What was the trick to amplifying your modeler?

[Spaceboy]

I have tried the whole FRFR dogshit wormhole, I’ve tried all the various modelers, profilers, etc. I’ve never been 100% satisfied with digital amps in a live band scenario. There’s a certain presence that tube amps have that seems beyond what can be touched with EQ. Some sort of sorcery that I simply can’t figure out. Right now, I’m trying to make a Fractal AM4 work for one of my projects, using a Quilter bass amp as my power amp. I’ve went through numerous solid state power amps over the years and none do the trick for me. I’m going into proper guitar cabs, the FRFR thing is a losing battle.

I’m curious about this new Wampler and Friedman thing, but it’s not out yet.

Has anybody else struggled to fully enjoy modeling, but found some trick or piece of gear that made it click or be usable for you? I’m trying to avoid moving towards a tube power amp, that somewhat negates the whole compact and lightweight thing.

 

[Candiria]

The KSR PA-100. It's not light weight but it's not heavy, maybe 25 pounds. There's also the PA-50 which is the lunchbox style version that's a bit lighter.

The hi-fi switch on it let's you run the amp modeling on the Axe Fx instead of having to bypass which gives you way more control over the sound and the negative feedback control helps dial in the feel.

 

[jski59]

I’ve used an fm3 live for years and struggled with that as well, here’s what helped me.

Create your presets and adjust everything at gig volumes. I also started tuning my presets in the garage (sonically closer to the average shitty venue) vs inside my bright guitar room with hardwood floor.

Strip it down to input (gate off)-amp-output to start. Too much sauce can really dull the sound. The gate is good, but turned off feels much more amp-like.

Biggest change: changed main amp model from the Be100 to a 2203 with a boost…boom, there’s the cut lol.

 

[romanianreaper]

I'm with you man. On paper that is all I've ever wanted, being able to hear what I hear in headphones amplified in a live setting.

I never even got to the live gig with a modeller because even in my own room, didnt sound right. I had a Fractal Axe-Fx II years ago and loved it. I bought a small FRFR Matrix 1x12, then Friedman ASM-12 and couldn't get rid of that tone you are describing.

About a year ago, I tried to jump back in with a Friedman IR-X and Fender FRFR cab. Still had that same tone that just sounded bland and harsh.

Like you, I can't figure out what it is. To me, it feels like using a real power amp and cab is the only thing that seems to sound right but then you are limited and only using the preamp Sims.

It seems like the only success stories are users who plug right into the P.A. but have also heard the LANEY FRFR cab kicks ass and people love it.

 

[baron55]

I have tried the whole FRFR dogshit wormhole, I’ve tried all the various modelers, profilers, etc. I’ve never been 100% satisfied with digital amps in a live band scenario. There’s a certain presence that tube amps have that seems beyond what can be touched with EQ. Some sort of sorcery that I simply can’t figure out. Right now, I’m trying to make a Fractal AM4 work for one of my projects, using a Quilter bass amp as my power amp. I’ve went through numerous solid state power amps over the years and none do the trick for me. I’m going into proper guitar cabs, the FRFR thing is a losing battle.

I’m curious about this new Wampler and Friedman thing, but it’s not out yet.

Has anybody else struggled to fully enjoy modeling, but found some trick or piece of gear that made it click or be usable for you? I’m trying to avoid moving towards a tube power amp, that somewhat negates the whole compact and lightweight thing.

Most of the small light power amps are class D digital amps which introduce latency. Now the companies will say the latency is no more than the latency you would have standing 10 feet from the cab. Yes, that may be true, but what they don't tell you is, but the actual latency doubles because you add the digital latency from the amp + the speaker distance.


The old SS Class A/B Mosfet power amps of the late 80's and early 90's like the Tube Works Mosvale and others, may be a good choice as they tried to introduce the damping effect of tube amps.

But I had the same issues as you and went Tube Power Amp for the win.