EVH Amp vs Axe Fx, QC and Tone Master Pro

[MetalDestroyer]

When boomers complain about modelers sounding sterile and lifeless, this is what they're complaining about. Which is a shame, because in 2024 there are some really great modelers out there

 

[TedEH]

I don't even think it sounds "bad", per-se, but for a use-case like I would have: I like to use my FM3 just to avoid carrying a heavy amp head around - it has to be at least within some degree of "close" to do that job. If you were used to a 5150 and then just swapped it out with this, I can imagine standing in front of your cab and just feeling pretty deflated that the bright angry hairy grindy chainsaw of a 5150 sound has gotten pudgy and dark.

If you took the name and faceplate off of the model, it would be fine - but it's the official model from the company that owns the real thing, so the comparison is inevitable. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

[complex-barb.0t]

The irony is the high gain models sound a lot like what they have in their $150 LT-25 amp. That was my first practice amp and I feel the models have the same DNA. Maybe more over sampling involved to reduce aliasing.

I would say comparing this 5150 stealth model and a 5150 el34 into a reactive load will of course sound different and trying to match the settings will never result in the same sound. Zero point. It’s unreasonable to expect them to be the same.

With that said these models should sound better than they do. Would be interesting to know how they do their modeling tech.

I think the jcm800 model ain’t half bad.

 

[Guitarjon]

I would say comparing this 5150 stealth model and a 5150 el34 into a reactive load will of course sound different and trying to match the settings will never result in the same sound. Zero point. It’s unreasonable to expect them to be the same.

Honestly, that doesn't keep other modelers from sounding damn near identical.

 

[HeHasTheJazzHands]

So the bug-in-the-software claim was bullshit huh?

But yeah, even if there is supposed to be a difference I'd expect the EL34 to sound less aggressive in this comparison. In this case the EL34 sounds significantly tighter and more aggressive than the Tonemaster's Stealth model.

 

[complex-barb.0t]

Honestly, that doesn't keep other modelers from sounding damn near identical.

That is true and you have proven it a bunch of times.

I guess to make my argument a bit more clear, let’s assume we have a real Stealth compared to a real III el34 amp. If we set the dials all the same they should sound different right? I was under the assumption the blue and red channel are slightly modified on the Stealth. I was just trying to say I don’t expect a stealth model, even a perfect one to sound like a real el34 going through a reactive load box. They should sound similar however.

What is in the Tone Master though is still way too far off from what it should sound like. I agree with you guys there.

 

[Jon Pearson]

The more I hear of the TMP the less impressive it sounds, and it wasn't especially impressive to begin with. Just seems really phoned in when it comes to the actual tones, like they spent more time getting the UI and all that dialed in for the John Mayer stans and there wasn't enough budget left for getting the models right.

 

[narad]

The more I hear of the TMP the less impressive it sounds, and it wasn't especially impressive to begin with. Just seems really phoned in when it comes to the actual tones, like they spent more time getting the UI and all that dialed in for the John Mayer stans and there wasn't enough budget left for getting the models right.

I liked the sounds Ola got with it, vs his sounds such other modelers

 

[Matt08642]

The TMP sounds like it has a low pass filter at like 3KHz

 

[Kosthrash]

@Guitarjon may I ask if you noticed any digital artifacts whenever the notes fade out? Regarding all the modelers you've tested...

 

[complex-barb.0t]

@Guitarjon may I ask if you noticed any digital artifacts whenever the notes fade out? Regarding all the modelers you've tested...

Not Jon but it appears that the modelers with the least aliasing/artifacts is:

TMP Pro has *least* Aliasing ....... Helix and FM9 equally bad ..... The Video "proves" it :)

I'm doing a live reaction video right now and having trouble getting aliasing from the helix uber...I don't even have a cab up for a LPF Edit: Swedish chainsaw helped make it obvious

thegearforum.com

Edit: honestly all things considered I would choose HX/Helix and Axe stuff over the TMP.

 

[TedEH]

I regret reading any of that thread.

 

[USMarine75]

Need to redo with a Kemper. I equally love the models in mine compared to the real deal.

 

[complex-barb.0t]

I regret reading any of that thread.

Yeah reading anything past fractals post is not worth it. Also nobody can prob hear the aliasing in a mix. Didn’t bands like Bolt Thrower use an old Boss rack unit? I would have never known the difference…bet it had a shitload of digital artifacts.

 

[Guitarjon]

That is true and you have proven it a bunch of times.

I guess to make my argument a bit more clear, let’s assume we have a real Stealth compared to a real III el34 amp. If we set the dials all the same they should sound different right? I was under the assumption the blue and red channel are slightly modified on the Stealth. I was just trying to say I don’t expect a stealth model, even a perfect one to sound like a real el34 going through a reactive load box. They should sound similar however.

What is in the Tone Master though is still way too far off from what it should sound like. I agree with you guys there.

Sorry I forgot to reply, but if you set the controls the same they'll likely sound a little bit different. The EL34 will sound brighter. But, if you turn some knobs, raise the presence etc you will be able to make them sound very close. In a controlled environment especially.

 

[TedEH]

Also nobody can prob hear the aliasing in a mix.

It looked to me like a lot of that aliasing, if I read the chart correctly (maybe I didn't) was around or above 10k. Most cab impulses start to roll off way earlier than that, don't they? And I don't imagine that a clean instrument signal would have enough going on in that high a range that you'd be able to detect it farther down the line. I'm skeptical of how meaningful this measurement really is in any practical situation (for an end-user), but then maybe someone else would know better, I don't know.

 

[GunpointMetal]

I regret reading any of that thread.

So you're not going to give it a 97% approval rating?

 

[TedEH]

I can at least say I'm about 3% disappointed that I can't see the video everyone's dunking on.

 

[HeHasTheJazzHands]

Yeah reading anything past fractals post is not worth it. Also nobody can prob hear the aliasing in a mix. Didn’t bands like Bolt Thrower use an old Boss rack unit? I would have never known the difference…bet it had a shitload of digital artifacts.

Yep, Boss GX700 lol. And Devin townsend used a Roland GP100 for the longest time as his secret weapon.

I can at least say I'm about 3% disappointed that I can't see the video everyone's dunking on.

It took me a minute but I remember who that guy is lol. Would literally re-read Fractal patch notes on video and post them in said patch threads on the Fractal forum. Someone else pointed that out and it was like "OH YEAH that guy "

 

[Deadpool_25]

DougB iirc. Ugh