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
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 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
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 one of the unit's four channels. So in essence, if you need 5 to 256 different sounds at the touch of a button, the AX2 is for you. If you want a bit more traditional amp feel and only need to switch between four different sounds, you want a Flextone. Not too tough, was it? If you don't do that much gigging (like me), but still want all the incredible TubeTone sound and versatility, the Line 6 folks just introduced the world to the POD ($399 list), an awesome-sounding tabletop direct recording tool that's designed to deliver all the sounds of a Flextone (meaning killer tube amp sounds) in a compact package. Line 6's exclusive A.I.R. direct recording output even provides outstanding cabinet/speaker/mic emulations that actually sound like real miked cabinets. This little beauty offers a deep, inspirational sonic palette that uses exactly the same modeling technology as Line 6's combo amps, but without the possibility of pulling a muscle or irritating the neighbors (the ones that go to bed at 10 P.M.). This thing is affordable, and its mind-blowing sound makes it essential for every serious guitar player that wants to lay down the tone on tape (or hard disk). As you might guess, we have more to tell you about these fabulous amps (we haven't even told you about the Floor Board and its eight switches and two pedals at $299 list). But that's a job for your Sweetwater Sales Engineer. True, at this point you probably already want a Line 6 product, but trust us, as amazing as these things may seem in black and white, they're even more incredible when you actually plug in a guitar and play. So what are you waiting for? Pick up the phone and give us a call for information and special low pricing on these amazing Line 6 products. — Bill Hoover
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