So, yesterday, I spent a few hours A/B between a new Mesa Boogie Tripe Crown TC-100 amp head going through a Mesa Boogie 2x12 cabinet against the Axe-FX III going through two new XiTone GRFR active cabinets. https://xitonecabs.com/product/12-grfr-active-lightweight-wedge/
First, I've played mostly rock electric guitar since I was 10, I started playing in bands at 14, I was touring with a successful rock band doing 100 shows a year in front of 1,000 to 3,000 a night by the time I was 21.
Last year I did an alt rock album at a famous studio in Nashville, The Sound Emporium, that was mixed by a famous alt rock mix engineer out of Portland and mastered by none other than 9 time grammy winner mastering genius Dave Lurrsen.
I've owned at least 50 different electric guitars over the years and numerous high end amps from Vox, Marshall, EVH, Mesa Boogie, Tone King, and on and on. My point is, I'm a pro, and have great ears for tone. I can hear very subtle tonal differences I find other's often can't.
The Axe-FX was the first amp/cab modeler where I could not tell in a mix if the guitar had been recorded from a real amp or was an amp modeler, I was very impressed! Had to have one!
FWIW, I used the Axe-FX III to record the following demo, for my next album, an '80s hard rock album. It doesn't have the LV yet. By the way, if you know of a pro level '80s rock lead vocalist looking for studio work, send them my way! ; )
When I A/B the Axe FX III with the new Mesa Boogie TC-100 through a new Mesa Cab, yes, they both sound great.
AND there is a subtle sheen, or 3D, quality, that I get from the real tube amp, that I can't seem to dial in on the Axe FX III.
So when A/B next to each other I can tell the difference and I prefer the real tube amp. I wish I didn't!
It's like the Axe FX III, in comparison to real amp, always sounds little further away, a little flatter in the sound stage, lacks a certain dynamics, and always at first blows me away then leaves me wanting more.
I would greatly appreciate suggestions on how to get the Axe FX III to sound more like a real tube amp. I know how to use the basics on the Axe FX III. I have tried all kinds of different cab IRs, bought the XiTones, supposedly everyone's favorite for the Axe FX (are the new Atomics better?) so I'm assuming this is not something that is just going to be changing tone settings on the amp in the Axe FX III or a new cab IR....
Any suggestions would be appreciated. I'd love an excuse to only use the Axe FX III and never bother with real tube amps again!
Thanks!
David
First, I've played mostly rock electric guitar since I was 10, I started playing in bands at 14, I was touring with a successful rock band doing 100 shows a year in front of 1,000 to 3,000 a night by the time I was 21.
Last year I did an alt rock album at a famous studio in Nashville, The Sound Emporium, that was mixed by a famous alt rock mix engineer out of Portland and mastered by none other than 9 time grammy winner mastering genius Dave Lurrsen.
I've owned at least 50 different electric guitars over the years and numerous high end amps from Vox, Marshall, EVH, Mesa Boogie, Tone King, and on and on. My point is, I'm a pro, and have great ears for tone. I can hear very subtle tonal differences I find other's often can't.
The Axe-FX was the first amp/cab modeler where I could not tell in a mix if the guitar had been recorded from a real amp or was an amp modeler, I was very impressed! Had to have one!
FWIW, I used the Axe-FX III to record the following demo, for my next album, an '80s hard rock album. It doesn't have the LV yet. By the way, if you know of a pro level '80s rock lead vocalist looking for studio work, send them my way! ; )
When I A/B the Axe FX III with the new Mesa Boogie TC-100 through a new Mesa Cab, yes, they both sound great.
AND there is a subtle sheen, or 3D, quality, that I get from the real tube amp, that I can't seem to dial in on the Axe FX III.
So when A/B next to each other I can tell the difference and I prefer the real tube amp. I wish I didn't!
It's like the Axe FX III, in comparison to real amp, always sounds little further away, a little flatter in the sound stage, lacks a certain dynamics, and always at first blows me away then leaves me wanting more.
I would greatly appreciate suggestions on how to get the Axe FX III to sound more like a real tube amp. I know how to use the basics on the Axe FX III. I have tried all kinds of different cab IRs, bought the XiTones, supposedly everyone's favorite for the Axe FX (are the new Atomics better?) so I'm assuming this is not something that is just going to be changing tone settings on the amp in the Axe FX III or a new cab IR....
Any suggestions would be appreciated. I'd love an excuse to only use the Axe FX III and never bother with real tube amps again!
Thanks!
David