Maybe i need a modeler and SS power amp?

  • Thread starter Thread starter RaceU4her
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All analog with digital control?

Tech21 PSA 2.0 (I had the PSA 1.1 rack unit for years back in the day; only thing missing from the 2.0 is XLR out IMO:)

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got one a few months ago; sounds great; small size. IMO
 
I agree with some of the previous comments. Try some plugins first and see how you gel with it.

If you’re not gigging there isn’t a whole lot of point in investing in a hardware modeller by now.
 
I got your old school tube modeling whatever right here bro…..
 

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I use a KSR Ceres for my preamp with a Duncan Powerstage 170 poweramp. Sounds amazing to me but, I just play at home so take that for what it's worth.


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Try it out, good to scratch the itch.

See you in two years when you've discovered 'it was really convenient and I had fun messing with the sounds, but I just miss the rawness and immediacy of a real amp.' 😉
 
I keep a Helix at hope...Great tones, fun to explore. The issue with the modelers for me is not the sound quality...It's not having the FEEL of that tube amp pushing air in the room. Often imitated, but never duplicated. Just my opinion.
 
RaceU4her said:
im watching this Rival Sons rig rundown, not exactly a band id think would go digital but hes gone helix/SS and says it sounds better than his tube rigs. VES's tones with his new AxeFx sound amazing. maybe its time for me to unload everything, buy a modeler and a bitcoin or some shit with whats left over. getting tired of the anxiety i get every time i turn a tube amp on waiting for it to blow up. im not affraid of tweaking and actually like it, most of my riffs come from noodling as im trying shit.


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Wow, big fan of RS. Holiday’s tone is always great I’ve seen them live at least a half dozen times. He turned me on to Kauer guitars and the Orange OR50—love the tone of the Orange but it doesn’t fit anything I do. But it sounds real cool lol. Looking forward to hearing the Helix rig.
 
angelspade said:
I keep a Helix at hope...Great tones, fun to explore. The issue with the modelers for me is not the sound quality...It's not having the FEEL of that tube amp pushing air in the room. Often imitated, but never duplicated. Just my opinion.
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what are you running the helix through? This is where I get confused… this dude is using a power stage 700w, how is that not moving air?? My vh140c is 140w SS and it moves air as much or more than any of my tube amps.
 
RaceU4her said:
what are you running the helix through? This is where I get confused… this dude is using a power stage 700w, how is that not moving air?? My vh140c is 140w SS and it moves air as much or more than any of my tube amps.
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I use a powered PA with subs for my modelers; also use it with my keyboards, synths and digital organs. For now, using near-field studio monitors for my plug-ins.

The difference is the fully processed signal chain you get with modelers into FRFR (e.g., like your amp mic'd and sent through the FOH) and plug-ins into studio monitors vs the raw amp in the room.

just takes getting used to the sound differences.
 
rsm said:
I use a powered PA with subs. For the difference is the fully processed signal chain you get with modelers into FRFR (e.g., like your amp mic'd and sent through the FOH) vs the raw amp in the room.

just takes getting used to the sound differences.
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Why do all that though? This dude is running through his cab and says it sounds great? Can’t you do both?
 
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RaceU4her said:
Why do all that though? This dude is running through his cab and says it sounds great? Can’t you do both?
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yes, if your modeler lets you remove the cab from the signal chain; I think most do.

you don't want a guitar cab / mic in the modeler patch if you're going into a guitar cab
 
Fractal into a SS amp and traditional guitar cab is my favorite way to use a modeler, although I'm increasingly using it direct for recording, and via FRFR.

I don't know that I'd sell your tube amps just yet though. It was about 18 months after I'd gotten my Axe-FX III that I finally felt like I'd gotten things as good as with my traditional amps. Proficiency takes time. And I still have my amps, because I apparently just like gear, lol.
 
angelspade said:
I keep a Helix at hope...Great tones, fun to explore. The issue with the modelers for me is not the sound quality...It's not having the FEEL of that tube amp pushing air in the room. Often imitated, but never duplicated. Just my opinion.
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IMO it’s always the monitoring that dissuades people. Having some online special lightweight “FRFR” aka cheap PA speaker combined with the fact that these things can be dialed in to sound TERRIBLE in inexperienced hands makes for snap judgements. A well dialed in Helix through a pro PA can be monstrous and absolutely dwarf any guitar amp.

As far as feel I see that as a plus sometimes. For every amp like a Carol Ann Tucana that drips with touch sensitivity and feels like butter there are 5-6 Splawn/Matchless/JTM45 models I got along with better than the amps themselves. I don’t currently have a modeler and I have 9 tube amps so I’m no fanboy but people write the tech off too quickly based on too little
 
RaceU4her said:
what are you running the helix through? This is where I get confused… this dude is using a power stage 700w, how is that not moving air?? My vh140c is 140w SS and it moves air as much or more than any of my tube amps.
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Dude you have an awesome collection of amps . With your collection and an eq pedal you got it all covered
 
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