Atomic Amplifire

**steves3972** · 01-02-2016, 02:07 AM

So I've been playing tube amps most of the time for the last 20 years of playing and have dabbled with solid state and digital stuff before but this time I think I've found something quite decent. I never wanted to spend the kind of money people do on axe fx or kemper systems and in the past I tried the avid eleven rack which was ok.
This time I have decided to give the Atomic Amplifire a try. Have just ordered one from Anderton's in the UK.
I plan to use it with a Friedman Active monitor that I am ordering from Thomann.
I just wanted a hassle free solution for rock and styles other than jazz that utilises lots of effects or different distortion sounds. And the recording side of it would work well too.
I've never had a chance to compare these digital modellers with the real thing so when I get it I will a/b the amplifire with my 59 bassman and princeton reverb.
I'm looking forward to seeing how close it can get to the real thing.
Watch this space.....

**MilesPG** · 01-02-2016, 04:42 AM

Looking forward for that review.

**Frank67** · 01-02-2016, 04:48 AM

Good luck with that.

... For me, ... I reluctant to invest in a Kemper too but after so and so many meh alternatives that I tried (and in sum spent more money on than the Kemper), I did pull the trigger on the Kemper and will probably not look back. Fantastic product!

**Frank67** · 01-02-2016, 04:50 AM

... Oh, I did not want to suggest that the atomic is meh or anything. It is probably great (never saw one myself). I will be interested to hear your take!

**Eric Rowland** · 01-02-2016, 11:08 PM

I received my Atomic Amplifire today and I am very pleased with it so far. I am experimenting with some presets from Fremen and the JC120 is very nice. I used to own a Kemper and it was very good but it was a bit more than I really needed. I'm looking forward to finding some more good tones with this gizmo...so far, so good.

**la7cea** · 01-03-2016, 12:08 AM

Bedere med en jobb på handa enn ti i posten. :-)

**henryrobinett** · 01-03-2016, 11:02 AM

Axe Fx II here. Love it. Play it everyday. Record with it. Gig with it.

**Robertkoa** · 01-03-2016, 10:40 PM

Cool.

They are getting good reviews on The Gear Page so you should be quite happy.

As you probably know the Amplifire has built in Speaker Impulse Responses and you can download other Cab IRs off the Internet and purchase others.

These are accurate simulations of Speakers so you can easily go "Direct" into PA, full range monitors , into a Mixer, headphones for 3 AM silent practice etc.

For very critical Recording you should be able to use a Guitar Tube Preamp into the Amplifire and use the EFX and Cab IRs ( with Modeling OFF) and it will sound like the Preamp ....however the Modeling may be "Album Quality" on it's own but if not quite - still a great "Direct Box" to use with Tubes.

From what I've heard at TGP the Amplifire is
closer in Tones to the Kemper and Axe Fx than most modelers so should be good .

Will be interesting to read your Review from a Jazz Guitar perspective.

**steves3972** · 01-08-2016, 12:16 AM

This is a quick demo of the twin reverb with my es-335. Didn't really tweak it much just recorded straight in.
Some really great sounds in this unit. Still have not explored all the possibilities yet but I think I am very happy so far.
I have been playing it through my Yamaha DXR10 powered speaker. I'm still waiting for my Friedman active speaker which I imagine would be a step up in terms of realistic amp sounds.

**Robertkoa** · 01-08-2016, 01:16 AM

Nice!
No harsh overtones.
I was digging those Chords!
I think it would be even better through a Cab IR that's bigger to add a lower undertone .( was this Direct through a Cab IR ?)
But nice and smooth- really nice arrangement - I have no idea what that song is but very cool.

So you came "down" from the Kemper.

As you probably know the Axe Fx and Kemper are the Top Modelers hands down.

But some say the Amplifire gets full Pro Tones and use it as a " B" Rig for the Axe FX.

Do you miss the Kemper tonewise at all ?

Could you do CD with it and be happy?

Thanks for the Demo.
I would love to hear more with some deeper tones , although you were probably going for a lot of note separation and clarity on the Chords here right ?

It worked well.

**steves3972** · 01-09-2016, 11:44 PM

here is another demo of the same arrangement this time using an es-175 and a different amp setting. I think was the deluxe reverb model. Much more mellow and softer tone this time.

I've compared the amplifire through the dxr10 powered speaker with my headstrong princeton clone and they of course sound different. There is a lot more headroom and more clarity with my digital setup and I don't feel it lacks warmth either.
The princeton has that raw sound of a real amp that I don't think is easy to replicate but I think for big crystal clear clean sound it's not as good as the amplire/pa speaker combo.

**jads57** · 01-10-2016, 01:34 AM

It seems w/ digital gear you need a lot of computing power to make it sound warm. I think that's why the Axe Fx type of systems are spendy$$. I'm sure when the technology becomes cheap enough will see it spill over to cheaper entry level amps. For me the Character pedals from Tech 21 Liverpool.Blonde,etc. do a great job going direct to house p.a,monitor,etc. for cheap $

**steves3972** · 01-10-2016, 02:28 AM

Originally Posted by jads57

It seems w/ digital gear you need a lot of computing power to make it sound warm. I think that's why the Axe Fx type of systems are spendy$$. I'm sure when the technology becomes cheap enough will see it spill over to cheaper entry level amps. For me the Character pedals from Tech 21 Liverpool.Blonde,etc. do a great job going direct to house p.a,monitor,etc. for cheap $

but I said it didn't lack warmth. I think it can sound just as good as the axe fx because it has the same processing power apparently.

**docbop** · 01-10-2016, 02:39 AM

Originally Posted by jads57

It seems w/ digital gear you need a lot of computing power to make it sound warm. I think that's why the Axe Fx type of systems are spendy$$. I'm sure when the technology becomes cheap enough will see it spill over to cheaper entry level amps. For me the Character pedals from Tech 21 Liverpool.Blonde,etc. do a great job going direct to house p.a,monitor,etc. for cheap $

It need CPU power but today's chips most can handle it, it's still about the software and they all have their own and it can be expensive R&D process for a niche market.

**Frank67** · 01-10-2016, 04:03 AM

Sounds great Steve and nicely played too!

**Robertkoa** · 01-13-2016, 09:17 AM

Yes.
It does sound very good.
Crisp and warm and clean -handles the crisp attack on the melody ( no pick or finger noise- that's you - nice) and the voicings really well with good definition.

No way to tell it's a Modeler.
Some Modelers and maybe some a " Models " make some extended chords sound more dissonant than they really are .

Sounds like Amplifire leans more toward the Axe Fx and Kemper- you can't tell it's a Modeler.

**maggles55** · 01-14-2016, 01:47 PM

Steve3972,

The 175 sounds great. Can I ask: What IRs are you using? Amplifier stock IR or something different?

Thanks,
maggles

**jads57** · 01-14-2016, 02:21 PM

That's good to hear about the warmth factor. They seem to be upping the game quickly nowadays. In the past digital and solid state w/ very few exceptions always seemed to be missing that feel factor that tubes provided.
I've recently converted in the past year to playing Quilter amps due to the advantages of small.light weight, and consistant tone. But I believe they are analog in design.

**Robertkoa** · 01-14-2016, 03:31 PM

Steve- I just listened through headphones ( to the 175 ) and man that sounds really really good!
It's a really pretty , clear sound lots of note separation but still warm.

No way it sounds like a Modeler.

I could hear a lot of subtle dynamics also nice touch.

**steves3972** · 01-14-2016, 11:41 PM

thanks guys, I'm using the stock IRs in the amplifire.
Been playing all week with my friedman active speaker. The clean sound through that is amazing, a huge sound that's clear and detailed with lots of warmth. All of my guitars sounds great through it.
I've dialed in some great ac dc, eric johnson and stevie ray vaughn tones too. Has an awesome noise gate that works really well with single coils.
I can't believe how good this is, amazing tone with flexibility that I'd never achieve even with a massive pedal board and a few amps with a state of the art switching system. It does all that and was only $1,200 with the active speaker. I've done the A/B test with my princeton a few times now and I have to say the princeton loses big time.

**Robertkoa** · 01-16-2016, 02:05 AM

Good news and Congrats on the new
Tone Box.

Is the Friedman Active Speaker from the same guy that builds Friedman Tube Amps ? Just wondering.

Also how are the Delays and Reverbs in the Amplifire ..for example you had a good EJ tone ..which is a good test cuz of the warmth and clarity needed but the Delay and Reverb was good enough..no outboard necessary ?

Even low volume warm cleans - you can beat the Princeton?
Very impressive .

**steves3972** · 01-16-2016, 03:46 AM

yep, same Friedman amp maker. Here's the link:Friedman Amplification | ASM-12Friedman Amplification

I have not dug very deep into the delays and reverbs yet but for basic EJ clean I can get pretty close with the twin reverb, dirty rhythm sounds I use the plexi and for lead the fuzz through the plexi sounds great. I need to the noise gate on the amplifire when I engage the FUzz and it works amazingly well, it is completely noise free and I have no loss of sustain. The reverb and delays are top notch so with further tweaking and researching how EJ uses reverb and delay I think I'd get close.

Yeah it sounds great a low volumes, the princeton sounds good still but I always find tube amps to be boomy, and inconsistent. I don't think I'll sell my tube amps. I need to give it some time. If I still feel the same way in a few months the princeton might be up for sale.

**Eric Rowland** · 01-16-2016, 04:12 AM

I am using the Singtall AmpliFire Superpack which has an Eric Johnson preset (among others) and a few of the Fremen presets. They are pretty good. (ymmv

)

**Robertkoa** · 01-16-2016, 11:29 AM

Thanks for the tip on the Friedman Guitar Monitor.

Nice little Rig.

It even looks good ..like one of Friedman's regular Cabs and it seems to be kind of like a High Powered PA Monitor with a Celestion Guitar Speaker as the Woofer- very cool.
And Friedman obviously knows Tone.

You can cover a wide range of tones/ playing styles and like your Tones more than your Tube Amp ?- win/ win.

Plus as time goes on you can develop some cool " signature" Tones ..play 5 and 6 note voicings on the 175 without being muddy etc.

I became aware of Jonathan Kreisman from this Forum..I call him the EJ of Jazz for his innovation , effortless Virtuosity and kind of Legato smooth attack like EJ and he has a unique 175 Tone...more Delay..still fat ...
.more sustain than most Jazzers ..
So there are still some " new" Tones to be discovered it seems .

**jads57** · 01-16-2016, 08:12 PM

"It does all that and was only $1,200 with the active speaker. I've done the A/B test with my princeton a few times now and I have to say the princeton loses big time."

Wow a Princeton costs $1200? ,lol!