Axis tone

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basile865
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Axis tone

Post by basile865 » Wed Aug 19, 2009 2:24 am

Is there any noting of what hendrix used on the bold as love song from axis? That intro strat has this especially deep hollow thick sortve growl to it.

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ohmygodtheykilledkenny
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Re: Axis tone

Post by ohmygodtheykilledkenny » Wed Aug 19, 2009 2:39 am

MMMMM....Bold as Love. I have to say, this song has some of my favourite Jimi tones. That rich semi-clean rhythm, and the deliciously cutting solo tone. I've always wondered what kinda gear was featured on this track.

Also love the fuzz/volume swell after the intro run to the first solo.

Hopefully someone more knowledgeable chimes in.

Travis
If yer ears ain't ringing, yer amp ain't singing! -JimiJames

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Re: Axis tone

Post by Puerco » Wed Aug 19, 2009 9:18 am

Roger Mayer claims that the axis fuzz was designed especially for that song. At the end it sounds like a flanger is used, did Jimi ever use a flanger???
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spaceace76
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Re: Axis tone

Post by spaceace76 » Wed Aug 19, 2009 9:57 am

i think that's just tape flanging, like used on Gypsy Eyes

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Tone Slinger
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Re: Axis tone

Post by Tone Slinger » Tue Aug 25, 2009 9:34 am

I heard that Jimi used a early 100 watt top (probably one from his original batch) on Axis. I heard that those original one's (heads) he used had the kt-66 tubes ?

I'm guessing he used the 'big' headstock rosewood board white strat.

Alot of those mid to late '67 Experience recordings, like 'Radio One', had Hendrix using that very CUTTING sounding fuzz box. It was definatly different sounding as compared to his other fuzz box type sounds. It seemed to track better and have more gain (I especially like how it sounded on 'Driving South').


I think that particular fuzz box was a Roger Mayer modded fuzz face. Supposidly the Mayer 'Axis Fuzz' is the circuit. I think that could possibly be the fuzz box used on the 'Axis' recordings.
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Coony
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Re: Axis tone

Post by Coony » Sun Sep 06, 2009 5:08 pm

Tone Slinger wrote:I think that particular fuzz box was a Roger Mayer modded fuzz face. Supposidly the Mayer 'Axis Fuzz' is the circuit. I think that could possibly be the fuzz box used on the 'Axis' recordings.
In my experience (meaning tested and always using it) it might have been a forerunner to the axis fuzz.
The origines can be found in the original octavia...

Please read this:
http://www.diystompboxes.com/smfforum/i ... ic=52731.0" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

and this

http://www.diystompboxes.com/smfforum/i ... ic=53494.0" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

It got me thinking, so I built my own version of the driver-circuit... To me, it's IT! It works equally well with JTM45 KT66's and JMP El34's, just needs some adjustment with volume and fuzz. Lots of volumeboost possible and very intense fuzz which cleans up very well. Fuzz face type sound but with more clarity, more like the axis fuzz but without the 'harshness'. Pretty noiseless, just like the axis, which sound nice also but misse the power of 'my' version. Oh, and it takes a wah without the need for a buffer... Ever wondered why Jimi used his wah before the fuzz (not face!) without a problem? Right, it worked...with no problem!

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Tone Slinger
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Re: Axis tone

Post by Tone Slinger » Sun Sep 06, 2009 9:36 pm

Jimi 'misinforms' alot of people, 'cause he ,has/had, too much FEEL and soul. There's alot of dudes out there (some here on the forums) that are going through certain 'trips' that cant see the forest for the tree's. Clarification MAY or MAY not be in thier future.

Even though the fuzz used on AXIS was a 'one off' affair, I'm sure that Hendrix would have gotten by without it, and those who arent 'fluent' in that language would be searching for something else.


Let the POWERS THAT BE bless us all.
Rip Ben Wise (StuntDouble) & Mark Abrahamian (Rockstah)

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spaceace76
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Re: Axis tone

Post by spaceace76 » Sun Sep 06, 2009 10:08 pm

can you post a schematic of the unit you made?

i'm sure we'd all be very grateful. :mrgreen:

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Re: Axis tone

Post by Roe » Mon Sep 07, 2009 8:41 am

the axis album was marshall and sound city (and an axis fuzz). marshall sounds like an early el34 amp. also some modulation effects added in studio.
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Re: Axis tone

Post by Roe » Mon Sep 07, 2009 8:48 am

Puerco wrote:Roger Mayer claims that the axis fuzz was designed especially for that song. At the end it sounds like a flanger is used, did Jimi ever use a flanger???
well, its a proto-phaser. they messed with the tape speed in order to make that effect
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Re: Axis tone

Post by Tone-Freak » Mon Sep 07, 2009 10:45 am

Roe wrote:the axis album was marshall and sound city (and an axis fuzz). marshall sounds like an early el34 amp. also some modulation effects added in studio.
Where did you get the quote about sound city in the studio can you confirm this because I read that it was pure marshall :D

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Re: Axis tone

Post by Roe » Mon Sep 07, 2009 10:54 am

Tone-Freak wrote:
Roe wrote:the axis album was marshall and sound city (and an axis fuzz). marshall sounds like an early el34 amp. also some modulation effects added in studio.
Where did you get the quote about sound city in the studio can you confirm this because I read that it was pure marshall :D
this info is from the pre-internet days, from british guitar mags
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Re: Axis tone

Post by spaceace76 » Mon Sep 07, 2009 3:30 pm

coony, did you basically make a tyco octavia, minus the section that produces the octave (transformer, diodes, etc)? what changes did you make, if any, to the driver circuit?

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Coony
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Re: Axis tone

Post by Coony » Tue Sep 08, 2009 3:38 pm

spaceace76 wrote:can you post a schematic of the unit you made?

i'm sure we'd all be very grateful. :mrgreen:
I'll see what I can do, if I find the time maybe by tomorrow!

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Coony
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Re: Axis tone

Post by Coony » Tue Sep 08, 2009 4:05 pm

spaceace76 wrote:coony, did you basically make a tyco octavia, minus the section that produces the octave (transformer, diodes, etc)? what changes did you make, if any, to the driver circuit?
I basically build it like you said; the octavia minus the octave-components.

http://files.effectsdatabase.com/docs/s ... ia_002.gif" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I used a BC109 in the first position and 2 BC327's in the second and third (possibly connected invers from the schematic, since I have a negative ground version). After the 33µF I put a 100K pot to control the volume.

If you read Mayer's explanation in the link, the first version was a driver box which had to be connected to an octave-box... why would the driver-circuit on it's own produce a bad sound? If you look at it closely, you see that the axis fuzz is essentially a simplified version of the same circuit.

http://www.diystompboxes.com/pedals/axisfuzz.gif" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Try it and let me know what you think!

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