About the Axe-fx

[timbo]

So I'll speak for myself and not Ralph, but if he is a "hater" I'm a "hater" too. I would rather describe my thinking on the Axe-Fx as VERY HOPEFUL, but slightly disappointed so far. Sorry to the guys who dig it. I hope to be one of you one day soon.

See the thing is what most people don't get is that with any clip that anyone does other than yourself isn't going to sound exactly like what you want to hear. Forget presets and forget peoples clips entirely except for reference. I'm telling you, if you had this box in your hands and took a couple of someones clips that you somewhat liked, and tweaked it to YOUR ears you would be stunned. I play the thing live at the least 4 times a month and there are patches I click on for certain songs and I just smile every time because the sound is so unbelieveably what I've always wanted to hear. When you "build" what you want to hear that will be "your" tone. Not Marshalls, not Engl's, not Mesa's but yours. I can never see going back to a conventional amp head with a handful of dials and limited tones. I just can't see it.

Look guys, I'm not trying to be a "Scott Petersen" here (nor do I have anything against him), but you literally have to dial this thing in to suit your taste. I guess the reason I'm so vocal about the product is that I'm so amazed in how it took a guy like me that hated anything to do with emulation and who was so jaded and turned of by Line6 and Digitech and turned him into an open minded musician for once. I've said it a million times that I don't have any desire to play my JVM anymore. I have "0" amp gas. In November I will have had my Ultra a year. That to me speaks volumes.

 

[degenaro]

Look guys, I'm not trying to be a "Scott Petersen" here (nor do I have anything against him), but you literally have to dial this thing in to suit your taste. I guess the reason I'm so vocal about the product is that I'm so amazed in how it took a guy like me that hated anything to do with emulation and who was so jaded and turned of by Line6 and Digitech and turned him into an open minded musician for once. I've said it a million times that I don't have any desire to play my JVM anymore. I have "0" amp gas. In November I will have had my Ultra a year. That to me speaks volumes.

I wouldn't play the JVM either, that amp didn't do it for me. If I still had the Axe-Fx and the JVM, I'd probably just play the Axe-Fx as well. However, my Axe-Fx Ultra purchase both times with the intention of using it strictly for a DI recording tool did not work out for me. I still prefer working with software modelers such as Revalver MKIII and Amplitube 2 in conjunction with the multitude of effects and cab sims available in Logic Pro to get what I need. If I were in a cover band and needed to get all sorts of different tones and effects, I would probably be interested in the Axe-Fx and tube power amp but I would probably be looking into the new Pod X3 Pro as well for $699.00.

Have tried loading down the Blankenship and running it through just the cab sim in A2 or Revalver 3?

 

[Gainfreak]

Have tried loading down the Blankenship and running it through just the cab sim in A2 or Revalver 3?

Ed, honestly, I have not been able to do anything for the last couple months or so. Sold the house finally and I'm in apartment limbo until we find the home of our dreams I plan on doing all sorts of things when everything is up and running again, like eating non-fast food. Oh yes, the Blankenship is gone, on it's way to its fifth owner now I believe? Another lesson learned, I will never buy a modded type Marshall Plexi again, only stock, no loops, gain mods, etc.

And also with you.

 

[Gainfreak]

And also with you.

We lift up our hearts....

 

[degenaro]

Have tried loading down the Blankenship and running it through just the cab sim in A2 or Revalver 3?

Ed, honestly, I have not been able to do anything for the last couple months or so. Sold the house finally and I'm in apartment limbo until we find the home of our dreams I plan on doing all sorts of things when everything is up and running again, like eating non-fast food. Oh yes, the Blankenship is gone, on it's way to its fifth owner now I believe? Another lesson learned, I will never buy a modded type Marshall Plexi again, only stock, no loops, gain mods, etc.

Wait, what happened? I thought you really dug that one? What's next? Old JMP?

 

[blackba]

I asked one question about latency and you would have thought I slammed the whole product. When did a question become an insult?

I didn't see your post, but to address latency from a players prospective...

Remember how you could almost HEAR the latency on the original PODs?

On the XT, it was much better, but I thought you could still feel it in a big way.

On the Axe-fx, it's nearly gone. I think it's s'pozta be like 4x quicker than the pods. IMO, it's a big deal in the 'feel' issue. I remember reading one of Cliffs posts about him dicking around with some idea, but abandoning it because it increased the latency by some tiny number.... this tells me that he understands fully, that latency KILLS feel.

I have really limited experience with modeling gear in general. I have toyed around with a few PODs and tonelabs. But most of my experience was with the Vox AD60VT modeling amp. I doubt I would notice the latency on the Axe-Fx, its good to see that its something that Cliff is concerned about.

One thing that is surprising to me, is that for the price of the Axe-Fx it does not have a color LCD display. I assume the money went into the guts and models, but when I think of something being Ultra, I kind of thought the display would be updated. Maybe that will be in the next version. Yes I wish the Axe-Fx was less expensive, but I am just surprised they couldn't fit it in the budget to put a color LCD on the ultra.

 

[degenaro]

Wait, what happened? I thought you really dug that one? What's next? Old JMP?

I really did dig that one, however, I found one sweet spot and that sweet spot was good only for 80's metal. It cleaned up well with the volume but not to an extreme. Jackaroo at TGP made some really nice clips with it, he felt the same way though. ejecta dug it but found it too sensitive to the guitar/pickups. I think Chris Nix summed it up once by stating once you add anything to a stock plexi circuit, MV, loop, etc., it just doesn't feel/react the same, most likely why he uses a stock Variplex. Yes, it is what I originally wanted but my musical tastes have been expanding. I really dig the Badger 30 I picked up a while ago for its cleans and mid-gain tones, it does not excel at high gain but that's OK. It has a very good effects loop and I plan on experimenting with it as a slave amp using its return once I get my Komet Concorde "inspired" build soon. This is when I plan on doing the load/cab sim experimenting as well. I was planning on getting a UA for this but the more I think about it, I may just end up getting a Hot Plate or an Airbrake with a line out and load option if possible.

Obviously I'd say get a Hot Plate!
But seriously, if you get a any load without a line out, and then you get the H+K Red Box and shut off the sims and use it to send lin level to the mixer.

BTW, how's the Badger with something lik a Crunch Box in front?

 

[squealie]

One thing that is surprising to me, is that for the price of the Axe-Fx it does not have a color LCD display. I assume the money went into the guts and models, but when I think of something being Ultra, I kind of thought the display would be updated. Maybe that will be in the next version. Yes I wish the Axe-Fx was less expensive, but I am just surprised they couldn't fit it in the budge to put a color LCD on the ultra.

We (band) paid just as much for a Focusrite Liquid-pre as I did the Ultra. Also has a monochrome display, and a rudimentary editor.

You're right, you're paying for the technology, and the first-rate guts.

 

[david simpson]

Gotcha.

Here is my recommendation for healthly living year round:
Quit smoking for good.
Eat healthfully... Lotsa lean protein, fruits and vegetables
Work out 6 days a week - 30-40 minutes aerobic exercise every other day, 45 minutes weights other days.
Drink all you want!

Steve

I'm good with not drinking, at least until NAMM.

But I thought we were going to behave ourselves at NAMM

 

[degenaro]

Gotcha.

Here is my recommendation for healthly living year round:
Quit smoking for good.
Eat healthfully... Lotsa lean protein, fruits and vegetables
Work out 6 days a week - 30-40 minutes aerobic exercise every other day, 45 minutes weights other days.
Drink all you want!

Steve

I'm good with not drinking, at least until NAMM.

But I thought we were going to behave ourselves at NAMM

Who are you and what have you done with Dave?

 

[Gainfreak]

Obviously I'd say get a Hot Plate!
But seriously, if you get a any load without a line out, and then you get the H+K Red Box and shut off the sims and use it to send lin level to the mixer.

BTW, how's the Badger with something lik a Crunch Box in front?

Once I am up and running again, I would like to try one of the higher gain pedals in front of the Badger. It works very well with my TS-808 and RC Booster but it would be interesting to try one of the higher gain pedals. IMO, most of the high gain mods to amps sound like pedals anyway. One of the greatest tones I got from that Badger was right before I had to pack it up. California Strat with HS-3's and YJM's going to Analogman Silver OD-9 to Badger 30 to Badger 1x12 with V30. No one was home and I cranked that bitch. Man, even with power scaling, nothing beats getting those power tubes going. You can really get some good tonal variations with the power scaling, feel as well. I have to say that the little 1x12 with V30 sounds better to me with that amp compared to my Stone Age 2x12 with the Heritage M's. I'm gong to try a V30/G12H combo in the 2x12.

Hey Brother, Talk to Ed about running one pedal into another for some wicked gain that sounds killer.

 

[Gainfreak]

Hey Brother, Talk to Ed about running one pedal into another for some wicked gain that sounds killer.

I can't because Steve chimed in about his homo L.A. fitness routine.

And also with you.....

 

[tweed]

what is this pedal into another pedal black magic that you speak of?

 

[Copperhead]

what is this pedal into another pedal black magic that you speak of?

Yngwie FTW!!!

 

[Gainfreak]

what is this pedal into another pedal black magic that you speak of?

Ed had me playing through a fulltone pedal into an Emma pedal and it sounded like WW3 in a good way!! It was metal as F^%k



And Copperhead... Yup Yngwie FTW!!!

 

[degenaro]

what is this pedal into another pedal black magic that you speak of?

Ed had me playing through a fulltone pedal into an Emma pedal and it sounded like WW3 in a good way!! It was metal as F^%k



And Copperhead... Yup Yngwie FTW!!!

Hmmm...that shoulda been an SD9 or Demeter boost with the Reeza...or was it the FullDrive that week?

 

[Gainfreak]

what is this pedal into another pedal black magic that you speak of?

Ed had me playing through a fulltone pedal into an Emma pedal and it sounded like WW3 in a good way!! It was metal as F^%k



And Copperhead... Yup Yngwie FTW!!!

Hmmm...that shoulda been an SD9 with the Reeza...or was it the FullDrive that week?

Yup!! Definitely a fulldrive!!

 

[Gainzilla]

But I thought we were going to behave ourselves at NAMM

Yeah, thatll happen LOLOLOLOL!!!!

 

[degenaro]

But I thought we were going to behave ourselves at NAMM

Yeah, thatll happen LOLOLOLOL!!!!

Hey! I've been relatively mellow at NAMM in 2002! I think.

 

[Anonymous]

Hey Brother, Talk to Ed about running one pedal into another for some wicked gain that sounds killer.

I can't because Steve chimed in about his homo L.A. fitness routine.

Its ok - I give you my permission...

Steve