Well, now that I spent an evening and a morning using the FM3 as a monitor I'm going back to plugging it into a fancy interface, probably should have searched for the 24-page thread about this first
Fractal Talk
- Thread starter laxu
- Start date
I just stumbled on Factory Preset 229, which is a Marshall Studio 20 in a variety of configs (jumped, normal, some FX, drive, etc.) and man that might be the best amp in this thing for me at this point. I've always liked their Marshalls best of all the big modelers (outside of the JVM) but the Studio 20 is so good I'm half-tempted to pick up a real one. Right in the wheelhouse of the tone I like, cleans up great with the guitar knob, Hendrix-y in the mid-gain, and can get full gnarly dimed. Just lovely.
Frodebro
Rock Star
- Messages
- 2,864
Updated the FM9 this morning, and once that was done I went straight to one of the presets I have for a 4CM with my Studio JTM. Replaced the drive in it with the Angry Chuck, and I’m loving the combination. I had only messed around briefly with it in the Axe FX, but not with any of my actual amps.
KingsXJJ
Rock Star
- Messages
- 2,644
It’s a great amp in person too! Love mine.
- Messages
- 17,929
Only heard a Metroppoulos being played at an amp show. Didn’t play it. It sounded really good though.
Played most of Friedman’s Marshall style amps. Owned a modded Plexi build he did the mods on. It was ok but not what I look for. Also for a hot minute owned a Cameron modded Marshall that Dave had put his basic clean channel in afterwards. Never saw what other people saw in the Cameron amps. Anyway Dave’s amps to me sound alright but not really a Marshall in feel and top end IMHO. That said in think his Plex is the better of his I’ve played.
I have a Suhr SL68 which is his take on a plexi. I like it a lot. Not played an old Plexi in so long so and that’s only been in passing so can’t say how it compares but it does what I like in a Plexi style amp so I keep it.
Anyway… did a decent amount of back and forth with it and the Bogner over the holiday weekend and they to do overlap more so than I thought it would. Honestly I thought maybe the Uber Ultra might have more in common. This one is pretty Marshall style. The Bogner Snokeler is very cool and more of a Marshall than the other Bogner amps I’ve tried like the Helios that I haven’t owned but played in Nashville. Since I don’t have to sell something right now to keep the Bogner I’ll keep both for now unless I need to move something then I’ll keep one and have a great sounding Marshall type amp covered. I like having a more straight up Marshall tone to mix with sounds from amps like Bogner’s or Fryette or the those thicker sounding modern amps. I think a great plexi mixed in at times with those heavier sounds is cool for what I like. So that’s why I have both modern and classic. I’ve given up on finding one amp to cover that ground like I’d prefer and being able to do that in the modeling world is easy and cool but I like doing it in the analog world too because it sounds great. I see why Adam Jones does it.
PS I think the blue channel on the Snorkeler is what I wished the XTC’s blue channel was like. The red channel is cool but man the blue is great too.
Need to let this get back to talking about Fractal
Thanks for the detailed breakdown.
I agree that classic Plexi and a Modded Marshall (800-ish) are so different, and so equally great,
that having one of each would be ideal.
I have owned/tried a few amps that tried to do both and I am not sure it is feasible. At least not
for me. You end up with a bit of compromise somewhere.
Mikael Dez
Shredder
- Messages
- 1,787
I didn’t know that the VP4 is going to get IR support - I would not have recently bought my Helix if I knew that 
so my plan is to sell it when that update hits and buy a used VP4 to use for post amp FX/audio interface and monitoring.
so my plan is to sell it when that update hits and buy a used VP4 to use for post amp FX/audio interface and monitoring.Mongillo19
Rock Star
- Messages
- 6,374
Just make sure the VP4 can actually handle all the I/Os you want it to.I didn’t know that the VP4 is going to get IR support - I would not have recently bought my Helix if I knew that
I had the VP4 very briefly but it's not as flexible routing wise as the full modeling units imo
Mikael Dez
Shredder
- Messages
- 1,787
I’m just going guitar > pedals > amp > VP4 > usb to Mac and two outs to studio monitors, or it would go back into the FX loop of my Mesa if I’m using my cab which is a lot more rare of a case
Mongillo19
Rock Star
- Messages
- 6,374
Gotcha! Yeah that's what I essentially used it for. Although I ran th outputs into my AI
- ★ - BROCKSTAR - ★ -
Shredder
- Messages
- 1,380
Axe-Fx III Firmware 29.00 Public Beta
https://www.fractalaudio.com/downloads/firmware-presets/axe-fx-3/29p0/axefxiii_dsp_rel_29p00_beta1.zip Axe-Fx III Firmware Release Notes 29.00 Improved Amp block preamp modeling. Most amp models have been updated as a result. Audition presets and adjust as necessary. Changed name of Supro...
- ★ - BROCKSTAR - ★ -
Shredder
- Messages
- 1,380
Signal Path: 1982 "Dan Smith" Fender American Stratocaster - Hangman FX Lord Germfet - Fractal Audio Clean Brit AFS100 Amp / Cab - Fractal Audio Graphite Copy Delay
Last edited:
- Messages
- 4,271
667, Neighbor of the Beast
James Freeman
Rock Star
- Messages
- 4,181
fu gibson
The IIC++ mod is pretty much ONE CAP.
forum.fractalaudio.com
The IIC++ mod is pretty much ONE CAP.
The REAL Mesa Boogie Mark IIC++
The most significant difference I read between the IIC+ and IIC++ models is about 6dB of boost somewhere in the preamp and a 300Hz low shelf, which implies a small cathode cap probably 0.47uF on a 1.5k which is pretty much the IIC++ factory mod and the III R2 switch according to available...
Last edited:
MirrorProfiles
Rock Star
- Messages
- 4,436
Did Randall Smith say he already designed both reissues to use the same PCB? and that Mike B won’t do the IIC++ mod to IIC+ RI amps?
Could so easily have included both on the same amp.
As far as I can tell, I much prefer the IIC+ tone over the ++. The ++ sounds more honky, squishy and crunchy. Having it on a switch seems better to me.
James Freeman
Rock Star
- Messages
- 4,181
No idea, did he?
Super easily.
I'm the opposite, I much prefer the tighter ++ or MID in the IV.
I even thought the standard IIC+ model in the AxeFx is broken (I posted about it if you recall).
MirrorProfiles
Rock Star
- Messages
- 4,436
It’s interesting, without models to try I wouldn’t really have any idea on my preferences. Between the various Fractal models, NDSP and AT5’s models and my Mark III I have some kind of baseline. I remember trying the Neural plugin and being surprised at liking the IIC+ over the ++. The ++ just seems like too much of a good thing to my ear, which I find fun as a novelty but I always go back to the other models.
Is there anything else going on with R2 mode on the Mark III? I barely use it….
James Freeman
Rock Star
- Messages
- 4,181
If I'm not mistaken, this particular cap only applies when R2 channel is engaged but not when the Lead channel is engaged in the III.
On the IV the 'Mid Gain' switch applies both to R2 and Lead.
Last edited:
MirrorProfiles
Rock Star
- Messages
- 4,436
Engaging R2 definitely affects the lead channel but it gets mushy and gainy very quickly.
EOengineer
Rock Star
- Messages
- 3,020
Can confirm there’s a noticeable boost there. Not a ton and its always felt more like a side effect than a feature TBH.
Do the standard Mark III heavy dialin and try it anywhere you would use an unboosted Recto on orange or an 800 with the pre up past 7 or 8, use the EQ to get it to sit where you want it to. It's more focused and "riffier" than the Recto and ballsier than the Marshall, at the cost of not having the big harmonic spread that the Recto does or the 800s' treble bite for doing your weedly weedly fills.
