Triaxis v1, v2, FAT mode….clarifications once and for all.

[trippy]

Hi guys.

I'm about to buy a Triaxis to match my brand new 2:90 and the 2 boogie cabs I have, I think it will make a great setup.
I read everywhere about v1, v2, FAT mode etc…
I don’t know what to look for.
My needs are total midi control, Mark 4 high gain and crunch sounds and if I get the recto sounds as well then it's a bless.
I'm more to the heavy metal sound player but do play some blues / light rock as I play in a cover band, I do need to be very versatile with the sound.
I checked over boogie regarding the s/n and different versions and that’s the answer I got:

(Quote):
V1 Triaxis s/n# 1-1700 did not have the rectifier board for lead 1 red

V2 1700-8279 did have the rectifier board for lead 1 red.

Fat mod was a mod that thickened that Lead 1 red mode only and was from around 5000-8279.

In october of 2004 the rectifier board was removed due to unavailability of parts and the Triaxis reverted back to the original Version 1 and is what is in current production.

Now, reading all the above, what do you think about that FAT issue and what should I look for ?
Thanks.

 

[Jackie]

There are tons of threads on this already.

In october of 2004 the rectifier board was removed due to unavailability of parts and the Triaxis reverted back to the original Version 1 and is what is in current production.

Well that's a new one. BUt wow, that is a bummer. If I ever lost mine I'm sure I would get one just like it. That Recto mode is out of control.

Fat mod was a mod that thickened that Lead 1 red mode only

They voiced it according to the Vintage mode of a Rectifier, whereas the non-fat ones were voiced according to the Modern mode of a Rectifier. I think it was done so that Lead 1 RED fits in with the other modes better.

I have the V2 non-fat (S/N around 2300 or so) and paired with the 2:90 it's the ballz. Lead 1 Red sticks out but IMO that's a good thing and if you want Marks and a Recto in one box I think the V2 non-fat is the best option.
The absolute best option would of course be to try both out and see what you like.

It's great for metal if that's your main tonal focus. I have been able to dial in some good rock-y sounds too but not really something I was totally floored by - but then again I have not spent tons of time with it and it's quite an in-depth amp for my first boogie so I'm sure I could get something I really liked (as much as my Marshall's crunch tones) if I spent some more time dialing it in (I haven't played it in months because I have to retube the 2:90 and I don't have the $$).

Oh one more thing - what do you mean by "total MIDI control"? All the versions have MIDI switching but V2 and V2 fat mod have the Continuous Control (ability to change parameter settings on the fly). If you really need that then V2 is your only choice, otherwise either will do.

 

[trippy]

They voiced it according to the Vintage mode of a Rectifier, whereas the non-fat ones were voiced according to the Modern mode of a Rectifier. I think it was done so that Lead 1 RED fits in with the other modes better.

Im not familiar enough with the recto Vintage mode or Modern mode, what I would prefer is a more modern metal sound, I assume the recto Modern mode is my choice ?

I have the V2 non-fat (S/N around 2300 or so) and paired with the 2:90 it's the ballz. Lead 1 Red sticks out but IMO that's a good thing and if you want Marks and a Recto in one box I think the V2 non-fat is the best option.
The absolute best option would of course be to try both out and see what you like.

I wish I could, they (TA) are not a common thing here in Israel and I have to decide preior to going to eBay and buy it there.

Oh one more thing - what do you mean by "total MIDI control"? All the versions have MIDI switching but V2 and V2 fat mod have the Continuous Control (ability to change parameter settings on the fly). If you really need that then V2 is your only choice, otherwise either will do.

That’s exactly what I need but given some more thoughts, I have recently rearranged my pedal board to a more "travel light" style and canceled the extra Ernie ball vol. pedal that was used for parameters changes so I actually don’t have a linear parameter change control any more.
given some more thoughts (2), I do have a big pedal board (VoodooLab GC) so I have extra free switches that can be used for specific parameters inside a preset, do we have such an option in the V2 ? i.e. the option to lets say trigger specific parameter inside a preset ?


So as a bottom line i assume i should look for a V2 non FAT.

I would appreciate if a FAT mode owners will bring here their opinion, is the FAT is that bad ?
Thanks.

 

[Jackie]

I wouldn't say the FAT mode is "bad" in any way. Like I said I have not heard it yet but I feel the need to anyway. The Lead 1 RED mode (non-fat) kind of stands out from the others, and IIRC the fat one is warmer and more "assimilated" to the whole preamp. MESA states in their manual that you can have your non-fat TA modded to fat specs but they specifically say to try a fat modded one out (that doesn't apply anymore though) to see if you find the change desirable or not so they look at it as a voicing change, not a general improvement.

I can tell you that my Lead 1 RED tone with a booster is nothing short of HOLY ****. Modern metal indeed.

I'm not sure I understand what you meant with the last part - you are asking if you can make a change INSIDE the preset on the fly WITHOUT a linear parameter control device? So for example you want to change the Lead 2 DRIVE parameter by hitting a switch?
There is a simple way to do that - the GC has tons of preset space so you just make a preset, copy it to another preset number, change the desired parameter and save. If that's what you're after than the V1 can also do that.
For example you make a preset, save it to one switch and you have the Lead Drive set to 6. Then you make the same preset and save it to another switch, and change the Lead Drive to say 8.
Again, not sure I fully understand what you mean but that's how I interpreted your post.

 

[Danimal]

As a quick correction:

V1 - no MIDI continuous control
V2 - With MIDI continuous control

There is no other difference between a V1 and V2. That 's the only difference. No boards or sounds were changed. There are many original TriAxes out there with the V2 software.

That said, I will say that yes, the fat mad is bad. It's horrible, in fact. It took a perfectly good mode and made it completely unusable. Entirely too much low end, and not in any kind of musical way. No note definition either.

I would absolutely agree to look for a TriAxis with the recto board and no fat mod.

 

[ando]

^ Correct.

I would also add that, despite the "Vintage" and "Modern" monikers applied to the two versions, the Vintage (non-fat) Recto board sounds better for modern metal than the Modern (fat) one, due to the more focussed sound of the non-fat. The fat mod is too flubby and undefined. You have to tweak it for a while but if you want metal you can get the non-fat recto to cut through concrete.

 

[stephen sawall]

I hate to bring this up but there is also several small updates as time went on.... I was the original owner of one of the first ones (I payed for mine almost a year before they were out) At that time (early)there was a number of small changes done. A number of them were small problems I pointed out to Mesa. Mostly level things and not tone changes. In the late 80's and early 90's I talked with Mesa a lot about the gear and what I thought could be improved or things I wanted. Mesa has grown a lot since then. Back then it was not uncommon for Randy or who ever was around to answer the phone. Mesa and most other company's update gear all the time. This is true of everything .... not just music gear. But yes you have the big changes covered. I have heard them all and they are all great .... only a matter of taste ....

Mine was stolen in 1997 and never replaced ....but have been around several since then ...

 

[dbone]

Everything I have read concerning all the Triaxis that had the recto board says they were based on the vintage recto orange channel. The phat/fat mod was only a change within that same circuit. Some like it some don't. But It is not Red Modern recto.

 

[trippy]

So, a V2 with no FAT it will be, meaning i have to look for a unit older than 2004…..
well…..

just to clear it a little, does the units with the FAT still has enough gain meaning are there other channels that can give a blasting distortion both for rhythm and siren leads ?

 

[dbone]

I have the Triaxis with the Recto board non fat.
So back in the 90's when I got the Triaxis I was all hyped up about the Recto board and all, but honestly I had never really played a Mark series prior to that point. After spending some serious time with the Triaxis I found myself relying more and more on the Mark series circuits and less on the recto. Don't get me wrong I love Recto tone as well and I picked up a rackmount dual recto this year just to have some fun and it's still a great amp.
My favorites for Triaxis high gain are.
LD2 Yellow or Mark IIC+
LD2 Red or Mark III
LD2 Green or Mark IV

The LD1 Red Recto board can lay down some great gain as well but I think the very design of the recto circuit has such a different feel that it throws people for a loop when they jump to it from the Mark modes The tone controls work differently on the recto as well. The best thing you can do is read the Triaxis manual a few times and let it soak in

 

[Jackie]

As a quick correction:

V1 - no MIDI continuous control
V2 - With MIDI continuous control

There is no other difference between a V1 and V2.

I don't think that's true. V1 had a mode called "British Shred" that neither V2 or V2 fat modded had (so V1 had no Recto board). Afterwards, the Recto board was added, then fat-modded. Nowadays I guess according to trippy's post we're back to V1 in terms of tone but WITH the CC.

So there is a tone difference between the three, but only on Lead 1 RED mode.

dbone I think you're right about the recto stuff. That was my understanding and in no way a fact.
Your last post is kinda what I feel too - I have LD2 Yellow for rhythm, LD2 Green for leads and RH2 for cleans. If I play tones a lot and then engage LD1 Red it's like plugging into a whole different amp. Not in a bad way but it catches you off-guard.

trippy yes there's the whole Lead 2 channel that you can have for leads (I recommend LD2 Orange) if you choose Lead 1 RED for your rhythm tone.

I think V2 non-fat is your best bet.

 

[Danimal]

I don't think that's true.

It is. Trust me, I would not lead you astray.

You can tell V1 from V2 by powering up the TriAxis. The display will say either 1.0 or 2.0. That is the version number and has nothing to do with the sounds at all, solely the software. You could change the sounds 10 ways from Sunday and do all kinds of board changes or even just remove every sound creating component completely and you'll still get either V1 or V2 when it powers up.

But please, don't take my word for it. Check the manual. It's right in the table of contents.

 

[Danimal]

just to clear it a little, does the units with the FAT still has enough gain meaning are there other channels that can give a blasting distortion both for rhythm and siren leads ?

Absoloutely. The Lead 2 Red mode is fantastic for really high gain stuff. Lead 2 Yellow will give you a solo tone that will make you smile like never before.

The fat mod killed Lead 1 Red but with enough tweaking you can get an almost usable sound out of it. Almost.

 

[crane]

There's a "reverse" mod for the fat somewhere on the web, if you're not afraid opening the TA, remove the TX4 board and do some soldering/unsoldering job.

 

[dbone]

Ya know it's a curious thing with the vintage recto TX4 board.
I have to wonder what it would sound like to play LD1 Red through a recto 2 One hundred power amp and AB that verses the 2:90. The 2:90 is best suited for the Mark Modes and the Triaxis overall but it would be interesting to know just how close the TX4 board is to the recto vintage with a real recto power amp...

 

[stephen sawall]

V1 - no MIDI continuous control
V2 - With MIDI continuous control

This is not correct .... I had one of the first ten made and it had MIDI continuous control.
==================================================

edit .... corrected below ....

 

[trippy]

As mentioned in the opening topic, this is a copy / paste of the answer i got from Boogie:

V1 Triaxis s/n# 1-1700 did not have the rectifier board for lead 1 red

V2 1700-8279 did have the rectifier board for lead 1 red.

Fat mod was a mod that thickened that Lead 1 red mode only and was from around 5000-8279.

In October of 2004 the rectifier board was removed due to unavailability of parts and the Triaxis reverted back to the original Version 1 and is what is in current production.

BTW, I read in many places over the net about all kind of opinions regarding what exactly the difference between the V1, V1 FAT etc….

I would be glad to know the real thing :wink:

 

[ando]

V1 - no MIDI continuous control
V2 - With MIDI continuous control

This is not correct .... I had one of the first ten made and it had MIDI continuous control.

You can update the firmware later as far as I know. That would mean what Danimal says is still correct. The CC software wasn't available when the first Triaxes were made, so that would suggest yours has been updated at some stage.

 

[stephen sawall]

V1 - no MIDI continuous control
V2 - With MIDI continuous control

This is not correct .... I had one of the first ten made and it had MIDI continuous control.

You can update the firmware later as far as I know. That would mean what Danimal says is still correct. The CC software wasn't available when the first Triaxes were made, so that would suggest yours has been updated at some stage.

I think you are right .... but it was updated only after a month or so after the release. It was never updated after that from what I remember. I was the only owner till 1997 when it was stolen. I believe the CC was pretty much near the beginning. It was 20 years ago .... my memory is not completely clear. :mrgreen:

 

[trippy]

This is an answer I got a few days ago from a local Boogie dealer who contact AN official Boogie rep:

The current TriAxis has the Phat Mod in there, but not the TX4 PCB (which was the "Rectifier" board).
The Rectifier mode was on LD1 Red, which is now more of a Classic Boogie lead tone instead. The Recto mode itself was never identical to a Recto (space is limited in there) and we removed that mode when the TriAxis got a bit of an update a while back. Some of the parts used in the unit were becoming very difficult to obtain, so we made a few design changes to it.

The current TriAxis is still referred to as a Version 2, but that doesn't include all of the little updates and mods that have been performed along the way; every time a small change was made, we didn't increase the version number etc.

Now I'm even more confused… :shock: