I finally figured out how to rock this thing!
After 10 years, dating from the Ultra, of whining and sniveling that the Axe just can't measure up to my amps and that there is no "truly great " FRFR solution, I believe I am at the end of my quest. I have found a solution that I gives me (maybe not others) everything I could want from the Axe, and more!.
First, let me say that the bar is set pretty high in my case. I've been playing for 40+ years. I own a lot of really nice amps and cabs. Among them:
2 1965 Fender Pro Reverbs
2 Blackface Fender Twins
3 Fuchs ODS (2 50s and a 100)
2 vintage AC30s
2 Vintage AC15s
3 1970s (Reeves era) Hiwatt DR103s
Pretty much everything Mesa Boogie made in the 80s including:
Mark 2c
Triaxis
Quad Pre
Studio Pre
2:90 Power
20/20 power
And many others...
I have about a dozen 2 X 12s with all different speakers so they were my IRs.
So, the Axe sat side by side with all these stereo pairs and, IMHO, has never measured up in the room.
I tried virtually every FRFR solution. Everything from Mackie 450s (10 years ago) to various monitors... The best I could find were the RCF NX12s I've been using. They sounded good. But, when I turn on the stereo Hiwatts??? The Axe paled. About 3-4 years ago, I pretty much stopped using my Axe FX except for FOH and in studio. So, when I want to "hear" an amp, I use amps. But, still, something kept telling me that there should be a solution.
Recently, I was reading one of Cliff's comments on speakers moving air etc and today I decided to do what everybody has been saying forever (call me stupid) and plugged my Axe into the Mesa 2:90 power amp and into 2-2 X 12s each loaded with an EV12L and an Alnico Gold. I was messing around getting the routing correct and had not even turned off global power amps or cabs when, BAM!!! Amp in the room all day!!! And, mixed with the FRFR signal from the RCFs, I had a pretty good solution!
Over the past several weeks, I've taken this about as far as I think it can go. I changed the 2 2 X 12s to EVM-12Ls only (no Golds). I started using my Bryston 4B ST for power into the 2 2X12s w/ EVs. Now, this was good! But, the Bryston did not get that loud and did not really have the OOMPH. A long discussion with Andy at Matrix ensued and he explained why neither the digital power amps in my various monitors or the Hi Fi Bryston was suited to doing what I wanted to do. So, I bought a Matrix GT1000FX (2U). All I can say is WOW!!! I know many of the rest of you caught on to the Matrix years ago. But, I thought: My RCFs have 900watts/ side, should be just as good, right? NOT!!!
The Matrix is an utter game changer thru the EVMs. I have never heard an amp so FAST, with so much attack and just loads of clean gain. It blew away the Bryston, the 2:90 and everything else I tried. I really can't say how overwhelmed I was at the difference the Matrix made. My Matrix arrived Mon. I don't think I've stopped playing except to eat and sleep all week. Just KILLER through the 2 X 12s w/ EVMs. I now have the "amp in the room" in a way that even makes the Hiwatts seem anemic and, the EVs are clean enough that they are CLOSE to FRFR, but not close enough to use a cab block (though, as others have noted, some IRs sound pretty darn good even through the EVM 2 x 12s. But, generally, I've got cab sims off. The only thing I wish is that I could use all my IRs. I still do this to FOH & recording (I have output 2 set up w/ a cab to go FRFR via FXL). Still, the sound I am getting now is so killer that I don't miss the IRs (and hope to learn to utilize them more effectively w/ the EVs).
One more possible step: Tomorrow, I get one of the Matrix FR212s. If this is 1/2 as good at FRFR as the 1600 is at SS power, I get my IRs back. Who knows? Maybe I use the EVs and the FR212s. Andy at Matrix swears the FR212 will blow me away but I will report back. Even if it doesn't, I am a happy man!
Be watching the classifieds for all those amps listed above!
Pic below shows the setup. The 2 X 12s on the bottom R & L have the EVs, Matrix in the middle
After 10 years, dating from the Ultra, of whining and sniveling that the Axe just can't measure up to my amps and that there is no "truly great " FRFR solution, I believe I am at the end of my quest. I have found a solution that I gives me (maybe not others) everything I could want from the Axe, and more!.
First, let me say that the bar is set pretty high in my case. I've been playing for 40+ years. I own a lot of really nice amps and cabs. Among them:
2 1965 Fender Pro Reverbs
2 Blackface Fender Twins
3 Fuchs ODS (2 50s and a 100)
2 vintage AC30s
2 Vintage AC15s
3 1970s (Reeves era) Hiwatt DR103s
Pretty much everything Mesa Boogie made in the 80s including:
Mark 2c
Triaxis
Quad Pre
Studio Pre
2:90 Power
20/20 power
And many others...
I have about a dozen 2 X 12s with all different speakers so they were my IRs.
So, the Axe sat side by side with all these stereo pairs and, IMHO, has never measured up in the room.
I tried virtually every FRFR solution. Everything from Mackie 450s (10 years ago) to various monitors... The best I could find were the RCF NX12s I've been using. They sounded good. But, when I turn on the stereo Hiwatts??? The Axe paled. About 3-4 years ago, I pretty much stopped using my Axe FX except for FOH and in studio. So, when I want to "hear" an amp, I use amps. But, still, something kept telling me that there should be a solution.
Recently, I was reading one of Cliff's comments on speakers moving air etc and today I decided to do what everybody has been saying forever (call me stupid) and plugged my Axe into the Mesa 2:90 power amp and into 2-2 X 12s each loaded with an EV12L and an Alnico Gold. I was messing around getting the routing correct and had not even turned off global power amps or cabs when, BAM!!! Amp in the room all day!!! And, mixed with the FRFR signal from the RCFs, I had a pretty good solution!
Over the past several weeks, I've taken this about as far as I think it can go. I changed the 2 2 X 12s to EVM-12Ls only (no Golds). I started using my Bryston 4B ST for power into the 2 2X12s w/ EVs. Now, this was good! But, the Bryston did not get that loud and did not really have the OOMPH. A long discussion with Andy at Matrix ensued and he explained why neither the digital power amps in my various monitors or the Hi Fi Bryston was suited to doing what I wanted to do. So, I bought a Matrix GT1000FX (2U). All I can say is WOW!!! I know many of the rest of you caught on to the Matrix years ago. But, I thought: My RCFs have 900watts/ side, should be just as good, right? NOT!!!
The Matrix is an utter game changer thru the EVMs. I have never heard an amp so FAST, with so much attack and just loads of clean gain. It blew away the Bryston, the 2:90 and everything else I tried. I really can't say how overwhelmed I was at the difference the Matrix made. My Matrix arrived Mon. I don't think I've stopped playing except to eat and sleep all week. Just KILLER through the 2 X 12s w/ EVMs. I now have the "amp in the room" in a way that even makes the Hiwatts seem anemic and, the EVs are clean enough that they are CLOSE to FRFR, but not close enough to use a cab block (though, as others have noted, some IRs sound pretty darn good even through the EVM 2 x 12s. But, generally, I've got cab sims off. The only thing I wish is that I could use all my IRs. I still do this to FOH & recording (I have output 2 set up w/ a cab to go FRFR via FXL). Still, the sound I am getting now is so killer that I don't miss the IRs (and hope to learn to utilize them more effectively w/ the EVs).
One more possible step: Tomorrow, I get one of the Matrix FR212s. If this is 1/2 as good at FRFR as the 1600 is at SS power, I get my IRs back. Who knows? Maybe I use the EVs and the FR212s. Andy at Matrix swears the FR212 will blow me away but I will report back. Even if it doesn't, I am a happy man!
Be watching the classifieds for all those amps listed above!
Pic below shows the setup. The 2 X 12s on the bottom R & L have the EVs, Matrix in the middle