Photo by Rick Wenner
Is that the one Billy Sheehan uses?
Myung: Yep.
Could the Axe-Fx eventually replace your amps?
Myung: Not for bass—at least not now. But it’s great as far as providing
supplemental characteristics. What I’ve found is that, to get a cooking
bass sound, what you need is a heat source. You really need tubes
and heat, because it offers warmth, dynamics, and natural compression.
Petrucci: The Axe-Fx is an awesome unit—it’s replaced most of the
effects in my rack, and it’s doing all of the delays and harmonies. I have a
small pedalboard for all of the front-end stuff. Ultimately though, when
it came time to track the guitars, for me, I don’t know if it’s too soon
to call it old-school, but the whole guitar-into-an-amp-into-a-cabinet-pushing
air-being mic’d thing—I’m addicted to that. It’s something that
I’ll never stop doing. Every time I try something like a speaker simulator
or a modeling thing, as great as the technology is—and it gets better and
better and better—I’m still married to that. There’s nothing better.
John Petrucci's Gearbox
Guitars
Music Man John Petrucci signature JPXI 6-string, Music Man John
Petrucci Ball Family Reserve (BFR) 6-string, Music Man JP6 6-string,
Music Man JPXI 7-string (with low B string), Music Man JP BFR 7-string
(with low B), JPXI 6-string (in D tuning—standard tuning dropped a
whole-step), Music Man John Petrucci BFR (in D tuning), Music Man John
Petrucci BFR baritone (in A tuning), Taylor 30th Anniversary 712ce
Amps
Mesa/Boogie Mark V heads, Mesa/Boogie
Rectifier 4x12s with Celestion Vintage 30s
Effects
Fractal Audio Axe-Fx Ultra (at press time, tech Maddi Schieferstein was
working with Fractal Audio’s Matt Picone to program an Axe-Fx II for
Petrucci), Dunlop CryBaby DCR2SR
rack wah, Majik Box Body Blow, Boss
PH3
Phase Shifter, MXR EVH117 Flanger, G Lab BC1
Boosting Compressor,
Ernie Ball 25K Stereo Volume Pedal
Strings, Picks, and Accessories
Ernie Ball .010–.046 Slinkys (for standard tuning), .056 for low B on 7-string
guitars, Ernie Ball Slinkys for D tuning sets (.010, .013, .017, .028, .042. .052),
Ernie Ball Slinkys for A baritone tuning (.012, .016, .022p, .036, .048, .064),
Ernie Ball Earthwood Extra Lights (for acoustic), Jim Dunlop Ultex Jazz III 2.0
mm picks, TC Electronic PolyTune, Furman AR-PRO AC line-voltage regulator,
Axess Electronics CFX4 Control Function Switcher, Axess Electronics GRX4
Guitar Router/Switcher, Axess Electronics FX1
MIDI controller, Framptone Amp
Switcher, custom Mark Snyder interface/switcher, Mogami cable with Neutrik
connectors, Finger-Ease guitar-string lubricant, DiMarzio ClipLock straps
John Myung's Gearbox
Basses
Music Man Bongo 6-string basses
Amps
Demeter HBP-1 preamp, Demeter VTHF-300M tube power
amp, Demeter VTDB-2B tube DI, Radial JD7 Signal Distribution
Amplifier, Radial JDX Reactor direct box/speaker simulator,
Demeter BSC-212 2x12/1x8 cabinet, Mesa/Boogie Dual
Rectifier head and 4x10 cab (for dirty tones)
Effects
Fractal Audio Axe-Fx Ultra, Demeter HXC-1 HX compressor,
Little Labs IPB Jr. Phase Adjuster, Moog Taurus 3 bass
pedals, Fractal Audio MFC-101 MIDI foot controller, Ernie Ball
volume pedal
Strings, Picks, and Accessories
Ernie Ball strings (.032, .045, .065, .080, .100, .130), Furman
AR-1215 AC line-voltage regulator, Shure UR4D wireless,
Whirlwind Selector A/B box, Korg DTR-2000 tuner, Mogami
cable, Levy’s Leathers straps, Jim Dunlop StrapLoks
