Topic: Axe II Joe licks

This is an attempt at Joe's style of playing -all licks stolen and not as fast or tasty as I would like. Just started listening to JB about 3 months ago and really like this morphing of styles he has -very tasty. This is with the fractal axe II plexi treble amp and frfr set up with RCF monitors. LP is an 03 Standard premium plus and classic 57/57plus pups.  Strong consideration of the Joe B SD pups. To my ears it is evident the bridge pup is a little harsh, I do like the neck a lot!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UnP5JAXc … e=youtu.be

Re: Axe II Joe licks

Man the playing is fantastic.  I think your setting if you were trying to get a Bonamassa tone is a little more aggressive then his.  Joe once said he leaves his volume and tone half way up on all his guitars and adjusts his amps accordingly, that way he has a little bit extra if he needs it.  It also rolls off the top end a bit so it will mud the tone up a little, that might take some of the aggressiveness away.  But dude your a badass, and just because the tone isn't exactly like Joe's doesn't mean you should change the settings.

Re: Axe II Joe licks

Thanks bro,  its a work in progress- playing and tone. I do hear the over the top aspect. Comes from my shred back ground but gradually moving toward a more classic tone. I really think the Joe B SD pups will help. Not that I am trying to keep his tone exactly, it is a great benchmark.   Part of the reason I made the video was to showcase what I am hearing with the classic 57's -a little too much plus....   sounds like you agree?

Re: Axe II Joe licks

Yeah, but I totally think its the settings and not the pickups.  It just seems to be lacking some bottom end.  It totally sounds like to me you came from a Shredding back ground.  Like I said you're bad, but might I suggest if you're going for a blues sound try to take the less is more approach and play like a singer.  A singer has to take a breath and if you phrase where you have space in between it gives it time for those notes to sink in and let the listener be blown away by what they just heard.  Bonamassa is also said he has the wall of dull.  Maybe cut your presence back or your treble on the settings and use your mids, not sure if you cut the mids on your tone due to the Shredding but blues based guitar loves mids.  I'd also suggest running the bass wide open.  Good luck with it and I'm sure these guys on here have more idea's for you then I do.  I just try to get with what I got.  I use a simple Fender Blues jr, and a distortion pedal.  I set the amp flat eq 12 noon on the everything, set the gain about 10 o'clock, and the volume depends on the room size, never had to crank it up half way anywhere.  Humbuckers are a way of life lately.  But Single coils are my life blood... Stratocaster or Telecaster just love it.

Re: Axe II Joe licks

AD3THREE wrote:

Yeah, but I totally think its the settings and not the pickups.  It just seems to be lacking some bottom end.  It totally sounds like to me you came from a Shredding back ground.  Like I said you're bad, but might I suggest if you're going for a blues sound try to take the less is more approach and play like a singer.  A singer has to take a breath and if you phrase where you have space in between it gives it time for those notes to sink in and let the listener be blown away by what they just heard.  Bonamassa is also said he has the wall of dull.  Maybe cut your presence back or your treble on the settings and use your mids, not sure if you cut the mids on your tone due to the Shredding but blues based guitar loves mids.  I'd also suggest running the bass wide open.  Good luck with it and I'm sure these guys on here have more idea's for you then I do.  I just try to get with what I got.  I use a simple Fender Blues jr, and a distortion pedal.  I set the amp flat eq 12 noon on the everything, set the gain about 10 o'clock, and the volume depends on the room size, never had to crank it up half way anywhere.  Humbuckers are a way of life lately.  But Single coils are my life blood... Stratocaster or Telecaster just love it.

This is a matter of taste but I find the AXeFX is a great tool for obtaining different tones but for me the touch and feel is nothing like the warm and bell like touch of a real overdriven tube amp blended with a clean tone wrapped up in a blanket of delay in the effects loop. I agree more mids and hold the listener. great playing
Cheers Ron

"Joe B saved my soul, forever grateful Ron"
"Some people dream of worthy accomplishments while others stay awake and do them"
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Re: Axe II Joe licks

Thanks guys! My goal is to like Joe mix it up with a lot of feel and an occasional burst of notes. What you see in the video is me trying to remember all these cool new licks and just get em in there so to speak. If you like me you learn new stuff and forget it, so making a quick vid is a good way to store it and look back later on.
  Ad3 the settings on this model have to run the bass low or it gets muddy, I agree less presence, but a/bing this Lester with my Lifeson axcess with 498T in the bridge it is evident the classicplus is a little shrill.
the bummer about the 498T is it is very hot, in a good way but that has drawbacks too. By the way I have a strat and love that tone too,  Lincoln Brewster is another huge influence.
   Cindyron, thank you! I have the 5150III 50w head (set with low gain) and run the axe for Fx as a 2nd rig and do love the real tubes too!

Re: Axe II Joe licks

Here is a thought do you think its that double locking floyd rose that is making the difference?  On my Studio I replaced the nut with a Graph Tech nut and it really maded the Bass come alive on an already killer guitar.  I've been playing my Studio Plus a lot lately and it has the 498T.  It is killing the Pearly Gates in my SG, and the BB3 in my Traditional Pro.  The pro is a love hate relationship because it is all stock and plays fantastic, but its very harsh.  If I'm playing Zeppelin its a good harsh because it hits that Page tone easy, but I feel like if I use that guitar I'm stuck with just that.  My Studio has a nice growl to it and is more everything.  I lately have been using pedals so I have a clean tone, then a distorted rhythm, and an over the top distortion that can either be a lead tone for the 1st setting or rhythm for a heavy song.  I've got a clean boost for both settings so I can always stay about the mix if I need to.  My main strat has a Frank EVH pickup that I highly recommend.  It blows just about any pickup I've had away.  I am not really a EVH kind of player, I'm more a Leslie West kind of guy but EVH's tone is amazing, and for heavy stuff that's what I strive for.

Re: Axe II Joe licks

Dialed back the presence and treble in my main pre sets last night and I was very pleased. I do not think the floyd effects anything tone wise.  Many hard core LP fans would disagree.

Re: Axe II Joe licks

I like your playing and your tone very much.  A lot of sustain with good note clarity.  Very nice.  I struggle with a les Paul.  You sure look comfortable playing yours.