rp911
Inspired
I've been playing guitar for 30 years now, mostly through Fender amps. I think the AxeFX is terrific.
I have heard a lot of gripes from newbies like me about the presets, and I understand that they are just designed to show some of the capabilities of the effects, and so forth. And I also understand that not everyone uses the AxeFX the same way ... FRFR, through a power amp and cab, in the effects loop of another amp, etc.
One of the biggest challenges for me is just knowing how to properly set up full-range simulations of the various amp types. For example, I am not familiar with a lot of the amps -- Fryette, TrainWreck, Engl -- that the Axe is so adept at emulating. And, I wouldn't have the slightest idea of the typical settings on a plexi or an AC-30, or a Boogie, to get their well-known sounds, even basics like where to put the master and gain controls -- though I am sure I would recognize them if I heard them. And it goes beyond basic settings, to which cabinets are typically used with which amps, and what sort of speakers you would put in them.
I would love to see someone who really knows all these different amps design a quick bank of presets to show off all these amp types in their typical uses, with the correct speakers in the correct cabinets, where the amp would sound basically "right" if you plugged in your Strat or Les Paul and just started playing. These could be very simple presets -- just amp block into a cab block. Twin into a 2X12 open back. Marshall into a 4X12. Boogie into a 1X12. They could be optimized for a consistent output level. It would be great to plug in and move, through a FR system, from a Fender Twin to a plexi to a Vox to a HiWatt to an Engl -- and really hear the basic characteristics of those amps, without having to change the cabinets, speakers, adjust gains, etc. Just step from one "basic" palette to the next, then use those presets as bases to build your own perfect rigs. No effects, no nothing. I know Cliff has already set a lot of basic parameters up on the various amp types, so a Twin runs class AB, the tone stack is right, bright switch is there if it should be, and so forth.
I'm picturing in my mind walking into a huge music store with one of every one of these amps powered up in a line, and being able to unplug out of one and straight into the other, with all the master volumes set at the same level.
I fully realize the power of the AxeFX is to be able to tweak dozens of parameters, create hybrid amps, use the effects, etc. But for a guy like me who knows how to plug a Strat straight into a Twin Reverb and get good tone, but doesn't know a V curve on a Boogie from a greenback in a 4X12, it would be a great way to learn about the kinds of amps you can't exactly walk into a music store, turn them all up to ten (or 11, if it's the Nigel Tufnel preset), and hear how they sound. This is one of the reasons I bought my Ultra, to be able to have access to all these sounds.
And, if these presets are simple enough, it would be easy to just turn off the cab simulation if you were not using a FR system and hear all the different models through your own power amp and cab.
Just random thoughts on a Saturday morning. I have little doubt that a lot of these presets exist in the old editor archives, if you can parse them out, but personally, if I had the knowledge to do it, I would assemble something like this, as it would not only help new users discover the basic raw power of this device, I think it would be a pretty effective sales tool as well, and stop the preset bashing that seems to populate the other forums.
And, of course, as you learn how to tweak and design, that bank becomes largely useless. But I think it would be very valuable initially. At least to me.
I have heard a lot of gripes from newbies like me about the presets, and I understand that they are just designed to show some of the capabilities of the effects, and so forth. And I also understand that not everyone uses the AxeFX the same way ... FRFR, through a power amp and cab, in the effects loop of another amp, etc.
One of the biggest challenges for me is just knowing how to properly set up full-range simulations of the various amp types. For example, I am not familiar with a lot of the amps -- Fryette, TrainWreck, Engl -- that the Axe is so adept at emulating. And, I wouldn't have the slightest idea of the typical settings on a plexi or an AC-30, or a Boogie, to get their well-known sounds, even basics like where to put the master and gain controls -- though I am sure I would recognize them if I heard them. And it goes beyond basic settings, to which cabinets are typically used with which amps, and what sort of speakers you would put in them.
I would love to see someone who really knows all these different amps design a quick bank of presets to show off all these amp types in their typical uses, with the correct speakers in the correct cabinets, where the amp would sound basically "right" if you plugged in your Strat or Les Paul and just started playing. These could be very simple presets -- just amp block into a cab block. Twin into a 2X12 open back. Marshall into a 4X12. Boogie into a 1X12. They could be optimized for a consistent output level. It would be great to plug in and move, through a FR system, from a Fender Twin to a plexi to a Vox to a HiWatt to an Engl -- and really hear the basic characteristics of those amps, without having to change the cabinets, speakers, adjust gains, etc. Just step from one "basic" palette to the next, then use those presets as bases to build your own perfect rigs. No effects, no nothing. I know Cliff has already set a lot of basic parameters up on the various amp types, so a Twin runs class AB, the tone stack is right, bright switch is there if it should be, and so forth.
I'm picturing in my mind walking into a huge music store with one of every one of these amps powered up in a line, and being able to unplug out of one and straight into the other, with all the master volumes set at the same level.
I fully realize the power of the AxeFX is to be able to tweak dozens of parameters, create hybrid amps, use the effects, etc. But for a guy like me who knows how to plug a Strat straight into a Twin Reverb and get good tone, but doesn't know a V curve on a Boogie from a greenback in a 4X12, it would be a great way to learn about the kinds of amps you can't exactly walk into a music store, turn them all up to ten (or 11, if it's the Nigel Tufnel preset), and hear how they sound. This is one of the reasons I bought my Ultra, to be able to have access to all these sounds.
And, if these presets are simple enough, it would be easy to just turn off the cab simulation if you were not using a FR system and hear all the different models through your own power amp and cab.
Just random thoughts on a Saturday morning. I have little doubt that a lot of these presets exist in the old editor archives, if you can parse them out, but personally, if I had the knowledge to do it, I would assemble something like this, as it would not only help new users discover the basic raw power of this device, I think it would be a pretty effective sales tool as well, and stop the preset bashing that seems to populate the other forums.
And, of course, as you learn how to tweak and design, that bank becomes largely useless. But I think it would be very valuable initially. At least to me.