Axe-Fx Mesa Mark Amp Comparison

[polaris20]

Sounds great! Thanks for going through the effort of doing this clip. It makes it easier for people looking to check out the Axe-FX, but can't, and don't want to hear it with tons of studio magic thrown in.

[tonymckenziecom]

They all sound the same... surely someone told yall...

[squirttilithurts]

I am a shrimp-dick-fuck that buys expensive shit. I have a Diezel VH4, Mesa Recto Preamp + 2:100, Diezel Herbert (on order), TC G System, other rack gear, ... but I don't have enough. I need to be more of a shrimp-dick!!! I want a Mark series amp (IV or V) and another rack with the AxeFx!! I love being a shrimp-dick!!

[JVM410ftw]

@squirttilithurts shrimp dick for life!

Buy a mark V! do it!!!

(Seriously, though. I'm SUPER happy with my Mark V)

[3uriah]

hmm i feel that with the lead stuff the Mark IIc+ is alot crisper. Does anyone think so too?

[bornburied]

@3uriah Did you ever actually see the gear being used?

[gtrplaya24]

As a Mark series amp owner, sounds damn good to me!

[81giorikas]

You should try the mesa mark III sim on the amplitube. For laying out tracks, it is really effective. I find it has a thicker tone than axe-fx demos...I stopped using the real thing for recording!

[mindrust8]

icant fucking remember the last song. (brain dead) can you plz help?

[Voodutube]

@mindrust8 that is Overture1928 from Scenes from a Memory. Its the melody, or at least I tried..... THX. Peace.....

[mindrust8]

@Voodutube thank you. you ended my misery. your good btw. just work with metronome a little more:) and dont afraid to hit strings hard. bang the shit out of them if needed

[Enterhope]

Whats the intention? Get an Axe Fx, sound like Petrucci? xD

[Voodutube]

@Enterhope Hello Der. I just play what I know. I know very little. I certainly don't measure up to DopeBoyzMusic!!! Good luck.

VT

[svcdx]

Sounds great. Too bad I can't afford any of this great gear. Only thing I could get was a PODXT Live. I'm happy with so far anyway, but would totally dump it if I had the money to get an AxeFx

[Voodutube]

@svcdx I seriously need nothing else for what I do - just home recording and when I find a drummer, I just plug into PA.

[hiladelphia]

@Voodutube 1:26 what song is that??

[Voodutube]

@hiladelphia Hey. That is "Home" backing chorus rhythm. From dream theater's Scenes from a Memory CD.....

[RediForKing]

Well the triaxis is not a Mark IIC+.

It's only a thing that tries to simulate the preamp sound of the holy IIC+.

So it's not really a comparison between a Mark series amp.

[Voodutube]

@RediForKing I've tried to show the differences between 3 hi gain Mark Series "simulations" found in the axe-fx. Call them amps call them chimps - don't matter. One happens to be a simulation of a simulation. Sorry if my simplistic descriptions made you put down your D&G sing-along flute and have to log on to comment.

[felicevai]

i have a mark IV, this simulation it's not real, it sounds too much clean and cold.



[Voodutube]

@felicevai Hmmm I see. That is ok. You aren't the first to misunderstand the difference between a recording reference tone and a tone you would hear in front of an amp playing live. Post your mark IV recorded tone and we can compare - I bet we'll still sound different. Its the fingers!!!!!! Ole!!!

[TheThim51]

ok...whats the difference

[ev1ltwin]

lol they all sound the same

[jrw82466]

Good match up. I have the Triaxis and a 2:90 of which I have been using for about 16 or so years now. I know the Triaxis inside and out. I just ordered the Axe Fx Ultra and am expecting it tomorrow. I will be using both at least to start so A/B is going to be very easy for me. The C+ is my pref for the ryth examples but single notes on the Axe are impressive here. Can't wait to do my own tests!

[guitartrue]

@jrw82466

Hi!! did you do your test? which one do you prefer the triaxis or the axe fx?

Thanks!

[jrw82466]

At this point I have done a complete comparison and the Axe FX wins hands down. It's hard to believe. Just a few weeks ago you would not have been able to convince me of this. There is more parameter control, the Graphic EQ in the Axe is the BOMB and the tone and shaping tools are nearly endless. I am completely blown away by the AxeFX..my Triaxis will become my backup system. I must say though...powering the Axe FX with the 2:90 vs my Rocktron Velocity is day and night!

[laitela01]

Im glad I own some original stuff which is simulated here

[Voodutube]

is that a + or a -??  Just curious.

[laitela01]

@Voodutube you'll be the judge

[dedej88]

@laitela01 LOL! wtf!?

[prabowoputra]

mark II C+ sounds best IMO

[wpaone]

Hey, nice playing in your vids. Question for you or anyone else out there: I don't know if it's my setup, but I just got the axe fx and am running it into my art sla1 power amp to 2x12 two rock cab. I am finding that the tone is a flat and lifeless. A lot of the drives on the axe sound flat and don't jump out as unique and individual from one another. Any ideas? Thanks.

[Voodutube]

Hey! and thanks....

Flat and lifeless IS the sound I get without the POWER amp sim active. Need to have PRE + POWER + CAB + MIC to get that "deep, speaker moving" sound. I always run POWER amp master at NOON or higher. Even the MESA MARK sims sound better to me with POWER amp master @ 1:00. Everything else standard - no tweaking. Good luck!!!!

VT

[wpaone]

@Voodutube I'm new to this unit. Where do I access all of those settings? I've been a pedal guy my whole life and heard how great this thing is so i had to try it. Not used to the processor concept quite yet so any details would be GREATLY appreciated. Thanks again.

[Voodutube]

I just make a new patch. Think of it as a real amp and set everything to what a typical amp is. Think basic as the unit is simple if you don't get inot all the subtle tweaks you can do. Just throw in an AMP + CAB and dial the key parameters (bass, mid treb, master, pres). This should get you close...

Get Axe-Edit, then goto the integrated axechange thingy with tons of other users presets.

[wpaone]

@Voodutube Thanks again. Follow up questions: What about the "MIC" you referred to earlier? Where and how does that effect the sound of the amp? Also, what is Axe-Edit and what would I need to run it? Thanks...again.

[snowbrdr88]

Why are you not using the mic sims? Isn't that the point of recording an amp, or amp model?

[Voodutube]

I wanted to have a Mesa amp comparison with no other influences so I went basic. Sure I could have thrown in an SM57, but the result would have been the same - a relative difference between them was all I was after in this little vid. Thanks for watchin'.

[snowbrdr88]

maybe try it with the mic sims?

[eightsix1414]

don't listen to these morons.

the samples sound awesome. I'm gonna get one when I have the money.

the pod is a toy

[Voodutube]

THX - and yes, it is as good as the hype - it is so freakin CONSISTENT. And image all this hype BEFORE the big boys started using them (Loomis, Petrucci, Broderick, jones, smith, larry, etc...). Its all in the knowin'....

[CarvinV3]

sounds too digital

[Voodutube]

Maybe. The youtube compression does a number on the subtleness. Live it is a bit more pure sounding - maybe even TOO ideal!!! In the end, it has has replaced many a 50 lb amp for the EASY factor. I still like a loud amp - they can both coexist!!!!

[Gyro911]

@Voodutube it actually sounds like the marks on rythem but on lead its a bit suspect. I think i may have to drop my wallet on the Axe as a result of this demo lol. I have a mark IV and this sounds in that character

[snowbrdr88]

@CarvinV3 I'd bet any amount of money that you would choose the axe fx on a recording in a blind test. Its been done on the axe fx forum... Pretty neat piece of gear!

[LegoBen]

@CarvinV3 Bullshit. More like shitty speakers on your end, Or lack of a well trained ear.

[Rizzy55]

@LegoBen

Dont know about him but I've 25 years of studio experience and 2000 dollar monitors and that sounds like a honky smooshed together Tube screamer sound. You wanna learn..listen at 1:06 and keep playing it over at that point. If you dont notice that it sounds like a Wah pedal buy some real speakers. That phenomenon happens when the midrange is so overcompressed and undefined that it basically coalesces from 4 distinct strings to 1 giant clump of bad overtones around 750hz. But U know?

[LegoBen]

@Rizzy55 Ear snob. I actually play guitar, And it sounds pretty good to me, But I don't know shit because I'm not some damn audiophile.

[MrUsedBooks]

@Rizzy55 I don't think most people listen to music through $2000 monitors.

[forestofrencho]

@Rizzy55 That is a distinct characteristic of the Mark Series amps when in hi-gain, watch this video: watch?v=i24e8icZG1o , and listen at about 4:28 to 4:36 and you can hear the same honk in the mids.

[CarvinV3]

@LegoBen My speakers are awesome, I have also heard the thing live, and my friend owns one of these sterile sound makers. I have more high end gear and amps than you will ever be able to afford in your life. Oh and i have been playing guitar seriously for the past 21 years. The axe seems like an overpriced guitar toy, yet It sure is fun to mess around with. ;)

[LegoBen]

@CarvinV3 You also seem like some shrimp dick dumb fuck, Like 90% of the music industry. Ooo, you have expensive shit. Awesome, I've been there done that. And it sucks. Life isn't about having expensive bullshit.

Have fun losing money, On your bedroom talent and eventually getting yourself stupidly in debt because you went around spending your money with one hand on a credit card you can't afford and the other one up your ass.

[CarvinV3]

@LegoBen Heh, I seem to of struck a chord with you ehh? You are the one cursing on youtube, could be that YOU have penis envy-go see a shrink. Your opinion also has no substance, after all, it's obvious you are spewing mental diarrhea and haven't a clue of what you are talking about. 90%? please, show your statistical references, but only after you help yourself out by head from "ass" removal. Oh, and i have no problem with debt, so don't worry, and not presuming might suite you better. ;)

[SwampAshHSS]

doesn't sound as naturally as a real mesa. might be your gate.

subtlty matters....this is music not contruction work.

[Voodutube]

Some is due to Youbtube squashing the sound. Some is due to the noise gate possibly, but the majority is my poor playing. Seriously, it sound sway different thru Sonar.

Peaceages....

[CudBucket]

Great vid. Thx.

[Rizzy55]

The midrange is not playing nice--its very wah-ish--almost like there's a tube screamer on it. The Marks are middy but not with that wah squeel. Im sure you could dial it out though.

The clips dont sound superior in any way to Line6 though. I havnt listen with headphones but Im pretty sure I'd have no problem matching that sound(without the wah)--but then again Im not the average noobie who uses Pod's.

The tough sound to get on modelers is Petrucci's gritty recto sound because of the highs.

[Voodutube]

Thanks for the thoughts.

- Just trying to see the inherent differences in amps. No refinement.

- Not hearing the wah squeal. Might be MP3 conv issue. Maybe your Commadore 64 needs to be fixed? (JUST KIDDING)

- Not comparing to Line6 - no superiority claims.

- I look forward to your tone postings of your Pod.

- Good suggestion - I'll try a Petrucci Recto tone next. You do the same on your Pod and we'll compare and maybe we can get that elusive Rectum sound?

Thanks for the input... :(0)

[HastOsth]

Dude, are u even mentioning Axe-fx And a shitty pod in the same sentence? Read & listen up for fuck sake... Thats just ignorant!

[visualrocker69]

yes, let's hear those pod clips, please ;D

[paulsdino]

They are decent clips. But the Mp3 conversion is making a nasty whistling sound (over tone) I'm sure the Sonar project on your PC sounds much better.

[Voodutube]

Hmmmm - might be my bad playing???

They sound pretty much like I recorded them - highest quality Digital Audio in Sonar - then Razor Lame encoded at 192 kbit/s. Youtube messes them up a bit, but no whistling. See if my other vids have same issue. Thanks for listening...

[Voodutube]

Pauly?

[Noldor82]

I hear some differences in the equalisations.

Right?

[Voodutube]

The inherent Mesa Mark tone is there in all of them - in a mix, I don't think you could tell the diff - unless you re-eq'd and optimized for that amp. The IIC+ is less gainy, more percussive to me. The IV is higher gain and more focused. The Triaxis version is kinda in the middle. With post-eq they can sound a world apart. It all in the EQ.....

[Noldor82]

Like the true triaxis (I can hear the didfferences in my Triaxis)

Cool!

Can you compare the Axe Fx Amps sim to a real tube amp? Can it emulates the harmonics of a real tube amp?

[brettlingle]

Yes you can. When I play along to a Dream Theater solo it feeds back in all the same places as the album.

[Abjauchgrube]

Creative song choices, fanboy!