Love/Hate w/home rig, suggestions/advice appreciated!

[napalmdeath]

I've been running a stereo rig for some time now, and have loved it at times, but it's probably 50/50 love/hate..

I'm running a Digitech RP1000 into a Carvin TS-100 at 50 watts/side stereo, into (2) Marshall 1×12 cabs, loaded with a G12T-75, and G12K-100. I play mostly high gain, and use the 5150. I run a boost pedal in front, don't use the RP ODs, and I run an MXR 10-band in the RP'S loop, post amp. Recipe for killer tone, no?? Well, it is. It has glimpses of awesomeness, but here's the problem. No cab modeling, sounds like shit. Some cabs some pretty good, and I choose to use cab modeling, but though adding that fuller sound, it colors with fizz. It sounds better with cab than none, I've bounced between the Jazz 2x12, V30 4x12, and "Alternative"/Digitech designed 4x12. The tone is there, but at the same time, I can't stand the digital/fizz, and I'm damned if I do/dont.. No cabs are without tone suck/added shitty colorization.

So, suggestions to clean it up, be happy, or DITCH IT? Should I look at Kemper, or Fractal?? The AXE FX looks like it's got WAY too much going on!

I want GOOD high gains, clarity, no fizz, and sledgehammer type tone at reasonable levels. So, lay it on me.. What's your suggestions? This is just for home/apartment. I have a half-stack for louder stuff outside of home.

 

[jrh_67]

I got rid of my rp1000 and pod hd and went with an axe fx and it solved all my problems.. Like you I also use a half stack when away from the house but I'm pretty sure i don't even need it anymore after getting the Axe. I also use a Carvin TS100 with it and installed new 6l6 tubes in it and it rocks!

The fractal really does sound so good I could sell my tube gear if I weren't so damn "hard headed" lol

 

[Steinmetzify]

Axe II user. Shit rocks. The ability to start from scratch using your favorite models and tweak em to suit whatever speakers you have on hand fuckin rules.

 

[thiswaythatway]

Why not checkout the Atomic Amplifire? $500 and sounds as good as the Axe-Fx, just a lot less options.

 

[Bishop5150]

I have an Axe-Fx and a Kemper for home use. Incredible units. Can't gel with either yet for gigging though.

 

[napalmdeath]

Why not checkout the Atomic Amplifire? $500 and sounds as good as the Axe-Fx, just a lot less options.

Will do! That's really what I need. Fractal sound quality, without all the frills,.or just go for a AXE FX Standard?

 

[napalmdeath]

I have an Axe-Fx and a Kemper for home use. Incredible units. Can't gel with either yet for gigging though.

Which do you prefer for ease of use, and models standpoint?

 

[Bishop5150]

Ease of use would be the Kemper. I give it the edge in overall tone as well. Give the edge to the Axe for overall fx quality though. Hard to go wrong with either but if I had to pick just one I'd go with the Kemper.

 

[napalmdeath]

Ease of use would be the Kemper. I give it the edge in overall tone as well. Give the edge to the Axe for overall fx quality though. Hard to go wrong with either but if I had to pick just one I'd go with the Kemper.

Good models out of the box ?

 

[damon1]

Have you thought about the eleven rack? You can get one for cheap. I had the digitech gsp1101 and never could get a good high gain sound I liked. I have the 11r now and am much happier, and it takes pedals well too. Another thought since you already have a power amp is to just get a high gain preamp. Engl e530 comes to mind. I looked into the atomic amplifier but didn't seem like the high gain tones were there. If I could afford it, I would go with the axe or kemper.

 

[maddnotez]

Why not checkout the Atomic Amplifire? $500 and sounds as good as the Axe-Fx, just a lot less options.

Hey just saw this for the first time after seeing your post.

Was curious on a few things. Does this pedal need a power amp to run through a cab?

Also how does it sound? I haven't found any "real life" videos on it yet. I don't trust reproducing the sounds in alot of people's demo videos.

 

[thiswaythatway]

Why not checkout the Atomic Amplifire? $500 and sounds as good as the Axe-Fx, just a lot less options.

Hey just saw this for the first time after seeing your post.

Was curious on a few things. Does this pedal need a power amp to run through a cab?

Also how does it sound? I haven't found any "real life" videos on it yet. I don't trust reproducing the sounds in alot of people's demo videos.

Yes it's going to need a poweramp, but an Axe-FX or a Kemper is also going to need a poweramp. Kemper does make a model that comes with a poweramp but it's also more money. I don't have the Amplifire but there's some clips over in the modeling forum on TGP, and checkout the clips on youtube or Atomics website. Some of them sound killer to me. Ola made some of typical metal clips using it and they sound as good as his Axe-Fx clips. The Amplifire is small though so you'd probably need a midi pedal with it. It's got a nice editor so you can tweak on your PC and you can load cabinet IR's which is nice.

And the Line 6 Helix is coming so everyone will be watching that.

 

[Bishop5150]

Ease of use would be the Kemper. I give it the edge in overall tone as well. Give the edge to the Axe for overall fx quality though. Hard to go wrong with either but if I had to pick just one I'd go with the Kemper.

Good models out of the box ?

Pretty good. Kemper more so.

 

[cardinal]

I'm not sure that jumping to a more expensive modeler will fix your issue. I haven't played a Kemper, but I've owned an AxeFX and a few Line6 products. The AxeFX sounded a bit better, but IMHO it wasn't night-and-day.

It's a bit odd to like only the cab sims stacked into a real cab. When I've done that (I think always by accident), it sounded like playing underwater or a heavy blanket or whatever analogy you like. There might be something else in the signal chain that's throwing you off. Have you tried the rig with different cabs and/or speakers?

 

[jski59]

I'm still pretty happy with my Amplifire, especially for the cost...not a lot of bells and whistles but the tone and feel are great.

I gigged it once and everybody in the crowd said it sounded great. Still prefer my amp live though...

 

[Bishop5150]

Heard some great things about the Amplifire. Considering picking one up as an emergency deal I could keep in my gig bag.

 

[guitarmike]

I've been running a stereo rig for some time now, and have loved it at times, but it's probably 50/50 love/hate..

I'm running a Digitech RP1000 into a Carvin TS-100 at 50 watts/side stereo, into (2) Marshall 1×12 cabs, loaded with a G12T-75, and G12K-100. I play mostly high gain, and use the 5150. I run a boost pedal in front, don't use the RP ODs, and I run an MXR 10-band in the RP'S loop, post amp. Recipe for killer tone, no?? Well, it is. It has glimpses of awesomeness, but here's the problem. No cab modeling, sounds like shit. Some cabs some pretty good, and I choose to use cab modeling, but though adding that fuller sound, it colors with fizz. It sounds better with cab than none, I've bounced between the Jazz 2x12, V30 4x12, and "Alternative"/Digitech designed 4x12. The tone is there, but at the same time, I can't stand the digital/fizz, and I'm damned if I do/dont.. No cabs are without tone suck/added shitty colorization.

So, suggestions to clean it up, be happy, or DITCH IT? Should I look at Kemper, or Fractal?? The AXE FX looks like it's got WAY too much going on!

I want GOOD high gains, clarity, no fizz, and sledgehammer type tone at reasonable levels. So, lay it on me.. What's your suggestions? This is just for home/apartment. I have a half-stack for louder stuff outside of home.

Buy a used Kemper or Axe and you should be good to go. I owned a Kemper and it was perfect for low volume playing, low gain or high gain.