In reference to question #1, I run my FM3 in the 4CM with a Rivera K7 amp, and I do not lose any sound quality at all. I leave the FM3 by the amp and run a FC-12 and an EV-1 out front. In terms of set up its nice because I only have a single XLR running between the FM3 and the controller, and I no longer need power at the front of stage. The FM3 changes the amp channels, reverb, and loop, and works great. I tried the 4CM with the K7 and a FX8 and it did cause noticeable tone and volume issues, but with the FM3 its great. As others have noted, I am only using the FM3 for effects and its control capabilities in this scenario. I also use the FM3 with a Seymour Duncan PS 170 into a 4x12 in other use cases and it sounds great that way as well.Question #1: If I get one, I'll be running it across a half stack, either a Marshall JCM 2000 DSL 100 with a 1960A cab or a Carvin X100B with Carvin 4x12. In either case, I'll be using 4-cable method (4CM). I'm not inclined at this point to invest the additional money into a dedicated power amp and monitors. The question is, how much do I lose in sound quality by doing it this way, as opposed to going with a power amp and monitors? To clarify, I really don't care about stereo.
Question #2: In your experience, how accurate do downloaded patches sound on your rig? I currently run a Boss GT-100 across the Marshall, and I've had Line 6 gear in the past. Downloaded patches, for me, have been very iffy at best. They'll either sound nothing like the video/sound sample, or they're kinda/sorta/semi in the ballpark, but require a lot of tweaking. I understand that we're talking about a lot of variables, like amp, guitar, pickups, etc., but I would like to think that a downloaded patch, played on a similar guitar, would be somewhat close.
Yes, but when I bring my own backline rig, I'm playing through one of those ISP Technologies stereo power amps into a stereo 2x12 cab. Easy on / Easy off. I'm going direct to the FOH & monitors, so I'm really hearing output 1 mostly. (I LOVE having sidefills.) I've got a little sweet spot back there by the drums with that 2x12 cab and I'm happy.Cool! Thanks, Bill. Pretty much it's all about accessing that EL34 power section, isn't? Bypassing
that preamp and getting directly to the Juice to let the FM3 shine.
Hi, and welcome!Question #1: If I get one, I'll be running it across a half stack, either a Marshall JCM 2000 DSL 100 with a 1960A cab or a Carvin X100B with Carvin 4x12. In either case, I'll be using 4-cable method (4CM). I'm not inclined at this point to invest the additional money into a dedicated power amp and monitors. The question is, how much do I lose in sound quality by doing it this way, as opposed to going with a power amp and monitors? To clarify, I really don't care about stereo.
Question #2: In your experience, how accurate do downloaded patches sound on your rig? I currently run a Boss GT-100 across the Marshall, and I've had Line 6 gear in the past. Downloaded patches, for me, have been very iffy at best. They'll either sound nothing like the video/sound sample, or they're kinda/sorta/semi in the ballpark, but require a lot of tweaking. I understand that we're talking about a lot of variables, like amp, guitar, pickups, etc., but I would like to think that a downloaded patch, played on a similar guitar, would be somewhat close.
I initially thought that the lack of amp channel switching on the FM3 would be a deal breaker, but it occurred to me that I only use the Clean channel anyway, both for overdrive and clean sounds.
I love the GT-100 in general, but I agree that the preamps aren't all that. I rarely use them. I use one for an emulation of the "We Will Rock You" guitar part and another one on a clean patch. Another thing that bugs me is that the mic placement, speaker type, etc. settings are only active when set to direct recording. My old Vetta rig, as lacking as it was, let you apply those settings across the speaker cabs.I was in a similar situation until recently. I was using a GT100 as well with 4cm mode in a Diezel Einstein 50W. Basically I was using the Diezel preamp for my main high gain sound and then bypass the Diezel preamp to use some of the GT100 amps for cleans and crunch plus FX.
Then I purchased the FM3 and after some tests, decided that I enjoyed the FM3 amps a lot and no longer needed the Diezel preamp. I use now instead either the VH4 or 5150 amps models in the FM3 as my main heavy sounds. I owned a 5150 block letter in the past and the FM model is amazingly close to it, I even switched it's "virtual" tubes to JJ ones in FM3 as I did in my real 5150 and the effect to tame up the beast is exactly as I remember it. Then I use multitude of the other amps for cleans and crunch and don't miss the real Diezel tube at all, so I sold it and purchased instead a SS Class D amp to drive my Mesa 4x12 so I also got rid of a lot of weight to move around plus no longer need to take care of tubes etc.
To use the tube amp only as power amp sounds good but... its a waste of the tube amp imho if you always bypass the tube preamp. I prefer the FM3 into a Tube or SS power amp to get the most of it, but still into a real 4x12 cab as FRFR is not for me yet... still need to feel the speakers blowing in my back... step by step.
Gt100 is a great pedalboard btw, I owned it for 10 years, since it's release, but after testing and learning how to tweak the FM3, the amp models in it are much much better, both playing at gigs volume and through headphones.
Yes, but when I bring my own backline rig, I'm playing through one of those ISP Technologies stereo power amps into a stereo 2x12 cab. Easy on / Easy off. I'm going direct to the FOH & monitors, so I'm really hearing output 1 mostly. (I LOVE having sidefills.) I've got a little sweet spot back there by the drums with that 2x12 cab and I'm happy.
Hi, all. New guy, first post. Some of you may know me from other guitar/amp forums. Heaven knows I've been on plenty of them over the years.
As the title says, I'm on the fence about an FM3. The YouTube demos I've heard have sounded phenomenal. Maybe the following questions will get me off the fence!
Question #1: If I get one, I'll be running it across a half stack, either a Marshall JCM 2000 DSL 100 with a 1960A cab or a Carvin X100B with Carvin 4x12. In either case, I'll be using 4-cable method (4CM). I'm not inclined at this point to invest the additional money into a dedicated power amp and monitors. The question is, how much do I lose in sound quality by doing it this way, as opposed to going with a power amp and monitors? To clarify, I really don't care about stereo.
Question #2: In your experience, how accurate do downloaded patches sound on your rig? I currently run a Boss GT-100 across the Marshall, and I've had Line 6 gear in the past. Downloaded patches, for me, have been very iffy at best. They'll either sound nothing like the video/sound sample, or they're kinda/sorta/semi in the ballpark, but require a lot of tweaking. I understand that we're talking about a lot of variables, like amp, guitar, pickups, etc., but I would like to think that a downloaded patch, played on a similar guitar, would be somewhat close.
I initially thought that the lack of amp channel switching on the FM3 would be a deal breaker, but it occurred to me that I only use the Clean channel anyway, both for overdrive and clean sounds.
All input is appreciated!
I know we always have to say this about running into a tube poweramp and cabinet, but as a counterpoint, I will add that your fenders and voxes will still sound AMAZING. There are ten universes of tone in that rig!This setup will work just fine and sound good but it will be limiting. The real amps' poweramp will add its own effect on the sound and the cab will heavily effect how the whole thing sounds. So as long as you are aware that your Fenders and Voxes are not going to sound that authentic, as long as it sounds good to you it's fine.
Yes it is!Thanks, Bill. Is that the ISP Stealth??