequency wise) but, I heard EVERYTHING. I was really happy with the Axe's performance!

You may have seen another thread I recently posted which is related to this. The kicker is, our band downtunes to D and my guitar was tuned to E (I don't like the tension of 10's at D standard--too loose). Hence why I used the Axe as my 5150 III red when I had an actual 5150 III head with me 8) That was how much faith I put in the Axe's abilities, I left the guitar I have tuned to D at home! So the Axe was my preamp and transposed my pitch down 1 whole step throughout and COMPLETELY satisfied me with regards to having a BRILLIANT live tone THANKS CLIFF!

This thing is killer! I really like it with a tube power amp though. I did happen to get a pair of powered EV PA 3 days before the show and I toyed with the ideal of doing that but, my ears like the EVH power section through the Mesa 2X12 cab more.

There were at least 400 in attendance during our set and they were very much into it! Had a blast! Oh and Sebastian Bach rocked on stage I never got to see Skid Row live. He is a GREAT front man!

 

[Anonymous]

So... lemme get this straight. You played an EVH 5150 III Axe-FX II model through an EVH 5150 III head set as a power amp? Well then, I have to ask... Why not just play the 5150 III red channel, leave the Axe at home and call it a day?

Steve

 

[lolzgreg]

Because he needed to pitch shift the guitar down a whole step since he left his guitar in D standard at home.

 

[Gainfreak]

So... lemme get this straight. You played an EVH 5150 III Axe-FX II model through an EVH 5150 III head set as a power amp? Well then, I have to ask... Why not just play the 5150 III red channel, leave the Axe at home and call it a day?

Steve

Because he used the axe=fx to de-tune to D so that he didn't have to setup the guitar tuning to d

 

[Gainzilla]

You did play with a backup Ivan, You had the option of playing the 5150 or using the AxeFx direct...

Come to think of it, Ive never played out with a backup amp, ever..

 

[Robotechnology]

Steve, actually because I liked the models of the 5150 III in the AXE-FX II, I agreed to a trade deal for a 5150 III 50 watter. So the AXE preset I used with the 5150 III model I've been used for months before the actual EVH head arrived (3 weeks ago). This band has a lot of uptempo songs and I like guitars strung up with 10 gauge strings at E Standard but, the band tunes to D Standard which is too loose for my preference for tight/fast rhythm playing. The guitar in the following picture is tuned to E Standard but, the crowd and my fellow bandmates heard D Standard. That is why I did not leave the Axe at home

 

[Robotechnology]

You did play with a backup Ivan, You had the option of playing the 5150 or using the AxeFx direct...

Come to think of it, Ive never played out with a backup amp, ever..

True but, if the Axe went down--I didn't even bring a tuner with me so I would been off stage at least a song, sourcing a tuner and downtuning my guitar that is set up with a floating trem in order to plug in to the 5153 direct. That would NOT have been fun


By the way, Happy Thanksgiving Kage, Ralph, Greg & Steve

 

[BYTOR]

It's an Axe Fx world, we're all just living in it. That said, I'll always own a handful of the best tube amps + cabs, just because.......

 

[Anonymous]

So... lemme get this straight. You played an EVH 5150 III Axe-FX II model through an EVH 5150 III head set as a power amp? Well then, I have to ask... Why not just play the 5150 III red channel, leave the Axe at home and call it a day?

Steve

Perhaps next time I'll read the whole post.

Steve

 

[blackba]

You did play with a backup Ivan, You had the option of playing the 5150 or using the AxeFx direct...

Come to think of it, Ive never played out with a backup amp, ever..

I have played plenty without a backup amp of my own, its not smart, but sometimes the gig does not warrant bringing a backup. Not all gigs I have played have been paid for example....

 

[AmpliFIRE]

Look at you getting all fancy with the Michael Angelo Batio over-under fretting




Sounds great bro!

 

[RSRD]

Cool song and congrats on what seems to have been a great show.

 

[rupe]

So... lemme get this straight. You played an EVH 5150 III Axe-FX II model through an EVH 5150 III head set as a power amp? Well then, I have to ask... Why not just play the 5150 III red channel, leave the Axe at home and call it a day?

Steve

Your answer lies in the original post

 

[Shark Diver]

Wouldn't it be easier to bring a down tuned guitar, strung with say 11s?

Unless you are using the AXE for all your fx. You aren't the only one to like the pitch shift in the AXE. It must be impressive Very cool.

 

[Anonymous]

So... lemme get this straight. You played an EVH 5150 III Axe-FX II model through an EVH 5150 III head set as a power amp? Well then, I have to ask... Why not just play the 5150 III red channel, leave the Axe at home and call it a day?

Steve

Your answer lies in the original post

Obviously you read the whole thread as well as I read initial posts.

Steve

 

[xzyryabx]

whats your bands name?
and pics of the chic ploise...nudes preferred!

 

[yngzaklynch]

Some good playin

 

[thiswaythatway]

Funny thing is Ivan, in all the years I played gigs in the 4-5 night a week cover scene I never brought a backup amp, the Mesa IIC+ and DC5 I used never gave me one problem ever. I was actually more impressed with the pedalboard I had since.........and I'm not joking......I had to clean it at least once a month because it would get splashed with beer, covered with cigarette ash, people would sit on it, lean on it, fall into it, etc. And once someone puked near it and it got sprayed. Occasionally I had to troubleshoot it. The smoking ban wasn't in place then.

I always brought 2 guitars though.

 

[Robotechnology]

Band name is Flames of Fury (www.flamesoffury.com)

Only clothed pics, sorry

 

[Robotechnology]

I do not like the feel of strings thicker than 10's.

Always liked rack gear. The only time I really use pedals outside of my house is with my THD Flexi 50 head. So using an Axe as my only FX would be an easy choice for me.

Wouldn't it be easier to bring a down tuned guitar, strung with say 11s?

Unless you are using the AXE for all your fx. You aren't the only one to like the pitch shift in the AXE. It must be impressive Very cool.