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  1. Ben Randolph

    AFIII Morning Star - Vinnie Moore

    I've deconstructed this piece over the past couple of weeks. Vinnie is absolutely not human, let me tell ya. This is recorded at a somewhat slower tempo than what Vinnie Moore does on the album. There are some sweeps that are honest to god faster than my top speed is. I can do it at 100%, but...
  2. Ben Randolph

    Mike Varney's Shrapnel Records

    Does anyone know if Shrapnel Records is still a functioning entity? During their 80's heyday they featured so many incredible players. I'm learning Vinnie Moore's Morning Star right now. So many great techniques I'm learning just deconstructing this song. Shrapnel has a website, but it is...
  3. Ben Randolph

    AFIII Summer Song - Joe Satriani

    Satch has always been one of my favorite players, so it was a treat to challenge myself and learn this song. I'm using a JCM 800 sim with a Tube Screamer pushing the amp. A 2290 delay and some Rich Hall reverb round out the patch I used. Ownhammer IR of a 1970 Marshall 412 with pre-Rola...
  4. Ben Randolph

    Guitar Center Ghost Town

    I know Guitar Center is going through Chapter 11 bankruptcy. It was really no surprise, given the amount of corporate debt they have. But, I'm beginning to wonder if suppliers have cut them off and/or they're planning to shutter some stores. I was in a couple of Dallas area Guitar Centers...
  5. Ben Randolph

    Godfather

    https://thehardtimes.net/blog/you-come-into-my-guitar-store-and-ask-to-try-a-les-paul-on-this-the-day-of-my-only-shift-this-week/?fbclid=IwAR1ozqUXtHACm4iC3Mipi3FnlPJwcktaDqyxRGjISmFUDMKZPR4OaaLZ2VE
  6. Ben Randolph

    AFIII "Flying In A Blue Dream"

    This was a real challenge to learn. I tried it nearly 10 years ago. At the time, this song was still a bridge too far for me, but I told myself I'd go back and learn it when my playing had developed. I'm using a Marshall JVM model (JS410 Lead Orange) in the AxeFX III with digital stereo delay...
  7. Ben Randolph

    NAD: Friedman BE-100 Deluxe

    Just sold my Friedman BE-100 and got a BE-100 Deluxe. Fantastic evolution of the BE-100. It'd be nice to see this in a future firmware upgrade, though for now using the Friedman BE and the Smallpox amp models will basically get you the gist of a BE-100 Deluxe. The BE100 Deluxe isn't simply a...
  8. Ben Randolph

    Fryette Power Station. Power amp sims on or off?

    Title says it all. I usually run FRFR, but today I experimented with running my AxeFX III into a Power Station and out to a Mesa Recto 212 cab. It sounds fantastic, but wondering what people typically do with a more neutral power amp such as the Power Station.
  9. Ben Randolph

    NPD: ADA MP-1

    Non-Fractal content. I couldn't resist getting nostalgic and picked up this ADA MP-1 preamp. It sounds shockingly good! Takes pedals like a champ! I'd be really nice to see this modeled on the AxeFX one day. Leon Todd has a great video of matching it by ear using the Big Hair amp model.
  10. Ben Randolph

    Guitar Center woes

    Hey forum peeps. Just needed to vent a bit. Saturday before last, June 1, I placed an order with a GC Gift Card in store for a Friedman 412 cabinet. The employee at the store informed me that the cabinet is in stock for shipping and should probably ship out on Monday, reaching my house around...
  11. Ben Randolph

    Gibson Turning Around?

    I’m looking at the new Les Paul Standard 60s and 50s models. Looks like Gibson got these right. These Les Pauls are solid mahogany, no weight relief, no robot tuners and no push/pull knobs. $2500 new from Sweetwater. Overall, not a bad deal considering that Gibson was doing north of $4000 for a...
  12. Ben Randolph

    Iron Maiden on Harp

    After watching this I have this image in my head of Nigel Tufnel coming out on stage with one of these harps.
  13. Ben Randolph

    AFIII New song in progress

    My band is working a new album and this is one of my contributions. All guitars and bass aside from the acoustic are AxeFX III. The rhythm guitar is the Diezel VH4 and the lead is a Plexi 50 watt 6550. This is just a demo, but gives a feel for what this will become. No vocals yet...
  14. Ben Randolph

    Profound Les Paul revelation

    I bought a nice '06 Les Paul R8 a couple of years ago. Nice instrument, but a tad on the dark side. I just chalked it up to having a darker Paul and EQ'd the amp accordingly. My teacher recently suggested I try a Pigtail bridge assembly. It sounded great in his R8. He bought a real '59 bridge...
  15. Ben Randolph

    EHX sues Mooer

    https://www.ehx.com/blog/chinese-pirates-of-electro-harmonix-software-walk-the-plank Sounds like Mooer blatantly ripped off their software, bugs and all. If it's direct source code copying, then that's not good. Hardly surprising, though. Intellectual property isn't exactly respected in China.
  16. Ben Randolph

    Acoustic guitar into electric guitar amp

    I feel like the odd man out, but I find I vastly prefer the tone of my Martin HD-28 through my 1971 Fender Princeton Reverb than a new Fishman Loudbox Mini. I'm using an LR Baggs M80 sound hole pickup. I haven't experienced any nasty feedback issues. I know the M80 has anti-feedback tech...
  17. Ben Randolph

    Zeppelin desk!

    Greta Van Fleet needs this! (Not dissing Greta! I love them!) https://boingboing.net/2018/11/28/the-legendary-console-led-zepp.html?fbclid=IwAR1GqiaGQjXP_3O2fHpfj7uIv52DackvTcJekoPzHU3q6pAMm6L3OZ6n9U0
  18. Ben Randolph

    Two 412 cabs stacked or side by side?

    Hey all, Totally minor question, but I have a Friedman BE100 with matching cab and an EVH 5150 III with matching cab (both are 412s). Great cabs, but lately I've been having the idea of running the Friedman as a full stack, using the EVH and Friedman 412's together. I don't gig out and this...
  19. Ben Randolph

    LA band with fake Facebook and YouTube followers does European tour no one shows up for

  20. Ben Randolph

    Gibson Announces New CEO and Other Executives

    https://reverb.com/news/gibson-announces-new-ceo-and-other-executives?utm_source=ios-app&utm_medium=share
  21. Ben Randolph

    Single from new album - Isolated Man

    This is the first single from my band, Dark Age of Technology's debut album. This is actually a hodgepodge of tones. Lead #1 is using BiasFX, the rhythm guitars are a mixture of AxeFX III and Kemper and the rest of the song is a mix of AxeFX II and III. Middle solo is AxeFX II.
  22. Ben Randolph

    AFIII Another one off the new album - The Fall of the Bastille

    This is an instrumental off my band, Dark Age of Technology's, upcoming album. It's a mix of AxeFX II on rhythm, AxeFX III on lead and Kemper on rhythm right and some of the leads. AxeFX III and Kemper trading solos!
  23. Ben Randolph

    AFIII Single from new album - Isolated Man

    This is the first single from my band, Dark Age of Technology's debut album. This is actually a hodgepodge of tones. Lead #1 is using BiasFX, the rhythm guitars are a mixture of AxeFX III and Kemper and the rest of the song is a mix of AxeFX II and III.
  24. Ben Randolph

    FS MFC-101 Mark II with Mission Tags

    Sold my AxeFX II, but the buyer didn't want the MFC. So it's up for grabs. https://reverb.com/item/14269199-fractal-audio-mfc-101-mark-ii-foot-controller-2013-black
  25. Ben Randolph

    One of these is not like the other. Klon/Centura content...

    A friend of mine just upgraded to a genuine Klon Centaur, so I took possession of his Ceriatone Centura. Both pedals are amazing. The best I can describe is that they make your amp sound bigger. Through my '71 Princeton Reverb it makes it sound BIG like a Super Reverb. A Klon is not a pedal...
  26. Ben Randolph

    NAD: 1971 Fender Princeton Reverb

    Hey all! I've always been in love with the Princeton Reverb. I missed out on a perfectly-restored 1968 (not reissue) Princeton Reverb two years ago when the seller pulled out of the deal at the last minute (apparently his wife found the receipt from when he'd paid to have the amp restored and...
  27. Ben Randolph

    NGD: 1987 Ibanez RG 550

    I actually got this on Thursday, but I've been busy playing! This is a 1987 (first year of production!) Ibanez RG 550. I'm mainly a Fender/Gibson guy, but lately I've been hankering for something built for speed. This is a first year of production Ibanez RG 550 with DiMarzio Gravity Storm pups...
  28. Ben Randolph

    Donner DB-3 pedalboard...pleasant surprise

    I've been thinking of building another pedalboard recently. I already have 2 Pedaltrain Pros, one holding my MFC-101 and 2 Mission EP-1s and another with a 10 pedal traditional pedalboard (I still love tube amps). Additionally, as a grab-n-go solution I have a Pedaltrain Nano that holds...
  29. Ben Randolph

    NPD: Analogman King of Tone

    I've been on the waiting list for over a year on this one. I found a vendor at the Dallas International Guitar Festival that had 2 for sale. The one I bought has the high gain mod on the red side. This is a great, transparent and dynamic drive pedal. It reacts beautifully to your pick attack...
  30. Ben Randolph

    NAD: Peavey VTM 120

    Okay sue me. Sure, I love my AxeFX II and the two Friedman ASM's I rock it through, but I can't give up my tube amps nor my stupid large collection of pedals. So, today I made a psuedo-impulse purchase. The Peavey VTM series was the precursor to the 5150. This one is about 30 years old and...
  31. Ben Randolph

    Wedges on the floor or pole mounted?

    Just curious how many of you with wedges keep them on the floor versus mount them on pole stands. I have 2 Friedman ASM-12s that are on the floor. They sound great, but I remember playing with a drummer a few years ago who had a PA with two Mackie stage monitors mounted on poles. This was...
  32. Ben Randolph

    Pink Floyd Echoes - Pompeii version

    My take on this classic solo. With a Les Paul, Analogman Sunface BC109 fuzz and a vintage 1980 EHX Electric Mistress.
  33. Ben Randolph

    New old amp day

    Traded a guitar for this 1962 Gibson Falcon amp. It was in rough shape, but I had it restored mechanically. It's a bit of an ugly duckling on the outside, but the tone speaks for itself. It has the original Jensen speaker and the original RCA and Sylvania tubes. A friend of mine does the...
  34. Ben Randolph

    First solo album release - Emperor Guillotine

    First album release of Emperor Guillotine, a rock band that is me doing all the songwriting, bass and guitar, synths, mixing and mastering. https://emperorguillotine.bandcamp.com/releases I aimed for the sound of classic Black Sabbath records like Master of Reality and Volume IV with this...
  35. Ben Randolph

    GAS won for me, too. This is on the way....

    https://reverb.com/item/3623074-gibson-les-paul-58-reissue-2006-washed-cherry I'm pretty excited!
  36. Ben Randolph

    Original Song, featuring Dr Bonkers and ML IRs.

    My third song in the style of doom and sludge made famous by Sabbath. All guitars and bass are by me. On the lead I am using a 90's DOD 250 modded by Analogman to vintage specs.
  37. Ben Randolph

    More Doom Rock (Dr Bonkers Bass Goodness)

    Another song I wrote and recorded in the style of Black Sabbath. On my bucket list for this year is to write and record a complete album, all AxeFX. All guitars are tuned to C#. For guitar I'm using my trusty Gibson Custom Shop SG Standard, a Friedman BE amp model, and an ML cab IR of a...
  38. Ben Randolph

    Doom/Stoner Rock

    Ala The Sword, Kyuss, Black Sabbath. All instruments except drums are AxeFX II.
  39. Ben Randolph

    Closet find.....

    Ever hear that story of someone finding a classic instrument in someone's closet collecting dust for decades? I had a call from my sister in law to look at an old guitar for her from a friend's house. Not knowing what to expect, I was happy to tell her that she has a 1985 Martin HD-28. This is a...
  40. Ben Randolph

    Jazz Fusion in E Minor

    A bit of fusion I just recorded. Using the Plexi 50W Jump model with an Ownhammer IR of a 70's Marshall cab with V30s miked with an SM57. Using my Custom Shop Gibson SG Standard.
  41. Ben Randolph

    Insane Helix Bundle from Sweetwater

    This costs nearly as much as my car! I wonder who will end up ordering this? This is a gear explosion! http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/HelixDreamPack
  42. Ben Randolph

    Planet of the Apes: A Musical Trip

    This is one of the most awesome best worst things ever made! It rivals the L Ron Hubbard album. Think Planet of the Apes in 70s rock opera format. The narration alone is surreal. I am seriously not high enough for this. Read the story, then scroll to the bottom to listen to the tracks...
  43. Ben Randolph

    Newfound respect for Graphic EQ

    I have a confession. I've never really used a Graphic EQ in my tones. I've always been of the opinion that between the amp's tone controls and the guitar's tone knob, you should have all the EQ capability you need. After watching this episode of That Pedal Show, it really got me to thinking...
  44. Ben Randolph

    Gravity Picks

    Just wondering if any of you have/currently use Gravity Picks. I ordered the sampler pack and have been toying around with them. $4 for a single pick is expensive, but I have to say these are very comfortable picks and sound great. I'll probably buy more of them.
  45. Ben Randolph

    NGD - Fender Custom Shop Content

    All, This has been a purchase years in the making. For years I've had the idea of a top-quality Strat that has vintage tonality, but with modern playing enhancements, all with the best woods, electronics and materials all around. I researched guitars, including the usual top-end suspects like...
  46. Ben Randolph

    Fixed Strange MFC Mark II behavior after Quantum update [FIXED]

    Hi all, I've got an MFC Mark II set to AxeFX II mode (stock settings) connected to my AxeFX II Mark II via Ethernet. Everything's worked like a charm since the day I bought it two years ago, but after the Quantum update I've noticed that when powering up, no effect instant access button...
  47. Ben Randolph

    Shipping tube amps

    Hey all, I was wondering if any of you guys had advice on shipping tube amps for a reasonable cost that won't hose myself or the buyer. I have a pair of the older Atomic FRFR 50 watt powered cabs that don't see much use nowadays. I don't play live anymore, so my AxeFX II runs through my...
  48. Ben Randolph

    Thumbs up for Voodoo Lab service

    Very nice service from Voodoo Lab. My ISO-5 spontaneously died and they were very nice, fixing it for free with no hassles and having it back to me in about a week. The only other company that's had that quick turnaround for me is Fractal. Just giving a good shout out!
  49. Ben Randolph

    Gibson Guitar is a Remarkably Unpopular Company

    Sad but true state of affairs for Gibson, the iconic guitar company. As much as I love their products, Gibson needs a change of leadership. I'm lucky my SG is as nice as it is. I bought it prior to the switch to circuit boards. It's a 10 year old Custom Shop model. I have zero desire to buy a...
  50. Ben Randolph

    The Chewbacca chord

    Chewie recreated on guitar.
  51. Ben Randolph

    Gilmour Influenced Improv

    A little recording I did with my favorite Strat this morning. I'm trying to dial in a Gilmour circa The Division Bell tone. Double Verb model and Ownhammer Ultrares 2*12 Jensen C12 going on.
  52. Ben Randolph

    Stoner/Sludge Metal Tone Demo

    Hey all, This is a tone I created in the vein of The Sword, Black Sabbath, Sleep, etc. It's not all AxeFX II. I'm running my Gibson SG tuned to C# into a Catalinbread Sabbra Cadabra pedal into the AxeFX II with the Friedman BE model and Basketweave UR cab. It's short, but just a demo of this...
  53. Ben Randolph

    Metallica's St. Anger re-recorded

    A bunch of relatively unknown musicians re-record Metallica's St. Anger and it sounds surprisingly awesome. Beefier guitars and a much improved drum sound make this the sound I wish Metallica had given us in 2003.
  54. Ben Randolph

    NAD: Tone King Sky King

    I know this is a place of Fractal love, and we all have a bunch of awesome amp and cab models in our black boxes, but there's something to be said for the simplicity and vibe of real tubes. I'd been itching for a real hand-wired tube amp for a while. Now that my AxeFX is mostly screwed into...
  55. Ben Randolph

    New Pedal Day with bonus content....my dumbness

    All, This Christmas, thanks to my wife, I became the proud owner of a new Catalinbread Sabbra Cadabra pedal. This pedal is absolutely fantastic and sound great in front of the AxeFX II. It really captures the sound of Iommi's guitar on Sabbath's first five albums. This pedal is an...
  56. Ben Randolph

    Mike Bloomfield Guitar Lesson

    A recording of a guitar lesson given by Mike Bloomfield in 1976 to a private student. Apparently, this was his only student at the time. He was teaching at a small music school and apparently only had one guitar student! I like his teaching style. He really seems to know chord/scale...
  57. Ben Randolph

    Question on Atomic Reactor FRFR volume

    Hey all, I've had a pair of Atomic Reactor FRFR powered cabs for about 4 years now. I also have a pair of Equator D8 nearfield monitors. Since I've owned the Atomics, I usually keep volume and tone at about noon. They sound great, but one quibble I've always had with them is that they...
  58. Ben Randolph

    There's a sucker born every minute....

    Golden Sound I don't know about you, but the "Quantum Light" looks like a bargain at twice the price. "The flashing lights from this device will regularize the quantum movement in audio equipment and thus improve the clarity of the sound. There are several ways to use this light: (1)...
  59. Ben Randolph

    Cable question for Atomic FRFR

    I just got back my Atomic FRFR tube cabs from repair and am piping the unbalanced Output 2 from the Axe2 into them. Output 1 is going into my Equator D8 monitors. The setup sounds nice, big and glorious. The Atomics really give that warm low end and punchiness that my rig needs. I'm running...
  60. Ben Randolph

    Gibson Price Increase

    Gibson to Increase Prices, Update Models for 2015 | Reverb Here I thought $2500 US was overpriced for a Les Paul Standard a few years ago. Nearly $4000 for a Les Paul Standard? Gibson has completely and blatantly given the middle finger to the working musician and has set their sites squarely...
  61. Ben Randolph

    Is something up with Atomic Amps?

    Hey all, I've had a couple of amps out on long repair with Atomic and three Mondays ago Tom let me know that they were repaired and ready to ship back. Happily, I gave him my shipping address. Since then, no amps have arrived and no tracking number. I've sent a couple of emails and haven't...
  62. Ben Randolph

    Time Machine Auction

    I'm rather curious how the seller managed to travel back in time 80+ years to get this signed by Robert Johnson. Robert Johnson Autographed Signed Airbrushed Guitar UACC RD | eBay
  63. Ben Randolph

    Times Square Guitar Center

    Those poor Guitar Center employees. Hack that I am, I can take solace in the fact that I strive for musicianship rather than just blasting through a few memorized tricky riffs.
  64. Ben Randolph

    Do any of you still buy pedals?

    Like the rest of you, I'm very happy with my AxeFX. The sheer depth of this thing could take up a lifetime exploring. Yet, I've lately found myself itching for standalone effects for my B-rig. I'm in my 40s, and my band days are long past. I get out once a week for guitar ensemble night, and...
  65. Ben Randolph

    Equator D8 Experience

    I just took possession of a pair of Equator D8 nearfield monitors. I'm primarily a home player, so I was looking for a nice pair of nearfield monitors to amplify the AxeFX II that would give a true representation of the AxeFX II's capabilities as well as not break the bank. I've been using a...
  66. Ben Randolph

    He's dead, Jim (Atomic FRFR content)

    I have a pair of the older tube FRFR Atomic Reactor 50 watt cabs. Tonight when I powered them on, one of them made a very loud series of popping noises. I looked behind the amps and saw the one in question flashing bright white light from the grill. I immediately cut power to the power...
  67. Ben Randolph

    NGD: Godin 5th Avenue Jazz

    About two and a half years ago I started my foray into jazz. It’s been a wonderful journey, learning the solos of Wes Montgomery. In that time, I’ve developed a great love of jazz music. Since then, I’ve been playing on Strats, a Telecaster with a neck humbucker and an SG. These guitars...
  68. Ben Randolph

    One Christmas Night

    Did a little tracking with my Telecaster tonight. A few weeks late for being seasonal, but oh well.
  69. Ben Randolph

    Just an idea I'm working with

    I got industrious late one night last week and laid down this track. The lush clean guitar is simply the Bouncing Echos preset with that delay mix turned down a tad. The lead tone is one that I created based on the Komet Concourse amp sim. Its what I use for my Wall-era David Gilmour...
  70. Ben Randolph

    Greensleeves in the style of Jeff Beck

    Did a little NYD recording with my Telecaster and the AxeFX II's Princeton Reverb model.
  71. Ben Randolph

    Chet Atkins' Freight Train

    In the past month I've taken a bit of a shift in another direction and have begun exploring Chet Atkins' guitar style. Needless to say, this is completely different from the rock/blues/jazz world I'm coming from, so I feel like a total beginner again! I got enterprising and decided to lay down...
  72. Ben Randolph

    Just snagged the demo for Guitar Rig 5....

    Years ago I played with a previous version of Guitar Rig for a while before I moved to the AxeFX Ultra, and since the AxeFX II. With years of plugging my guitars into Fractal products I wanted to go back and check mainstream software modeling solutions with my current perspective. Holy cow...
  73. Ben Randolph

    Gary Moore Influenced Blues

    Something I recorded last night. https://soundcloud.com/benrandolph/gary-moore-blues Recorded with my Gibson SG and the Plexi high gain model in the AxeFX through a 4*12 V30 cab model with a SM58 mic. I really dig the Plexi tones in the AxeFX II as I did the AxeFX Ultra before it...
  74. Ben Randolph

    Assignment from my guitar teacher

    Last week I approached my guitar teacher for some ideas and an approach for playing over a bit of a long, monotonous A-Dorian mode backing track I grabbed off of YouTube. I agreed to take what we went over at the lesson and use those ideas to improvise over that track. It turns out that this...
  75. Ben Randolph

    Gilmour influenced improvization

    A little improvisation by my in the style of David Gilmour. I'm always impressed by the AxeFX 2's ability to capture these incredible tones that in the past only came from the best vintage gear. https://soundcloud.com/benrandolph/improv-in-the-style-of-david
  76. Ben Randolph

    Biggest guitar mistake?

    I saw this question posed on HCF and thought it would be interesting to ask here. What's the guitar purchase that you kick yourself for making today? You bought it, was excited bringing it home, then realize later, "WTF was I thinking?" Mine has to be in 2009, after a 10+ year hiatus from...
  77. Ben Randolph

    Selling Axe-FX Ultra Internationally Question

    I recently upgraded to the AxeFX 2 and am looking to find my AxeFX Ultra a good home. I've listed it locally on Craigslist for the last few weeks, but have mostly gotten nibbles for trades that I'm not interested in. I'm thinking of listing the AxeFX Ultra online, so as to reach a...
  78. Ben Randolph

    AxeFX 2 Review from a former Ultra user

    Well, after a long time of resisting I finally took the plunge and ordered an AxeFX 2. I’ve been an AxeFX Ultra user for about three years now. I’ve been very happy with the quality, flexibility and value that Gen 1 Axe provides. I’ve been so happy with my Ultra that when the 2 was...
  79. Ben Randolph

    Finally took the plunge

    Hi all, I've been an AxeFX Ultra user for about 3 years now. Today I decided to throw caution to the wind and order an AxeFX 2! I'm very eager to hear what this thing is capable of. Probably the biggest factor in me not taking the plunge yet is that the Ultra is so flippin' good that...
  80. Ben Randolph

    Axe-FX Ultra Improv

    Hey guys, Here are a few short improv sessions I recorded. These are all recorded with my Gibson SG Historic VOS through various clean patches on my Ultra, except for the last one which is done with my Partscaster. I'm not technically a jazz guitarist, but jazz is one of those things...
  81. Ben Randolph

    Joe Satriani Cover

    Here's an example I did about a year ago. It was basically me experimenting with recording in Garageband after I got my new mixer. No overdubs, just something I did around midnight on a whim all in one take: Joe Satriani Cover-Cryin by Ben Randolph on SoundCloud - Create, record and...
  82. Ben Randolph

    Axe-FX Ultra Input Problem

    Hello, I'm a long time lurker here. I've been a happy Axe-FX Ultra user since April 2010. My unit has run like a champ until Wednesday night of this week. A bit about my setup. I'm running firmware version 11. I run my guitar into the front input of the Axe-FX and run XLR cables out...
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