Axe-FX Update - give it to me straight...

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Ventura

Ventura

Well-known member
Decent price for a MFC101 foot controller and the new XL-II+ model AFX2.

Anything new? I jumped onto the (Fractal) forum and saw this new bent towards "amp in the room" models that are really hitting it up?? How is it?? New software platform worthy of pushing dual SHARC processors?? Cats ass??

Just considering it as a merry festivus to me; or a new JJ100.

Or both just to get back into the swing of things.

But seriously - what's up with the Fractal stuff as of late... Would love to know.

Peace
Mojo
 
I think there are people meant to utilize amp modeling and those that are not. Ventura, I think you are a tube amp person. If you have to talk yourself into getting into the Fractal stuff again, I just think you will be disappointed. I have noticed a huge improvement in the tones over the past months/years and there is more "feel" than there was years ago. With that said, I've always loved the Fractal stuff so I have that as a baseline.
 
Just go into it with the right expectations and the proper needs for a modeler and you'll be fine. If you have to carry a room with your amp volume or can have loud stage/studio volume then a real amp works really well and is my preference. If you cant have that environment then a modeler is a very viable option. Not "all" guitarists "subconsciously" require things like "harmonic squish" to play a gig or record a good track and unless you can crank your amp you're not going to get that feel anyway. The feel on the modeling units has gotten better but it's still not the same. A ton of tube amps feel totally different from each other anyway so to claim there is some standard of feel is total bullshit anyway. Like I said if you go into the use of modelers which the right needs and mindset they are great tools to have.
 
Ok. Ive had mine since it came out. Every update makes it better. Closer to actual amps.

I ignored it this last year and played my three diezels. Went back to it to update and sell it. Played the new firmware, didnt want to sell it anymore lol.

I ALWAYS use a tube buffer into the rear input for REAL tube amp feel. I also use a tube poweramp and use the axe as a preamp plus effects. With proper tweaking thru guitar cab it was indiscernable this way. The way most people use it still leaves some to be desired when compared to real amps as noted.

I think im still going to sell, got a bunch of fx lately that i like, my amps still kill and new diezels are coming out ;) otherwise it is pretty awesome these days. Personally i say wait for the next generation. Its not far off it would seem.

I often wonder about feel posts, if you put ANYTHING between your guitar and that first tube you dont have real amp feel unless you have a tube buffer first in line.
 
Rezamatix":249azs5q said:
Make sure you ignore people who don't know what real amps "feel" like and try to deny it.
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:lol: :LOL: Ironically I have that same thought when I read your posts.
 
The problem with the modeller and trying to get the amp in the room is you actually have to have an amp in the room.

so if you need a power amp plus 412 what have you actually gained
 
gtr31":v3cp34q2 said:
The problem with the modeller and trying to get the amp in the room is you actually have to have an amp in the room.

so if you need a power amp plus 412 what have you actually gained
Click to expand...

In my experience... you don't gain anything other than some flexibility with number of amps and FX but that's not high on my priority list so I'd much prefer to use a real amp and cab there. To me it's all about the the right tool for the right situation. I used to be able to play a loud amp in all the situations I played in but that's not the case anymore so a modeler like the AxeFX works much better where you can't turn up a real amp. If I have monitor myself through a wedge or in ears I prefer a modeler. The feel isn't the same as a loud tube amp but the positive way out weigh that negative in that situation for me. In the end though it's all subjective and some people have different needs and expectations.

The bullshit part comes in people like Reza claim to speak for "all" guitarists and say they things they can't like what guitarists need "subconsciously". Total nonsense.
 
For me it's all about the sound out front these days. For most of my gigging life it was about what it sounded like onstage to me. I thought I would struggle with that when I started gigging my AX8 but surprisingly I didn't. I'm very happy with my sound on stage which shows in my performance. But I'm even happier with my sound out front. When I AB'ed my mic'ed tube amp rig through the PA with my Fractal rig direct through the PA I couldn't tell the difference and actually thought the Fractal sounded better. I've been gigging the Fractal rig for almost a year now and have never been happier with my tone. If you would have told me last December that i would no longer be using my tube amps to gig with and running direct with a modeler I would've said your were crazy. But here I am.
 
victim5150":53jze0bh said:
For me it's all about the sound out front these days. For most of my gigging life it was about what it sounded like onstage to me. I thought I would struggle with that when I started gigging my AX8 but surprisingly I didn't. I'm very happy with my sound on stage which shows in my performance. But I'm even happier with my sound out front. When I AB'ed my mic'ed tube amp rig through the PA with my Fractal rig direct through the PA I couldn't tell the difference and actually thought the Fractal sounded better. I've been gigging the Fractal rig for almost a year now and have never been happier with my tone. If you would have told me last December that i would no longer be using my tube amps to gig with and running direct with a modeler I would've said your were crazy. But here I am.
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You must not know real amp feel and "harmonic squish". :D :thumbsup:

I've been using the AX8 for a gig every week for the past six months and for those situations it's been a very fun playing experience. I thought I'd really not like it at all and just have to push through the set but wasn't that way really at all.
 
Yeah, same as it always was... Which is, pretty fucking fun. Hook that shit up to your monitors whip through to a preset you dig, grab any of the cool effects, slap a boost on the front of the amp if you want. Getting noisy, use the killer gate, out of tune? Cliff's designed a great tuner in there. Do all this and a whole shit ton more without even getting up to wrangle with cords patching shit in and whatnot and trying to figure out where there latest annoying buzz is coming from in your rig.

So yeah, same as it always was...fun.

You want an amp in the room then get an amp...and a room.

That said though, I do get some pretty decent tones with the Axe and my Mesa Boogie 2:90 and a couple 4x12's. :D

Good to see you around again Ventura. Glad you made it back from your ordeal down there! :shocked:
 
I love most digital units and have tried most of them. Kemper, Amplifire, Axe-FX, AX8...I just could not get used to them live. For recording, they are a no brainer and pretty much all I use. But I play live more than I record and a real amp is where I'm at. The modelers just lack something to me that causes my playing to suffer. There's no ooomph, no feel (or artificial feel) and lack of energy. Yes, I've used power amps and real cabs with them. They just don't compare to the real thing to ME for live use. They work well for many others. Only you know the difference...
 
Rezamatix":29kq4q2i said:
ejecta":29kq4q2i said:
victim5150":29kq4q2i said:
For me it's all about the sound out front these days. For most of my gigging life it was about what it sounded like onstage to me. I thought I would struggle with that when I started gigging my AX8 but surprisingly I didn't. I'm very happy with my sound on stage which shows in my performance. But I'm even happier with my sound out front. When I AB'ed my mic'ed tube amp rig through the PA with my Fractal rig direct through the PA I couldn't tell the difference and actually thought the Fractal sounded better. I've been gigging the Fractal rig for almost a year now and have never been happier with my tone. If you would have told me last December that i would no longer be using my tube amps to gig with and running direct with a modeler I would've said your were crazy. But here I am.
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You must not know real amp feel and "harmonic squish". :D :thumbsup:

I've been using the AX8 for a gig every week for the past six months and for those situations it's been a very fun playing experience. I thought I'd really not like it at all and just have to push through the set but wasn't that way really at all.
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lol. I said Class D power amps wont give you harmonic squish. if you're gonna try and bag, at least do it right.
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It was a joke so it doesn't have to be right. Anyhoo... Victim uses wedges with solid date power amps so yeah there's that.
 
gtr31":397nh5h8 said:
The problem with the modeller and trying to get the amp in the room is you actually have to have an amp in the room.

so if you need a power amp plus 412 what have you actually gained
Click to expand...

Basically youll have 200 preamps and a full fx suite. Limits the axe for sure.
 
I bought an Axe XL+ with the Black Friday deal. Mainly to use for FX, but since I already had a Matrix GT1000, I figured it'd be fun to use the amp models every now and then. I hadn't played an Axe since the pre-quantum days. It's sounding really good to me. So much so, I ended up buying a pair of Atomic CLRs to use with it. I mainly use it for late-night lower volume playing when it's not feasible to crank up my tube amps. It's not replacing my tube amps but, as I said, it sounds really good to me. Hell, if I didn't already own the amps I have, I probably wouldn't be looking to buy more tube amps after getting the Axe dialed in. I'm not selling any tube amps either though.
 
Rezamatix":1rgqg089 said:
If I was touring and had a sound guy, I would probably still take a couple tube amps.
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This past year at the ACL Festival, my company did the behind the scene video production work. All of the guitarists worth checking out had tube amps. The guitar techs that I talked with said it was all about the tone.

I've got a modeler coming later this week and it will be my first, but I am skeptical that it could totally replace my Bogners and Matchless amps.
 
I was thinking about getting one again now that I have a decent interface and computer setup. Good for recording, practicing at low volumes and saving the ear drums from a 4x12. But the deal with the foot controller isn't that great at $100 savings. meh.
 
VC4Ever":30n2wpf2 said:
I was thinking about getting one again now that I have a decent interface and computer setup. Good for recording, practicing at low volumes and saving the ear drums from a 4x12. But the deal with the foot controller isn't that great at $100 savings. meh.
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When I got mine on Black Friday, it was $2800 for the Axe, MFC, Expression pedal and TRS cable - so about $260/8.5% discount. Not great, but better than nothing. I haven't even unboxed the MFC/Expression pedal yet. :lol: :LOL:
 
It's tough getting past the "amp in the room" sound and feel some people can find lacking. I really thought I was going to experience this. My first gig with my AX8 I brought my own wedge along with having a power amp and a recto 2x12 cab on my backline along with having me in the front of stage monitors. I was so loud through the front monitors I didn't need the backline cab and it sounded so good through the monitors I've never looked back. If I didn't like my sound it would definitely hinder my performance so I can understand the struggle people have with it live. Like I said, I really thought I would experience that myself. I was shocked and thankful that I didn't cause I'm really enjoying the ease and flexibility of this setup.
 
moltenmetalburn":3tp0l59b said:
Ok. Ive had mine since it came out. Every update makes it better. Closer to actual amps.

I ignored it this last year and played my three diezels. Went back to it to update and sell it. Played the new firmware, didnt want to sell it anymore lol.

I ALWAYS use a tube buffer into the rear input for REAL tube amp feel. I also use a tube poweramp and use the axe as a preamp plus effects. With proper tweaking thru guitar cab it was indiscernable this way. The way most people use it still leaves some to be desired when compared to real amps as noted.

I think im still going to sell, got a bunch of fx lately that i like, my amps still kill and new diezels are coming out ;) otherwise it is pretty awesome these days. Personally i say wait for the next generation. Its not far off it would seem.

I often wonder about feel posts, if you put ANYTHING between your guitar and that first tube you dont have real amp feel unless you have a tube buffer first in line.
Click to expand...


Which tube buffer are you using ?
 
My biggest gripe with Axe Fx was rolling back the volume on the guitar, it was nowhere near the same as a tube amp. I tried and tried using it live, couldn't get it too feel right.
 
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