OK, so I figured out I was doing something completely wrong in my amp building with axefx. I had picked out a cabinet that sounded good for my clean: 021 — 2x12 DOUBLE VERB R121
I had been using this cabinet for almost every amp with the exeption of the 011 — 1x12 BLUDO MIX which I was using for dumble/holdsworth tones.
However, i am now realizing that these speakers are terrible for roots rock, country and vox/matchless type .
And on a related note, does anyone of IRs of the EV SRO 12" speakers, the JBL K-120 and EV 12L cabs in open back configuration?
Hi Jack
As I think you know, I've been using EVM-12Ls exclusively since the 80s.
The main reasons are that I work with 1 X 12 cabs since anything larger is not practical for the types of gigs I do.
A single 12L, with its high sensitivity, will be louder, watt per watt, than any other single 12" speaker.
The 12L also has a better bass response than any other 12" driver and I often play with a very dark tone at quite loud (for jazz anyway) volumes.
So the 12L is the only speaker that suits my needs.
I don't play many R&B or roots rock gigs anymore but when I did a lot of name players at the time were also using 12Ls since they came stock with Mesa amps.
But I realise that there are better drivers out there for these styles.
Now, with the Axe, I still haven't gone FRFR for live playing.
I use 1 or 2 open back cabs with 12Ls being driven by a ss power amp (sometimes a Bryston 2B LP, sometimes a Matrix GT1000) with cab sims off.
The main reason for this is because I have yet to find any IRs, and I've tried tons, that sound as good to me as my real cabs.
My main focus in the FRFR realm has been to find a good enough IR that I can use with a Global Cab Block across all my Presets on gigs where there's a PA, so we don't have to futz with mic'ing my cabs.
I also go FRFR when recording at home using these same Presets.
So, I try to use an IR that comes close to what my real cabs sound like mic'd.
I've gotten pretty close over the years but it's still not all the way.
One of the main issues I've come across is that, unlike with my real cabs, it's quite hard to find a single IR or instance of the Cab Block that works well for both clean tones and gainier tones.
Gainier tones almost always require at the least some different settings of the Hi and Low cuts in the Cab Block and since I want a single Global Cab Block for everything (yes, I'm a control freak) this won't do.
You seem to be bumping up against similar issues.
FWIW
The closest I've come to my own ideal IR, so far, is the EVM12L - KM84 CapEdge - 3" IR.
This is from the Redwirez SpeakerBox (an open back 1 X 12 mahogany cab) EVM-12L Collection.
This may be the same IR that Cliff based the stock cab F008 on.
But F008 is too dark and boxy for my needs and also requires more Hi cut.
They may have stopped marketing this collection, but I think you can still find it if you look hard enough in their web site.
Of the 12L IRs that are out there, this RW package is probably the best IMO.
Most of them are too short to benefit from UltraRes processing but a few of them *are* long enough for UR.
The Ownhammer Thiele Cab 12L IRs are pretty good too but I couldn't find one (or a mix) that works well across all my Presets.
Just my $0.02.
Sounds like you're mostly in FRFR world with the Axe.
Good luck on your tone quest(s).