Came across this Fractal AxeFX demo #102 style - impressed!

[rogb]

Apart from the really lovely playing, I was also impressed by the poster's discovery that Dumble style is also about controlling dynamics right there through your picking and (IMO fretting) hand.
http://forum.fractalaudio.com/threads/o ... lip.94569/

Do you think the modelling world is getting closer, what with samples like this and Kempers etc? I have never tried or heard a Kemper, anyone out there used one?

[ayan]

Apart from the really lovely playing, I was also impressed by the poster's discovery that Dumble style is also about controlling dynamics right there through your picking and (IMO fretting) hand.
http://forum.fractalaudio.com/threads/o ... lip.94569/

Do you think the modelling world is getting closer, what with samples like this and Kempers etc? I have never tried or heard a Kemper, anyone out there used one?

I've no experience at all with any of the modeling stuff. To me, this recording sounds really good. It reminds me on an Xotic AC Booster pedal, which I think sounds pretty Dumble-esque, especially if played into a Dumble-type of amp. Something, which may be an artifact of the recording, that comes across to me as a give away that this is not an amp is the somewhat narrow dynamic range. Yes, the amount of distortion present does vary quite a bit, but it seems we're always hearing things at the same loudness level. That is the only thing I believe could still be improved on pedals. They have come a very long ways and some sound maybe even better than amps in terms of holding together, especially the bottom end. But the dynamic range is always wider on a finely tuned amp.

Gil

[jestaudio]

Sounds pretty damned good to me and to be fair outside of those of use that build amps etc I suspect its more than convincing enough to the average guitarist that has never heard one up close and personal , I hear good things from many mates who are gigging locally about how far amp sims have come in the last few years

[norburybrook]

I've played in a band with a guitarist using the latest Kemper and it does sound great coming through my IEM's , however there's just something a bit sterile about the whole thing. Also having access to 100 different amps at the push of a button tends to make you change all the time for different songs etc rather than get to grips with your particular setup which I think adds to the sterility.

For recording or quiet orchestra pit/show work then they're great but there's just something lacking for me when playing live with one in a rock 'n' roll band. Metal bands seem to make them work very well however.



Just my 2 cents

Marcus

[JD0x0]

there's just something a bit sterile about the whole thing

+1 The recording sounds pretty good, but it seems to suffer from the same sterile-ness that a lot of the 'dumble in a box' pedals suffer. Just doesn't have that richness that a good tube circuit can have. But the base tone is there, and it does sound quite good for what it is. Usually in a band setting, I've found modeling REALLY suffers, at least for my style of tone and playing. You can get away with studio recordings but in a live band setting, a lot seems to get sucked away, IMO.

A full, balanced tone, that cuts through when playing along with my stereo turns into harsh, inarticulate, mush that gets buried.

but it's okay, because I'm still willing to drag my tube gear around.

[rogb]

Some interesting replies, thanks everyone.
This is not a bad profile it seems to my ears even allowing for YouTube compression/artefacts etc.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iIWZZ5bGaDI

On the contrary, JD, I would have thought the modelling would fit into a band mix well. I know when I play through the PA with guitar and pedal board I set up exactly for that, I get a lot of compliments on the tone, some can't believe there is no amp. First rule in my experience, forget about cab sims

[rogb]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WHrU9RZ8ud0

This is how I want my amps to sound, not sure if you can model this - well, the touch feel and taste anyway

[ayan]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WHrU9RZ8ud0

This is how I want my amps to sound, not sure if you can model this - well, the touch feel and taste anyway

Agreed. Of all the real Dumbles I played, actually only one sounded like that with a Strat, in both clean and OD modes. It belonged to Robert Stamps, an amp tech that owned or worked at The Amp Shop back in the day, some 15 years ago. The amp was supposedly the first 100W ODS Dumble ever built. Sounded killer in combo format with an old EVM and I remember writing a review of it in Harmony Central. During one of his visits to "the mainland," I took Bill Morgan to see the amp. It was now housed in a head shell and had a matching 2x12, and it sounded nothing like before, boomier and buzzier.

Of all the clones I have ever played, one that stood out as being able to sustain very nicely with a Strat was a Two Rock "wireless" amp that Joe and Bill had me try an a NAMM show also a long time ago. That amp in clean + PAB mode with Joe's Strat with Fralins sounded great.

It would be nice the be able to make an amp do that at will. I hope Dumble doesn't take the secret to the grave.

Gil

[rogb]

Thank you for those thoughts Gil.
That Tomo tone on the You Tube clip = just perfect to me.
I must crank my 2ndGen Hybrid on clean and PAF with the Strat and see what happens with the Thiele 806 cab.

[hbamp]

For what I know there are lots of problems when used for gigging! Many people calling for repairs on Kempers. They all have to send them back to the factory and pay a lot! Nice for home use or studio but fail on stage very soon.

[Pacosipulami]

Apart from the really lovely playing, I was also impressed by the poster's discovery that Dumble style is also about controlling dynamics right there through your picking and (IMO fretting) hand.

Indeed

[Pacosipulami]

Here are more of "my" clips for you....

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/100 ... turday.mp3

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/100 ... 1976-1.mp3

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/100 ... ahugga.mp3

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/100 ... edance.mp3

these were made with Firmware 12.03 to Fw14.00 - I was a bit disappointed with the newer firmwares, because Fractal seems not interested in a improved non-hrm d-style sound. Most of the players aren't not really ready for tones that show their true beauty when addressing them with various string attack aka dynamic playing. Sad but true, most players just play it like a marshall - they miss approx. 80% of the beauty of the d-style concept. Of corse, it's just a digital device here......I have a lot more fun with tube amps and cabinets

PS: Fw 18.12 was cool too..... SRV, please forgive me
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/150 ... ooohmy.mp3 (

[Pacosipulami]

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/100 ... o-funk.mp3
(test with the "secret" Tom Scholz Hyperdrive Pedal trough a ODS type sound....)


https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/100 ... 082014.mp3
(Tape delay and ODS type lead....)


https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/100 ... LA-Fun.mp3
(more tape delay fun with ODS type lead - my 1st demo with the AF2, just a week after I got the unit in Feb 2013)

[10thTx]

Paco,

Thanks for sharing the soundclips. The guitar playing was excellent!

I thought this one easily sounded like a Dumble and would not have guessed it to be a solid state device

test with the "secret" Tom Scholz Hyperdrive Pedal trough a ODS type sound....)

With respect, 10thtx

[norburybrook]

Paco,

Thanks for sharing the soundclips. The guitar playing was excellent!

I thought this one easily sounded like a Dumble and would not have guessed it to be a solid state device

test with the "secret" Tom Scholz Hyperdrive Pedal trough a ODS type sound....)

With respect, 10thtx

I agree,

lovely playing and I doubt people would pass a true AB test between the real thing and these modelled sounds with the same player.

I do hope though that our lovely amps wont go the same way as a lot of the hardware sat in my studio.!!

Marcus