Fractal Talk

Good ol' fashion OG!

Fast And Furious Oldschool GIF by The Fast Saga
 
I’d like to add.an opinion to the recent JVM discussion. First though, it’s been fascinating and the homework done is amazing, top notch and appreciated. I own a physical JVM 2024 build. I actually prefer the current Fractal models. To me they sound a bit more refined which I gather might be due to the darker voicing. My actual amp is brighter. I tend to keep presence on the very low side as a result.

I know not everyone shares these feelings. Joe Satriani appears to though. I’d like to see this resolved for the purists that want as an exact and accurate replication as possible. I get why sonically and philosophically.

I did hear a suggestion earlier from @State of Epicicity that resonated with me. That being why not offer both tone stacks? I’m not sure two distinct tone stacks would be necessary to achieve the same outcome though. A single switch added to the tone stack would suffice I think allowing users to choose either. Default to the authentic value in keeping with the purist approach of course. The switch might even be called the JS Mod or possibly as a subtle nod to this discussion and the hard work put in… the TGF Mod.

I get that not all would agree to this for whatever reason. I think the option wouldn’t hurt though. I would rather not loose the tones I currently enjoy by a firmware upgrade with the “correction.” I just wanted to voice that for consideration @FractalAudio.
 
I’m actually curious if anyone besides Cliff has an amp with that tone stack, because I can’t find any other examples or mentions of it.

I’m also trying to understand the timeline a little bit - as far as I can tell the JVM 410 was first modelled in the Axe FX II era, I think around 2011. And I think that’s around the time the HJS was being worked on. There was some tweaks to the JVM models in 2020.

We know that until at least 2022 the JVM circuit has remained the same. The liklihood is Marshall would probably retire the amp or make a Mark 2 than quietly change the tone and not tell anyone.

Either way - if the JVM has been modelled by Fractal since 2011 at some point it must have had the schematic version of the tone stack, and this should only have changed when Cliff got his amp from Sweetwater.

It still doesn’t really add up to me. I personally don’t see any benefit to keeping the existing tone stack - you can get the same tones by just lowering the treble control as the range will be wider.
 
I’m actually curious if anyone besides Cliff has an amp with that tone stack, because I can’t find any other examples or mentions of it.

I’m also trying to understand the timeline a little bit - as far as I can tell the JVM 410 was first modelled in the Axe FX II era, I think around 2011. And I think that’s around the time the HJS was being worked on. There was some tweaks to the JVM models in 2020.

We know that until at least 2022 the JVM circuit has remained the same. The liklihood is Marshall would probably retire the amp or make a Mark 2 than quietly change the tone and not tell anyone.

Either way - if the JVM has been modelled by Fractal since 2011 at some point it must have had the schematic version of the tone stack, and this should only have changed when Cliff got his amp from Sweetwater.

It still doesn’t really add up to me. I personally don’t see any benefit to keeping the existing tone stack - you can get the same tones by just lowering the treble control as the range will be wider.
Yeah seems like the original model is pretty old, Axe-Fx II fw 3.03 from 2011. How much of them have been hauled by all the modeling updates over the years I have no idea.

Note that the Axe-Fx II firmware version numbers have looped over a few times where they went from OG firmware 19.00 -> "Quantum 1.0" -> "Quantum 10.01" -> "Ares 1.03".
 
I personally don’t see any benefit to keeping the existing tone stack - you can get the same tones by just lowering the treble control as the range will be wider.
A benefit from a different perspective would be retaining what has been the standard of what Fractal modeling has been for many years. Obviating the need for users to update any patches. Additionally, the approach suggested above would meet the desires of either camp while maintaining accuracy by default. I really don’t see any downside to that.
 
Possibly Joe Satriani.
That’s already the HJS. One of those is enough IMO.

A benefit from a different perspective would be retaining what has been the standard of what Fractal modeling has been for many years. Obviating the need for users to update any patches. Additionally, the approach suggested above would meet the desires of either camp while maintaining accuracy by default. I really don’t see any downside to that.
I know what you’re saying but:

1. The circuit as is, is a mistake. It’s not accurate to anything besides Cliffs anomaly amp. For everyone else, it’s just a standard JVM with a borked tonestack.

2. fixing the tone stack wouldn’t lose anything that you can’t get from the existing model. It just extends the range and corrects the mid point. If they ended up being distinctly different without overlap, then separating them makes sense. When the correct one encompasses the incorrect one, then what’s it gaining?
 
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Just came back to my JVM preset after a few days of playing bass. Still love it. The way I have it dialed in right now has the presence pretty low and the treble not too far from noon. Comparing it to the Atomica High today (for literally just a few minutes), the JVM wants to cut my head off while the Atomica wants to punch me in the gut. I still prefer the JVM but wouldn't balk at more potentiometer range if that's what it takes to represent an accurate model. Obviously I know nothing about that and defer to you all with knowledge and actual experience with these circuits.

I use my ears, notsomuch that lump of gray matter in between.
 

Going back to the initial first post of this thread... jesus those tones are so drastically different. It isn't even an EQ thing to me, though that is there. The texture of the distortion is just hugely different. Fuck knows what the difference is between my production JVMJS and the Fractal Satch prototype JVMJS, but mine sounds way fucking better - even if I do have the gain a little bit too high!

Also mine is snakeskin. Fractal's isn't!
 
When the correct one encompasses the incorrect one, then what’s it gaining?
It’s gaining the benefits that I mentioned previously. But I get it, there are some who want their way no matter what. Even if the change won’t affect them in the slightest. I see it time and time again. The only reason I hear is that they just don’t like it. There absolutely no concrete reason not to offer a choice but that just doesn’t set well with some folks. Must be a character trait.
 
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