Mesa/Boogie TriAxis - want more "crunch"/snap on mid-top end

[sbcgroup1]

I have a Mesa TriAxis / Mesa Strategy 500 which I absolutely love and it's always been HUGE sounding and super thick and heavy with gain, etc. I want to add "crunch" to the gain (mesa gain is more smoother and looser" - something that adds a little bit of crunch/bite in the upper mids, etc. Can I accomplish this by adding a pedal like a TS808 or the like? Or do I go with a Wampler pedal that may have some more gritty type gain (PlexiDrive, Pinnacle, etc, or , whatever)? Im not looking to turn my tone into a Marshall, nor do I want to use the pedal for sole distortion, etc....just want to add crunch to the tone. As for amp-blending, I know people use a Diezel to amp blend with the TriAxis (Hetfield, etc) and it seems to compliment this, etc. I like the CAE 3+SE for more of those types of tones but idk how that would blend with the TriAxis, etc. Thanks!!

 

[AmpliFIRE]

I use an MXR 10 band EQ in the loop with a slight boost in the upper mids and a TS808 as a clean boost on my Quad/2:90 rig. It's an amazing sounding rig! I've got a Triaxis on the way and will be trying the same thing...

 

[shredhead7]

I haven't tried this yet, as my triaxis rig has been at my drummers for the last year, but considering the cleans are pretty Fender like, you could probably throw a distortion box on there and get a great crunch sound from those, and then switch back to the Mesa sound on Ld2 Green (my favorite).

 

[sbcgroup1]

Great! Thanks for the input! I've been seeing lots of suggestions for the TS808 with this setup I also agree that EQ's are critical to tone as well I wonder if the Wampler Plexi-Drive would work similarly yet add a little more "crunch".

 

[srommes]

My Maxon OD808 sounds great boosting my Triaxis. Especially in Lead II green or yellow mode. That said, the best thing you can do for you Triaxis is put a Mesa 5 Band EQ pedal in the fx loop and turn the Dynamic voice to zero. Sounds just like a Mark head!

 

[mentoneman]

My Maxon OD808 sounds great boosting my Triaxis. Especially in Lead II green or yellow mode. That said, the best thing you can do for you Triaxis is put a Mesa 5 Band EQ pedal in the fx loop and turn the Dynamic voice to zero. Sounds just like a Mark head!

exactly what i'd do
i had a tri and tweaked that dynamic voice circuit like mad but nothing like the real amp graphic

 

[Pushead]

Yeah, the dynamic voice is really a let down. I've run several things in the loop to replace it. Mostly stuck with an MXR 10 band.

Another thing is to replace your power amp with a 2:90. The simul-class thing with the voicings really does change the sound immensely.

 

[steve_k]

Mesa 5 band EQ, but put it between the output of the TA and the input to your Strategy. Use a little Dynamic and a lot of the 5 band to boost your frequencies.

 

[rsm]

Dynamic voice is a fixed GEQ curve with settings that you cannot change. FWIW, I act like it's not there, I keep mine at 0.0 for flat EQ curve. I'm using my TriAxis with a Torpedo CAB in the insert loop of my G-System. I use a TCE Nova Drive for OD/Dist. I think the TriAxis covers a lot of tonal territory, between the Nova Drive, G-System PEQ and the CAB, I can get a wide range of sounds. PITA to create presets, but I dig the sounds. No longer my main rig, but it still sounds the best to me of all my "direct to FRFR/FOH" rigs.

 

[mixn4him]

I would also add a change in speakers maybe too...What cab are you running? Also agree the 500 maybe a little dark and much, a 290 with the Voicing options really opens up the Triaxis. I always ran the MK2C+ mode with a 50/50 and 2x12 V30 cab and had PLENTY of snap in the top end...

 

[sbcgroup1]

Hey all! Thanks for the replies! I had a 2:90 power amp as a back up and the 500 blew it away. Was so much more full and 3d sounding. It also has "switch-track" multi voicings...deep extend, half drive, presence controls, etc. I love the deep extend I use Mesa cabs with V30's. Like I said, I LOVE my tone...want to keep it but just tighten it up slightly and add some more "crunch/bite" characteristic to the upper mids. I have an Ashly stereo eq I can run in the loop (or just get something more compact) and will pick up an 808 (Maxon or Ibanez?) Sounds like this will get me there. I was looking at adding an additional preamp, the CAE 3+SE) and maybe doing a preamp blend to add more bite but i really am grasping at straws with that. Like I said, I love my Tone and TriAxis, etc. I just want to tailor it slightly I also swapped out my JJ ECC 83/s combinations for the original Mesa 12AX7's last week which i seem to like better. I'm open to tube swapping as well Haven't messed with the power amp tubes yet, etc. Also, yes I agree the 500 is a little dark....I'd never sell it but am open to another amp as well, etc. Maybe I just start with the EQ and OD808 BTW, I'm also running a TC GMajor so i can explore EQ settings on that...

 

[thegame]

The TriAxis is an inherently smooth, very compressed and processed sounding unit. The only way to add a real "crunch/snap" would be to mod or upgrade some parts, a difficult undertaking considering its mostly microchips inside.

 

[tschrama]

The Mesa 400 is a little less dark than the 500. You'll loose lot's of features, but is does sounds more pure and clear. THat being said, I LOVE my 500, and it's prolly that last piece of equipment I'l ever sell.

 

[sbcgroup1]

What about using a Boss OD/SD/MT instead of a tube screamer as a blend? Anyone ever tried that with this rig? They seem to be more "middy/gritty" and tighter than the TS. Another idea - throw in an old ADA MP-1 either mixed or on one side

 

[Shask]

Yes, a Boss SD-1 will add more of those crunchy upper mids.

Since you have a GMajor with the EQ, try that first. Add about +3db to +5db somewhere between 1000hz to 2000hz and see if that works for you.

 

[sbcgroup1]

Yes, a Boss SD-1 will add more of those crunchy upper mids.

Since you have a GMajor with the EQ, try that first. Add about +3db to +5db somewhere between 1000hz to 2000hz and see if that works for you.

AWESOME! Thanks! I'm jonesing for a quick pedal pickup so I'm gonna check the local music store tonight

 

[sbcgroup1]

Update: Picked up a Boss SD-1 and used it tonight. Best sounding with my amp's gain channels using as a boost (level all the way up, gain all the way down, tone about 2:00 Did the trick with the tone and also makes solos just jump off the fretboard So I guess I just really needed a boost Now I'm wondering if I should try a tubescreamer instead or WITH it for solo boosts...but LOVE this thing....I left it on all night Thanks all!!!!!

 

[Shask]

Update: Picked up a Boss SD-1 and used it tonight. Best sounding with my amp's gain channels using as a boost (level all the way up, gain all the way down, tone about 2:00 Did the trick with the tone and also makes solos just jump off the fretboard So I guess I just really needed a boost Now I'm wondering if I should try a tubescreamer instead or WITH it for solo boosts...but LOVE this thing....I left it on all night Thanks all!!!!!

I never had a Triaxis, but I used to have a Mark III and Studio Preamp. The SD-1 definitely helped bring out some aggression in those amps.

 

[sbcgroup1]

Tonight I switched to my guitar with the Seymour Duncan 59's in it....this was the final piece of the tone puzzle. Just perfect My other guitar has an EMG 81 and that was causing the "processed/fake" sounding bite of the SD-1 for me. I actually swapped out my 81/60 set for the '59s on my USA Jackson RR1 That was the ticket for me for more organic sounding tone Anyways problem solved and SUPER happy Thanks all!!