AXE FX - 4 Steps To A Better Clean Tone.

Recently I released a video where I compared an AXE-FX 3 to a Kemper. I had quite a few comments where "Kemper" owners were saying the Kemper can produce better clean tones than the AXE-FX. I appreciate these guys may have been biased due to their ownership of Kempers but this got me to thinking how to make the AXE-FX range of modellers could more produce and have the touch response of a valve amp.
The Studio Rats are core band members Paul Drew on guitar/production/mixing, drummer James Ivey and Dan Hawkins on bass. They collaborate with singers and musicians to produce radio-ready songs.

[@benbarber5017]

This is a brilliant video! I got my AF3 MK2 T two weeks ago. While comparing side by side with my Fender Twin the lack of responsiveness was immediately apparent. I can’t wait to try it again while tweaking these parameters. Thanks!

[@ChrisM541]

Would be interested to hear your thoughts now that some months have passed?

[@carlvey7976]

Been with FractalAudio since the Ultra. Your suggestion on preamp gain has been a game changer for me. A setting of 1 or less adds a sparkle that I love. I've only tried it on a few models but so far so good. The speaker thump parameter is my other new favorite with patches that have more gain. It reminds me of the cabs that I had when I was young, they often couldn't handle the volume I was playing at but I grew to love the feel of a cab working hard. Speaker thump does that for me. I also had a Kemper for about 18 months and while it was quite good in the end I let it go in favor of the AxeFx.

[@bartpugise]

Check out the Band Commander amp model….. One of my favorites!🤘🏻

[@DDischner]

Total game changer...!!! Thank you so much for you generosity on these settings. The JTM 45 has been my go to amp for a large part of my sound on the AFX lll. Very exciting !

[@bobprince1539]

Thank you so much. I was at a friends’ house last weekend and he had his Kemper. I had brought my FM9. All was well and glorious until he started playing a Lone Star. Then a Matchless. I absolutely love both those amps in real life and suddenly I wasn’t as happy with the Fractal models, anymore. Life’s funny like that, when a new kid moves onto the block. I’ve found that a slight change in technique (right hand especially) did a ton in improving my tone on a modeler vs a valve amp. But the Kemper’s clean tones did sound better. And I’m a freak on great clean tones. Great video, Paul. Works like a charm. 🥂

[@paulrhanna]

Thanks for this. Sounds amazing. I've got an FM3 - I love it but I'm always looking for ways to get that kinda response and 'natural' compression. That aside, I love your playing and I'm now gonna steal all your licks. Thank you. 🤣🤘

[@johnjackson3554]

OMG

[@johnjackson3554]

I always wonderd why my clean tones sounded steril will try this when i get home this eve ing

[@ali-om4uv]

If you create a follow up and make a dirty Shirley based crunch sind Hardrock sound plus boost.... without to muchbfx/reverse you might just create the perfect top40 present.... great content!

[@Shashli4ok]

Allways pleasure to watch and listen! Great tones, great playing!

[@goodlucksway1456]

Wow it sounds so beautifully 🎉🎉🎉

[@m4ssi86]

That’s probably the best Fractal’s video ever made. Many thanks, I am waiting mine FM9….I should receive it in few weeks

[@Burkhimself]

My fave clean amp is the jm45….brighten the tone settings, gain and MV to about 4…..love it

[@aidanscrivens8923]

What were you using in the cab block for this preset? It sounded fantastic and I loved the tips, keep up the great work!

[@GuitaristGuyJames]

I agree the cab makes a big difference and may be a large factor in this tone so there's really a missing link here.

[@RalphMercuroMusic]

Great advice! I just made these changes to my clean tones and turned off the compressor. Feels so much better!

[@dieoberbayern]

Thanks, I just wanted to let you know, that your music made it to my playlist!

[@TheStudioRats]

Awesome, thank you!

[@robert_starling]

Great "how to" and also some tasty playing there too! Happy New Year from Lighthouse Point, Florida!

[@zwip778]

Super excited to try that. Incredibly useful, thank you

[@gacktcbiz]

Thank you so much for this. Great tips. My patches in my FM3 sounding so much better thanks to you. Keep these coming please!

[@TheStudioRats]

Cheers Leo, will do

[@ronchabot3449]

Thanks I own the axe FX 3 and I'm really trying to figure it out and so far the two videos you've done has helped me a lot thanks keep doing what you're doing love it , 👏🎸

[@TheStudioRats]

Glad to help!

[@musiccreation1198]

Super helpful...thanks Paul.

[@bobprince1539]

Just played around with it on my Double Verb Silverface 👍🏻👍🏻

[@Michaelkeyreal]

Excellent insight. Thank you.

[@rlennyr]

@thestudiorats Brilliant.. Do you usually keep this settings only for clean tones?

[@markchristopher4165]

This is so great, thank you!

[@shellsjoint]

Keep up the good work!!! Love your videos...

[@TheStudioRats]

Thank you! Will do!

[@rockstarjazzcat]

Ooh, nice collection of things to try out. Cheers, Daniel

[@laszloonodi7340]

Amaizing sound! What Cab do you use in this preset?

[@ROKZLEON]

Super helpful video!!! Thanks for sharing!

[@guitarbasslessonsbyjamesro1358]

Hi Paul, Wow! Thank you So Much for your Tutorial. By far, this is the Best Clean Tone I have gotten out of my AXE FX III. Even though I may never understand the deep settings, all I had to do was watch the video and set mine like yours. I always thought Dirty Shirley was just some useless obnoxious amp block. You proved that it can have a Fantastic Clean sound! All of my guitars have double coil pickups. Do I need a guitar with single coils to get a better clean tone? Thanks again!

[@TheStudioRats]

Glad it helped!

[@berniesmusic]

Fantastic video and your playing is brilliant!

[@TheStudioRats]

Thanks Bernie.

[@johanroelandt]

Amazing Paul ❤️

[@Bero70]

Great channel, always great videos. Inspired by your video, when you changed , single to humbucker in your strat I went and installed Seymour Duncan Antiquity P.A.F. in my strat. Man, best decision I ever made . 1958 Mojo Tone noiseless with amazing P.A.F. in the bridge position is a match made in heaven. ZZ TOP sound for riffing and Andy Timmons sound for melodic playing. Can you address those 2 sounds in some of the future videos? Thanks!!

[@TheStudioRats]

That is awesome!

[@anthonydellorusso9554]

Great video. Thanks!

[@Nig6tWalker]

been a fractal user since 2014,but since i get my kemper 2 years ago,my axe 3 is now collecting dust on my desk,for me the Kemper sound more like a real amp.

[@shaharbar]

Check your hearing…

[@Nig6tWalker]

@@shaharbar check yours

[@easye9-21]

@@shaharbar I'm with you. I've owned both and the axe FX is hands down the better unit. The Kemper was nice, but the Fractal is just in a different league all around.

[@shaharbar]

@@easye9-21 LOL, I posted a harsh response but it was taken down (sorry James/Paul). At the end of the day, use whatever tickles your fancy (and perhaps other parts).

[@xBergade]

Hey what's that tune @ 5:21, is that one of yours? Sounds great :)

[@bobprince1539]

Thanks!

[@user-ox6hj6bm3t]

excellent advice

[@ValdesHermanos]

excellent video! what type of cab are you using?

[@jorgemauriciomercado288]

Great content !!

[@shellsjoint]

can you make this available?

[@ianngalbraith]

Can you do this on an FM3?

[@sgmarshall3]

I was wondering the same thing. This demo may have completely sold me on Fractal if the cheaper unit has these same features. It really brought it to life, and I was just listening through my laptop speakers!

[@ianngalbraith]

@@sgmarshall3I bought one since I left that comment. It’s a great piece of gear. The only thing in this demo that’s not on the FM3 is the input dynamics adjustment but that can be mitigated by a compression block before the amp if needed. Im still learning the unit but I’ve been able to coax some great clean tones out of it so far.

[@indeloon85]

Thank you for posting this Paul! Question, are you using any sort of EQ/Filtering after the AXE FX? I put up the same amp, same IR, a 52 RI Tele and my sound seems to be a little more muddy compared to yours. I tried this against your first Axe Fx video as well. If I put an EQ after with a roll off around 80hz, it seems to be closer to what you have. Granted, I think you are on Fw 20.02 in the video and I’m on 20.03 but I can’t imagine it’d be that big a difference between the two. Thanks!

[@TheStudioRats]

Hi Blake, I’m not using any other eq after.

[@rockstarjazzcat]

KZbin compression artifacts? Slight volume differences?

[@eltole4766]

sounds beautiful, what cab are you using?

[@wolfnstrings]

This works 🎉🎉🎉

[@GuitaristGuyJames]

Thank you this video opened me up to a few new things. I have the FM9 and that doesn’t have input compression, do you think a little comp from a comp block before the amp but after a drive block would be similar?

[@TheStudioRats]

I personally use a compressor before any drive as your drive is going to compress. Apart from that yes.

[@GuitaristGuyJames]

@@TheStudioRats thanks man. Could you please do a video like this one but 4ways to make a better overdrive tone?

[@ArthurvanRiet]

The FM9 will have input compression from now on. It is implemented in the latest firmware 4.01 public beta1

[@skipbass2771]

hi i dont know if you have done video's of how to setup in ears to sound good or not.im new to them and fighting to get a good sound.im useing a fractal axe 3 useing stereo in ears.

[@marioa5388]

Ir please…?

[@andrewstoddart134]

Hi lovely tone - can i ask what cab IR you were using please? Stock?

[@TheStudioRats]

Yes stock cabs I can’t remember what I used but I’ll make sure I list in the next video.

[@janzemanek5079]

@@TheStudioRats Hi, I can´t find what IR you using there... in what videa I can find it?

[@DigitalViperGaming]

@@TheStudioRats Help us out on which stock cab you used, please. Thanks! :)

[@DigitalViperGaming]

Since my FM9 doesn't have an Input Dynamics option in the Dynamics tab of the Amp block, what would you due to simulate that? Thanks!

[@jeffrobb7688]

Use the Amp block Input EQ>Definition.

[@m4ssi86]

Which one do you prefer in terms of feeling: QC or Fractal?

[@TheStudioRats]

Fractal with a second thought

[@nele4470]

I did own axe but I much prefer sounds from Kemper.

[@jorgemauriciomercado288]

You could try with Tone Matching, that would approach Axe more to the real deal !!

[@RX120D]

Tone match will only give you the right EQ curve. It won't affect the feel of the amp. You gotta dial that in yourself.

[@jorgemauriciomercado288]

@@RX120D It’s something, have you watch some others videos ?!! It takes perfectly the sound !!!

[@RX120D]

@@jorgemauriciomercado288 Yeah, it captures the sound perfectly, but not tge feel. Like I said, you need to dial in the feel before tone matching or it won't be 100%

[@jorgemauriciomercado288]

@@RX120D Yeah I think Fractal should add it in their Fm line !!

[@AzaelVI]

I did it in two steps. 1....sold my AXE FX III. 2....bought a Mesa JP MK2C+

[@ChrisM541]

The Mesa JP MK2C+ is a killer amp that you're gonna really enjoy. You can't beat playing in front of a good, real tube amp setup. I still have my 50W Fuchs TDS combo. However, Axe FX / Kemper / S-Gear / Bias FX / etc are all about good, usable sounds - ESPECIALLY in a mix, + massive convenience. While the Axe FX 3 is significantly overpriced, you are getting a heck of a lot, particularly with the big number of high quality effects (interesting to note that the primary DSP inside can be purchased for $60 !!). I've played live on stage for many years, stopped about 5 years ago. If I was to go back, my immediate preference would always be a well-setup real tube amp system. However, for 'convenience, ease and reproducibility' I might also be happy with my Kemper...maybe not.

[@timbis9945]

Can I do this setup on the Axe FX ll?

[@TheStudioRats]

I guess you could.

[@RockGuitarVibes]

Sounds pretty nice - which cab did you use?

[@TheStudioRats]

Ahh damn I can’t remember what cab I used but I’ll list it in the next video.