Posted by Jason on 7/19/2008, 3:47 pm, in reply to "Re: More AXE-FX Tone"

Norm, Do you remember the old Korg A3 units from years ago? http://www.shanzuguitars.com/guitar-gear/guitar-effects/Korg/korg-a3.asp I bought one when they were brand new and had just hit the market. I was in my teens and had never really owned any decent rack stuff before. At the time, it was like a work of art to me. This was before modelers were around, but it was the first thing I saw that did the chain layout that is relatively commonplace today. It sounds like the Axe-FX has a similar thing going on with layout. With the A3, it was like using a space age computer (in a good way). Even the display was really classy for the era. You could take the effects chains and switch them around. Presets galore and user banks everywhere! I bought all the expansion cards that were available. Each one was like getting a whole new collection of tones. Years later I sold it long after I stopped using the A3. I passed it on to a friend who was an A3 devotee and he used it for a long time afterwards. He was truly excited to get the cards since they'd been out of production. I guess the old saying "There's no time like the first time" rings true for me. I had a blast exploring that unit. Just tweaking and tweaking with no regard to the time passing by. There's definitely that side to me which still exists, but on the whole, I still go for simplicity. Making the two worlds meet compatibly is the fun part. I think I can count on one hand how many comprehensive guitar-focused rack units I've owned. By these, I'm referring to the all-in-ones that do everything from overdriving to the time domains. I have long preferred a few pedal effects into amp of choice. I've certainly owned a lot of studio rack gear. The only true tone processing rack item I have today (not including mic preamps, etc) is a Line 6 Bass POD. In the past when I had the rack stuff...I had a Rocktron Intellifex (remember those?) and later, a Roland GP-100. http://www.greenoak.com/gp100/gp100.html I did jump on the POD rack train for a brief period for attending to some direct recording applications. That GP-100 though, to my ears, still sounded better and was just overall superior to any POD that I had. I guess Roland quit making it. I used the GP-100 often for late night home practice/recording, and occasionally for some studio sounds. That was really the first modeling device I ever had. I gave it to a friend a couple of years ago because I hadn't been using it for a good while. Make no mistake, it was not as satisfying to me as my amps, nor did I run it into a loop and disable the COSM circuit. I used it as a very straight-ahead into the console thing. For what it did, though, I found more utility out of it than any other similar product. I'm still partial to the feel and physics of real amplifiers, particularly tubes. However, I've always kept an open mind on digital technologies. The Fractal unit is something I'd like to plug into sometime just to see what's going on with it. If it were something to make me inspired to play, as well as suitable for live use, then surely I'd give it a shot. The reason I'm not pressing to have one at the moment is because I'm happy with what I have. Also gotta fill up the tank Nevertheless, I'm very appreciative that you are taking the time to post these videos. It's enjoyable for me to hear the unit and to hear you play. JB --Previous Message-- : The patch runs noise : gate-comp-filter-amp(Metal=a custom type : similar to a British type but with more gain : and a modified British tone stack with high : frequency emphasis)-cab(4x12 30 watt vintage : celestions)-graphic EQ(slight boost at 1K : and 2K with slight decrease at 4K and more : roll off at : 8K)-delay-reverb-enhancer-output. : You could consider this a tweaker's dream or : a players nightmare. I have the amps drive : and gain almost all the way up and the mids, : treble, and presence set about 60%. The bass : is about 40%. : : --Previous Message-- : Thumbs up! Can you describe how you : constructed the patch with the Fractal? : Enjoyed watching the riffs. Keep 'em : coming. : : JB : : --Previous Message-- : Here is a link to another video lesson I did : with a Neal Schon patch that I programed : into the AXE-FX. : : : : : http://www.vanderbilly.com/Guitar-Lesson-Journey+-+Separate+Ways+Studio+Version+Solo,7131,1.html : : : : : :