Beginner's Quick Guide To Essential Amp Parameters (FW 12.03)

giantslayer

Experienced
The Axe FX III has a seemingly endless number of amp parameters available to tweak. This can be really cool, but it can also be very overwhelming, especially for someone who is new to the Axe FX and used to a real amp. Most parameters are just fine in their default setting, but some are important to dial in for yourself. This is a quick guide to the absolute essentials.

Note: This guide assumes you already know how to set up your Amp and Cab blocks, and that you have already selected an Amp and a Cab.

ParameterTabWhat it is/doesTips
Drive, tone, bass/mid/treble, etc.ToneNormal amp controls.Controls should match what the real amp has (in the default Authentic mode).
Bright SwitchAdvancedTurn bright cap on or off.Clipping the bright cap is a common mod for some amps that don't have a bright switch, such as the Marshall Plexi.
Speaker Impedance CurveAdvancedSimulates the interaction between the amp and speaker.Surprisingly, about 40-50% of the cabinet sound/character comes from this parameter, not from the Cab block. The short explanation is that the interaction between amplifier and speaker is actually two-way, not one-way, and this models the amp side. Start with something that makes sense for the amp/cab you've chosen, but feel free to branch out and try other options.
Speaker CompressionSpeakerHow hard you're pushing the speaker.This is one of the most crucial parameters for dynamics and feel. Pay attention to the balance as you switch between playing hard/light, chords, leads, palm mutes, etc.
Gain Enhancer (Compressor Type)DynamicsSimulates the interaction between guitar and amp. This won't get you feedback, but it will get you sustain and a livelier "in-the-room" tone.Change the Compressor Type to Gain Enhancer and then use the Output Compression to dial in how much. Default values for Threshold and Clarity work great, but you can tweak if you want to.
As the name implies, this will add gain to the front of your amp. You can compensate by lowering the gain on the Tone tab or by increasing the Compressor Threshold.
 
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