christopherzberlin
Inspired
So guys, I wanted to share my experiences with the Axe II in combination with several setups: Atomic wedges, through monitors (Event 20/20), using 4CM with a Mesa Lonestar Combo, a stereo setup with 2 Bogner cubes and the Matrix GT1000 and finally a Marshall 9100 50W Dual block power amp and the cubes.
I will make it short and won't go into a deep analysis of all the setups I have tried the Axe with, but I'll share my impressions and experiences. If you want to check my youtube page you can find some videos with direct sound, through the Atomics and the Mesa. I didn't find the time to do any videos lately, so the Matrix and Marshall combinations are not represented there.
The journey has lead me back to the Marshall 9100 (despite the weight). Here's my very personal observations:
Axe II direct through monitors: sounds like a recorded guitar. Can't tell the difference if i listen to a mic'd amp or the Axe II. Stellar. Full stop. But: it does not "feel" and "respond" like an amp in the room. It sounds like sitting in a studio listening to your mic'd amp which is isolated next door. The floor does not vibrate, "air is not moving", plus the tone has the same "character" and EQ impression wherever you stand or turn your head (which is very different with an amp in the room in my opinion, especially in stereo).
Axe II and Atomic wedges: sounded like a great replication of a mic'd amp through a top notch PA and monitor system. Did not sound like a real amp, nor like a recorded amp. Bit more feel on the floor, I would categorize it as something in between. Did not work for me. Not fish or meat.
Axe II and Mesa Combo: WOW! Great sound. Some Axe preamps sounded killer with the Mesa Power amp in the combo. 4CM with the hum busting cables: perfect!
Only problem: the combo is heavy as hell (AND expensive) and I want to play in stereo. So, on with the search.
Axe II and GT1000FX and 2 Bogner 1x12" V30's: PRETTY GREAT. "In the room" feel, tonal characteristics of a real cab, plus the hearing impressions differ on positioning of speakers and listener. But something was missing...
Everytime I played a real amp and cab it had more oomph, more bloom, more three dimensional depth. I read Cliffs notes and played with the LF resonance - got better results after applying the V30 resonance settings but still it sounded a bit flat. Not flat in EQ but in depth.
So I bought again a used Marshall 9100 (which I had used 10 years ago in a Line6 Pod Pro rack) and A/B'd the Matrix with the Marshall. Different preamp models, all kinds Fender, Marshall, Bogners. I A/B'd in mono to be quick with switching. So left was Matrix and one Cube and right the Marshall and the other cube. I turned the power amp modeling ON for the Matrix and OFF for the Marshall, the result was this:
Axe II and Marshall 9100: The Marshall seemed to move the speaker so much more, the notes bloomed, the tone had so much more "weight", dimension and depth I could not believe it. I think it has definitely to do with what Cliff stated: quote "A tube amp, being essentially a current source, will have a voltage output that follows the impedance curve. Speakers, being electromotive devices, respond to applied electromotive force (EMF) which we know as voltage. A solid-state power amp is a voltage amplifier and, hence, will not be influenced by the impedance of the speaker."
The matrix "sounds" more accurate probably and the Marshall 9100 surely "colors" the tone in a way that the model can't be a 100% replica of the original amp, but the way the speakers become alive, the way the low end travels in the room, the way the amp models respond is so much more natural to me. This setup sounds like I have a "real" amp in front of me. So whenever I play or jam I use this now, for recording obviousy direct is still the way to go.
There is no A/B video as the differences can only be experienced in the room and not through a video or recorded sound.
Fact is: I personally prefer the tube power amp MUCH more to a matrix. I don't gig as much anymore, so the weight difference is not that much of a deal breaker for me.
Don't get me wrong, the Matrix is a KILLER great product and if I gigged a lot I would definitely keep it, but for playing at home and occasional gigs, I fell in love with the tubes again...
Cheers
I will make it short and won't go into a deep analysis of all the setups I have tried the Axe with, but I'll share my impressions and experiences. If you want to check my youtube page you can find some videos with direct sound, through the Atomics and the Mesa. I didn't find the time to do any videos lately, so the Matrix and Marshall combinations are not represented there.
The journey has lead me back to the Marshall 9100 (despite the weight). Here's my very personal observations:
Axe II direct through monitors: sounds like a recorded guitar. Can't tell the difference if i listen to a mic'd amp or the Axe II. Stellar. Full stop. But: it does not "feel" and "respond" like an amp in the room. It sounds like sitting in a studio listening to your mic'd amp which is isolated next door. The floor does not vibrate, "air is not moving", plus the tone has the same "character" and EQ impression wherever you stand or turn your head (which is very different with an amp in the room in my opinion, especially in stereo).
Axe II and Atomic wedges: sounded like a great replication of a mic'd amp through a top notch PA and monitor system. Did not sound like a real amp, nor like a recorded amp. Bit more feel on the floor, I would categorize it as something in between. Did not work for me. Not fish or meat.
Axe II and Mesa Combo: WOW! Great sound. Some Axe preamps sounded killer with the Mesa Power amp in the combo. 4CM with the hum busting cables: perfect!
Only problem: the combo is heavy as hell (AND expensive) and I want to play in stereo. So, on with the search.
Axe II and GT1000FX and 2 Bogner 1x12" V30's: PRETTY GREAT. "In the room" feel, tonal characteristics of a real cab, plus the hearing impressions differ on positioning of speakers and listener. But something was missing...
Everytime I played a real amp and cab it had more oomph, more bloom, more three dimensional depth. I read Cliffs notes and played with the LF resonance - got better results after applying the V30 resonance settings but still it sounded a bit flat. Not flat in EQ but in depth.
So I bought again a used Marshall 9100 (which I had used 10 years ago in a Line6 Pod Pro rack) and A/B'd the Matrix with the Marshall. Different preamp models, all kinds Fender, Marshall, Bogners. I A/B'd in mono to be quick with switching. So left was Matrix and one Cube and right the Marshall and the other cube. I turned the power amp modeling ON for the Matrix and OFF for the Marshall, the result was this:
Axe II and Marshall 9100: The Marshall seemed to move the speaker so much more, the notes bloomed, the tone had so much more "weight", dimension and depth I could not believe it. I think it has definitely to do with what Cliff stated: quote "A tube amp, being essentially a current source, will have a voltage output that follows the impedance curve. Speakers, being electromotive devices, respond to applied electromotive force (EMF) which we know as voltage. A solid-state power amp is a voltage amplifier and, hence, will not be influenced by the impedance of the speaker."
The matrix "sounds" more accurate probably and the Marshall 9100 surely "colors" the tone in a way that the model can't be a 100% replica of the original amp, but the way the speakers become alive, the way the low end travels in the room, the way the amp models respond is so much more natural to me. This setup sounds like I have a "real" amp in front of me. So whenever I play or jam I use this now, for recording obviousy direct is still the way to go.
There is no A/B video as the differences can only be experienced in the room and not through a video or recorded sound.
Fact is: I personally prefer the tube power amp MUCH more to a matrix. I don't gig as much anymore, so the weight difference is not that much of a deal breaker for me.
Don't get me wrong, the Matrix is a KILLER great product and if I gigged a lot I would definitely keep it, but for playing at home and occasional gigs, I fell in love with the tubes again...
Cheers
, so even he likes it more than the Marshall.
