axe effex ii

[ejecta]

Spaceboy...this is directly from the Fractal Audio Website...this is how they market their product...this is one reason why there seems to be on-going arguments on these forums...

"It accurately recreates the sound and feel of real amps, cabs, and effects and is ideal for both live and studio use."

So it seems that is INFACT their "intended function".

Don't get me wrong, I understand what you are saying, and I agree. They SOUND very close, but they still lack FEEL...

I agree on one level and think these these makers of these units would do themselves a favor and stop marketing it with those words. I think it would be better to say the models are a very close representation and a jumping off point to tailor your own sound.

However there are some guys who to them they feel that it replicates amps perfectly. You and I may disagree but that point is so subjective. I feel maybe on that point they can say it does in their marketing....... well at least for some.

I will say this... there are some things I like about the tones I get with my Axe II that I like better than tube amps and there some things about tube amps that I like better than my Axe II. There is one thing that is absolutely true.... every single rig on the planet has some kind of compromise involved whether its all analog/tube or not. For me and what I need the Axe II's positives way out weigh what I feel I'm compromising.

 

[Ventura]

The Axe FX isn't a tube amplifier, and it was never meant to be... I'm not sure why tube dudes are so diehard about an irrelevant point.

Because some Axe users make outrageous claims that it's an amp killer and make knee jerk reactions any perceived negative comment about the unit as if it was their wife.......... and some tube guys like to troll Axe threads and defend tubes as if they were the ONLY tool to be used used in EVERY situation.

Like you said it's not a tube amp so people on both sides just need to get over it... it has its uses and for me it consistently records better, sounds far better than any tube amp I've had at low volumes, and IMHO definitely sounds better than any Line 6, 11R, Digitech etc.

This. This. Aaaaaaaand this.

Perfectly said.

Mo

 

[freeballinusa]

The Axe FX isn't a tube amplifier, and it was never meant to be... I'm not sure why tube dudes are so diehard about an irrelevant point.

Because very often it has been written it is as good ie: sounds the same__ after reading that 100 times it's fun to tell the truth the pod is an amazing development

 

[BYTOR]

It all comes down to who is tweaking it and playing it.
In the right hands(and ears) the Axe slays!! Both studio and live.
In the wrong hands and ears(most players), tubes and modelers sound average at best.
There is no doubt that modelers are the future. That final 5% gap will be completely gone soon enough!!

 

[FIREBALL]

The Axe FX isn't a tube amplifier, and it was never meant to be... I'm not sure why tube dudes are so diehard about an irrelevant point.

its because they have endorsees in guitar magazines saying it does amp sounds to a tee

 

[DADA]

What? It sounds different then the real deal?

BUT

They told me it was 120% better then tubes
They told me if I could not get it dialed in it was MY fold
They told me I had to buy a $5000 FRFR solution to get that sound
They told me if I still did not have that tube sound it was my guitar

One year later I forgot how to play guitar

(sorry, could not resist)

 

[21_guitars]

 

[FIREBALL]

It all comes down to who is tweaking it and playing it.
In the right hands(and ears) the Axe slays!! Both studio and live.
In the wrong hands and ears(most players), tubes and modelers sound average at best.
There is no doubt that modelers are the future. That final 5% gap will be completely gone soon enough!!

thats crazy talk snowdog.....i mean bytor

 

[university81]

had an axe fx std. for a little while, great unit, for low volumes and recording absolutely killer, i couldn't see myself using it over my tube amps for live/band stuff, it does certainly have it's place and i'm curious to see how it develops and the inevitable axe fx iii and so on

if you take it for what it is, and not this complete amp/setup replacing device it's easier to get on with =) it certainly feels and plays better than any other modeller i've tried that's for sure, but a modeller nonetheless it remains, if all you play is one amp and one kind of sound the allure of zillions of other great tones are probably no good if it can't absolutely nail the one you want

 

[zuel69]

You gotta hand it to Cliff tho..the guy is a gifted electronics genius!

Now look at what you've guys have gone and done. The average hype classifieds selling price just dropped another 4% - i hope you're happy

 

[guitarmike]

Ask Mark Day what he thinks of the Axe. I did about a year ago, he said he loves it live and in the studio. I can't see myself owning one for my main amp, but as a backup (if I could afford a $2000 backup amp) in the rack it would be great. 99% of all people that you may play to would never be able to tell the difference from it or a real amp. But they can't tell the Axe from a $99 pod either.....

 

[ejecta]

But they can't tell the Axe from a $99 pod either.....

Neither can some of these tube purists with golden ears.

 

[romanianreaper]

I have an Axe-FX II and although it is not better than a tube amp, for me, it allows me to have tons of sounds at my fingertips. I can't afford to own a bunch of nice tube amps, so the Axe-FX II is a great alternative.

As far as modellers go though, the Axe-FX smokes the other ones. I've owned LINE 6, Behringer, Johnson Amplification, and have even tried the computer stuff and the Fractal tones feel and sound better in my opinion. If my Axe-FX ever broke, I would probably give Eleven Rack a try. Some people have said that although it has less options, the amp tones sound better.

 

[jcj]

It's pretty simple...the Axe is a KILLER unit, if you have the right expectations...the strong suit of the Axe (for me) is allowing you a starting point to tweak some killer tones, which it absolutely does.

If I wanted a Herbert, a SLO, or a Cameron, I'd get one. It's not going to be the same, and I don't care what anyone says to the contrary.

For a super verstile box, with a huge array of sounds, that will get you some OUTSTANDING tones especially at low volumes, it's impossible to beat.

 

[supersonic]

dude brought it over and compared it to my herbert and mark v.....that thing is way overhyped.....its ok, but i dont see how people say it does the amps it models as close as people say......it was good but a let down for me.....though i did like the effects alot

Don't say that , you'll upset the fanbois'.......... ooops, too late.

 

[Ventura]

In the right hands, it's worth every red cent.

Expecting it to act and behave and react just like your amp at home, straight outta the box? No.

Have I played more since my Axe-II arrived? 100% abso-fuckin-lutely.

And as for recording DI goes? Better than most of my mic-to-speaker takes 98% of the time.

 

[Ventura]

Ah ha ha ha ha ha!!!!

 

[degenaro]

+1

its nice, but not that much better than other modelers out there. and so far none of the modelers have the "feel"...many of them get VERY close to the sound, but still lack the "feel".

Funny...how every one is an expert. All this either or is hilarious. I will say this, there isn't a single modern channel switcher I take over the Axe. I sold a lot of amps when they started seriously gathering dust after I got my first Ultra some 4 years back. Done more gigs then I can think of with it. I still have a few vintage amps that I like just fine. For my new album I tracked the guitars and now amp re-amping with the Axe 2.
I got a Axe/Atomic set-up in Asia, one here, plus the 2. You couldn't pay me to go back to modern amps. As matter of fact last time in India the I had this discussion about rather having brought my Axe set-up then playing the Mesas available.
But if you don't dig it its all good, but don't assume the gear doesn't have as you put it the "feel" because it sure does for me.

 

[Vede]

dude brought it over and compared it to my herbert and mark v.....that thing is way overhyped.....its ok, but i dont see how people say it does the amps it models as close as people say......it was good but a let down for me.....though i did like the effects alot

Don't say that , you'll upset the fanbois'.......... ooops, too late.

Why are people so emotionally invested in this "debate", on either side? I've been reading this forum for over a year now and it never ceases to amaze me. There's rarely a lot of middle-ground, just a bunch of mudslinging. Why stir the pot by making a fanboi joke?

The fact of the matter is this: Dialing in an AxeFX Ultra isn't easy, and finding the right mix of hardware to make it sound great once it's dialed-in isn't very easy, either. But when you do set it up well, and once you do get it mated with the right hardware, it sounds absolutely fantastic. Objectively, clearly fantastic. Have you heard Mark Day? Have you heard Megadeth perform live? These guys sound unreal.

That someone brought an AxeFX over to some dude's house for one night with God knows what settings and couldn't get it to sound incredible, I don't doubt, but to dismiss the device out of hand because of that one experience is, I think, more than a little premature. If spending time dialing-in sounds isn't your thing, that's understandable and, as far as I'm concerned, entirely reasonable, but that doesn't mean that those us that are able to coax fantastic sounds and feel out of these machines are lying or are somehow delusional.

The original AxeFX takes some work to get dialed, but trust someone who has had one since 2010, who reviewed consumer electronics professionally for 10 years, this is an undeniably wonderful device. People are in love with them for good reason.

 

[Juggernaut]

They're all tools, I have Tube amps, SS amps, & an AFII on the way.... as long as you get your tone, who gives a shit how you get there.