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Sweet Notes Page 7
A few years ago — has it really been
that long already? — the guitar world was
stunned by a new amplifier that boasted
tube sound, but without tubes! The
cutting-edge technology behind this
startling development was called physical
modeling. The product was the AxSys 212
by Line 6. As you might guess, it was a
worldwide best seller.
But now it's 1998, and let’s face it, a
whole lot has been learned since the AxSys
was first unveiled. The second generation
of physical modeling amps are now here,
and they’re more powerful, more accurate
and more player friendly than ever. While
that first amp was a great start, the people
at Line 6 actually listened to what guitar
players and industry publications had to
say, and the new amps reflect that.
Replacing the AxSys at the top of the
Line 6 . . . umm, line . . . is the AX2 Digital
Guitar Amplifier System ($1199 list). The
AX2 uses the same electronic insides as
the company’s original 2x12" system, so
every AxSys 212 can be fully upgraded to
be an AX2, with all the features of this
new Line 6 flagship (proving the awesome
advantage of software-based products and
their ability to be inexpensively upgraded).
The heart of the AX2 is its software-
based amp models which use Line 6’s
TubeTone Amp Modeling to bring you a
wide variety of sounds and effects modeled
after some of the most popular classic tube
amplifiers. The TubeTone software in the AX2
improves over the original AxSys 212 with even better
modeled amp tone and an expanded set of amp
models. All of which means that the AX2 can pretty
much give you any guitar amp tone you want or need
— 19 of them to be exact, all at the push of a button
(or one stomp of the optional Floor Board).
While Line 6 doesn’t name names on its front
panel (the manufacturers of the originals would
strongly disapprove), you can easily guess which
amps they’re modeling by the descriptions: Small
Tweed, Jazz Clean, Black Panel, Brit Blues, Rectifier,
California Crunch, Modern Hi Gain and more. The
AX2 ships with 128 preset sounds, or you can dial in
your own and save it to the amp’s 128 user memory
locations (no tube amp offers this feature!).
What’s more, the onboard digital effects are
WELCOME TO THE TUBETONE REVOLUTION!
easily the equal of many outboard pedals and
modules, offering up tasty reverb, delay, chorus,
flange, tremolo and even rotary speaker simulations.
But there’s more: Five overdrive/distortion models
including Octave Box, four types of wah pedals, and
even a 5-band graphic equalizer.
All settings are programmable, of course, with
instant recall and seamless switching of complete
amp-and-effects setups. A high quality direct out with
cabinet and speaker emulation lets you record direct
with real miked-up amp tone, or play with great amp
tone through headphones. All this tone is driven by
100 watts of stereo power into dual custom 12"
speakers. You also get a chromatic digital tuner and
an independent aux channel free from guitar tone
and effects for clean amplification of acoustic guitar,
CD, drum machine, tape, or even vocals to
accompany your guitar sound.
But say, maybe you don’t
need 100 watts or dual 12"
speakers. You want a combo
amp with classic looks, but you
also want that killer TubeTone
modeling. Simple! You want a
Flextone ($799 list)! Powerful
enough for rehearsals and live
gigs (in reasonably-sized halls,
of course), yet compact enough
for studio use or as a practice
amp, the 60-watt mono 1x12
Flextone is for you. With 16
amp models and 16 pro quality
effects setups, each arranged
on separate knobs, you can dial
up the amp model you want, add effects to taste,
then save the combination in one of the Flextone’s
four foot-switchable channels. The amp includes a
direct out for recording that gives you great TubeTone
cabinet simulation and speaker emulation —
recording great guitar tones has never been easier
than this! — and the direct out doubles as a
headphone jack for late night, speakerless practice.
If you need more power, take a look at the
Flextone Duo ($949 list) with 100-watt stereo
amplification and two 12-inch speakers. This puppy
can crank out the volume to fill up all but the most
gigantic concert venues, yet it still has all the
convenience and features of the 1x12 model. For
those that need an all-out, high power, four-channel
amp head, the Line 6 people also offer the Flextone
HD with stereo 2x150-watt amplification, guaranteed
to detroy the delicate eardrums of anyone over 40
(or under 40, for that matter). Hook it up to your
favorite speaker cabinets or a couple of Line 6’s
Cab212S closed back speakers ($299 list each).
Okay, now you might be asking yourself at this
point, aside from the power and speakers, what’s
the difference between an AX2 and a Flextone. Good
question. Here’s the deal: The AX2 is designed to
give you a total of 256 different sounds, live or in the
studio. Programming is done via a front panel matrix
that’s much easier to learn than it is to explain. It’s
the ultimate in tone-shaping, but it does require a
bit of work to really get the programming thing going.
Meanwhile, the Flextone series is designed more like
a traditional amp, so you just dial in the sounds you
want via the top panel controls, and then save them to
— Continued on Page 8
Tone for the '90s and beyond: The 100-watt 2x12 AX2 (left)
and Flextone (right) with Floor Board and FB-4 pedals
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