Lexicon Rack Effects

[Shask]

My Axe 3 has been on fx only duties ever since.

Do you run straight through the Axe 3, or run it with a parallel mixer?

 

[Eagle]

Do you run straight through the Axe 3, or run it with a parallel mixer?

I have tried both. I prefer to use a mixer but it’s not bad in the X88 loop . If I run WDW I keep the dry analog and use a Matrix gt1000 to power the wet through my F12 X200 cabs. For quite every day play I go from the XLR outs and use the IRs and the power amp sim but still through the vht and then to my F12 X200cabs. Even with the digital end in use it destroys any modeller for interaction and dynamic play.

 

[Tritium3H]

While obviously not a 19” rack-mount unit, i have had much success with the Suhr MiniMix 2.

I use it with my tube amps serial Effects Loop, to convert it to a parallel path, so i can use my Lexicon PCM70 or PCM92 (running them 100% Wet mix).

Works beautifully, built like a tank, and keeps your signal pristine. It also features an isolation transformer.

 

[Eagle]

While obviously not a 19” rack-mount unit, i have had much success with the Suhr MiniMix 2.

I use it with my tube amps serial Effects Loop, to convert it to a parallel path, so i can use my Lexicon PCM70 or PCM92 (running them 100% Wet mix).

Works beautifully, built like a tank, and keeps your signal pristine. It also features an isolation transformer.

View attachment 61877

I use two for stereo.

 

[Shask]

I have tried both. I prefer to use a mixer but it’s not bad in the X88 loop . If I run WDW I keep the dry analog and use a Matrix gt1000 to power the wet through my F12 X200 cabs. For quite every day play I go from the XLR outs and use the IRs and the power amp sim but still through the vht and then to my F12 X200cabs. Even with the digital end in use it destroys any modeller for interaction and dynamic play.

I was curious because I use my Axe 2 or FM3 in a parallel mixer loop after my Syn-2. Going straight through does something to the dynamics I don't like.

 

[Shask]

While obviously not a 19” rack-mount unit, i have had much success with the Suhr MiniMix 2.

I use it with my tube amps serial Effects Loop, to convert it to a parallel path, so i can use my Lexicon PCM70 or PCM92 (running them 100% Wet mix).

Works beautifully, built like a tank, and keeps your signal pristine. It also features an isolation transformer.

View attachment 61877

I would use one of those, but it don't do stereo. I use a Samson SM-10 rack mixer.

 

[Eagle]

I was curious because I use my Axe 2 or FM3 in a parallel mixer loop after my Syn-2. Going straight through does something to the dynamics I don't like.

You’re right but it’s no worse than any other unit.

 

[Shask]

You’re right but it’s no worse than any other unit.

Everyone always says " But modern converters are so good you will never notice the difference..." but I still notice.

My best units for this are my old Rocktron units since they have an analog mixer built in.

 

[Eagle]

Everyone always says " But modern converters are so good you will never notice the difference..." but I still notice.

My best units for this are my old Rocktron units since they have an analog mixer built in.

Oh you will notice. The worst are Strymon for fucking up your dry tone. The eq curve changes on the dry when you turn it on.

 

[Shask]

Oh you will notice. The worst are Strymon for fucking up your dry tone. The eq curve changes on the dry when you turn it on.

For me it is not really an EQ thing. As far as frequency response, I find Fractal to be transparent. It is a dynamic thing. It just seems less punchy, almost like it runs through a compressor. I really notice it in the bass and big chugs. They punch less and the bass kind of blurs together, which makes the pick attack smoother. Once I heard it I couldn't un-hear it. It drives me crazy.

 

[Tritium3H]

I would use one of those, but it don't do stereo. I use a Samson SM-10 rack mixer.

I use two for stereo.

Gents, what are you using with your stereo FX processors? I guess I never really thought about it much, as I have always had tube amp heads with (non-stereo) Series Effects Loops. Even when using a "stereo-capable" rack effects unit, I would always just use reverb or delay in Mono -- that is, Mono return to amp's FX Return, and then, obviously to a single guitar cabinet.

So, do you all have a stereo power amp? I do see that the Soldano X88-IR is a stereo preamp. My Lexicon PCM-70 is not stereo, but my newly acquired PCM-92 is a true Stereo effects unit.

Doggonit, now another reason to think about the Soldano X88-IR...yeah, that's the ticket...the new PCM-92 demands it!

 

[Eagle]

For me it is not really an EQ thing. As far as frequency response, I find Fractal to be transparent. It is a dynamic thing. It just seems less punchy, almost like it runs through a compressor. I really notice it in the bass and big chugs. They punch less and the bass kind of blurs together, which makes the pick attack smoother. Once I heard it I couldn't un-hear it. It drives me crazy.

I agree about the dynamics but it isn’t transparent either you can definitely hear it too.

 

[Eagle]

Gents, what are you using with your stereo FX processors? I guess I never really thought about it much, as I have always had tube amp heads with (non-stereo) Series Effects Loops. Even when using a "stereo-capable" rack effects unit, I would always just use reverb or delay in Mono -- that is, Mono return to amp's FX Return, and then, obviously to a single guitar cabinet.

So, do you all have a stereo power amp? I do see that the Soldano X88-IR is a stereo preamp. My Lexicon PCM-70 is not stereo, but my newly acquired PCM-92 is a true Stereo effects unit.

Doggonit, now another reason to think about the Soldano X88-IR...yeah, that's the ticket...the new PCM-92 demands it!

Yes full stereo. Two channels and two cabs ,three when I set up WDW . I use my Axe fx rig as the wet when wdw but that is with my Diezel VH4. I also have a small front end analog board that has a dynacomp , phase 90 , klon and tc chorus on it but that should be in the loop really.

 

[Orvillain]

Don't make me post the Strymon graphs again....

 

[Eagle]

Don't make me post the Strymon graphs again....

I don’t care they sound like shit.

 

[Orvillain]

I don’t care they sound like shit.

That's a perfectly logical take.

 

[Shask]

Gents, what are you using with your stereo FX processors? I guess I never really thought about it much, as I have always had tube amp heads with (non-stereo) Series Effects Loops. Even when using a "stereo-capable" rack effects unit, I would always just use reverb or delay in Mono -- that is, Mono return to amp's FX Return, and then, obviously to a single guitar cabinet.

So, do you all have a stereo power amp? I do see that the Soldano X88-IR is a stereo preamp. My Lexicon PCM-70 is not stereo, but my newly acquired PCM-92 is a true Stereo effects unit.

Doggonit, now another reason to think about the Soldano X88-IR...yeah, that's the ticket...the new PCM-92 demands it!

I hook it up in a few ways, but yeah, stereo poweramps and a pair of 412 cabs.

I will use my Syn-2 into the SM-10, as the brain of it all. I have Axe 2, MPX-1, and G Major 2 in parallel loops of different mixer channels. This runs into one of my stereo rack tube poweramps and into a pair of 412 cabs.

Sometimes instead I will use a head running into a reactive loadbox, which is plugged into a mixer channel. Everything else is the same except I will use a Solid State PA type power amp to reamp the sound into the cabs.

I will throw other pedals and such in there, but that is the main stereo setup.