Joe
Member
Hi,
some of you might know that I'm the support-guy for G66. I'm trying to help the european customers when they need help with their Axe-Fx. G66 is also the european distributor for Atomic Amplification for several years now.
Got my first Axe-Fx (a Standard) about two and a half years ago, later followed by an Ultra. Since day one I was playing my Axe with a pair of the Atomic Reactor 50 Watts/1x12 or a pair of the Reactor 2x12 when the venues called for them.
When I heard that Fractal Audio Systems and Atomic Amplifiers joined forces to develop a powered monitor to get the best tones from the Axe-FX and when the first rumors of the Atomic Reactor FR came up I started to go all tingly because to me this seems to be the perfect solution for the Axe-Fx. With my bands and projects going FRFR is a benefit because I'm able to use all the fantastic features the Axe-Fx offers. Of course I was able to dial in some great sounds with the (old) Reactors for my blues rock band, or the cover band, but on the other hand I'm also playing in a band with an unplugged set and there's a Pink Floyd-project where we all are going direct.
Everything was fine, I really enjoyed the (old) Atomics but I also loved the variety I got when I went completely FRFR. To me it's like this: if you want or need very different tones this is the way to go because a full range flat response system will sound more realistic if you want to use/offer very different amps/cabs combinations - (to me) it will sound more realistic if you need, say, a small Fender combo tone followed by a huge marshall sound. Try this with a traditional guitar cab: your tones would be more colored when you are using such a traditional guitar cab - it's very difficult (if not impossible) to get a 4x12" cab sound like an 1x10" combo. With FRFR you can get all these sounds and they all sound "real" thanks to Cliff's marvelous algorithms.
For blues and rock I never had problems to get the sound I wanted from the non FR Atomics. But for instance I had to program extra presets for the Pink Floyd project and so on. Different presets for different situations, I had Atomic presets, unplugged presets and FR presets. And when I tweaked a preset with the cover band, which I also used (with FR changes) on the Pink Floyd project, I had to tweak this one too.
So it was clear to me, that for me going FR all the time would be very useful. I want one setup (and a backup) that works for all my stuff. I'm also playing in a ZZ Top tribute band and all I need here is one or two sounds. I could use my Marshall halfstack, but I want to use the Axe (and always did), because it sounds great, with no hassle, I have the complete control on everything, the wireless sits in the same rack and so on. Just plug in and play and it sounds great. And if I need some EQ because of the room I have it just here, I have everything I need. And with every project/band I'm using the same setup.
Last week Tom (King, President of Atomic Amplifiers) sent a first pair of the brandnew ATOMIC REACTOR FR to G66. I got them a few days ago and now they sit on top of the older Reactors in my band's room.
I know, without a pic it didn't happen:
And I have to tell you, that I'm really, really enjoying them a lot. I gave them a go with electric and acoustic guitars, compared them with my high-end powered monitors and though they are brandnew (the speakers still need to break in a little more) and also new to me (the Reactor FR is a different animal compared to the older Reactor) I'm sure that the Reactor FRs are a great deal for a lot of Axe-Fx users.
I played a complete rehearsal with the unplugged band and I got some fantastic tones from my B-Band equipped acoustic with the Ultra and the Reactor FR.
I know there are folks who are absolutely happy with their power amp and favorite guitar cab and I don't want to talk them into the Reactor FR - if I were only in one band and in need of only a few sounds which can be achieved with the same cab I would perhaps use the VHT power amp with my 4x12" - but everyone who thinks that going FR might be a good idea should give them a go. To me they are a bang for the buck.
And now I'm off to give them a whirl with the electric band.
If this were Star Trek, I'd say that after first contact I'm already assimilated to the Fractal Audio Systems / Atomic Amplification collective. Resistance is futile!
In a more romantic style one could also say that I think I fell in love with those beautiful twins after the first date.
Thanks to Tom and Cliff for making life as a guitarist better every day.
Cheers
Jochen
some of you might know that I'm the support-guy for G66. I'm trying to help the european customers when they need help with their Axe-Fx. G66 is also the european distributor for Atomic Amplification for several years now.
Got my first Axe-Fx (a Standard) about two and a half years ago, later followed by an Ultra. Since day one I was playing my Axe with a pair of the Atomic Reactor 50 Watts/1x12 or a pair of the Reactor 2x12 when the venues called for them.
When I heard that Fractal Audio Systems and Atomic Amplifiers joined forces to develop a powered monitor to get the best tones from the Axe-FX and when the first rumors of the Atomic Reactor FR came up I started to go all tingly because to me this seems to be the perfect solution for the Axe-Fx. With my bands and projects going FRFR is a benefit because I'm able to use all the fantastic features the Axe-Fx offers. Of course I was able to dial in some great sounds with the (old) Reactors for my blues rock band, or the cover band, but on the other hand I'm also playing in a band with an unplugged set and there's a Pink Floyd-project where we all are going direct.
Everything was fine, I really enjoyed the (old) Atomics but I also loved the variety I got when I went completely FRFR. To me it's like this: if you want or need very different tones this is the way to go because a full range flat response system will sound more realistic if you want to use/offer very different amps/cabs combinations - (to me) it will sound more realistic if you need, say, a small Fender combo tone followed by a huge marshall sound. Try this with a traditional guitar cab: your tones would be more colored when you are using such a traditional guitar cab - it's very difficult (if not impossible) to get a 4x12" cab sound like an 1x10" combo. With FRFR you can get all these sounds and they all sound "real" thanks to Cliff's marvelous algorithms.
For blues and rock I never had problems to get the sound I wanted from the non FR Atomics. But for instance I had to program extra presets for the Pink Floyd project and so on. Different presets for different situations, I had Atomic presets, unplugged presets and FR presets. And when I tweaked a preset with the cover band, which I also used (with FR changes) on the Pink Floyd project, I had to tweak this one too.
So it was clear to me, that for me going FR all the time would be very useful. I want one setup (and a backup) that works for all my stuff. I'm also playing in a ZZ Top tribute band and all I need here is one or two sounds. I could use my Marshall halfstack, but I want to use the Axe (and always did), because it sounds great, with no hassle, I have the complete control on everything, the wireless sits in the same rack and so on. Just plug in and play and it sounds great. And if I need some EQ because of the room I have it just here, I have everything I need. And with every project/band I'm using the same setup.
Last week Tom (King, President of Atomic Amplifiers) sent a first pair of the brandnew ATOMIC REACTOR FR to G66. I got them a few days ago and now they sit on top of the older Reactors in my band's room.
I know, without a pic it didn't happen:
And I have to tell you, that I'm really, really enjoying them a lot. I gave them a go with electric and acoustic guitars, compared them with my high-end powered monitors and though they are brandnew (the speakers still need to break in a little more) and also new to me (the Reactor FR is a different animal compared to the older Reactor) I'm sure that the Reactor FRs are a great deal for a lot of Axe-Fx users.
I played a complete rehearsal with the unplugged band and I got some fantastic tones from my B-Band equipped acoustic with the Ultra and the Reactor FR.
I know there are folks who are absolutely happy with their power amp and favorite guitar cab and I don't want to talk them into the Reactor FR - if I were only in one band and in need of only a few sounds which can be achieved with the same cab I would perhaps use the VHT power amp with my 4x12" - but everyone who thinks that going FR might be a good idea should give them a go. To me they are a bang for the buck.
And now I'm off to give them a whirl with the electric band.
If this were Star Trek, I'd say that after first contact I'm already assimilated to the Fractal Audio Systems / Atomic Amplification collective. Resistance is futile!
In a more romantic style one could also say that I think I fell in love with those beautiful twins after the first date.
Thanks to Tom and Cliff for making life as a guitarist better every day.
Cheers
Jochen
