Thanks for this post CK. You know, as much as I value these settings and this info, what I would value much more would be some insight into your process. I mean, the thing that still gives me trouble is knowing just how to approach a problem like this. My ears are good ( I think) and I build some decent tones, but for me the order of operations is kind of the thing I still struggle with after all these years. I start with stock (default) amp settings, and then I usually start with drive level, and then MV, and then B,M,T,P. But I'm curious as to how you approach things, and in what order.
After I start getting "close" to what I think I'm after, that's when it gets tricky. If something needs to change, I'm not always clear on if I need to move drive or MV, or maybe something else. It can end up getting a little random and experimental (Hmmm... I wonder what happens if I turn THIS up?)
What I wish for is to one day be able to know that if my sound is too this or that (grainy, flat, tubular, thin, muddy, whatever) that I should tweak a certain parameter. I wouldn't know to go into certain settings on the speaker page for example. I've read the guides, and understand many of the controls, but so many of them overlap or affect each other that knowing in what ORDER to make moves is kind of key. If anyone can ever get in depth on THAT subject, it would have loads of value.
The other area that I feel could really open up possibilities for people would be more discussion about setting tones in a mix. I can tweak a tone until I think it's great, and even do it at loud (gig) volume and like it, but then when bass, keys, drums, and vocals get added live, I find that the tone isn't what I thought it was. Usually I'm on the thin side, or it won't cut enough. (I know about FM, and I run my mids pretty high and follow all the theory. This isn't just and AXE thing really, it's more of an overall tone thing no matter the amp)
What is AXE specific though is that generally, due to the nature of how complicated it can be to tweak and dial in the AXE, there is little to no chance to fix issues during live rehearsal, so all I can do is take a quick note of what I don't like, and then try to go back at it the next day and try to take a stab at it. It has taken me weeks to dial in certain sounds (I get one shot a week at it basically). Now I'm on 18 and going through that again. I'd love to know more about how pro gigging musicians approach this. I'm a hobbyist, but more and more I find myself playing with pro's or pro level guys, and the demands on me are going up. The level of what I am doing (and with who) has taken a jump in the last year so I am really working to achieve stellar tone live. (I have no issues with recording tones... it's live tones in a mix that are far more challenging to me)
:lol
