milan.pohancenik
Inspired
Hey there!
I just wanted to share my experience after three weeks of usage of the AXE-FX II MK2 unit.
Before I bought it, I was using a Laney IRT head through a real 2x12 or 4x12 cab during rehearsals (loaded with G12H Creambacks). But then, bringing all the gear to a show and having always a risk of a tube breaking because it's cold outside and warm inside was just too high. Also there were just too many cables, as well as the fact of switching the amp channels and effects in the loop (sometimes I had to hit two switches at once to achieve that). Not to mention an OD in front of the amp ...
So I ended up searching for a modern solution. Kemper, Helix and Axe-FX were in the game. I sorted out the Kemper very fast, because it's just a snapshot of a sound. If one needs to dial in more highs or lows, or mids, or whatever, ... it does not behave like the amp and is limited. Then I've tried the Helix, because it's easier to get in Europe, than the AXE-II. Well ... it's a nice unit, has a big screen and is easy to dial in, BUT, there was something missing. The character of the amp models and the overall tone. I was experimenting a lot with different models and just couldn't get that high gain sound out of it. I've tried everything! Filters, EQ's, amp block parameters. Neither the Helix through a solid state amp to a guitar cab, nor the sound to FoH was good enough. Just like without a soul ...
Then I found a few fractals available on ebay and bough one. After that, I immediately returned the Helix and just loved the sound. The direct recording, the cab sims (I especially like the RedWirez stuff, it's more like a cab! I'm not using the MIC models at all..) and the amp models! Then I've tried the fractal through a solid state amp (the Palmer Macht 402) and a real cab that I've already mentioned. And it sounded good, but not THAT good! But then I found Leon Todd! The speaker Drive, speaker compression and especially the low resonance frequency changed the feel completely. It just pushed harder and harder with every little tune that I did. And finally, I had a sound that you could not tell apart from a real tube amp. It is just a different tube amp (I've used the Herbie CH3), but it sounded huge! The Palmer has to be pushed a bit, so I found out, that dialing the volume past 12 o'clock gave it the "push" and "feel" of a real amp. Then I just played a little with the output 2 volume on the AXE-II and the volume of the Palmer to get to the loudness of the band.
Now I'm really happy. I get the amazing experience that only a real amp can deliver to us, guitar players, but then, at live shows, I'll switch my preset to the live preset using cab sims and the audience can enjoy a great sound. And I can live with the sound through a monitor or in ear during live shows. I'll have my fun with it during rehearsals!
Enjoy and thx to all the people at Fractal, who are even now delivering new updates to the AXE-II units!
__
Milan
I just wanted to share my experience after three weeks of usage of the AXE-FX II MK2 unit.
Before I bought it, I was using a Laney IRT head through a real 2x12 or 4x12 cab during rehearsals (loaded with G12H Creambacks). But then, bringing all the gear to a show and having always a risk of a tube breaking because it's cold outside and warm inside was just too high. Also there were just too many cables, as well as the fact of switching the amp channels and effects in the loop (sometimes I had to hit two switches at once to achieve that). Not to mention an OD in front of the amp ...
So I ended up searching for a modern solution. Kemper, Helix and Axe-FX were in the game. I sorted out the Kemper very fast, because it's just a snapshot of a sound. If one needs to dial in more highs or lows, or mids, or whatever, ... it does not behave like the amp and is limited. Then I've tried the Helix, because it's easier to get in Europe, than the AXE-II. Well ... it's a nice unit, has a big screen and is easy to dial in, BUT, there was something missing. The character of the amp models and the overall tone. I was experimenting a lot with different models and just couldn't get that high gain sound out of it. I've tried everything! Filters, EQ's, amp block parameters. Neither the Helix through a solid state amp to a guitar cab, nor the sound to FoH was good enough. Just like without a soul ...
Then I found a few fractals available on ebay and bough one. After that, I immediately returned the Helix and just loved the sound. The direct recording, the cab sims (I especially like the RedWirez stuff, it's more like a cab! I'm not using the MIC models at all..) and the amp models! Then I've tried the fractal through a solid state amp (the Palmer Macht 402) and a real cab that I've already mentioned. And it sounded good, but not THAT good! But then I found Leon Todd! The speaker Drive, speaker compression and especially the low resonance frequency changed the feel completely. It just pushed harder and harder with every little tune that I did. And finally, I had a sound that you could not tell apart from a real tube amp. It is just a different tube amp (I've used the Herbie CH3), but it sounded huge! The Palmer has to be pushed a bit, so I found out, that dialing the volume past 12 o'clock gave it the "push" and "feel" of a real amp. Then I just played a little with the output 2 volume on the AXE-II and the volume of the Palmer to get to the loudness of the band.
Now I'm really happy. I get the amazing experience that only a real amp can deliver to us, guitar players, but then, at live shows, I'll switch my preset to the live preset using cab sims and the audience can enjoy a great sound. And I can live with the sound through a monitor or in ear during live shows. I'll have my fun with it during rehearsals!
Enjoy and thx to all the people at Fractal, who are even now delivering new updates to the AXE-II units!
__
Milan