AxeFX Ultra with poweramp sim ON with an ART SLA2

[darren0512341]

I wonder, how much sound difference between SLA2 and the boogie. As I understand there must be a difference but is there big enough to spend an extra 1.5k on the mesa. OR what cheaper tube power amp will you recommend?

Cheers

[MrProgfather]

I've been looking at this exact same rig. I've been going back and forth between the Art SLA2 and various power amps, such as the Carvin and the Mesa Boogie 2:50. Do you think the SLA2 is able to cut through at higher levels? I'm somewhat skeptical when it comes with solid state gear, but I see that you are able to achieve a fantastic tone.

Thanks!

[theaudiorampage]

he starts playing at 1:20

[ShredTraining]

wow my AxeFX sounds nothing like this.... wish it did!

[agitator82]

very very gooooood sound!!! is pickups blackout ahb-1 or ahb-2? txs!!!

[USofguitar]

Hey Mark,

Do you remember wich amp and cab you used back then?

Regards.

[snapascrew]

Hey mark... I'm getting an axe fx standard soon, have a mesa traditional 412 cabinet... would you reccomend this poweramp for me? I listen to stuff like Killswitch Engage and Parkway Drive (youtube them if you don't know the sounds...)

[professorfoxtrot]

aha! XANADU!!!

[gullikson]

Hi Mark,

I too enjoy your videos, great job. I'm planning on an Axe FX II when available. I have a Burt custom built 2x12 cab that needs an amp to go with the Axe FX. I only play at home for fun and I'm down to the ART SLA1 or a Mesa Boogie 20/20. My cab is built for mono or stereo. Any suggestions would sure be appreciated!

Cheers,

Greg

[usta4070]

Xanadu was nailed perfectly. Alex would be proud.

It seems like the axe-fx has an overall Marshally sound and doesn't have the low-end thump to recreate the Engl or Mesa recto properly (at least from what I'm hearing on youtube). I've seen this box absolutely nail Brian May, hendrix, Satch and Vai tones though. Guess it's not really for metal heads, that's all. Thanks for the vids. Great playing and guitar faces.

[Bobbob12397]

@usta4070 Look for videos of Misha Mansoor playing through his Axe Fx. It definitely does metal.

[billmeedog]

@usta4070,

Really?

Seriously, go check out some videos by Ola Englund (from the bands Feared and Scarpoint.) He gets some brutal-as-fuck sounds out of his Fractal Axe-FX Standard! (Type in "Axe-FX" with your video searches, because he also owns/uses many actual tube-amps too! He's got Diezels, Peaveys, Engl's, Mesa's, etc, and he dials-in similarly brutal tones on his Axe-FX!)

I just watched/listened to his video (with shredder Chris Feener on guest lead-guitar!) That song is the tits!

[tim34]

@1:49 to 2:33 you sound alot like a mix between vai and lynch, with lynch note choices and vai feedback and sustain. I like it!

[TheMicrac]

that's just the tone an electric guirar should have...

[symphx1]

are you using cab sims? if not here, what do you do when you use powered speakers AND guitar cabs?

[EvzDFX]

Your videos are selling me on the axe! haha will get one soon! literally selling my un-used gear to save up!

[symphx1]

how would a crown xls1000 sound? ie. would any clear ss power amp sound like what youve got?

[samhillband]

@symphx1 Should sound at least as good but probably better!

[headbagger63]

@symphx1 i would try it but i little over the top i think

[symphx1]

hello would this sound similar with a crown xls1000?

[domdauphin]

Mark I'm also from Canada and really like your videos!

I'll order the Axe fx ultra in the next few days and I'm still undecided if i should go art sla2 with passive atomic cab or tube power amp + 2x12 v30 cab!??

And why are you using the art sla2 + 2x12 randall cab for you live performance!?

Atomic frfr would give you better versatility?

Hope you'll reply :P

Thanks

[samhillband]

@domdauphin I was using the ART SLA2 into two Randall 2x12"s or Two Mesa 4x12" Rectos with V30's, the Randalls had Celstion 70/80's. I really love the sound with a Mesa 2:100 with a pair of cabs, but I am partial to that amp and tone.

My favorite setup that I use now is the ART SLA2 with two 2x12"s and the Atomic Powered wedges at the same time. It's a lot to carry around but it sounds amazing!

[domdauphin]

@samhillband

I may end up with both setup one day but to start what would be the best choice?

ARt SLA2 with Atomic passive or 2x12 with V30's?

My main band siunds a bit like The Used , Story of the Year but I also play in a 80's hard rock cover band.

(White Lion, Guns, etc)

[screamonightmares]

WHATS THE SONG AT 4:32? sounds like the smithereens or the saints..

[samhillband]

@screamonightmares

Xanadu by Rush

[rsaenzs]

Before the blackouts what did you use? EMGs? and how do you compare the blackouts with the ones you use before.

Im not sure if getting the blackouts or the D activators

Thanks

Ramiro.

where is your "You really got me" patch on axe edit i have not found it?

[samhillband]

@rsaenzs

I used EMG 85's in the bridge of my guitars since about 1986. I prefer the AHB Blackouts and I just love the AHB3!!!

You have a private message dude :)

Mark

[LacesOutTyler]

Hey Mark, were you running one or both channels of the SLA2? Or were you bridging them for a 560w mono signal? I ask because it looks like the volume was set rather high and I'd use this unit with a band.

[sbwoody08]

great playing and tone i play in a cover band in michigan,we cover alot of material.so i need a flexible amp.i have been through modded marshalls,mesa boogieand riveras.never found the tone but the axe fx has it.i just ordered one.my question to you is how well do the atomic fr wedges work in a live setting.i usually play medium venues around 200 people.

[Tsuntin]

How is the ART SLA2 with tube preamps? I hear the reason it's great with the Axe-FX is because of the tube sims and stuff in the Axe, but how is it otherwise?

[samhillband]

@Tsuntin

I would stick to a tube poweramp. You are correct in the assumption that the SLA2 sounds great with the AxeFx because of the AxeFx's poweramp sims.

Mark

[Tsuntin]

@samhillband Yeah that makes sense. Thanks!

[billmeedog]

Nice "Xanadu" by Rush chords!

[bmwm3cs]

aren't you worried about blowing the speakers on your cab?

[pinckyluke]

Hi Mark,

What kind of Amp sim are you using on this video? Maybe Uberschall amp sim? What are your setting in these parameters: Drive/Precence/Deep/Damp/Sag/M­strVol. Thank you in advance, luca (you have a grat sound).

[tehsimo]

amazing tones once again

[sminchk67]

Wow! This is one of the best sounding Axe-Fx demos on YouTube...Nice job!

Can you get these same tones with the Standard?

[radekxito]

hello sir, nice demo btw, what do u think that would be the best poweramp choice for a gig?. i really like the axefx. and btw what would it be the fxchain order axe+power+cab? thanks

[dswguitars]

Mark, this sounds Amazing. I'm a modeling fan, but am thinking about going back to the real McCoy for one simple reason. I simply can't "cut through the mix" with any of the modelers the way I can with tubes. I really like the idea of the Ultra and the SLA and the Randall 2x12. That 's a great combo. So side by side with another guitar player with a tube amp will he clobber you or will this rig hold its own?

[samhillband]

@dswguitars

He would be injured :)

[dswguitars]

@samhillband All Righty Then! So what model number is your Randall 2x12. It seens they come in different flavors.

[f2kflyer]

Mark,

That sounds amazingly good. What you recommend for a simple live setup? I was thinking like a small rack case with the AE, power cond, power amp and a 412 cab. Some kind of midi controller. What are your thoughts?

[f2kflyer]

@f2kflyer Nevermind :) I watched your other clips and see you're using a AE with ART SLA2 and 212 cab. Sounds great. No need for tubes then :)

That sounds like the perfect setup for me too!

[IVsakeN]

Nice man

[adil2552]

Are the cab sims on?

[samhillband]

@adil2552

No.

Mark

[jerseyrawkgtrst]

Awesome man!

[krma1970]

amazing tone here ! Great playing also. What is the guitar used ? Seem to be awesome.

[cougarLP]

Thanks for the post. Mine is due in a week and I am trying to figure out the power amp questions...

[nofearpig1]

Hey, Mark, i'm also a petrucci forum member and I've been following your videos for a while since the suhr amp days. just b/c of this very video I purchased an axe-fx ultra. Can you share some of your settings (you can PM me). You have the best amp sound i ever heard out of the axe-fx

[samhillband]

@nofearpig1 Hey Dude!!!!

If you have the Axe Edit you can go to bank F in the AxeChange tab, this preset should be there. Make sure you turn of the controller on Ch 2 of the mixer block as it is assigned to a midi CC volume controller. YOu will get no sound unless you do this. Also I do not have my Global EQ flat, I take off some bottom.

Remember I use OUT 2 to go to an ART SLA 2 poweramp and to the guitar cabs (Randall 2x12"s)

Mark

[samhillband]

@samhillband

Bank i has my latest presets.

Mark

[nofearpig1]

@samhillband

Mark. I appreciate your fast reply. It's really amazing how good a sound you get out of this box with your suhr. Do you still have your suhr amps or are they going to end up in your closet from now on?

[nofearpig1]

Hey, Mark. I'm a petrucci forum member also. been watching your videos for quite a while. (remember all the suhr amp videos you did?) Just b/c of this very video, I bought an axe-fx ultra. Probably going to sell my tube amps now. Can I PM you on petrucci forum and could you share some of your settings since this is the best amp sound i ever heard out of an axe-fx.

[shreddingjoris]

nice nice nice, how would u compare this axe fx unit when turned to extreme volumes like a tube amp? does it has the same punch or less? + does it sound allot thinner ?

[samhillband]

@shreddingjoris

It sounds very full and very much like a great tube amp. Not thin at all...HUGE!!

Mark

[Erithlon]

It sounds better than my valveking amp!!

[snowbrdr88]

Could you possibly do a clean tone demo with a guitar that doesn't have active pickups, using the AXE FX, ART, and the external speaker? That would be really great and helpful for me. Thanks so much for the videos you've already posted! They help so much with my decision to buy the AXE FX, and they are great quality too!

[valveheavytone]

what verb and delay settings are you using can you translate to me in parameters because i am using an eleven rack and intelifex for digital delay

[jsegedi22]

thanks for the advice about the axefx!!! SOO here is the Last question... CAE 3+se vs. OD100SE+ vs. AXE FX?? on ebay right now the CAE 3+SE is 1500$ so it is very tempting... but im looking for one last core piece of gear for my sound... I LOVEEE that heavy chunk from the cae products and im nervous to stray away from tube power for my last piece of gear... ANY way you can give me some advice it would be MUCH appreciated.. by the way i cant get enough of your vids GREAT work man thanks!!

[jsegedi22]

by the way i sold ALL my gear except for my MESA cab and my guitars due to being unsatisfied with my original guitar tone.. so this is very important for me to start building from scratch and this is going to be the first purchase to start my core sound

[samhillband]

I'm using the AxeFx live right now....I get a great thick heavy tone. I was also nervous about non-tube power...not anymore :)

Mark

[tenaciousjp]

Hey I have a question,

Does the Axe-FX have punch? or it is like the Mesa Triaxis with no balls/depth?

Thanks

[richedie]

Great playing bro, nice gear. I have always played tube gear other than a brief stint with a Vetta. I hate the thought of programming anything so these days I play a tube head and a few pedals....but the Ax-FX is tempting. I think I would prefer it into a real tube power amp. Maybe it is the active pickups ruining it for me. They always seem sterile and slinical to me. Good stuff though man.

[coolcoolant]

mark i dont no what it is w/canada but my fav band is rush @ i bought a axe fx ultra after hearing ur ripping sounds im sal from ny. ps im still com iliterate and still cant open the sounds u sent me my computer sucks can u send me the paramaters like u did the eq settings

[Fender308]

What cab do you use with the poweramp? It sounds awesome and powerfull!

[jrgarciavarga]

Hi samhillband, first at all CONGRATULATIONS EXCELLENT tone and playing 5/5 i have a question, i have a line6 pod x3 pro and I need a power amp to run it what power do you recomend to me the art asl 1 or the roctron velocity??? thaks a lot and again GREAT TONE AXE FX RULES!!!!! and you too :-)

[Wang0Phat]

Flying High Again! Killer tone man. Loving the feedback.

[pete4guitar1]

Hi Mark, what kind of guitar cabs do you use with the ART SLA2? Do you think it works too with Pa Full Range Speakers? The best for 2010!

Peter from Berlin

[utubefloyd]

The SLA-2 sounds good in your video. I'm trying to decide on whether or not to get the SLA-2 and ditch my tube power amp to reduce maintenance. Do you think the SLA would fall short of the tube amp?

[samhillband]

I chose the SLA2 for a few reasons...it's small, light, loud and I can use the poweramp sims out to my guitar cabs and still use the PA and Cab sims out to the FOH/DAW. With a tube poweramp I would have to turn off the PA sims and therefore the FOH wouldn't get that benefit.

Mark

[JohnsonInc999]

@samhillband

What is a "PA sim" ? I dont think I have that in my Axe FX ULTRA or do I? Please explain if you have time. Thanks.

[JohnsonInc999]

@JohnsonInc999

Whoops, never mind. I get it now. IT just hit me. PA = Power Amp, not Public Address. I was thinking there was a PA as in FOH sim. Sorry.

Great tones you have there.

[Sickindian5]

Mark do you have this patch on axe fx patch exchange on fractal forums?

[samhillband]

Download the Editor and go to Axechange tab..mine are clearly marked.

If you want my latest patches pm me

Mark

[DrGit]

Hi there. Do you find the SLA2 to be similar in volume to say a 50 watt tube amp? Not to sound retarded, but I'm in the middle of either the SLA1 or SLA2...Thx pete

[samhillband]

The SLA 2 has just enough headroom for me.

Mark

[DrGit]

Thanks Mark, but is it way too loud to use the SLA2 in the home. I heard you saying in your YouTube vids a few times how loud it is in your studio. Basically is it that the SLA1 is just too weak to gig with aside from the headroom issue

[Deussoftwebru]

С 3-й минуты звучит очень круто, никогда не скажешь что это цифра

[Sickindian5]

Why do you write about numbers?

[Deussoftwebru]

From the 3rd minute sound is very cool and natural

[DrGit]

Man, you sold me...I definitely am buying one of the Axe FX

[CHZITFAN]

I like that Axe FX, but it needs controls on the front panel like the Eleven rack. Cool video

[BlueBarrier782]

the reason why the controls are like that is to make it as simple as possible for updates, patches. That way the maker (I can't remember his name right now) can easily relate and people can quickly understand eachother because of its universality and not being hidden behind lots of graphics and "first time friendly" movements. Yeah it takes effort, but the tone is the benefit of it.

[awwhite]

I'm playing a Mesa rig right now, Roadster head, Recto 2x12 cab and a TC G-System ... but your demos are making me lust for this thing. This and the Suhr OD100! Great demos ...

[rodam12]

hi sambillband, your demos are fantastic. As you you are a guy who tested Fractal Axe Fx using several types of POWER AMPS, I would like to a comment by you, of which is the best POWER AMP match for Fractal Axe Fx, VHT 2/50/2 or Mesa Boogie 2:90? PLease I appreciate if you could give me as much detail as possible about your comment. Thks man!!

[knikk77]

I notice that the different modeling gear always are alittle murkey, so you need a clean poweramp like the VHT, Carvin tube poweramp (cant remember model number), or solid state poweramp. Greg Howe uses the axefx with a VHT poweramp.

[HotSEXJ]

Your demos are always fantastic, man! Love to listen to them! That Modern looks like it plays itself!

[christopherzberlin]

you just sold me an axe fx man!

[evolutionmb]

sounds like pleasure dome from VH @ 4:20 -

[tempest63132]

wow man....how is this not a tube amp? lol

[theneil100]

great amp sound

[killerchickens]

Great demo, like always your tone is fantastic!

I love how your dirty sounds include delay and reverb. I am trying hard to get my reverb and delay to do this for me, same as my clean sounds.

Any tips for getting all these effects to play nice with each other?

Thanks!

[davidgitar]

Excellent video! I really like the way the AxeFx works with the SLA-2. I thought previously that combination would be a killer guitar rig and you confirmed my suspicions ;) Any chance you could post a vid showing off the bluesy side of the unit?

[zoomzilla67]

Damn you Mark. Stop fueling my GAS.

[mooktank]

Definitely less fizzy with the poweramp sims on.

[fikealox]

Outstanding! You just pushed me over the line. Cha-ching :D

[arcangelmedieval]

hey Sam what kind of cables did you use to connect the ART with the cab, i've been reading on the axe forum that you have to cut the wires and put some banana plugs ??? how did you do it ??? great video by the way.

[bayouhazard]

You can get banana to 1/4" female converter cables that allow you to then use whatever speaker cable you want.

[arcangelmedieval]

yeah got it already thanks !!!

[DavidSpry]

This sounds great but the Diezel in your other video wins all over this in a big way. Perhaps it's just the way it was recorded...

[Matt6Ran95]

how come you only use your Suhr Modern when you make vids, you don't want to completely abandon your guitars,

[FRETPICK]

Sounds very lush. In all area's! Great vid.

Nice playing, great sound.

[CALIROCK]

are you play on standard tunning ?

[samhillband]

No, I am 1/2 step down on this guitar.

Mark

[greatestguitarn00b]

just awesome

[TritonV3]

great sound! what sim amp use in the hi-gain preset?

[samhillband]

CAE LD

Mark

[laripsspiral]

Do you turn the camera audio off when you're playing or is it on simultaneously?

If it's on a the same time with edirol audio that could cause that unwanted chorus/phaser FX.

[samhillband]

No it's YT. I bring the camera audio and the Edirol audio into ProTools and cut out everything except the speaking parts from the camera audio so ther is no phase cancellation :)

[laripsspiral]

Ok, I thought you must do something like that.

No disrespect from my part suggesting such a noobie solution! ;-D

[samhillband]

You were just trying to help, no offence taken, laripsspiral :)

Mark

[parsonsmatt]

Well, that does it, now I'm selling ALL of my tube gear for an Axe-FX rig... Excellent tone, really just incredibly good for what it is.

[parsonsmatt]

If I can ask a question, can the ART SLA-2 get loud enough to compete with a 100W tube stack?

[jimmypage1stfan]

its 200 watts a side stereo or 560 mono! way louder.. but it all depends on what speakers your pushing.

[BrendanClace]

That's crazy Mark! unfortunately no good faces in this one :(

I really like how tight sounding it is....the dynamics are incredible.....Now that I have my TITAN, this may be my next purchase lol.

Amazing cleans too.... especially for active pups.

[MaggotBrain10]

Sounds incredible. Now can you do one with the reverse --just a clean sound demoing the reverb and delay?

[kiloolik]

sounds freaking great!