I noticed the Maestro Fuzz above. I had a phasor like that in the early days. Loved it, wish I still had it.
new Fractal AX8
- Thread starter mdubya
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- amp modeling ax8 fractal
OP
mdubya
Well-Known Member
The Maestro is awesome! It has been my go to for years. I would love to have a matching Phasor to go with it.
OP
mdubya
Well-Known Member
New Sound clip of the 1959 SLP model with the RangeMaster clone in front. AX8 Phase 90 kicked in to boost talent. I definitely need a better speaker/monitor. This one is too boxy and muffled. I think the AX8 goodness can be heard through the bad sounding speaker, though. 
SoundClick player
SoundClick player
Relic
Well-Known Member
After just replacing my disabled Zoom G9.2tt with a 'like new' used unit &, spending time getting to revisit all those tones, amp models, effects etc etc after not using a multi-effect pedal for so long which... allowed me to go back to simply using a couple choice pedals in front of an amp (and LOVING IT)... I was quickly reminded of all the shortcomings a multi-pedal like that ZOOM G9.2tt ultimately has.
Yes, those multi-function-FX pedals are hours of fun & once you know your way around the many parameters you can coax some usable guitar patches for live performance but,.. after spending time making the tones bearable through an amplifier at band volume you will still also have to balance all of the volumes in every patch if you are going to switch from patch to patch during a song!! Or sometimes even going from song to song a patch volume can be not loud enough or way too crazy loud!
All that said, there is a noticeable level of fidelity & quality of programmed tonal frequency response that automatically puts you ahead of the game on this Fractal unit! I heard little in the line of unusable programs with harsh frequencies that only get augmented through an amplifier in all those clips. The Fractal sounds superbly balanced in each patch I heard & that really puts you ahead of things. We shouldn't have to tweak patch after patch adjusting EQ & coordinating volume output to render such things usable! We just want to sound good playing guitar.
This is where the quality of the Fractal really stands out to my ears. Things just sound really 'Right'. I hear very little noise or out of place frequency bumps or dips and little to no bee buzz or thinning affect on drive tones. Instead, there is a nice full sounding guitar tone being generated. All in all these Fractal tones are leagues above what you get in a multi-effect unit like even the biggest Zoom unit can deliver!
Now I have to admit I am really thinking about this move myself! I'm just not crazy about the lack of outputs like headphone or USB choices! No USB really eliminates some options for interfacing & recording with the unit & no headphone??? WTF were they thinking? I heard their explanation in the video but that don't justify it as even cheap $#it comes with headphones & USB!
Yes, those multi-function-FX pedals are hours of fun & once you know your way around the many parameters you can coax some usable guitar patches for live performance but,.. after spending time making the tones bearable through an amplifier at band volume you will still also have to balance all of the volumes in every patch if you are going to switch from patch to patch during a song!! Or sometimes even going from song to song a patch volume can be not loud enough or way too crazy loud!
All that said, there is a noticeable level of fidelity & quality of programmed tonal frequency response that automatically puts you ahead of the game on this Fractal unit! I heard little in the line of unusable programs with harsh frequencies that only get augmented through an amplifier in all those clips. The Fractal sounds superbly balanced in each patch I heard & that really puts you ahead of things. We shouldn't have to tweak patch after patch adjusting EQ & coordinating volume output to render such things usable! We just want to sound good playing guitar.
This is where the quality of the Fractal really stands out to my ears. Things just sound really 'Right'. I hear very little noise or out of place frequency bumps or dips and little to no bee buzz or thinning affect on drive tones. Instead, there is a nice full sounding guitar tone being generated. All in all these Fractal tones are leagues above what you get in a multi-effect unit like even the biggest Zoom unit can deliver!
Now I have to admit I am really thinking about this move myself! I'm just not crazy about the lack of outputs like headphone or USB choices! No USB really eliminates some options for interfacing & recording with the unit & no headphone??? WTF were they thinking? I heard their explanation in the video but that don't justify it as even cheap $#it comes with headphones & USB!
OP
mdubya
Well-Known Member
Excellent thoughts!
Ultimately, the USB and headphones issues are merely an inconvenience. They can be overcome easily enough. And the tone through headphones is freaking amazing.
The Helix and the Helix LT have more features, but it is said they require more tweaking for truly great tones.
I was still skeptical when I pulled the trigger, but I am now a true believer.
I had a lot of fun with the $100 Mustang I. It was a ridiculous value for the $$$. I am not sure the AX8 is worth 13 X what the Mustang I cost, but it raises the bar a in a significant way, certainly enough that I don't have any regrets.
The AX8 has even had me wondering about turning cab sims off and running it through my Champ.
We'll see how bored I get.
OP
mdubya
Well-Known Member
It's not so bad (confusing wise).
Relic
Well-Known Member
The one thing I found out about the many Multi-FX pedals that I've used or owned is that there is a tremendous difference between using them at low volume by yourself, using them at gig volume & in addition to that... using them in an actual band at band volume!
As I hinted above in my first post, these differences that pop up & create problems are not only volume level from patch to patch which is made more extreme when playing loudly & render things frustratingly unusable 'as is' playing with a band, BUTTT (that's a big but!) there are also frequency that will stand out even more so when amplified as well as preset things like 'cabinet' setting & various over-drives & distortion levels that quickly turn to a noisy squelching bee hive of useless poop!
Lets face it, previous Multi-Pedals are just tough to use as programmed with a band and require lots of personal time & effort to set them up so they are usable. Plus, you really need to set things up at the band volume & with the amp & cab you'll be using to really get things right as possible.
I am curious to hear how the Fractal sounds from patch to patch at both low volume & band volume as well.
I'm really curious to hear how you 'easily' overcame the no headphone jack & the USB as well.
As I hinted above in my first post, these differences that pop up & create problems are not only volume level from patch to patch which is made more extreme when playing loudly & render things frustratingly unusable 'as is' playing with a band, BUTTT (that's a big but!) there are also frequency that will stand out even more so when amplified as well as preset things like 'cabinet' setting & various over-drives & distortion levels that quickly turn to a noisy squelching bee hive of useless poop!
Lets face it, previous Multi-Pedals are just tough to use as programmed with a band and require lots of personal time & effort to set them up so they are usable. Plus, you really need to set things up at the band volume & with the amp & cab you'll be using to really get things right as possible.
I am curious to hear how the Fractal sounds from patch to patch at both low volume & band volume as well.
I'm really curious to hear how you 'easily' overcame the no headphone jack & the USB as well.
OP
mdubya
Well-Known Member
I bought the AX8 for low volume practice. Even the occasional band jam I do is relatively low volume; electronic drums and practice amps. No ringing ears.
"Real" amps (vs virtual) are pretty much the same thing; you have to dial in your settings at the volume at which you plan to gig.
So, if I decided to gig, at volume, I would prepare for that. I would also keep it simple, because I am simple.
I wouldn't use more than one or two different models without anything too elaborate as far as effects. I wouldn't craft soundscape scenes for each song. I understand that is what many will want to do. But that is why I chose the AX8. I didn't need or want as much as the Helix or the Axe FX II can do. The Helix LT would be my choice in the Line 6 camp, for example.
Expanding on why I chose the AX8, I really wanted a floor model which I could use as a stomp box; base amp models with effects added in and out. I figured out I wanted this layout with the Mustang. If I did a gig, I would not be switching from Plexi to Deluxe Reverb to VOX AC15 to Friedman and back again for each song.
I have read a little bit about the ability to match output levels and the AX8 even has a VU meter to help with this.
The AX8 has a USB port, it is just a less common USB type.
I use the 1/4" output for the headphones. A Y cable gives you stereo. A dedicated stereo headphones out would be nice, though.
The one thing I see this lacks is a stereo input. My X3 Live has a 3.5 mm stereo input, so you can run an mp3 player into it. That makes it a great device to practice with. I know I could accomplish that with an external mixer, but it's really convenient to have the capability right there.
As for the USB, the full-size USB Type B connector on the AX8 is the ideal connector for this purpose, in my opinion. It is more rugged than the USB mini or USB micro connectors.
I also like the fact that it uses a molded power cord, not an external DC power supply.
As for the USB, the full-size USB Type B connector on the AX8 is the ideal connector for this purpose, in my opinion. It is more rugged than the USB mini or USB micro connectors.
I also like the fact that it uses a molded power cord, not an external DC power supply.
Relic
Well-Known Member
That is nice man. Those DC power wart setups just aren't as durable or as easily replaceable as a plain ol' power cord.