Any Axe Fx players in here? This used to be my old rig!!

[Ventura]

I'm likely on board to pick up a new Axe-II

Had them in the past and they never delivered, but my expectations are lower now. I'll likely keep a small arsenal of my "emotionally irreplaceable" amps and a few choice stomps, but other than this, for what I "need" right now, the AFX2 will surely be fine.

2 x CLR Active Wedges, all play, no sweat.

But I still can't shake the assoholic attitudes of some of the Fractal forumites. Douche central. Did my research on the Kemper too, but the Axe just offers a little "more" of everything, IMHO. If I do get my AFX2, I'll just get the FW updates when needed and avoid the forum overall.

 

[Max Haze]

I always thought that if I can buy it back for what I sell it for that is fine. Then I can sell it. So gear that will be hard to find again I am more likely to keep. You can only play that many guitars and amps at the same time anyway. When I see people with huge guitar collection I always think of string changes. I'm down to seven guitars now. I guess I could sell two more but the rest are the ones that I turn to when I'm recording. Just to get the sound that I want...

 

[Max Haze]

I'm likely on board to pick up a new Axe-II

Had them in the past and they never delivered, but my expectations are lower now. I'll likely keep a small arsenal of my "emotionally irreplaceable" amps and a few choice stomps, but other than this, for what I "need" right now, the AFX2 will surely be fine.

2 x CLR Active Wedges, all play, no sweat.

But I still can't shake the assoholic attitudes of some of the Fractal forumites. Douche central. Did my research on the Kemper too, but the Axe just offers a little "more" of everything, IMHO. If I do get my AFX2, I'll just get the FW updates when needed and avoid the forum overall.

Did you use the Axe Fx II with the Quantum firmware before?

 

[maddnotez]

I'm likely on board to pick up a new Axe-II

Had them in the past and they never delivered, but my expectations are lower now. I'll likely keep a small arsenal of my "emotionally irreplaceable" amps and a few choice stomps, but other than this, for what I "need" right now, the AFX2 will surely be fine.

2 x CLR Active Wedges, all play, no sweat.

But I still can't shake the assoholic attitudes of some of the Fractal forumites. Douche central. Did my research on the Kemper too, but the Axe just offers a little "more" of everything, IMHO. If I do get my AFX2, I'll just get the FW updates when needed and avoid the forum overall.

Did you use the Axe Fx II with the Quantum firmware before?

I've heard that was a huge leap from what they had before.

 

[Max Haze]

I bought my Axe Fx right after the Quantum firmware so I can't say much about how it was before but I started thinking that I would use just the effects in the Axe with my Laney head but after doing a tone match i was stunned how alike it sounded to my amp head so I bought a Matrix power amp and I have never looked back. The funny thing is that when I sold one of my Laney amps I strted it up before the guy was going to come here and my first reaction was "did I use to love this sound" but after about ten minutes it started to sound good after warming up again but with the Axe Fx it always sound good right from the start...

 

[gkinsingapore]

I had an AFX2 before with a CLR and MFC and felt that it was nowhere near my amps and cabs in a lot of areas. Additionally I hated navigating a menu to tweak something on a gig so ended up selling the whole rig.

I've just gone back to an AX8 with a little Yamaha DXR10 that I use to pump a monitor mix through as well and its awesome. I get all the feedback and harmonics at lower volumes that I felt were missing 2 years ago and it all sounds killer. Loading in and out in under 60 seconds is a big bonus too.

I have Friedman and Suhr heads and cabs and I really love them, but there is a lot of money tied up and I think I'm at the point where I'm unlikely to ever use them on a gig. The volumes and separation on stage are much better now and it helps get a killer mix out front. Everything is so much cleaner and if I really want to crank the volume, I can run in-ears easily enough.

I think I'm almost ready to say goodbye to tubes......

 

[maddnotez]

I bought my Axe Fx right after the Quantum firmware so I can't say much about how it was before but I started thinking that I would use just the effects in the Axe with my Laney head but after doing a tone match i was stunned how alike it sounded to my amp head so I bought a Matrix power amp and I have never looked back. The funny thing is that when I sold one of my Laney amps I strted it up before the guy was going to come here and my first reaction was "did I use to love this sound" but after about ten minutes it started to sound good after warming up again but with the Axe Fx it always sound good right from the start...

The tone match is something I'd love. Is a shame the AX8 doesn't have that. Need to find someone to match a few tones for me on the AXE-FX so I can convert to AX8. Any takers? will pay you a little if it's a big hassle.

 

[squealie]

The tone match is something I'd love. Is a shame the AX8 doesn't have that. Need to find someone to match a few tones for me on the AXE-FX so I can convert to AX8. Any takers? will pay you a little if it's a big hassle.

IMO tonematch doesn't yield great results in almost every case. In theory, you'd think it would be damn-near Kemper profiling..but its very tricky to get a curve that doesn't completely suck. Lots of what feels like comb-filtering and phasey-ness.

I don't think many of the hardcore guys use it at all. Use an EQ and you're likely to have way better results.

 

[maddnotez]

The tone match is something I'd love. Is a shame the AX8 doesn't have that. Need to find someone to match a few tones for me on the AXE-FX so I can convert to AX8. Any takers? will pay you a little if it's a big hassle.

IMO tonematch doesn't yield great results in almost every case. In theory, you'd think it would be damn-near Kemper profiling..but its very tricky to get a curve that doesn't completely suck. Lots of what feels like comb-filtering and phasey-ness.

I don't think many of the hardcore guys use it at all. Use an EQ and you're likely to have way better results.

Yeah, I really have no idea what this entails.

To me it seemed like I rip an audio source, (for example a guitar track stem from an album that I like) load it up and I now have that tone at my disposal? I guess that is not what is really happening with tone match?

 

[squealie]

Yeah, I really have no idea what this entails.

To me it seemed like I rip an audio source, (for example a guitar track stem from an album that I like) load it up and I now have that tone at my disposal? I guess that is not what is really happening with tone match?

Thats the 'idea' and a few folks have made it work pretty well. I've experimented with it..and loaded many tonematch presets made by guys who's recordings sound pretty good. In every case, the 'feel' is entirely wrecked with a tonematch made from a music source. It may work entirely different with a profile-style set up where you are trying to get that last bit from a amp-cab rig.

 

[maddnotez]

Yeah, I really have no idea what this entails.

To me it seemed like I rip an audio source, (for example a guitar track stem from an album that I like) load it up and I now have that tone at my disposal? I guess that is not what is really happening with tone match?

Thats the 'idea' and a few folks have made it work pretty well. I've experimented with it..and loaded many tonematch presets made by guys who's recordings sound pretty good. In every case, the 'feel' is entirely wrecked with a tonematch made from a music source. It may work entirely different with a profile-style set up where you are trying to get that last bit from a amp-cab rig.

Ah ok, makes sense. I still have yet to play the AX8 through the PA so I am unsure about how the feel will be anyway. I assumed I will lose the amp feel as soon as I start using a Powered monitor anyway but if the tone match is even more of an impact than that idk. Guess I just need to try to find someone that has converted a match to AX8 to see.

 

[squealie]

Ah ok, makes sense. I still have yet to play the AX8 through the PA so I am unsure about how the feel will be anyway. I assumed I will lose the amp feel as soon as I start using a Powered monitor anyway but if the tone match is even more of an impact than that idk. Guess I just need to try to find someone that has converted a match to AX8 to see.

Yeah. I'm very used to playing direct through my studio-monitors and through the PA/in-ears. But it sure as hell ain't a 'amp-in-the-room' vibe. If that's where you are at now...I believe you will go through some serious adaptation..and tonematching might turn you off quicker than anything. When I started with the Ultra ... i drug it around live with a Marshall 9005 and 2 4x12s. Sent out a direct signal to the PA but I had my cabs cooking onstage. Direct monitoring is a huge adjustment.

 

[jlbaxe]

Use the Axe unit through a VHT 90/90 power amp or Mesa power amps into a 2x12 or 4x12

 

[maddnotez]

Ah ok, makes sense. I still have yet to play the AX8 through the PA so I am unsure about how the feel will be anyway. I assumed I will lose the amp feel as soon as I start using a Powered monitor anyway but if the tone match is even more of an impact than that idk. Guess I just need to try to find someone that has converted a match to AX8 to see.

Yeah. I'm very used to playing direct through my studio-monitors and through the PA/in-ears. But it sure as hell ain't a 'amp-in-the-room' vibe. If that's where you are at now...I believe you will go through some serious adaptation..and tonematching might turn you off quicker than anything. When I started with the Ultra ... i drug it around live with a Marshall 9005 and 2 4x12s. Sent out a direct signal to the PA but I had my cabs cooking onstage. Direct monitoring is a huge adjustment.

Yep, I know it will be. Hopefully I like it.

Use the Axe unit through a VHT 90/90 power amp or Mesa power amps into a 2x12 or 4x12

For me that defeats the purpose. I love having the effects for fun and the looper and everything plus recording will be a breeze BUT I am not really an FX guy. I play in a metal band and I can get by without any effects at all. You can see my gear list in my Sig.

The AX8 dirt sounds good and I can probably tweak it to sound really good but to lug around a power amp and a 4x12? No way, I would just use my real tube amp for that.

The idea for me was to Run FOH and travel to a gig with a guitar, a 30 pound monitor and a bookbag with a pedal in it.

 

[Ventura]

Did you use the Axe Fx II with the Quantum firmware before?

Nope. But I've heard good things about it.

 

[squealie]

The idea for me was to Run FOH and travel to a gig with a guitar, a 30 pound monitor and a bookbag with a pedal in it.

I run in-ear. I hate the sound of a FR sizzling and burping onstage with DI guitar. To make it even goofier, I use CHEAP earbuds that allow passthrough sound...meaning I can hear the room with them in. And, I only put my guitar and vocals in my in-ears. All this shit is on sends from FOH...but theoretically I could plug my xmitter into my axe-fx. Theoretically I could put that whole shits in a 3 space rack/gigbag.

Yes, I have a nice set of Sennheiser bud's ..and they sound MUCH better. But you can't hear the fucking stage, or the crowd, or your waitress.

Priorities!

 

[Ventura]

...travel to a gig with a guitar, a 30 pound monitor and a bookbag with a pedal in it.

Bingo. This is my intended purpose and mindset of the AFX2. Otherwise I'm fine with 100lbs 412s and 50lbs heads.

 

[cardinal]

I'm likely on board to pick up a new Axe-II

Had them in the past and they never delivered, but my expectations are lower now. I'll likely keep a small arsenal of my "emotionally irreplaceable" amps and a few choice stomps, but other than this, for what I "need" right now, the AFX2 will surely be fine.

2 x CLR Active Wedges, all play, no sweat.

But I still can't shake the assoholic attitudes of some of the Fractal forumites. Douche central. Did my research on the Kemper too, but the Axe just offers a little "more" of everything, IMHO. If I do get my AFX2, I'll just get the FW updates when needed and avoid the forum overall.

This was similar to my experience. Had an AFXII back with firmware 6 or 7, I think? Very unimpressed. They say it's better now, but it was supposed to be awesome before and they always say the updates are mindblowingOMGwow. I had it through one update, thought meh, and sold it. JamUP/BIAS sounds better to me from what I remember. I'm always kinda temped to try it again, but fool me once etc etc.

 

[ejecta]

If you can't go into using these units without expecting them to feel and sound 100% exactly like an amp then you are foolish to buy them. They are what they are and IMHO are great tools for the right person and situations and can for those who will let go be an inspiring piece of gear to play. For the record I've played digital units that sound and play like shit and some that are surprisingly very good.....same could be said with tube amps.

 

[Shask]

That's great. Iwas able to sell so many of my gear when I bought the Axe. I had a Two Notes Torpedo Reload that I sold.

At first I was just going to replace the effects in my rack with the Axe but then I made a Tone Match with my old Laney Amp and the Axe sounded just the same. So I bought a Matrix power amp and I have never looked back...

I'm thinking about selling all my tube amps, but I haven't completely decided yet.

Keep your favorites

I can't say until my AX8 arrives in the next few days but I just cannot see me selling my Bogner. While playing last night with my drummer I was thinking man, this AX8 is probably going to sound killer but I cannot see it permanently replacing the ultimate tube goodness.

I have had Axe-FX rigs for 3-4 years now. I think it sounds great, and can dial in all kinds of sounds. I sold all my tube amps except one.... my favorite... an old 2-channel Triple Recto that sounds like a sledgehammer. Some days it annoys me because the Recto still has this in-room thump that just jumps out at you. It is one of the hugest sounding amps I have owned..... out of several through the years. The Axe/Matrix rig just dont have this as much.

However, the Axe rig can be dialed in to pretty much sound like anything, and is much clearer, and cleaner sounding. It tends to sound much clearer in general compared to my tube amps. Like it is more polite or something. It can also be dialed in to sound good at different volume levels, through guitar cabs, headphones, monitors, etc.... Not to mention the effects and such. I rarely use them also, but having multiple EQ's helps tremendously. I find I typically have to scoop the mids more when playing through a poweramp and cab vs. direct.