AX8 Wet Dry Wet w/ Matrix GT1000FX - Tutorial

Today in Plague Scythe Studios, we turn the AX8 into a wet dry wet machine with a real tube head and the Matrix GT1000FX power amp!
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Stereo AX8 Patch: www.dropbox.com/s/e2dh7ap3p35...
Stereo WDW Patch: www.dropbox.com/s/b2nsqjdkih5...
Mono Wet + Direct Patch: www.dropbox.com/s/2aerasjl3to...

[@LeonTodd]

Man that lead sound in WDW is the bomb!

[@plexidust5101]

I really enjoy what your doing and the direction your channel is headed. Easily one of the best I've found recently. You and Leon also make a good team, I think a show with the two of you once in a while might be cool. Your definitely going to grow huge and I can see a lot of recording coming your way too. The tones your getting are fantastic. All the best!

[@dragon-eye75]

Love the riff @ 5:18

[@markk9184]

Sounds pretty damn nice with headphones. Nice video! Need to try to jack my Kemper into a setup like that.

[@PlagueScytheStudios]

It should be pretty trivial since you don't need a loadbox. It's unfortunate the powered Kempers don't have a stereo power section - that would be a huge selling point to many.

[@markk9184]

Damn right!...got a Mission Eng Gemini2. Not really happy with it for high gain, cleans sound good. Prefer tying it into my Peavey 6506+112 with a V30 send input. Sounds warmer not buzzyish( I know that's not a word but it sounds like a swarm of bees being mic'd. Can't really say I've heard a swarm of bees being mic'd either...hmm)

[@dhannegan]

Do you have a website where you sell your custom patches? You've got some great tones.

[@robertj1303]

Hmm kinda didn't answer my question. I use 3 guitar amps for WDW using 6 1x12 cabs using trad pedals. I am looking how I can use the AX8 or Helix. The Helix vids answer the question including how to do with the Stomp or LT. What I don't see is how you create a dry and stereo path and maybe link a stereo reverb to a send. I see the AX8 has two outputs, but how do you connect wet dry wet and can you have parallel paths as you can in the Helix and use different sends. AX8 to me is tonally superior, but Helix may have better connectivity. Be useful to see thank you

[@iAmTheSage]

Hey Ryan, thanks for the quality (and awesomely opinionated, lol) videos! This particular video has one of the best tones I've heard and I'm considering going down this path. I'm struggling with understanding a proper setup. At the moment, I'm planning on buying an AX8 to 4-cm with a Mark V. In this video, you used a poweramp to accomplish a badass tone. Where does a preamp fit into all this? In what scenarios would I want an Ax8 -> preamp -> ax8 -> poweramp setup outside of the Mark V? Thanks dude. Keep making dope shit

[@iAmTheSage]

I should add I already own the Mark V and 4x12 v30 cab, but not the AX8 or any of the other stuff.

[@PlagueScytheStudios]

Thanks for watching! For standard mono 4CM, you don't need the power amp, just the head, cabinet, and AX8. I use the power amp and external loadbox for stereo post-amp effexts, which you could also accomplish with a second half stack. Another advantage of this loadbox setup is that your amp head becomes another line level "block" in essence that can be bypassed in the AX8 if you want to use digital amp models as well.

[@mr.esabsurditiesatrocities1805]

Love the depth and space you were getting with the cleans. Elsewhere in the comments, you mentioned the Thrasher slaved in to the Matrix feels less spongy then the Thrasher in to the cab. Would you describe that more like different power tubes (IE:KT88s vs 6L6s) or less interaction between the speaker and amp in terms of feel?

[@PlagueScytheStudios]

I think I may have mis-worded that comment - in reality, it feels MORE spongy through the Matrix than just straight through the cabinet, as if some of the pick attack had been truncated and some of the speaker dynamics were cut. At decent playing volume though, I doubt I could really tell as I was just jamming on my Rectifier last night with the same setup and heard no noticeable tone suck.

[@mr.esabsurditiesatrocities1805]

I see. Thank you for the clarification.

[@shredmonster76]

Great vid. Curious if you notice a "feel" difference when playing the ax8 thru the matrix versus the thrasher when just jamming. I'm looking for the ultimate home rig and I currently have a h&k gm deluxe 40. Do you think the ax8/matrix combo is a better option than a lunchbox head for someone who doesnt mid spending more money?

[@PlagueScytheStudios]

If you require that many amp models, effects, versatility, and "future proofing," then the Matrix/AX8 certainly is a great value. Otherwise, if you only use a couple pedals and a mono cabinet, you can get by with much cheaper. The matrix does a nice job of retaining the tube power amp feel, moreso than any other SS power amp I've tried. Playing the thrasher straight through the cabinet feels a little less spongy than direct through a load box and the Matrix in the room, but I would have no qualms about that WDW setup in a live setting. I seriously doubt I could tell any real difference in a blindfolded test at that kind of volume. The AX8 seems to react better to the Matrix versus tube amps with power amp simulation off, which makes sense as Matrix gear was designed with Fractal processors in mind.

[@shredmonster76]

thanks for the reply, is it necessary to use the loadbox, or can you go straight to cab from the matrix? Any opinion on the seymour duncan pedal amp?

[@PlagueScytheStudios]

Unless your amp head has a built in load (very few do), then a reactive loadbox is a must if you don't want to blow some transformers and you're shiny new power amp. If your amp doesn't have a slave/DI out like Mesa Boogie or Randalls, you will need a load box with a DI out as well. I've never played the power station pedals, but I've heard very positive feedback about both the mono and stereo options. I ended up choosing Matrix as it was cheaper used than a new Duncan 700 with more power headroom, and the full 1U width isn't a drawback for my applications.

[@predz23]

Looks like VHT doesn't do power amps anymore :(

[@PlagueScytheStudios]

Unfortunately not, but you can still find used VHT/Fryette power amps online if you're willing to dig around. VHT G-2502-S Two Fifty Two 252 Stereo Guitar Tube Power Amp Amplifier Pre Fryette Made in USA reverb.com/item/16022923-vht-g-2502-s-two-fifty-two-252-stereo-guitar-tube-power-amp-amplifier-pre-fryette-made-in-usa?_aid=pla&

[@wheresallthezombies]

I wish there was an easy way to do stereo rigs with real amps.