Axe fx 2 was worth owning to me.

[moltenmetalburn]

Bought my axe 2 from the original preorder in 2011, one of the first.

Went for the ride through what id say was the best time in modeler development.

It has come SO far. Now (edit) NEARING the very end of its life cycle ( WHICH MEANS no more updates) I sold it to prevent further depreciation.

Much like avoiding automobile depreciation.

Paid $2200, used/recorded/played/toured it for six years, sold for $1650.

Did the math, was a hulu subscription, about $8/month to have the newest top shelf guitar tech.

Couldnt be happier, my axe fx 2 experience was a total win.

 

[Dave L]

One of these days I need to check out the II, the Ultra was pretty meh to me and sounded a lot like any other modeler - but people do swear that the new ones are a lot better. So Fractal is killing off the II now, then?

 

[thesockmonster]

Considering they've released three updates in the last two weeks?

 

[Chris6870]

Axe-Fx II XL is the current model. AX FX II is the older model and is end of life.

 

[dpeterson]

It's not end of life, Cliff said it was near it a few months ago, but he's made room in the firmware and is continuing to get updates. You dont need updates to replicate the sound you have right now either... does a recto head get updates? no you just play it.

 

[Webb]

No more updates? What did I miss? There was just a firmware update for the II a few days ago.

 

[Chris6870]

It's not end of life, Cliff said it was near it a few months ago, but he's made room in the firmware and is continuing to get updates. You dont need updates to replicate the sound you have right now either... does a recto head get updates? no you just play it.

OK I missed that.I don't follow the AxFXII that closely since I have the AX8. I just get enough info on it to be dangerous. I agree about not needing updates to keep rocking older gear.If it sounded good when it was new,it should still sound the same now.

 

[BYTOR]

The regular Axe 2 will continue to get the same updates as the XL/XL+ & AX8 as long as it is possible, which should be for the rest of this year at the very least.

 

[slyym]

I just picked up an Ultra and I'm loving it. There ain't a damn thing wrong with the tone. I can get the recto model to sound identical to my mesa single rec.

 

[Shask]

I have really been considering selling mine also. It is an awesome unit, but I dont use it that much. I picked up a Katana head which sounds pretty good for the jamming around the house 20 minutes at a time that I do. I have had mine several years also.

Sometimes I want to sell it like you did before the value drops, and other times I want it to be "finished" so I can just sit and enjoy it instead f re-tweaking everything every 2 weeks. Keep it for years.

 

[Shask]

It's not end of life, Cliff said it was near it a few months ago, but he's made room in the firmware and is continuing to get updates. You dont need updates to replicate the sound you have right now either... does a recto head get updates? no you just play it.

OK I missed that.I don't follow the AxFXII that closely since I have the AX8. I just get enough info on it to be dangerous. I agree about not needing updates to keep rocking older gear.If it sounded good when it was new,it should still sound the same now.

The older Axe II's ran out of space for more updates, but then Cliff removed the older versions of the modeling, which freed up space. There used to be 3-4 versions of the modeling in there, and now there is only the most current.

 

[squealie]

You scared me. The original 2s are still current firmware. They were running out of room, because of people complaining about 'zoinks i downloaded firmware and now my presets sound different!!1' So Cliff was putting old modeling versions in with new firmware. He stopped that with the current version.

I've gotten more milage live, and recording with Fractal stuff than anything else I've ever bought. Shit rules.

 

[Steinmetzify]

Bought mine here in RT for a price, kept it for a year and a half and sold it for exactly what I paid for it. $0 to rent it for over a year lol.

 

[moltenmetalburn]

Jeez can't generalize around here lol, YES the original 2 is still LIMPING along with updates as they fill up the remaining space.

It will be soon though and without warning most likely.

When that happens this model will max out at $1200 most likely, didn't want to lose that much so offing it right BEFORE that happens is paramount.

If i still wanted a modeler I would want the BEST available tech, that would be axe 3 for me.

Sure i could just play it as is but I was along for the ride waiting for it to be equivalent. Not there yet. Ill return to modelers when they are.

Nice score Steiny! Thats the BEST price lol.

 

[emperor_black]

I just picked up an Ultra and I'm loving it. There ain't a damn thing wrong with the tone. I can get the recto model to sound identical to my mesa single rec.

I bought the Ultra brand new in 2010(?) still have it. There are so many options... for example, right now I'm experimenting with the Hm-2 pedal (until I dial in that tone) and I can get rid of all the hum by changing the input source on the gate from default to Input 1. Such a noisy pedal becomes super quiet. I've owned a bunch of NR pedals back in the days and don't remember any of 'em making such a big difference.

 

[halebox]

Thats a good idea to sell and upgrade them after a while as its just a matter of time before they start breaking down. A good amp should last for many decades but a digital devise will crap out in 10-15 years?

 

[lester]

Yeah, I have the Axe II first version and just popped in the latest "Quantum" 7.02 firmware. Damn he's got this fucker sounding good.

 

[Shask]

Thats a good idea to sell and upgrade them after a while as its just a matter of time before they start breaking down. A good amp should last for many decades but a digital devise will crap out in 10-15 years?

Many people still using Digital stuff from the 80's.... especially high end units, like Eventide and TC Electronic. Those units are about 30 years old now and still working!

 

[Anonymous]

I have two ancient Roland SDE-3000s and they are still the best rack delays I've ever heard...

Steve

 

[sleewell2]

why not just keep it?