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Post by svart on Mar 13, 2020 8:16:52 GMT -6
While you may or may not agree with some of his tonal decisions, I really appreciate Tom's approach to crafting presets. Some of those tones, particularly his cleaner tones are amazing. Wow. |
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Axe FX III
Mar 13, 2020 10:20:18 GMT -6
via mobile
Post by Jason on Mar 13, 2020 10:20:18 GMT -6
While you may or may not agree with some of his tonal decisions, I really appreciate Tom's approach to crafting presets. Some of those tones, particularly his cleaner tones are amazing. Wow. I downloaded the free preset; it’s incredible! And, I love how he organizes everything into different scenes. Currently experimenting with replacing the amp in the amp block of the preset with the Friedman HBE for a slightly different flavor, but while maintaining the sonic and dynamic integrity of the original preset. |
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Post by svart on Mar 13, 2020 11:44:37 GMT -6
Some of those tones, particularly his cleaner tones are amazing. Wow. I downloaded the free preset; it’s incredible! And, I love how he organizes everything into different scenes. Currently experimenting with replacing the amp in the amp block of the preset with the Friedman HBE for a slightly different flavor, but while maintaining the sonic and dynamic integrity of the original preset. I downloaded it as well, but I'm at work until late and won't get a chance to play tonight. i did find it interesting that I had initially missed the part where he talks about the proximity and smoothing in the cab and his settings are exactly where I ended up with most of mine. |
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Post by indiehouse on Mar 15, 2020 5:45:57 GMT -6
Some of those tones, particularly his cleaner tones are amazing. Wow. I downloaded the free preset; it’s incredible! And, I love how he organizes everything into different scenes. Currently experimenting with replacing the amp in the amp block of the preset with the Friedman HBE for a slightly different flavor, but while maintaining the sonic and dynamic integrity of the original preset. So what do you think of the Axe compared to Iridium’s basic core tones? Obviously the Axe can go further and deeper, but of the amps the iridium offers, do you think the Axe sounds more real? |
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Post by Jason on Mar 15, 2020 11:24:31 GMT -6
Hmm...
My thoughts at this point, given your stipulations, are: (1) you can obviously make quality music with either; and, (2) I wish the Axe was 96 kHz because I’m sure I can fool myself into thinking I hear a theoretical difference on that spec alone.
Actually, the only meaningful difference is that I can craft the Axe to sound just like the cab is sitting there in the room with me, and it feels like I’m playing through the actual rig. By comparison, I could never quite coax that out of the Iridium - sounds great, but plays less dynamic than “the real thing.” Sounds like a wonderfully recorded axe, but doesn’t feel like playing through the rig in the room, basically. And, I’m really splitting hairs because the Iridium is a fraction of the cost. Will also admit, though, putting the Page in front of it helps that a bit.
On the other hand, it’s incredibly easy to get paralyzed with the Fractal given its depth and breadth. Trick is to build your stable of tones for a given tune and then play; don’t traispe down the rabbit hole any further than necessary.
That said, the Fractal isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. As confirmed years ago during my brief courtship with its predecessor, version 2.0, the Axe FX III is transformative, one-of-a-kind, best-in-class (once you wrap your head around what’s required to get it do what you’re trying to do) and version 3.0 has only continued to build on that. And, it does so much more than Fender, Vox and Marshall tones...and sometimes, I’m into the weird $h!+.
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Post by Johnkenn on Mar 15, 2020 12:10:26 GMT -6
I don’t really get the paralysis thing. Since all the amps sound so damn good, I have an idea of what I’m going for and can land there quicker than any other piece I’ve ever had. For instance: I want a small Fender Champ...I select one, maybe go back and forth between the two 5F1 Tweeds...maybe try the two cabs...and there it is.
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Axe FX III
Mar 15, 2020 12:55:40 GMT -6
via mobile
Post by Jason on Mar 15, 2020 12:55:40 GMT -6
I don’t really get the paralysis thing. Since all the amps sound so damn good, I have an idea of what I’m going for and can land there quicker than any other piece I’ve ever had. For instance: I want a small Fender Champ...I select one, maybe go back and forth between the two 5F1 Tweeds...maybe try the two cabs...and there it is. Generally, I absolutely agree...but, I find myself sometimes tempted to start tweaking everything in the amp block, trying to learn what it does and essentially transforming a selected amp into something else entirely. It’s my OCD. I’m working through it. Otherwise, totally with you, pick your flavor, set the authentic settings, quick EQ on the amp and cab for the high and low end, pick an IR and tweak proximity and smoothing to taste (feel). Honestly, the paralysis thing is on me...I’ve been soul-searching lately for “my” sound and have been experimenting with all kinds of unorthodox combinations (i.e., a Fryette through a Fender 1x12)... |
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Post by Martin John Butler on Mar 15, 2020 19:53:23 GMT -6
This is why I'm interested in the Strymon Iridium, pick a Fender, VOX, Marshall, choose cabinet, add some room and go. I hope to audition one soon. I'm sure the Axe III is great, but for that kind of money I'd rather spend it on a few other pieces of gear I'd love to have.
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Axe FX III
Mar 15, 2020 22:34:53 GMT -6
via mobile
Post by Johnkenn on Mar 15, 2020 22:34:53 GMT -6
Then you should buy an Iridium
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Post by ragan on Mar 15, 2020 22:45:53 GMT -6
Yeah pick the one that fits your needs and budget and just enjoy it. I'm pretty squarely an All Of The Above kinda guy these days. There are really cool tools available to us, it's fantastic. I might buy an AxeFX someday (it'll definitely have to be after I graduate and get a job  ). They look like really cool units. I love the Iridium, I love TH-U, I love re-amping with my amps. None of them are perfect but any of them can get the job done in a satisfying way. I'm really just having a lot of fun playing the guitar and spending a lot less time sweating whether I'm getting the ULTIMATE PERFECT TONAL OPTION for a given moment. I have several tools at my disposal that can get me tones that are more than good enough to assure that it's the song that makes or breaks it, not the guitar sound. |
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Axe FX III
Mar 17, 2020 11:44:49 GMT -6
via mobile
Post by askomiko on Mar 17, 2020 11:44:49 GMT -6
I haven't tried the iridium yet, but I so far no other digital thing has done what the Axe does to me, I can just play a chord or single note and smile in bliss. That "frying the bacon" sizzle on top of the notes that's not a static thing but slightly random.
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Post by svart on Apr 3, 2020 14:01:17 GMT -6
Have any of the rest of you noticed yourself gravitating towards a handful of cabinets even between vastly different amps?
I'm starting to really prefer maybe 6 cabs out of the thousands for just about anything.
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Post by matt on Apr 3, 2020 20:32:50 GMT -6
Have any of the rest of you noticed yourself gravitating towards a handful of cabinets even between vastly different amps? I'm starting to really prefer maybe 6 cabs out of the thousands for just about anything. Yes. In fact, I'm using two York IRs of different mics out of the same library, the MRSH M20, 57-5 and 414-3, blended together using cabinets one and two in the cab model. I've had to re-EQ my amp models, but it seems worth it. I'm trying hard not to buy any more third-party IRs, but it's hard to resist. |
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Post by Johnkenn on Apr 4, 2020 13:13:42 GMT -6
Don't know if I'm as discerning as you guys are...I like the fact that some amps/cabs sound drastically different...or I would find myself making every amp sound like my idealized sound of an amp. Actually been trying to really mix and match amps with original cabs in songs...and resist the urge to "fix" them. Like, I'd be tempted to change the cab on a small tweed...but finding that mixed in together they really compliment each other. You guys might be way ahead of me on that - but that's just kinda where I am.
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Post by ragan on Apr 4, 2020 13:17:11 GMT -6
Don't know if I'm as discerning as you guys are...I like the fact that some amps/cabs sound drastically different...or I would find myself making every amp sound like my idealized sound of an amp. Actually been trying to really mix and match amps with original cabs in songs...and resist the urge to "fix" them. Like, I'd be tempted to change the cab on a small tweed...but finding that mixed in together they really compliment each other. You guys might be way ahead of me on that - but that's just kinda where I am. +1 Some of the best guitar soundscapes are comprised of individual tracks that sound really weird or even terrible when solo’d. |
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Post by Johnkenn on Apr 4, 2020 13:20:20 GMT -6
Yeah - it's funny - you have these incredible sounding tones in your head and then go back and listen to something like "Whole Lotta Love" and holy shit.
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Post by Johnkenn on Apr 4, 2020 13:21:32 GMT -6
Or like the whole Derek and The Dominos Layla Sessions. Champs...oof. But they're iconic.
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Post by matt on Apr 4, 2020 14:45:21 GMT -6
Actually been trying to really mix and match amps with original cabs in songs...and resist the urge to "fix" them. Like, I'd be tempted to change the cab on a small tweed...but finding that mixed in together they really compliment each other. Yes, absolutely. I tend to live in Marshallworld so I am more likely to swap out the amp model but use the same cabinet, which exactly mimics what I used to do pre-AF3 with the real thing. I also use the common tactic of switching out guitars. I'm currently tracking rhythm guitars on a song where the same part is doubled and split L/R using a Dragon Tele/neck >JTM45, and an R0 Les Paul > Brit Brown. Crazy different tones out of this combination. I've also figured out how to run two parallel panned L/R rigs in the AF3 and send one or two DI-ed guitars out as mono hardware inserts. So I can now record performances with a "comfort amp" playing, and then reamp the DIs into the mix while tweaking the AF3 from Axe-Edit. At some point I'll print the reamped guitars and move on. It's beautiful. It may be a rabbit hole, but it's well-appointed. |
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Post by BenjaminAshlin on Apr 4, 2020 23:38:51 GMT -6
Yeah - it's funny - you have these incredible sounding tones in your head and then go back and listen to something like "Whole Lotta Love" and holy shit. Those drums and that vocal are so distinctive. I think guitar tones are vastly over rated in general. Guitar has been my main instrument for 25+ years so I spent most of my youth chasing tone. Now I can basically get a decent tone out of anything. Maybe I don't like an amp/device by its self but in a track its all about what suits the track. Sometimes the best tone just doesn't work in the mix. Guess most of this goes without saying. So many good options now days. I have an HX stomp at home mainly due to form factor and have been pulling some really good tones from it recently. I didn't think that 3 months ago. |
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Post by donr on Apr 5, 2020 10:11:25 GMT -6
Can I get some recommendations of specific cabs people like from the experienced AxeFXIII owners? So far I haven't gone into the weeds too far, and mainly stick with what was originally modeled for each amp.
I tend to like the cabs with M160's or condensers better than the dynamic mics everyone uses.
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Post by svart on Apr 5, 2020 12:38:23 GMT -6
Can I get some recommendations of specific cabs people like from the experienced AxeFXIII owners? So far I haven't gone into the weeds too far, and mainly stick with what was originally modeled for each amp. I tend to like the cabs with M160's or condensers better than the dynamic mics everyone uses. I have a feeling the ones I like are a little too "modern" for most folks, but I totally agree, the m160 cabs are some of the better ones. I tend to like the ones with ML in the name, from ML sound labs. They're generally free from strange resonances and such. |
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Post by Johnkenn on Apr 5, 2020 13:37:32 GMT -6
Some of the ones using the 313 (Ksm) sounds really good to me.
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Post by ragan on Apr 5, 2020 14:37:45 GMT -6
I saw a pair of M160s on OfferUp once for like $100/ea or something. Really wish I could have grabbed them. They were a drive and it was during the quarter and I didn’t have time.
An aside. Back to IRs!
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Post by ragan on Apr 5, 2020 21:54:44 GMT -6
These are impressive tones. Doesn’t veer off into the obligatory high gain/ping-pong-delay stuff (which most videos are full of and which put me to sleep) until the end.
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Post by donr on Apr 5, 2020 23:55:29 GMT -6
These are impressive tones. Doesn’t veer off into the obligatory high gain/ping-pong-delay stuff (which most videos are full of and which put me to sleep) until the end. Ha, guy's got more guitars than I do. |
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). They look like really cool units. I love the Iridium, I love TH-U, I love re-amping with my amps. None of them are perfect but any of them can get the job done in a satisfying way. I'm really just having a lot of fun playing the guitar and spending a lot less time sweating whether I'm getting the ULTIMATE PERFECT TONAL OPTION for a given moment. I have several tools at my disposal that can get me tones that are more than good enough to assure that it's the song that makes or breaks it, not the guitar sound. 
