Mmm sounds like some lab work for me. Let me take a shot at it. I've had some awesome luck with sustain and feedback with low volumes as well as the cleanup with the volume knob.
I usually accomplish this with the assistance of a compressor and then back it down via expression pedal if need be. Just curious LancerS, you mentioned a few different sounds from pro artists in this thread. Which do you feel is the hardest to get using the AX8 vs. your real amp?
I've really leaned on the drive blocks and the compressor to get me where I need to be with any amp in the Fractal line up. The compressor is what usually helps give me that sustain you're talking about and the drive tightens it up with a bit more zip. I don't over use either of them.
(I have two compressor videos that I've shared that show you how to get some mean sustain out of it...may be helpful.)
But give me a few examples on tones you're looking for. I seriously want to see if any of my methods may help things a little.
And by the way, I think what you offered here by way of your personal experience is super helpful. You never know when Cliff may read something like what you wrote, try some things out, have a Ecliffany (that's what I call his epiphanies these days lol) and he changes things around. You know how passionate he is about the stuff.
Laying it out like you did tells it the way you experienced it and you explained it well. Feedback like that in my opinion is what helps to feed the Fractal machine to excellence.
Whenever someone shares an opinion and gives examples without being a pompous dick....those are the opinions that have the most value. I sure do appreciate them when they are delivered like that....so you have at least one new fan!
I am playing right now thru Pre Sonus E-8's for programming and studio (which I have grown to really like) and live through my Presonus Studio Live 16 channel flat out to FOH a pair of Presonus AIR12 powered FRFR speakers (you can digitally program these speakers and I think they are as good to my ear as the QSC's).
I guess I've never heard that from any amp.
With Volume and Lead Master cranked, nudging the Master up from zero will quickly drive the amp louder than human conversation.
Yes..."nudging" the Master up from zero can cut your face off too...it can hurt you for real...Lol
I guess I've never heard that from any amp.
Indeed.
Well I can't really speak for any of the modeling or how close it should or shouldn't be. I totally get those that are really looking for that authentic tone. However, as I had mentioned in another post...I take this stuff on not paying much attention to any of the names. I just tweak until I get what I'm looking for. I know that method isn't for everyone though...and if you have the real amp, you're kinda hoping our stuff comes close.
I thought your name looked familiar.
I don't know about any of that...but I just sat here and messed around with the Mesa II c+ and actually have a really cool tone with it using the things you have mentioned that you felt were lacking. Is it the same as your Mesa and does it even sound like one? I don't know, but it sounds really healthy and I'm able to get sustain at low volume as well as that clean up when you roll back your guitar volume for both cleaner and dirty sounds. I do this leaving a drive block and a compressor on at all times and am actually impressed with how this sounds. I hate this amp and hated it in real life when I had one. LOL!
I'm one of those 80's guys like Roger...I like that compressed, processed tone but like it to breathe along the lines of EVH saturation, George Lynch and say, maybe Nuno. I've managed to get this amp to sound like anything I want using all stock settings other than removing a little mid, and pushing a little low end. Turning the bright and the boost off makes a huge difference and this is awesome for that Stevie type of sound, though I couldn't tell you what his tone sounds like and I certainly can't play like him....but man with strat or full humbucker, this is pretty tight.
That said, the way I have the compressor, gives me a nice tight sound. Probably too tight for what you may be looking for. So dropping my threshold down a little gives you that "blues lash out" sort of tone. The drive block I chose, the 808, gives the amp just a slight push and helps bring out some harmonic value as well as removing some of the lazy low end dirt it has. The drive block just brings it to life without pushing things much. It's almost like the bright switch, but it just tightens up the drive.
Leaving all that alone and just turning off bright, boost and lowering the gain to 3, master to 6 is all I have to do for a nice strat sound that cleans up when you lower the volume. For the more high gain stuff, gain at 5, bright on, boost on, master voluem at 4 or below to take out some of the honky mids, nothing else touched and this amp kills.
I can post a little video of me going through some sounds if you want and you can see how my drive and comp is set up? It's probably not a sound you may like, but again, it has all the things you said the amp was lacking....and to my ears, I'd use this sound. It took about 6 minutes to come up with using one of my presets, resetting the amp block and just messing minimally. It's probably not what you're looking for, but it may inspire you to dig deeper and get closer to what you're looking for.
Tell ole Roger I was asking for him....great guy....I love him and his wife. I went to see him in 05-06 I believe....they treated me like royalty.
Madman Rocker by night down in West Palm Beach...Lol My buddy says "Hey you want to go check this band out practicing at this warehouse...they're pretty good?'' I'm like...whatever. That was 20 years ago. I'll look forward to looking at the video when you get the time.
Great speakers but they won't sound at all like sitting in the same room as the combo!
Danny,
I'd be very interested in hearing what you have came up with....Did you happen to get a chance and view the link where Cliff is talking about the MK II's controls I sent you? Seems like it was in response to an Axe Fx thread but it had alot of insight and did go into the physical part of getting the Axe Fx to sustain like the Mark IIC+.
Funny you had this amp as well...most tempermental gadget I've ever owned. Hey I am down with the 80's sound...love it. Just a fan of that pure liquid tone drenched sustain which is elusive...
Rodger is actually going to be here next week....we have had some great fun over the years....when I met him he was like a clean cut Clark Kent business man by day, Friggin
Thank you for being so responsive to everyone here...I really enjoy the dialogue in that most of us on here have been doing this a while and appreciate the technology which still just blows me away every time I turn this thing on...drives and all...
Thanks Danny!
Take care!
Check this out and see what you think. Sorry about the bad playing...too early for me! Wifey to be got up late for work and forgot to put the gate up in my hallway. The dogs jumped me (140 lb rottie and a little 8 lb shorkie) at 6:40 am and I've been up ever since. I think I'm gonna go rest now as I don't have a client until 2 today.
Yeah, I remember hearing that amp at the store...liking it, taking it home, messing with it for about 24 hours, and just giving up. I took it back and got a full refund thankfully. The problem was, when I listened in the store, the cab was at my feet. When I listened at home, I had a stack and the slant cab was at my ears...so I could actually hear it. Ugh! I can't believe people actually make them sound good.
Ah no problem on the responsive thing. I try to help when I can. Certain things I can really help out with. Other things like all the stuff the Ax can do, you wanna hit up yek, Chris, or Moke...those dudes are pure sickness as far as knowing the capabilities and limitations. I'm just a "fly by the seat of your pants" type of guy that plays around until something sounds as good as it can.
And you're English is fine...much better than my Spanish! (I took Spanish in school and didn't do too well) Thanks again for your reply and kind words. I hope the video helped you and you too can get a similar sound without doing much.
Smittefar,
and I´m too old to learn those lessons...) and like nobody else could get...but me!!
danthrax said:
Good luck with your tone....you will get it, have faith!