Yek's Guide to the Fractal Audio Amplifier Models

301 Pages·2017·12.34 MB·English

Yek’s Guide to the Fractal Audio
Amplifier Models
Original content by Yek
ACdodnittieonnta: lA cloexnatnendet rb vya Sni mEnvgize len (yek)
FAirdmdwitiaornea: lQ c3o.n0t3e nt by Simviz
Revision: April 2017
Firmware: Quantum 7.02
Fractal Audio Amplifier Models

Table of Contents
Table of Contents ..................................................................................................................................... 1
Introduction by simviz ............................................................................................................................. 7
Introduction by yek .................................................................................................................................. 8
Disclaimers ............................................................................................................................................... 9
Guide Revisions ......................................................................................................................................10
The Amps ...............................................................................................................................................11
5F1 Tweed (Fender Narrow Panel Tweed Champ, 5F1) ....................................................................12
5F8 Tweed (Keith Urban's Fender Narrow Panel high-powered Tweed Twin, 5F8) .........................14
6G4 Super ('60 brown Fender Super, 6G4)........................................................................................17
6G12 Concert ('60 brown Fender Concert, 6G12) .............................................................................19
59 Bassguy ('59 Fender Narrow Panel Tweed Bassman, 5F6-A) .......................................................21
65 Bassguy (Dweezil Zappa’s '65 blackface Fender Bassman, AB165) ..............................................24
1959SLP (Marshall SLP1959, Vintage Re-Issue Series) ......................................................................27
1987X (Marshall 1987X, Vintage Re-issue Series) .............................................................................31
5153 (EVH 5150-III) ............................................................................................................................34
AC-20 (Morgan AC20 Deluxe) ............................................................................................................37
Angle Severe (Engl Savage 120) .........................................................................................................39
Atomica (Cameron Atomica) .............................................................................................................41
Band-Commander ('68 Fender Bandmaster, AB763) ........................................................................43
Big Hair (FAS custom model) .............................................................................................................45
Blanknshp Leeds (Blankenship Leeds 21) ..........................................................................................46
Bludojai (Bludotone Ojai)...................................................................................................................48
Bogfish (Bogner Fish preamp) ...........................................................................................................51
Boutique (Matchless Chieftain) .........................................................................................................52
Brit 800, Brit 800 Mod and Brit 800 #34 (Marshall JCM 800) ...........................................................54
Brit AFS100 and Brit Super (Marshall AFD100, Slash’s signature amp) ............................................57
Brit Brown and FAS Brown (FAS custom models)..............................................................................59
Brit JM45 (Marshall JTM 45) ..............................................................................................................61
Brit JVM (Marshall JVM410H) ............................................................................................................64
Brit Pre (Marshall JMP-1 preamp) .....................................................................................................66
Brit Silver (Marshall Silver Jubilee) ....................................................................................................67
Brit Super (Marshall AFD100, Slash’s signature amp) .......................................................................69

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Fractal Audio Amplifier Models

Buttery (Budda Twinmaster) .............................................................................................................70
CA OD-2 (Carol-Ann OD2) ..................................................................................................................72
CA Triptik (Carol-Ann Triptik) .............................................................................................................75
CA Tucana (Carol-Ann Tucana 3) .......................................................................................................78
CA3+ (Custom Audio Amplifiers 3+ SE preamp) ................................................................................81
Cali Leggy and Legato 100 (Carvin Legacy VL100, Steve Vai’s signature amp) .................................83
Cameron CCV (Cameron CCV-100) ....................................................................................................85
Capt Hook (HOOK Captain 34) ...........................................................................................................88
Car Roamer (Carr Rambler) ...............................................................................................................91
Citrus A30 (Orange AD30HTC) ...........................................................................................................94
Citrus Bass 200 (Orange AD200B) ......................................................................................................96
Citrus RV50 (Orange Rockerverb 50 MK II) ........................................................................................98
Citrus Terrier (Orange Tiny Terror) ..................................................................................................100
Class-A 15W TB (VOX AC15) ............................................................................................................102
Class-A 30W (VOX AC30) .................................................................................................................106
Class-A 30W: Normal channel of a non-Top Boost AC30 ............................................................107
Class-A 30W BRT: Bright channel of a non-Top Boost AC30 .......................................................107
Class-A 30W TB: Top Boost channel of the AC30 Hand-Wired ...................................................107
Class-A 30W HOT: Hot mode of the AC30 Hand-Wired ..............................................................107
Comet 60 (Komet 60) .......................................................................................................................109
Comet Concourse (Komet Concorde) ..............................................................................................112
Corncob M50 (Cornford MK50 II) ....................................................................................................115
Das Metall (Diezel VH4) ...................................................................................................................117
Deluxe Tweed (Fender Tweed Deluxe, 5E3) ....................................................................................118
Deluxe Verb ('65 blackface Fender Deluxe Reverb, AB763) ............................................................121
Dirty Shirley (Friedman Dirty Shirley) ..............................................................................................124
Div/13 CJ11 (Divided By 13 CJ 11) ...................................................................................................127
Div/13 FT37 (Divided By 13 FTR 37).................................................................................................129
Dizzy V4 and Das Metall (Diezel VH4) ..............................................................................................131
Double Verb (Fender Twin Reverb) .................................................................................................135
Double Verb NRM: ‘66 blackface 85 watt, AB763 circuit, Normal channel ................................136
Double Verb SF: ‘71 silverface, 100 watt, Vibrato channel .........................................................136
Double Verb VIB: ‘66 blackface 85 watt, AB763 circuit, Vibrato channel ...................................136
Dweezil’s B-man (modded ’65 blackface Fender Bassman, AB165) ...............................................138

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Fractal Audio Amplifier Models

Energyball (Engl Powerball) .............................................................................................................139
Euro Blue and Red (Bogner Ecstasy, 20th Anniversary edition) .......................................................141
Euro Uber (Bogner Uberschall) ........................................................................................................145
FAS custom models ..........................................................................................................................147
FAS 6160 ......................................................................................................................................147
FAS Bass .......................................................................................................................................147
FAS Brootalz .................................................................................................................................147
FAS Brown ....................................................................................................................................147
FAS Class-A ...................................................................................................................................147
FAS Crunch ...................................................................................................................................147
FAS Hot Rod .................................................................................................................................147
FAS Lead 1 ....................................................................................................................................148
FAS Lead 2 ....................................................................................................................................148
FAS Modern .................................................................................................................................148
FAS Modern II ..............................................................................................................................148
FAS Modern III .............................................................................................................................148
FAS Rhythm ..................................................................................................................................148
FAS Wreck ....................................................................................................................................148
Fox ODS (Fuchs Overdrive Supreme) ...............................................................................................149
Friedman BE and HBE (Friedman BE-100) .......................................................................................152
Friedman SM Box (Friedman Small Box) .........................................................................................156
Fryette D60 (Fryette Deliverance 60) ..............................................................................................159
Gibtone Scout (’64 Gibson Scout) ....................................................................................................162
Herbie (Diezel Herbert) ....................................................................................................................164
Hipower (Hiwatt DR103) ..................................................................................................................167
Hot Kitty (Bad Cat Hot Cat 30) .........................................................................................................170
Jazz 120 (Roland Jazz Chorus 120) ...................................................................................................172
JMPre-1 and Brit Pre (Marshall JMP-1 preamp) ..............................................................................174
Jr Blues (Fender Blues Junior) ..........................................................................................................177
JS410 (Marshall JVM410HJS, Joe Satriani’s signature amp) ............................................................180
Legato 100 (Carvin Legacy VL100, Steve Vai’s signature amp) .......................................................184
Matchbox D-30 (Matchless DC-30) ..................................................................................................185
MR Z HWY 66 (Dr. Z Route 66).........................................................................................................189
Mr Z MZ (Dr. Z Maz) .........................................................................................................................191

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Fractal Audio Amplifier Models

Mr Z MZ-8 (Dr. Z Maz 8) ...............................................................................................................191
Mr Z MZ-38 (Dr. Z Maz 38)...........................................................................................................193
Nuclear-Tone (Swart Atomic Space Tone) .......................................................................................195
ODS-100 (Dumble Overdrive Special) ..............................................................................................198
Plexi models (Marshall Plexi) ...........................................................................................................202
Plexi 100W HIGH/JUMP/NRML....................................................................................................203
Plexi 100W 1970 ..........................................................................................................................203
Plexi 50W HI 1/JUMP/NRML ........................................................................................................203
Plexi 50W HI 2 ..............................................................................................................................203
Plexi 50W 6550 ............................................................................................................................203
Prince Tone (Fender Princeton) .......................................................................................................207
Prince Tone (Fender Tweed Princeton) .......................................................................................207
Prince Tone NR (Fender Silverface Princeton w/o Reverb) .........................................................208
Prince Tone Reverb (blackface Fender Princeton Reverb) ..........................................................209
PVH 6160 Block (block letter EVH 5150 = Peavey 6505) .................................................................213
PVH 6106+ (Peavey 6160+ / EVH 5150-II) .......................................................................................216
Recto1 and Recto2 (MESA two-channel and three-channel Dual Rectifiers) .................................218
Ruby Rocket (Paul Ruby Rocket) ......................................................................................................222
Shiver (20th Anniversary Bogner Shiva) ..........................................................................................224
Solo 88 and Solo X99 (Soldano X88R and X99 preamps) .................................................................227
Solo 100 (Soldano SLO-100) .............................................................................................................229
Spawn Nitrous (Splawn Nitro) .........................................................................................................233
Spawn Qrod (Splawn Quickrod).......................................................................................................235
Suhr Badger......................................................................................................................................237
Suhr Badger 18 .............................................................................................................................237
Suhr Badger 30 .............................................................................................................................238
Super Verb ('64 blackface Fender Super Reverb, AB763) ...............................................................240
Supertweed (FAS custom model) ....................................................................................................243
Supremo Trem (Supro 1964T Dual-Tone) ........................................................................................244
SV Bass (Ampeg SVT) .......................................................................................................................247
Thordendal (pre-G3 Recto models) .................................................................................................250
Tremolo Lux (blackface Fender Tremolux, AA763) .........................................................................251
Tube Pre ...........................................................................................................................................254
Two Stone J35 (Two-Rock Jet 35) ....................................................................................................255

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Fractal Audio Amplifier Models

TX Star (MESA Lone Star) .................................................................................................................257
USA Bass 400 (MESA Bass 400)........................................................................................................259
USA Clean / USA Lead / USA Rhythm (MESA/Boogie Mark IV) .......................................................261
USA Clean .....................................................................................................................................264
USA Lead ......................................................................................................................................264
USA Lead+ ....................................................................................................................................264
USA Lead Brt ................................................................................................................................264
USA Lead Brt+ ..............................................................................................................................264
USA Rhythm .................................................................................................................................264
USA IIC+ and USA IIC++ (MESA/Boogie Mark IIC+) ..........................................................................265
USA IIC+ ........................................................................................................................................268
USA IIC+ Bright .............................................................................................................................268
USA IIC+ Deep ..............................................................................................................................268
USA IIC+ BRT/DP ..........................................................................................................................268
USA IIC++ (modded MESA/Boogie Mark IIC+) .................................................................................271
USA Pre (MESA/Boogie TriAxis preamp) .........................................................................................272
USA Pre Clean: Rhythm/Green mode, a vintage fat clean (Mark I, blackface) ...........................274
USA Pre LD1 RED: classic British lead, based on the TriAxis “TX-4 board”..................................275
USA Pre LD2 GRN: medium Mark IV Lead ...................................................................................275
USA Pre LD2 YLW: Mark IIC+ Lead ...............................................................................................276
USA Pre LD2 RED: “shred” ...........................................................................................................276
USA Sub Blues (MESA/Boogie Subway Blues) .................................................................................279
Vibra-King (custom Fender Vibro-King) ...........................................................................................281
Vibrato Lux (Fender Vibrolux, 6G11) ...............................................................................................283
Vibrato Verb (Fender Vibroverb) .....................................................................................................285
Vibrato Verb .................................................................................................................................287
Vibrato Verb AA ...........................................................................................................................287
Vibrato Verb AB ...........................................................................................................................287
Vibrato Verb CS ............................................................................................................................287
Wrecker Express (Trainwreck Express) ............................................................................................288
Wrecker Liverpool (Trainwreck Liverpool) ......................................................................................290
Wrecker Rocket (Trainwreck Rocket) ..............................................................................................292
Amp Categories ....................................................................................................................................294
Fender Circuits .................................................................................................................................294

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Fractal Audio Amplifier Models

VOX-type Amps ................................................................................................................................295
D-type Amps ....................................................................................................................................296
Preamps ...........................................................................................................................................297
References ...........................................................................................................................................298
Amplifier Information ......................................................................................................................298
YouTube ...........................................................................................................................................298
Commercial Impulse Responses ......................................................................................................298
Fan sites, articles and more .............................................................................................................298
Fractal Forum Content .....................................................................................................................299

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Fractal Audio Amplifier Models

Introduction by simviz
In February 2016, Yek (or Alexander van Engelen) from the Fractal Audio
forum began writing online articles describing the amplifier models in the
Fractal Audio Axe-Fx II and AX8 modelers, including presets to demonstrate
each amp.
This document is made up of those articles. I added summaries and
pictures.
Each amplifier section contains a synopsis of the amp model, quick tips on how to dial it in, links to
clips and recommended cabs. For more videos, check out the forum postings.
The text within each section typically describes the specifics of the original amplifier and references
the manufacturer’s website and manual (if available).
I’ve added tables summarizing the original amplifier’s technical specifications and specifying the
model’s tonestack location.
Tips and information provided by Cliff Chase and yek are highlighted in boxes.
If you like this document, please support Yek by donating to a good cause:
“I have a great job (not related to music) and I’m doing fine. I’ve never asked for a donation
for wiki maintenance etc.
But there are other people on this earth who are in need. My girlfriend Mariette visited Nepal
to do voluntary work, among others in a children’s home. Where young children stay, who
otherwise would have to live on the streets and risk becoming victims of human trafficking,
which is a big issue in Nepal, sadly. While she was away, I started writing the threads.
If you found the series of threads entertaining, perhaps learned something from it, enjoyed
the read or just want to show appreciation, please consider donating in return. Any amount
you feel is right. It will be used to keep helping these children, through a bona fide
organization.” – Yek
You can donate at:
http://www.paypal.me/alexandervanengelen
Enjoy!
simviz

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Fractal Audio Amplifier Models

Introduction by yek
I’m very grateful to simviz for his work. He assembled all articles into this comprehensive document,
providing a superior way to present the information.
I’ve added improvements and corrections where needed. This guide is a now more complete
resource than the original articles. Open the online version of this document to make use of the
many hyperlinks.
It’s still fun to check the original forum threads to read comments about the original amplifiers and
the amp models from other forum members, as well as personal stories and suggestions. Those
threads also link to many more videos, showcasing the original amplifiers.
So why the name “yek”? It was the nickname I randomly chose when joining CompuServe long ago,
before the World Wide Web even existed.
English is not my native language. So don’t mind the spelling and grammar mistakes.
Finally, many thanks to Fractal Audio for creating such wonderful digital models of these epic guitar
amplifiers.
Alexander van Engelen (yek)

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Fractal Audio Amplifier Models

Disclaimers
This guide has not been not submitted to Fractal Audio for authorization. The contents are based on
published data, web sources, forum posts etc., and of course on personal experiences.
Yek nor simviz owns the copyright to any of the photos.
There WILL be unintentional errors in this guide. If you find one, please contact yek through the
forum: http://forum.fractalaudio.com

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