Off Topic Afe FX Ultra preset for JP7 BFR QM top.

[Norstorm]

Axe FX Ultra preset for JP7 BFR QM top.

I know fractals forum would be the right place to ask this.. and I actually did, with no success.

I had no problem tweaking a good recording tone for all my other guitars, but with this guitar I am in deep trouble. Maybe due to the different woods, I don't know.

I am not looking for a petrucci tone, but I DO record all my stuff DI through the axe, with double tracks for L/R. I am looking for that dry "ac/dc" like tone for my 7 string...
I play alot of weird techniques, so I need all my strings to ring clear, so I can hear every stroke.
Since I double the tracks, it also require a bit of low punch, so the magic can run through while playing bot tracks in stereo..

All my usual tricks just doesen't work with this one..

I AM however able to use it successfully on "live" presets, with efects and the whole nine yards..
Sounds really good..
But for some reason I am stuck on the "recording" tone..


Do any of you guys have a good recording tone for this guitar.. something that fills all requirements, and sounds good enough to pass the tracks on to final mix...?

 

[acwild]

No luck with the stock Plexi? That with the 1960 cab seems to get me AC/DC. The JP pickups are a bit hot so you'll have to dial the gain down.

 

[Norstorm]

I tried the plexi yeah.. no luck..
I ended up with something ad7dc'ish yes, but it was to bright, and I couldn't make it fit my sevenstring with EQ or highpass filter.. When I tweaked it, to fit my guitar, it just brighted right off the scale.

 

[walleye]

I tried the plexi yeah.. no luck..
I ended up with something ad7dc'ish yes, but it was to bright, and I couldn't make it fit my sevenstring with EQ or highpass filter.. When I tweaked it, to fit my guitar, it just brighted right off the scale.

i dont have that guitar, but i know what you mean about trying to get the eq right along all 7 strings; its fairly difficult. I find the multiband compressor works really well to iron out the flub from the low 7th string. Get the tone how you want it without touching the low B string, then add in the multiband compressor. Set threshold 2 and threshold 3 [all the way to the left or the right i cant remember which] so that those bands are never activated; never compressed. then adjust the threshold and ratio of band 1 so that when you play the lowest string, it compresses slightly. You will get some compression on the low E string and maybe the A string as well thats unavoidable but try and set it so that all strings are happy

also do you use downloaded IR cabinets or just the ones that come with the ultra? i strongly recommend getting some, ive only ever tried redwirez but theyre much better

 

[aleclee]

I tried the plexi yeah.. no luck..
I ended up with something ad7dc'ish yes, but it was to bright, and I couldn't make it fit my sevenstring with EQ or highpass filter.. When I tweaked it, to fit my guitar, it just brighted right off the scale.

When PEQ doesn't tame some frequencies, the next step for me is the multiband compressor. Adjust the ratio and frequency to squish the high end a bit more and that might do the trick.

 

[Norstorm]

Ya, I'll give it a shot tomorrow..
I've always just sticked to the amp settings I'm used to on a few different amps.
When that didn't work on my new wood, I just tried to push the envelope with highpass and normal EQ settings..

Time to choose new amps and maybe some IR cabs again

 

[Adam_D]

I'm no Axe-Fx guy (although I sorely want one ) but here's my general mixing advice! Try removing some frequency around the 120hz region. This is 'mud' zone for guitars, and an area the Crunch Lab pickup is actually a little hot on in my experience.. Taming those frequencies will dry up and tighten your sound a little. It's generally best to do this post-cab. You could always try EQ'ing first in your chain to alter the character of your guitar before it gets amplified. IMO only compress if you need it, and again, generally post-recording as it has an obvious effect on your guitar's response and dynamics. Think of your compressor as glue to even out your dynamics, but won't do anything to your tone, it's like an automatic volume control. It acts on what's there, it doesn't create upon your signal.

Also, as some guys have said, cab will have a bigger influence on the tonal 'character' of your sound, getting some top notch IR's can be a great help, check out the God's Cab IRs, they're free and come with an Axe-FX ready batch! Hope this helps!

 

[dkannen]

It's the pickup, I'd imagine. I had the same issue as you did, and it got so frustrating that I swapped the bridge pickup.

 

[Norstorm]

Thanks guys..
Yes I will try this, as it is completely different approaches than I am used to..
THere's nothing wrong with my axe FX OR my guitar, it's just.. different to what I am used to.

I've been using crunch lab and liquifire for most of my guitars, with the exception of a few special ones I loved the sound from.. so I know how to handle the pups..
But yes, I am not a fan of high gating, so I always try to balance out the pickups..
I hear too many tones wrecked by noise gate.. Pissing me off.
Usually I turn down the gain, and go into this "amp geek section" on the axe, and there I boost the BIAS knob..
Gives me a liiiitle more sustain, and also a bit more warmth in the tone.. I love it.

Well, I'll see what I can do during the day..

I tried the guitar on a mesa mark v w/ a laney steel grid.. aiiii
So I just have to find my **** on the axe..

thx..

 

[Norstorm]

Ok, guys.. I've downloaded the God'd IRs..
So I have enough to play with today..

I am using the Mark IIc+ and the brown amp..

Any suggestion for one or two IR cabs on the Gods list??

 

[Adam_D]

The 57 up close impulses will give you a nice dry slightly honky sound, and the U87 impulses will be a little more smooth and rounded! If the Axe-FX can, try loading 2 at a time and blending between them and you'll get some nice results!

As a very general rule of thumb, IR's made with dynamic mics will be more honky and brittle/dry sounding, whereas a condenser will be a little smoother and a more true frequency response!

 

[Norstorm]

Ok, I tried blending those two..
What you hear is a typical L/R setup of 2 tracks with no effects..

I'm getting close in my opinion..

MusicMan Test 01a

 

[Adam_D]

Sounds good man, it reminds me of late 80's Satch rhythm tone ala Surfing with the Alien!

Here's my example of those impulses from above in a slightly different tonal context! Little woofy actually listening to it now

JVM Metal & Mixing demo by Adam Dallas on SoundCloud - Create, record and share your sounds for free

 

[Norstorm]

I've had the same amp.. I can hear the tubes man.. You just have to love that sound
Pretty good tone you have there btw..
low beast, but still obtains the "crunch"...

Good job man

 

[Adam_D]

Thanks man! I'd really love to get myself an Axe-FX, for the pure versatility and quality of tones! It's really hard to beat some glowing tubes though

As dkannen said above and I agree, the Crunch Lab pickup can be quite muddy on lower notes, I'm probably going to swap it out for some Bare Knuckles! So it's something else to bear in mind in the never-ending tone quest

 

[TSHOW]

Nice sound Adam!!..........Killer drums too...........What software did you use for the recording and drums??

 

[Adam_D]

Thanks man! Used Logic Pro 9 as the DAW, with a focusrite pre for taking a pre-amp out of the JVM, which was run into impulses in Logic's Space Designer plug-ing. Drums are ToonTrack's MetalHeads EZX plug in, which I mixed just as I would with a standard kit, with reasonably heavy comp-ing and EQ'ing on the kick and snare! Bass was actually software too, Spectrasonics Trilian.

 

[Adam_D]

Here's the solo'd guitar tracks for anyone who's interested!

JPX Rhythm by Adam Dallas on SoundCloud - Create, record and share your sounds for free

Sorry for hijacking your thread Norstorm! :\

 

[Norstorm]

no hard feelings WSE..

I'm still working on my tone here..
More tips are welcome!