Fractal Talk

[James Freeman]

Whereas, IMHO, neither of these tones are what I'd go for. Too shrill for me. I do like a bit of that brightness, but this is kinda painful to listen to. Sorry!

Yes of course, I wouldn't use these settings either.

OwnHammer greenbacks btw.

 

[James Freeman]

The preamp of my JCM800 and Fractal's 2203 is pretty much identical, I don't hear or measure any significant differences.

My JCM800


Fractal 2203

 

[paisleywookiee]

The preamp of my JCM800 and Fractal's 2203 is pretty much identical, I don't hear or measure any significant differences.

View attachment 45787

Well if James Freeman says so. It’s so.

 

[James Freeman]

I compared my 6505 to the 5150 model with Presence at 10 and Master at 1, they sound identical, so it's not my setup or how I record the amps.

Knowing that my 6505 and Fractals 6160 model also sound and measure identical (preamp+power amp), I'm left to wonder why the power Amp of my real JCM800 is brighter by 6-7dB than the power amp of the Fractal 2203 model with the preamps being almost identical.

 

[TheTrueZoltan!]

It's here!

First impression: I tried the remastered JVM models and they definitely sound much better now than back when I had my last FM3. And the fan noise is much quieter than I expected. However, I'll still install a Noctua to make the device even quieter.

Somehow I still can't believe that I actually bought an Axe-Fx III.

 

[JiveTurkey]

It's here!

View attachment 45791

First impression: I tried the remastered JVM models and they definitely sound much better now than back when I had my last FM3. And the fan noise is much quieter than I expected. However, I'll still install a Noctua to make the device even quieter.

Somehow I still can't believe that I actually bought an Axe-Fx III.

 

[yek]

It's here!

Somehow I still can't believe that I actually bought an Axe-Fx III.

Top News: Announcement of the Fractal Audio IV on the Fractal Audio User Forum

 

[la szum]

These old Marshalls are all over the map. We match our models to our reference amps. It's all we can do. Inevitably someone complains that the model doesn't sound like their amp. It's a no-win for us.

Yup. People forget (chronically!) that damn near all the legendary guitarists who used Marshalls chased
the "best" ones with a near religious fervor. The notion of them being all the same applies in name only.

I feel for you with in this era of false equivalences. It must be brutal. Or you are sitting and reading
comments like this.

Not that there is anything wrong with people comparing their own amps to Fractal's Models, just
seems like a fool's errand, to me, and a bit like trying to pin down Platonic Ideals in a world of
absolute and utter relativity.

 

[eloygperez]

The preamp of my JCM800 and Fractal's 2203 is pretty much identical, I don't hear or measure any significant differences.

View attachment 45787


My JCM800


Fractal 2203

At the very least, surprising that the graphs look so similar and the clips sound so different. Which loadbox did you use?

 

[norminal]

 

[la szum]

^^^That's my go-to constant No. 1 with the band. It never disappoints.

I also dabble with Mark IV/V Models, and the Engl.... but 70-80% of the time
I am stuck in that tonal wheelhouse.

I just love that I don't need to channel switch. I set up the FM3 in Pedalboard/FX
mode and kick on/off Delay, Drive, Chorus, Phaser, Vibe as needed and use my
volume and picking hand to control gain/saturation levels. Just so rewarding.

 

[norminal]

^^^That's my go-to constant No. 1 with the band. It never disappoints.

Definitely doesn’t. It’s been part of my “rig” since it was added to the firmware.

 

[Stone]

Marshall, Marshall, Marshall

 

[DrewJD82]

It’s gotta be the Jem.

Updated preset- ttps://axechange.fractalaudio.com/detail.php?preset=11672

This is using the DynaCabs instead of the Orange IR and I had to use the BB Pre because I could not make either DS-1 work, which I think is a testament to Cliff's recent drive update being pretty legit because it did the same thing I hate about the non MIJ DS-1's, added that weird plasticy distortion on top of everything. I didn't want to get into the deeper EQ to root it out, but the BB did the trick.

 

[Stone]

Updated preset- ttps://axechange.fractalaudio.com/detail.php?preset=11672

This is using the DynaCabs instead of the Orange IR and I had to use the BB Pre because I could not make either DS-1 work, which I think is a testament to Cliff's recent drive update being pretty legit because it did the same thing I hate about the non MIJ DS-1's, added that weird plasticy distortion on top of everything. I didn't want to get into the deeper EQ to root it out, but the BB did the trick.

I assume that will also work with the Current FM9 ?

 

[norminal]

Updated preset- ttps://axechange.fractalaudio.com/detail.php?preset=11672

This is using the DynaCabs instead of the Orange IR and I had to use the BB Pre because I could not make either DS-1 work, which I think is a testament to Cliff's recent drive update being pretty legit because it did the same thing I hate about the non MIJ DS-1's, added that weird plasticy distortion on top of everything. I didn't want to get into the deeper EQ to root it out, but the BB did the trick.

Awesome, thank you! I think I’ll fire one up and throw on a few Vai backing tracks this evening.

 

[nicolasrivera]

Knowing that my 6505 and Fractals 6160 model also sound and measure identical (preamp+power amp), I'm left to wonder why the power Amp of my real JCM800 is brighter by 6-7dB than the power amp of the Fractal 2203 model with the preamps being almost identical.

Has to be the tubes?

 

[Stratzrus]

Updated preset- ttps://axechange.fractalaudio.com/detail.php?preset=11672

This is using the DynaCabs instead of the Orange IR and I had to use the BB Pre because I could not make either DS-1 work, which I think is a testament to Cliff's recent drive update being pretty legit because it did the same thing I hate about the non MIJ DS-1's, added that weird plasticy distortion on top of everything. I didn't want to get into the deeper EQ to root it out, but the BB did the trick.

The BB Preamp pedal has been my go to crunch pedal for years and the BB drive block worked the same way. My other real pedal is a Zendrive and the drive block also works just like the pedal. Those are the two drive blocks I've historically been using.

Very well done Fractal!

 

[KingsXJJ]

It's here!

View attachment 45791

First impression: I tried the remastered JVM models and they definitely sound much better now than back when I had my last FM3. And the fan noise is much quieter than I expected. However, I'll still install a Noctua to make the device even quieter.

Somehow I still can't believe that I actually bought an Axe-Fx III.

A link to Noctua and briefl description? Non-stock fan perhaps?

 

[DrewJD82]

I assume that will also work with the Current FM9 ?

I just realized why that answer should be obvious to me

I never think of both my FM9 and AxeFX as units to share presets across because I only use the FM9 with real cabs or in 4CM with an amp. There's entirely differnet presets on both units for different purposes. The closest it gets lately is recreating the effects chains in the FM9 that I come up with on the AxeFX but since it's doing the 4CM thing right now it doesn't even make sense to make them sharable between units.