Do all amps that sound great clean also sound great distorted?

[chap]

And can a great distortion unit like AxeFX turn any Fender Bullet into a killer amp?

WHat do you think? Got any examples?

[gorch]

No! Amps are made for different purposes, have different power, and have different speakers. One distortion unit might sound incredible on one amp but dull on another. Then there comes taste.

Is your question going more towards which amp is the best for the AxeFX?

[chap]

No not really, I just got this old Peavey 212 VTX Classic (hybrid) that I really like clean but never been happy with distortion (tons of pedals, ADA MP-1).

I mean it sounds so good clean and its 60W - not too bad. 2x12" should be able to push some air... I just don't get why I can't get a good distortion out of it.

Plus with gear, I'm definitely guitar heavy and not too much with amps (don't own many and knowledge not great either).

[Armitage]

I've heard/played lots of crappy amps, and amps that have a colored tone, like guitar amps, heavily affect the tone if things like an Axe/FX, plugged into it.

[gorch]

It sounds like you would have to backpack your equipment and try any amp available in the store of your confidence. As a second step try different distortion generators or FX tools.

Did you consider to change the speaker in your amp? Speakers can be very different.

[hamerhead]

I've never had much luck getting clean/overdrive/lead channels to all work REALLY well together. The best I've had was the Peavey JSX, but that needed some pretty good volume to overdrive like it should (the clean channel was pretty damn good at any volume). Otherwise, with everything else, it's been a 'good clean/mediocre OD' or vice versa battle.

With a good clean amp and a modeler, you should be able to dial in a great distorted sound. It might be a time-consuming pain in the a$$, but well worth it. And once you get it dialed in, it's pretty easy to plug into ANY clean amp and get a good sound (with a little tweaking). I can plug my old GT-3 into anything from a PowerBlock to a 45-year-old Fender Pro Amp and get great clean AND distorted sounds (although I'd give the edge to the Fender )

I think an AxeFX pushing a Fender Bullet WOULD sound killer - if set up right. Your Peavey would be a pretty nice platform for a modeler.

[zenmindbeginner]

With a good clean amp and a modeler, you should be able to dial in a great distorted sound. It might be a time-consuming pain in the a$$, but well worth it. And once you get it dialed in, it's pretty easy to plug into ANY clean amp and get a good sound (with a little tweaking). I can plug my old GT-3 into anything from a PowerBlock to a 45-year-old Fender Pro Amp and get great clean AND distorted sounds (although I'd give the edge to the Fender )

Word.

I run my PODX3Live through my Polytone Mini Brute which is one of the cleanest amps in the world. I am very happy with the distortion although it doesn't compress or have the presence of a tube amp by any means. I hear ya on the Fender Pro man. lolz.

I actually play through the Line 6/Polytone setup because I like to play at fairly quiet levels and my Fenders just run me out of the room and sometimes out of the house.

As a side note a set of Bill Lawrence XL pups running through the Polytone yielded woody almost acoustic tones... the best clean and sparkling sound from humbucker/amp combo that I have ever heard.

[jaberwock]

I've never been a fan of master volume amps, or distortion boxes; I know it's old school but use a good low wattage amp ie Deluxe reverb, adjust for your ideal lead tone then back of the guitar volume for your clean / rythym sound; to my mind you should be able to get a great clean, and overdriven sound from a good tube amp.

Digital amp modelers can work well in a recording situation, but the dynamics don't work well in a full band

scenario.

[sonic1974]

How would a Axe-FX sound going through a really clean amp like a Roland JC-120?

Any feedback appreciated. Thanks!