LD 2 RED: This mode is made for shred. In fact, it might be better named LEAD 2 Shred. It is much more aggressive in the top end than its’ yellow counterpart, boasting much enhanced upper harmonics. Though it shares almost identical basic architecture... additional parts switch in when Red is chosen that give this once balanced, well behaved mode a downright ugly attitude. Harmonics are boosted and a bit of lower treble is dipped to give this Red a sizzling edge that is unique to this mode only. The harmonic edge not only bene ts high notes...It does wonders for the grinding “Z’s†needed for bodacious low end crunch. This enhances the growl on the low strings as well as it adds cut and sizzle to the higher strings. The frequencies enhanced by this circuit are slightly higher than those found in conventional power section PRESENCE controls.They are also higher, more rebellious and de ned than those adjusted by the action of TriAxis’PRESENCE control.These highs have that out-of-control-vibe to them, that falling-apart-yet-loosely- held-together quality that is often associated with modi ed early British heads using Euro-style EL34 power tubes for their ponies. This elusive sound affects the feel of the strings and players accustomed to such sounds have dif culty feeling at home on an amp that doesn’t deliver these loose highs.
To be a complete array of guitar sounds, TriAxis had to address these classic heads. LEAD 2 Red possesses most of, if not all the qualities we mentioned. If a player still nds Red to be lacking in this history making sound, there is always the DYNAMIC VOICE control to blend in some lower lows and higher highs, while dipping the mids and jacking the bottom simultaneously. If this still isn’t exactly what turns you on...well you could go nuts, and use two TriAxis and a MESA High Gain Ampli er Switch.( see rear of this manual) Use one TriAxis in LEAD 2 Red and another TriAxis in LEAD 1 Red, then blend the two by turning them both on at once! CRAZY? Don’t laugh...you’d be surprised at the number of guys using two TriAxis’ or a TriAxis and another head simultaneously. However, this gets pretty expensive and we nd that mastering one TriAxis is enough of a challenge for anybody. Regardless, LEAD 2 Red is perfect for any part where you need focus and urgency, but want a little bit of that edge for attitude. The same hints and suggestions apply to the Red in LEAD 2 that we discussed for Green and Yellow. Work with the GAIN control carefully...check the factory preset that utilizes LEAD 2 Red.
