Fractal Talk

[State of Epicicity]

Anyone have any settings they can share when using a tube power amp and cab? I just cannot get my current setup LX-II and vertical Mesa 2x12 to sound good to me. It’s so bass heavy and nasal/high end shrill sounding at the same time. Beyond frustrated. Just trying to get a good 5150 sound. I know it’s user error but when I think I have it right, the next day it’s back to square one.

You should post a DI track of you playing straight in, recorded with your Fractal unit as the interface. Maybe someone wtfh similar gear could dial in for you based off of that.

 

[MTB1973]

Think I inquired before when you mentioned crap sound. I asked about the Cab Block while also using a stand alone Cab?

Are you using one?

I am not using a cab block when I use the LX/Mesa cab.

 

[MTB1973]

They work great with modelers at higher volume in a band context, but by themselves in a home playing situation they kinda suck donkey balls.

This could very well be my issue - the cab.

 

[MTB1973]

You should post a DI track of you playing straight in, recorded with your Fractal unit as the interface. Maybe someone wtfh similar gear could dial in for you based off of that.

I don’t record, just jam out in my office/music room.

 

[Mongillo19]

Anyone have any settings they can share when using a tube power amp and cab? I just cannot get my current setup LX-II and vertical Mesa 2x12 to sound good to me. It’s so bass heavy and nasal/high end shrill sounding at the same time. Beyond frustrated. Just trying to get a good 5150 sound. I know it’s user error but when I think I have it right, the next day it’s back to square one.

Do you have a real 5150 type amp you can A/B with to maybe help dial it in?

 

[MTB1973]

Does your cab have V30s in it?

To my ear they're not the best choice for amplifying modelers.

Yes and now this may be what the issue is. Maybe I need a different cab. Thank you.

 

[MTB1973]

Do you have a real 5150 type amp you can A/B with to maybe help dial it in?

I have a 5150 preamp - Kartakou Colussus - on order.

 

[Frodebro]

This could very well be my issue - the cab.

If it has V30s in it, it very well could be your problem. I have two Mesa ported 1x12s with V30s in them. I hate them at home, but love them with my band because the frequencies they are strongest at sit in a band mix extremely well. At home they sound like crap.

 

[OrganicZed]

Anyone have any settings they can share when using a tube power amp and cab? I just cannot get my current setup LX-II and vertical Mesa 2x12 to sound good to me. It’s so bass heavy and nasal/high end shrill sounding at the same time. Beyond frustrated. Just trying to get a good 5150 sound. I know it’s user error but when I think I have it right, the next day it’s back to square one.

I would be looking to adjust the speaker impedance curve and the output EQ in the amp block. My experience doing a direct A/B between the Freytte PS-2 and a QSC solid state amp was that the PS-2 imparted extra high end and low end that needed to be dialed out to prevent the sound from being overly boomy and piercing on the top end. I was able to tame the low end, but the presence range high end didn't sound quite right to me after cutting with the EQ. As a result, I use a solid state power amp when running the Axe-FX though guitar cabinets.

 

[MTB1973]

I would be looking to adjust the speaker impedance curve and the output EQ in the amp block. My experience doing a direct A/B between the Freytte PS-2 and a QSC solid state amp was that the PS-2 imparted extra high end and low end that needed to be dialed out to prevent the sound from being overly boomy and piercing on the top end. I was able to tame the low end, but the presence range high end didn't sound quite right to me after cutting with the EQ. As a result, I use a solid state power amp when running the Axe-FX though guitar cabinets.

I think this is exactly what I am experiencing- I can get the low end to feel right, but something in the high end just sounds off. Hard to explain, but yeah. I appreciate everyone’s input/help.

 

[unix-guy]

The FM9 has a dedicated processor for reverb. You can most likely add a second reverb after everything without a spike in processing.

Edit to add this video by Leon Todd

It's actually shared by both Reverb and Delay... But still a good point.

 

[Mongillo19]

I think this is exactly what I am experiencing- I can get the low end to feel right, but something in the high end just sounds off. Hard to explain, but yeah. I appreciate everyone’s input/help.

I would also say while you may think you are looking for a 6505/5150 tone, the fractal universe has so many amps id maybe try something else in the meantime

 

[paisleywookiee]

This fm9 update is huge. Can’t wait to check out the new stuff. This one addresses a whole lot of things that were on my wishlist.

D

Am I missing a list or something? I see a small version of the JCM800 as the only new amp, and then improvements to Friedmans, and then reverbs and fuzzes. Boring to me, but I guess some people will dig it.

 

[dk_ace]

Am I missing a list or something? I see a small version of the JCM800 as the only new amp, and then improvements to Friedmans, and then reverbs and fuzzes. Boring to me, but I guess some people will dig it.

The compressors have been rewritten and are now excellent, added an 1176, killer dynacomp, etc. Lots of new drives and fuzzes, new ways to tweak said fuzzes, new ways to tweak the delay, updated spring reverb, new univibes. Pretty much the biggest effects update in years….

D

 

[0XI0]

It’s so bass heavy and nasal/high end shrill sounding at the same time

turn off speaker low freq and high freq to 0 then dial it back in amount and freq center to taste. FAS preamps are untouchable standalone into power+speaker but the speaker settings are from who knows what kind of diagnostic setup circumstance, they always get in my way, i just turn it all off. if you noon all the amp knobs and dial in a "good" sound with just speaker LF and HF where it sounds "right", ur jaw will drop when you go to actually dial in the tone stack

 

[MTB1973]

turn off speaker low freq and high freq to 0 then dial it back in amount and freq center to taste. FAS preamps are untouchable standalone into power+speaker but the speaker settings are from who knows what kind of diagnostic setup circumstance, they always get in my way, i just turn it all off. if you noon all the amp knobs and dial in a "good" sound with just speaker LF and HF where it sounds "right", ur jaw will drop when you go to actually dial in the tone stack

Thanks, I will give it a try.

 

[laxu]

turn off speaker low freq and high freq to 0 then dial it back in amount and freq center to taste. FAS preamps are untouchable standalone into power+speaker but the speaker settings are from who knows what kind of diagnostic setup circumstance, they always get in my way, i just turn it all off. if you noon all the amp knobs and dial in a "good" sound with just speaker LF and HF where it sounds "right", ur jaw will drop when you go to actually dial in the tone stack

I have never had to do anything like this when using the Fryette PS-100 with an Axe-Fx 3, whether using full amp models or preamp only. Same for any other modeler really.

You do need to dial the sound for the poweramp and cab you use, rather than being able to use something dialed for IRs.

I'd start by turning the LXII presence/depth features off, and trying different speaker impedance curve options in the amp block.

 

[MTB1973]

I have never had to do anything like this when using the Fryette PS-100 with an Axe-Fx 3, whether using full amp models or preamp only. Same for any other modeler really.

You do need to dial the sound for the poweramp and cab you use, rather than being able to use something dialed for IRs.

I'd start by turning the LXII presence/depth features off, and trying different speaker impedance curve options in the amp block.

Thanks. I never run the LXII with presence and depth on.

 

[laxu]

Thanks. I never run the LXII with presence and depth on.

I wouldn't rule them out tho. Those can be useful global features to just finetune the sound of everything to your liking. Obviously with the LXII it's not very easy to figure out where you like them when the potentiometers are buried inside the chassis.

 

[OrganicZed]

You'll want to pay attention to the speaker thump, speaker drive, and speaker compression parameters. The output mode should be """FRFR""" for use with a tube power amp as per the information in the FAS blocks guide. Turn the speaker drive, compression, and thump to zero.

@MTB1973