Mesa TRIAXIS vs H&K ACCESS preamps: Head to Head
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- Опубліковано 13 лис 2020
- Mesa Triaxis vs Hughes & Kettner Access preamps: Head to Head
00:47 Alt Rock
01:23 Smooth Lead
02:03 Light Riffing
02:50 Low Tune Heavy Riff
04:04 Van Riffing
04:39 Super Clean
05:25 Access 250 Rock Riff
06:24 Triaxis 290 Rock Riff
07:54 Access 250 Classic Low Gain
08:12 Triaxis 290 Classic Low Gain
09:06 Triaxis 290 Ragey Tele
09:59 Access 250 Ragey Tele
10:17 Opinions
#BigHairyGuitars #MesaBoogie #Hughes&Kettner
The Access was the pinnacle of the rack era. If you connect an original TC2290 in the combined AB series effect loop of the Access and a rack mount dgital reverb in it's effect Loop C, which is parallel, you have got one hell of a setup! You could even put a tube head in the Access' external pre-amp loop and connect the head's line-out back to the Access' preamp return, thus giving you a wet/dry/wet capability. You can then connect pedals to the 2290's five pre-delay effect loops. I connected my Foxrox thru-zero flanger in stereo to the TC2290! To add insult to injury, the Access also sports H & K's Red Box Cabinet simulator outputs in stereo, which could provide you stereo connections straight to the board.
Yesssss!!! Been waiting for this comparison! And I get to see all the settings too - thank you for satisfying my nerdy needs!😀
I have a number of Access Pre-amps and I've been using them since 1990/91 and I love them. They respond to playing dynamics fantastically and maintain the character of the individual strings even with the most discordant of chords. There are two daughter boards which plug into the main PCB, Sound Modules A and B. The differences in the two modules is very apparent although Tube 1 is similar on both, a British sound, quite Marshall like. The Clean is very different. Module A is a transistor clean, quite thin up to about about 70 (128 is full on), after which a very usable compressor kicks in which adds a great dynamic. Module B also has a slight compression but also introduces a great harmonic drive as you increase the gain. Tube 2 differs as well. Module A is very smooth, lots of sustain but with great attack. Module B is similar but with a more scooped sound and a edgy bite in the higher frequencies. Both modules are great and have their place. Module B definitely has a fully bottom end to the Bass parameter. Personally I gig with my Access Pre-amps loaded with Module A. In fairness I have never tried a Triaxis, although I have been very curious. I have owned other pre-amps such as Voodu Valve, ADA MP1 and the Marshall MP1, all of which did not get close to what I have loved about the Access for the last 30 years. This review was very useful.
Cool things. Really dug the Access - more open sounding. Thanks for the video.
Hi Michael, you are a fantastic guitar player! I have owned both the Triaxis and H&K Access. I am a rack guy and loved the boogie until, 1991 when I saw A H&K demo in Chicago. It was TJ Helmrich and Brett Garsrett. After that I switched to the Access and it has been my main preamp ever since. I use it from super clean 80’s tri Chorus stuff to Ratt dirty tones. Thank you for your demo of both units, it was very unbiased and really Kool to listen to. Thank you again Mr N!
Hey Michael,
I found it great that you did not hold back your opinions.
These days it is so hard to get a meaningful internship in a studio or with producers who actually have ears that are proven working.
Watching you dial in tones and listening what you are listening for and commenting on what you are getting is such a great and educational experience.
I know how I struggled to get good tones recorded when I started out, and it‘s such a different game than an amp in the room. Watching you do your thing and getting granted a little glimpse of what is going on between your ears, that‘s great!
Thanks Michael, that was awesome! It looks like Triaxis is much more universal but the Access definitely sounds outstanding for heavy & tuned down riffs.
Wow! Really great view and sounds. Have lots of mesa but i kinda want that Access now. Damn you! :)
Love the Veruca Salt riffs man! That song was such a great composition - great Collective Soul riffage
The Mesa studio preamp wins ;)
👍
Yes.. The Studio is the one! It just has that 3-Dimensional sound. From the cleans to the burn sounds.
Triaxis for me. So great to hear some “bottom line” by Diamond Dave.
Hey Michael,i own two Access Preamps one with Soundmodule 1 and the other with Soundmodule 2
which came out a half year later ,after release. it is a chip inside the preamp. In the Sm 2 ,the Clean Channel
sounds much more like a real Tubeamp (fenderish) just for Information.
Keep up youre good work on this channel......greetz from Germany...
Great comparison Michael.
I started singing the chorus when you playd "Bottom Line" ;)
I used the Access with a one-of-a-kind Marshall Plexi 2 x 100 watt head and it was really great. Now i've bought my own Acces and started to build a rack set with a Peavy 50/50 power-amp.
Oh, maan! Such a cool comparison!:) Never got to try the Access, but been playing H&K amps for many years (owned a Duotone, Trilogy and Triamp) their tone philosophy relies heavily on the British high gain territory, with ok cleans. That was apparent here 2. As an owner of a Triaxis and 2/90 (which i love) I think your right on the money! Somehow the Access seems to be ”easier” to get good heavy rhytm tones than the Triaxis, but the Triaxis has a wayy broader tonal palette! Great demo!
In exactly 47 seconds Robert Baker will post the same video.
You don't know me!!!
Also ....yes I will ....
@@RobertBakerGuitar see.....I do know you. 😜
I'll have one up in 47 days
😆
Both sound great ! i would be happy to have one !
Both definitely sound similar and I think they sound better through the VHT than through their respective power amps. The one sound where I felt one had the edge over the other was the riff played on the Ibanez - that just sounded tighter on the Triaxis.
Talk about me while back at the ranch.....thanks now I will have that in my ear for the rest of the day.
Damn I always heard it as "talk about it meanwhile back at the ranch." lol.
The video we've been waiting for! Cleans the Triaxis def wins but wow the Access just sounds o wide on those big chords. but on single notes the Tri shines to me.
That's exactly my assessment.
Agreed, the Access gets a little fizzy too
In Access there is a compressor that kicks in on the clean channel when you turn it past 7 (ok, in scale 0 to 128 is it 80?)
On Hughes&Kettner amps at that time they all had the compressor on the clean channels, but you had to dime the volume, then it went to a classic country sound.
If I were to guess, the Access has some more high-mids (or slightly more scopped) that make it pop out more when playing large chords, but that can also make it sound more fizzy at times and make it thin on the cleans. If so, some slight post-drive EQ could make them sound even closer. Regardless, nice video, thanks for this!
You prolly dont give a shit but does anyone know of a tool to get back into an instagram account..?
I stupidly forgot the account password. I would appreciate any help you can offer me.
Would love to hear an in-depth triaxis/2:90 review with the Mesa 5 band eq in the fx loop. You are the perfect choice for this man, please make it happen 🤘
Coming soon!
@@BigHairyGuitars great news!
I'm curious to see if you're going to love it the way I do!
I know I'm probably asking too much, but I'll ask it anyway! Haha! If you could try also the presence trick (put it on 10 on tri, reduce it to taste on 2:90, in order to remove the "blanket" effectm expecially useful on lead 2 sounds). I'm trying to do some "evangelization" on how this + 5 band pedal eq would reduce or remove any difference with studio / quad pre, your opinion would mean a lot to me! :-D
Wish I’d never sold my Access years ago. Nuno tone for days with that thing. I’d probably still choose the Triaxis though. Thicker overall and the cleans are WAY better.
I use a Kemper now but still have my H&K Access.
I like the Access heavy/crunch sounds but never really got the cleans I wanted.
I like the Triaxis cleans better but the heavy/crunch sounds a little muddy to me.
thanks from Vegas
Hi Mike, I'm 100% agree with your final opinions!
Although I think that the only "problem" of the TriAxis is the dinamic voice, which isn't the same thing as the classic MESA eq...and this is more evident trough the more distorted tones.
Mesa EQ pedal in the effects loop or output, problem solved.
I like them both for different things. The Access seems to have better rhythm tones and present leads. Please check out the RNR DP13 I think you would love it.
Nice weight riffage..🤘🏻underrated tune
To me TriAxis just has that slight eq difference that says to me more refined, better quality sound. Especially on cleans TriAxis doesn't have that ear piercing snap in the high frequencies, yet is still bright and clear. Access sounded fatter in the way I wasn't a big fan of. On the other hand it felt like Access got a lot more from adding its preamp in the game, while I feel like TriAxis almost got less impressive. It kinda lost some focus and clarity, got more muffled. Maybe it's just me.
Cool vid again. Just watched your Tone-Talk, it was great as well!
Almost just bought a Yamaha SPX90 because of your video, but it was an old listing, it had already been reserved :< didn't realize how much I needed one! ;) Time to hunt for another one, thanks for that.
What sounds better, Triaxis into the Access or vice versa? Asking for a friend.
I’m wondering if I should add a triaxis to my access rig lol
Very impressed w the Access
I'd love to hear your opinion on the Mesa formula preamp. I'm a big fan personally and always thought it didn't get the love it deserved.
It would so interesting to hear it up against the studio and triaxis. And I think you're the best man for the job 😜
Ever try one ?
From my point of view, There's a sound check pending on Access, and is tube 1 on cleans, Clean channel´s purpouse for what I could read in the past was to have those kind of 80´s cleans where you drive the channel with no saturation on tone, so close what you talk about the direct sound to board. Anyway, tube 1 can be setted at low gain to have Sparkling cleans. To me that sound remind me on fender´s cleans. Sometimes I also used tube 2 for cleans, but don't like the result. Hope this helps to anybody.
Thanks for the series Michael!!
The idea behind the solid state clean channel was to offer the JC-120 type sound. It was a deliberate departure from the tube cleans so you can't really compare them. You can get warm tube cleans on Tube 1 though, which wasn't done in this video. You have the two power amp modes on the power amp but they have their own presence knobs and are switchable etc. This thing is so deep, it's like they wanted to pack the next 20 years of guitar tech into it - and they did.
The problem with the Access is that it is really just too deep. It's really flat out impossible to wrap your head around it - especially since it was hardly explained in the manual. For example, you can set it up so your effects loop is switching parallel to series. Or you can loop your preamp into it: When all the preamps on the access are off, there's an external preamp loop that's actived. Three effects loops, two of them stereo, all switchable and saved with he patch, two poweramp or amp mode switches saved as part of the preset patch (meant for the various modes on the VS250), redbox speaker sim on the headphone out etc. etc. It is, IMO, one of the greatest pieces of guitar gear of all times.
Great Heavy Collective Soul riff aka Heavy!
For this vid's tones, Access for me.
The thing is they are both infinitely programmable, and if you A/B them to match presets for presets you can get them to sound identical. I have a killer Tube preamp with three channels, and I have cloned the tones in a vintage Line 6 Pod Pro, and NONE OF YOU could tell the difference. So the same thing could be done here.
But here, today, the Access absolutely wins
I agree with your opinions about the comparison - while the Tri-Axis gives you that rounded Mesa tone, for more edgy rawer Marshall-esque tones, the Access seems to be more suited for that.
Man if you want to try out a rocktron prophesy I’ve got one sitting in a rack collecting dust. Would love to see what tones you can get out of it
So jealous of your Les Paul and Tele...it’s messed up I got both too 😅 but goddamn they are beauties!
11:23 "what did I just push" lolol that got me
Michael! I owned both and to me the Access has more of the Marshall type tones available even though it could get into a more modern territory. The Mesa is just all pure Mesa Boogie tone. I love them both. Two different colors. Now like yourself I would prefer a tube clean tone on the Access. That's the only downside to me.
Oh yes, always good to hear Lie by Dream Theater 🤘
Liked the Access better into the VHT a little opener sounding than the Triaxis. Didn't like the cleans of the Access on its own power amp. Like the Triaxis better into the Mesa 2:90.
it's not my type of music and style but at 3:43 you switch from Tri-axis to Acces and I just could not believe what I heard. The Access sounded so much better. For the other gain sounds the difference was not that big but I still liked the Access better.
On the clean channel .. can't really compare those ... It was the reason that I bought the Tri-axis back in the 90's. I sold it because I felt it lacked dynamic response.
Between you and Robert Baker, you guys are going to drive the price of these old school rack goodies crazy lol
I add comments while I'm watching.
I know, shuut uup... 🙄
I liked the Triaxis cleans,very vibrant, and surprisingly open.
The Access cleans sounded "clucky" like a piezo...
Can you set the H&K tube 1 for clean sounds? I have the triaxis and besides the cleans I thought the Access was more of my style.
Wow, ok, so Mike which preamp came out first? I’m assuming the Boogie, because they sound so similar to the Boogie Mark linage which is what it’s meant to be (plus a recto setting).
The HK cleans just need graphic EQ, Triaxis sounded amazing.
Dude played Volcano Girls by Veruca Salt!
If be happy with either, but I’d still take the Boogie Studio pre over both.
The Lie riff felt just right on the Triaxis.
Through the VHT the Mesa Boogie was the clear winner, but it was another story when paired with their matching company's power amp. While the Triaxis was a little better on the cleans, the Access was the big winner for the heavy stuff.
👍🇺🇲❤MESA
Very similar indeed. Can you please get a Rocktron Piranha? :) thanks man
They both sound badass but the TriAxis wins in my book. The cleans on the TriAxis sounds miles above the Access.
Hey Michael, rad video... what RG is that? was a production model or customized? super cool 90s RG with the tele styling there my friend
Thanks. It's a RG760 that I beat up. :)
Good show sir! Love it. May need to steal that at some point
Mesa for the win!
Have you tried an Engl e580 before? I love mine!
I'd like to hear the difference between the two Lead 1 red voicings on the triaxis. The British Shred and Recto mod. Does anyone know where I can hear a comparison?
I have both. Definitely prefer the access. But I like the VHT gp3 better than both ;)
Did you ever try a 2x12 or 4x12 stereo cabinet via the access' headphone out? Never had a better guitar tone at bedroom level... 🙈🤗
I wonder if you could do this with a triaxis 🤔
Does the triaxis have master-midi like the access?
Like the H&K more, but both great
Any plans to compare the Synergy stuff to the classic rack preamps?
The triaxis has a certain muddy sound that I have never been able to dial out without the help of another eq
Yep, I own one and I know what you mean. I've fixed it in two steps:
1) set presence on the triaxis on max, dial back the presence to taste on the power Amp.
2) do not use the dynamic voice, put a Mesa 5 band eq in the fx loop.
From my experience it's like day and night, and the triaxis is now sounding as it is was meant to be, I. E. In the league of studio and and quad pres.
THANK YOU. Mesas sound wooly.
H&K sounds great
i am looking for a nice rackmount tube kit for jazz or progressive music. Someone can help me?
The Access wins in my book, it has that warmth of 1990 H&K similar to Kitty Hawk, some ENGL amps ... virtually the tone of Vai's Flex-able album ... CARVIN X100B with an SD1 in front
Will you try out any of the Mercuriall emulators like the Reaxis?
Triaxis definitely for me weirdly on the les paul they sounded close
where u live dude? jam time off the record......total fun brother. You probably get asked this but if you're in the Jersey area?......most likey not but thought i'd try
Volcano Girls!
I owned the H&K and played the Mesa. Triaxis clean is better, but covering all the bases especially when you bring price into the equation, the H&K all day.
I thought the H&K’s clean sounded like solid state. I prefer the Mesa. But at the end I prefer the Friedman. Basically I want every amp to sound like a plexi with more gain or like Luke in Kingdom Of Desire😂🤦🏻♂️.
Access clean is solid state. I love it.
What mode was the Triaxis in? IIC+? Dual Rec?
Access won every time for me on the dirty sounds
Is the Access controlled/Guitar routed in IC , essentially digital or do they use the same Triaxis analog path? I know MB has a patent on how they keep the guitar signal 100% analog while still controlling it digitally. This was the big change from ADA MP1 which the guitar signal was not 100% analog. I bought one late nineties to upgrade from my MP1 for this reason. Wondering if the Access is like the MP1 where its not 100% analog.
The ADA MP-1 was most definitely 100% analog in it’s signal path. I’ve owned several over the years and it was what was so revolutionary about it when released. Sorry you sold yours.......
@@christopheranderson2158 No the ADA was not 100% analog. it was not digital in the sense of todays AD/DA conversion but the signal path was digitally controlled and sent through digital switching circuits so the push button led display settings on the front could be converted to (bass, gain, treble, etc). In standard amps true analog settings would be controlled by analog POTS. You could use analog pots controlled by motors to keep the 100% signal analog which I think Bogner did at one point. But to keep the ADA cost effective the had to route the signal through digitally controlled switches (again no ad/da conversion, but JFET or MOSFET circuits) which changed the tone. TriAxis was the first to use electronic versions of Analog Pots (I think they were called LDRs or something) and they had a patent on this. So the treble, bass and stuff could be controlled digitally while retaining a 100% analog path. I remember this distinctly back in the day and that was the whole reason I went to the TriAxis.
thx for all. What amp do u use with the preamp for nice clean sounds? thx
power amp? Any good power amp, but the Mesa stuff sounds extra good clean.
Great comparison but neither sounds even close to as good as the A/DA MP1 into the Two Notes Cab M
the triaxis sounds MUCH more in your face, than the access. the access seems to have a wider "stereo spectrum" even though I guess you recorded in mono, which leads me to the first thing I wrote. wide spectrums most times are less in your face than plain mono sounds.that is why I would prefer the mesa, cos if I need it to sound wide and stereo I would just record the amount of tracks I need and pan them
LOLOLOL Mike you very frequently throw in a lick where I'm thinking, "damn that's an obscure one that I sure know!" DLR Bottom Line hahaha
VHT the real hero
Boogie yo
Play the pumpkin!
Babymetal The One!
It seems like the Access prefers the company of the H&K poweramp. The Mesa has a bit more "oump" most audible on the Ibanez playing the Dream Theater (?) riff. The sparkling clean John Petrucci got out of that unit on so many songs seems to be lost in your video. Tge Access has an harsh clean sound. A bright attack. Much better with the H&K poweramp though. Similar but different..
Carvin Quad X is the best in class
h&k is good but the triaxsis is a beast
The Triaxis is a $cam, like the Marshall JMP1 with TRANSISTOR distortion & clean tubes after 2 'warm it up', like the Rocktron Voodoo Valve & so on with digital distortion (even worse) & 'joke marketing tube' after, etc. The H&K stuff is real tube tone, but not necessarily the best. 4 that, get a 'Tuxedo Bassman' or something, with 'bright knob' (not switch) =) Like the best Marshall ever but 'not a Marshall' HAHA
DLR’s Bottom Line solo!!!?
You can hear every opamp on the access, while the triaxis sounds 100x more like an amp
I'm happy with my Triaxis, I use it for band practice with a Soldano slave power amp. But the power amp is heavy and I don't need stereo, so I was wondering if y'all have any suggestions for something that isn't stereo and isn't 20kg? Solid state is fine.
Leave me lying here 'cause I don't wanna goooooooooo
They both sound good!!!! Your right ...Mesa Triaxis has it!!
To my ears....the H&K sounds a little more Marshall or “Rock”....something with the mids I think. I feel like the Mesa sounds a little more “metal” and wants to be “gained out”....agreed on the cleans being better in the Mesa....I guess that wouldn’t bother me much due to not using very many clean tones....Q, can the access get a “cleaner” sound with a different setting on a non clean channel ? I’ve owned 2 triaxis over the years and went back to my Soldano pre both times. For that reason, I might pick the H&K because it seems slightly more Soldano/Marshall than the Tri.
mesa all mode best=)
by far..
VERUCA SALT!!!
You need to mod that Triaxis, then it really gets alive.
Plug into that RED FRIEDMAN!!
ua-cam.com/video/661EI1x3S3c/v-deo.html
1st
to my ear the tri axis sounds more alive with more lairs to the tone
Access is a lot more corpulent...
That means fatter, girthier...
Read a book kids... 😁📖👍
Head to head - gnukgnukgnuk