Jan Geerts
Experienced
I have a 1987X. The one in the Axe sounds the same, only more managable and a little more lightweight
Thanks for your point of view.Of course, this is all entirely personal and subjective as I’m sure you are aware.
It’s interesting that you describe the AXE-FX III as flat and muddy, In that video I would have said that about the real 2555 and I’m pretty sure I had more than one moment saying that about the real amp when I had them.
For me with a very small amount of tweaking only on the authentic page I could get them to match (ignoring the physical knob positions and matching by ear) easily sounding more or less identical through the same IR or cabinet I had at the time.
There was also a little indescribable something I liked in the crunch from the AXE-FX III, like a crisp, clear but smooth crunch that was elusive with the real amps. One day I could get it then for the next few weeks I couldn’t.
The AXE-FX III 2555 also has a character that can easily be tightened (rock/metal) or loosened (blues) very easily. I found this hard to do with the real deal.
From that point on it was about what I could get out of the AXE-FX III 2555 that the Jubilee couldn’t do.
I was also able to dial it in at a more manageable volume without using an attenuator which always seems to compress and add noise as a part of its function.
Beyond that the ability to alter the valves, bias, variac, saturation and multitude of other settings to coax other more exaggerated sounds out of it made it a winner for me.
And this is all before considering the IR game, where you can use the voice of any cabinet you want without breaking your back, bank or filling up your house.
Don’t even get me started on the AXE-FX III effects… we are spoilt beyond belief with this thing.
https://forum.fractalaudio.com/threads/why-your-amp-doesnt-sound-like-our-amp.172907/Probably my error is that i use the same knob position that have in the real thing
The Axe III fed into a power amp and cabinet will not compare to the real JCM800 and 4x12. Apples and oranges.
If you're talking about mic'ing up a cab and recording the half stack, then the Axe can compete. Otherwise, you won't be able to scratch that itch of the visceral punch of the amp in the room.
Thanks for your point of view.
I dont't referrer to effects of the million of thing fxIII can do, in that fxIII win 100%,
i speak about amp's pure sound. So you can say that they may have the same sound don't matching the knobs position? Probably my error is that i use the same knob position that have in the real thing, but I know also that the model on fxIII is based on lerst omega amp that is a jubilee 50w and it sound more different than 2555 100w version.
On the other hands I agree about FXIII flexibility, the linearity of the sound, real amp today sound good and tomorrow not.
As already mentionned i am from europe. The fractal is alot more expensive than the amp here.View attachment 90207
vs
View attachment 90208
Not even a decision. At least, not here in the US. You've still got $1,050 US to spend on a power amp before you even match the price of a JCM800 2203X.
As already mentionned i am from europe. The fractal is alot more expensive than the amp here.
At least, not here in the US.
So judging from your profile picture, you use the Axe FX III with that Friedman 4x12 cab?I was tube amp freak for 15 years.
Had in my possesion : Friedman BE-100 deluxe, BE-50 deluxe, Friedman Modded Jerry Cantrel JJ 100, Diezel Herbert, Diezel VH4, Diezel VH2, Mesa Road King II.
Did extensive testing first with my ax8, I still kept some friedmans and diezels.
Then I bought AXE 3, maybe 2-3 weeks prior to official launch of Cygnus.
Did extensive testing again with all my amps.
Today I have no tube amps anymore.
I used all those money to help with financing a new house and my sound is better than ever, so Win-Win situation.
YMMV
yup, also with fryette ps-2 as a powerampSo judging from your profile picture, you use the Axe FX III with that Friedman 4x12 cab?
What studio monitors do you use?I have both. I don’t power up the JCM800 since September 2018. And I use the Axe-FX III with studio monitors only. Totally love it.
I wonder how good these will be with the axe from what i have heard theyre amazing however a bit out of my budget rn .I use Adam A7X´s and they are amazing for the price.
First of all rules:Thanks for your point of view.
I dont't referrer to effects of the million of thing fxIII can do, in that fxIII win 100%,
i speak about amp's pure sound. So you can say that they may have the same sound don't matching the knobs position? Probably my error is that i use the same knob position that have in the real thing, but I know also that the model on fxIII is based on lerst omega amp that is a jubilee 50w and it sound more different than 2555 100w version.
On the other hands I agree about FXIII flexibility, the linearity of the sound, real amp today sound good and tomorrow not.
What power amp and FRFR do you use?I have had a (pre-JCM800) 1980 JMP 2203 since about 1995. Same amp with different styling effectively.
It is probably the last amp I will ever sell, and it has been used through a multitude of 4 x 12 cabs over the years. Yes, it can be a bit fizzy, it needs to be ridiculously loud to get the best from it (I use a Marshall Power Brake to tame it quite often), I need pedals to get everything I want from it (modded TS-10 is the go to drive), but I completely failed to find anything that I could use as a substitute for years and years. I wanted a little more versatility, the possibility of a clean channel, and hopefully more portable. I went through a whole bunch of different amps, and there was nothing, absolutely nothing that felt anything like right in a live scenario. Closest I got for low volume/smaller rooms was a silver face Fender Deluxe Reverb, which was similarly just on the "nasty side of nice", and was great for smaller gigs. But then it turned out to be worth 5 times what I paid for it, so it went. (As did my spare '78 JMP 2203 when it turned out to be worth 3 times what I paid for it.)
And then (in 2016 I think) I got an Axe FX II, a power amp and a 15" FRFR cab. I spent quite a long time deep tweaking the Brit 800 2204 model, among others, and finally found a decent usable substitute. For the first time ever I could play any size of gig, or practise at home, and while it wasn't quite a 2203 in a box, the feel was close enough that I played happily at any volume, anywhere, and if I needed a Fender Twin clean sound, or Vox AC30 harmonic overtones, they were there on tap.
Since then it got a whole lot better. I bought an Axe FX III, and then Cygnus firmware got released, and the way I use the 2203 (cleaner than you'd think) is really faithfully imitated nowadays. I can even imitate the differences between my favourite 4 x 12 cabs that got sold or traded over the years.
I don't think you are insane, but I definitely don't need to plug into my 2203 half stack anymore. It has been languishing in the gear cupboard with my JMP 1987 50 watt head and the one remaining 4 x 12 cab for some time now. You might need to do it just to get the 4 x 12 half stack bug out of your system, but an Axe FX and a relatively small (but high quality) FRFR powered speaker can make all the same feel, tones and more.
Liam
Can i ask you why you prefer the model of fx3 over the original? In this moment i dont know if go with fx3 or with real 2555+Ox amp loadbox. I have tried fm3 last year and was really far from 2555, was like flat and muddy, the real one has more bottom more open.
In this video you can hear this:
I think fx3 is more flexible but the sound and the feel of the real one is better