Axe FX. Do not want.

[Shiny_Surface]

True. There are also people that get any new gear and proclaim it to be the best thing in the world. Mainly a few select folks over on TGP (no names.)

Plenty of those types on Rig Talk and almost any gear forum I've ever been on as well, TGP is pretty notorious for it though.

 

[ctoddrun]

I stayed away from the threads/hype for about 2 years.


After all that time I was convinced that I needed nothing more than my Herbert.

Thing is, I am trying to do Adam Jones' guitar parts/sound and the Herbert/G System could get me reasonably close, but not as close as I wanted.



Being able to run 2 *virtual* amps at once, while streamlining the weight/rig I'd need was what put me over the top.

I'm still learning the thing, but I'm closer to the Jones tone than I ever was before and so far have no regrets.

Not even mentioning the fact that I walked away with cash in hand...

 

[Mark Day]

I stayed away from the threads/hype for about 2 years.


After all that time I was convinced that I needed nothing more than my Herbert.

Thing is, I am trying to do Adam Jones' guitar parts/sound and the Herbert/G System could get me reasonably close, but not as close as I wanted.



Being able to run 2 *virtual* amps at once, while streamlining the weight/rig I'd need was what put me over the top.

I'm still learning the thing, but I'm closer to the Jones tone than I ever was before and so far have no regrets.

Not even mentioning the fact that I walked away with cash in hand...

I'm curious how you are using the AxeFx?
FRFR, or into an amp's Return, or direct into a recording interface?

Mark

 

[EWSEthan]

I havent played an Axe FX, Im not really interested either since I dont use alot of effects and I get all the variation in tone I need from having a bunch of modules for my Egnater rig, which is all tube.

 

[* velcro-fly *]

I havent played an Axe FX, Im not really interested either since I dont use alot of effects and I get all the variation in tone I need from having a bunch of modules for my Egnater rig, which is all tube.

I would say that having an Egnater MOD50 with a bunch of modules more than takes care of you, especially if you're not into effects....I'm actually looking at an M4 to use with the Axe

 

[Anonymous]

I love my tube amps.

I love my Axe-FX Ultra.

Some days, my ears don't like my tube amps and then I plug into the Axe and I'm like

Other days, my ears don't like the Axe and I plug into a tube amp with the Axe for efx and I'm like

Sometimes I want to hear a tone that I don't use often enough to justify buying the real tube amp to get it and I plug into the Axe... and there is that tone (as close as I care to get anyway) and I'm like

That said, hey... don't get one. I don't see a nickel whether you buy one or not so personally I couldn't care less....

Steve

 

[EWSEthan]

I havent played an Axe FX, Im not really interested either since I dont use alot of effects and I get all the variation in tone I need from having a bunch of modules for my Egnater rig, which is all tube.

I would say that having an Egnater MOD50 with a bunch of modules more than takes care of you, especially if you're not into effects....I'm actually looking at an M4 to use with the Axe

Yeah, definitely. Im sure the Axe sounds really good, though. Too many people with great ears on the board say so for that not to be the case. But I think its overkill for me.

 

[ctoddrun]

I'm curious how you are using the AxeFx?
FRFR, or into an amp's Return, or direct into a recording interface?

Mark

I use the QSC everyone raves about.

It took me a while to get past it sounding "different" than my 4x12 (when listening to my Tool patch), but when I compared the tones as they blended with the band, any perceived "harshness" (not the best word) wasnt a problem.

Listening to it by itself had me a bit worried, but it fits just right in the band.



So far I've been using my monitor (Axe only) and sending the other out to the board for everyone. Its not ideal, just yet. Only two rehearsals with this new setup and I have some kinks to work out yet.


I also still need to dial in tones for different songs a bit more. Some songs are have more prominent bass than the settings I've got for "general use".

 

[* velcro-fly *]

I use the QSC everyone raves about.

It took me a while to get past it sounding "different" than my 4x12 (when listening to my Tool patch), but when I compared the tones as they blended with the band, any perceived "harshness" (not the best word) wasnt a problem.

I was able to rent a QSC HPR122i for the last week for $60 to test out and I think I'm starting to "get" the whole FRFR thing...enough so that its kind of changed what I want this thing to do and accomplish amongst everything else. You totally hear that "knock" you get from a mic'd 4x12. The FBT Verve is supposed to be the Holy Grail of FRFR. I would totally go for a basic stripped down version of the Axe...so far I've used only the amps, reverb and delay, a splash of vibrato and vibe - otherwise the rest of it is overkill for me. A Standard would more than take care of my needs.

 

[ttosh]

I love my tube amps.

I love my Axe-FX Ultra.

Some days, my ears don't like my tube amps and then I plug into the Axe and I'm like

Other days, my ears don't like the Axe and I plug into a tube amp with the Axe for efx and I'm like

Sometimes I want to hear a tone that I don't use often enough to justify buying the real tube amp to get it and I plug into the Axe... and there is that tone (as close as I care to get anyway) and I'm like

That said, hey... don't get one. I don't see a nickel whether you buy one or not so personally I couldn't care less....

Steve

Very cool post!

 

[rsm]

The Ultra was overkill for me, that's why I sold it. Yes, I'd like another one, but money is an object here, so it will be awhile until then.

Not much use for effects here, I mostly wanted the Axe-Fx amp/cab sims, and some reverb - in a 1U unit, that was around $1K.

Now that I have a way to get all the amp tones I want and then some, I'm considering the Damage Control Glass Nexus for effects, still more than I need, but the clips sound great to me. I'd rather have it in a 1U rack unit than the 7.5" x 9" x 3.5" pedal form its in. That is one large pedal! Too big for the small pedal board I plan to get, too big for the rack I'm using. hmmm,

 

[Telephant]

Even funnier is that there are now more AxeFx threads on Rig-talk than anywhere on the interwebz with the exeption of that actual Fractal / AxeFx Forum....

Umm...that's probably why he started the thread.

Can't have 100% praise all the time, it's not natural.

Someone gets me.

I really want to play one just to see what the fuss is about.

 

[Telephant]

I stayed away from the threads/hype for about 2 years.


After all that time I was convinced that I needed nothing more than my Herbert.

Thing is, I am trying to do Adam Jones' guitar parts/sound and the Herbert/G System could get me reasonably close, but not as close as I wanted.



Being able to run 2 *virtual* amps at once, while streamlining the weight/rig I'd need was what put me over the top.

I'm still learning the thing, but I'm closer to the Jones tone than I ever was before and so far have no regrets.

Not even mentioning the fact that I walked away with cash in hand...

I plug my Les Paul into my Superbass and get 90% of the way there.

His tone on the last album was kind of fizzy in parts, but Jambi's straight up VH4 tone is nice.

 

[* velcro-fly *]

I'm considering the Damage Control Glass Nexus for effects, still more than I need, but the clips sound great to me.

Wow, that is badass

 

[dfrattaroli]

I havent played an Axe FX, Im not really interested either since I dont use alot of effects and I get all the variation in tone I need from having a bunch of modules for my Egnater rig, which is all tube.

You know I have an M4 as well and really dig it, but it doesn't come close to the versatility of the Axe. I'm saying this even though I finally have 4 modules in the M4 that I really, really like.

But there are tones in the Axe that the M4 (or any other channel switcher) just can't do.

When I got mine I planned to use it in a WDW with the M4. Now I have them set up as 2 separate rigs. I play the M4/VHT 2502 with a DD-20 into a Bogner OS 2x12 and it puts a smile on my face. Then, I plug right into the Axe/Carvin DCM150 and 2 CAA 1x12 cubes and keep smiling. It doesn't have to replace anything. It is what it is.

The haters can say what they want but I know none of them could tell me the tone coming out of my Axe rig doesn't sound like a tube amp. In a blind A/B, they'd never know.

 

[EWSEthan]

The haters can say what they want but I know none of them could tell me the tone coming out of my Axe rig doesn't sound like a tube amp. In a blind A/B, they'd never know.

Fazoli, I hear you man. Thats what everyone says. Can you point me to some good clips? Ive yet to hear any Axe clips that I thought sounded definitvely tube and amazing. The clips on the fractal audio site didnt do it for me. Too digital sounding.

 

[Superunknown]

The haters can say what they want but I know none of them could tell me the tone coming out of my Axe rig doesn't sound like a tube amp. In a blind A/B, they'd never know.

Fazoli, I hear you man. Thats what everyone says. Can you point me to some good clips? Ive yet to hear any Axe clips that I thought sounded definitvely tube and amazing. The clips on the fractal audio site didnt do it for me. Too digital sounding.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jiVV3sb36aY

https://www.soundclick.com/util/getplaye ... 55356&q=hi

 

[dfrattaroli]

Fazoli, I hear you man. Thats what everyone says. Can you point me to some good clips? Ive yet to hear any Axe clips that I thought sounded definitvely tube and amazing. The clips on the fractal audio site didnt do it for me. Too digital sounding.

Honestly? I can't think of any off hand. I'm not saying someone hasn't done a good one. But I was in the same boat as you: I didn't really like any of the clips I'd heard on the Fractal site. In fact, many of the early ones weren't very good IMO.

The fact that I own an Axe is almost an accident. All I wanted it for was effects. I replaced a G-Major with it betting that the effects would be better. It wasn't until I got it in my house and played it, that I went, "Holy shit".

On the other, I heard the presets were bad and so, I expected to hate them. But they were pretty good. Maybe I found them to be better than most because I had my Axe running in stereo from day one so the effects just sound huge.

But one day I just grabbed the Cornford sim, threw the delay block behind it and I haven't touched a knob or switch on that thing other than to turn it on. It can be many things to many players. If you want to tweak every 15 seconds, it's for you. If you want to set it and forget it, it can be for you too. I literally split my playing time between my Axe rig and my Bog-nater rig. I enjoy them equally. Right now, the flavor of the month is the EG3/4 module I just got. I LOVE that module. Even more so than the MHG because it's kind of dark but smoother. But when I switch over to the Axe and turn the Level knob up on that Cornford preset, I just shake my head and think, those guys should hear this. I couldn't even tell you if I have the cab sims on or off, power amp sim on or off. I just don't remember. And it doesn't matter because you set it for what sounds best to you.

Gainfreak on this forum has an Ultra and many more good presets than me. He runs his through a Mesa 290 and an Ear Candy 2x12. The thing rocks. Flat out rocks. He's a Mark IV guy and has a Mark IV preset on his Ultra that he believes is as good as the real thing. He still owns a bunch of Marshall heads but I don't think he has the Mark anymore.

I'm rambling but the main point is, you really have to play, hear and feel it yourself.

Dave

 

[dfrattaroli]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jiVV3sb36aY

https://www.soundclick.com/util/getplaye ... 55356&q=hi

All great. But my God, the Eruption clips are amazing.

 

[EWSEthan]

http://www.fractalaudio.com/Documents/Eruption.mp3

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jiVV3sb36aY

https://www.soundclick.com/util/getplaye ... 55356&q=hi

All great. But my God, the Eruption clips are amazing.

+1000. WOW. I might change my tune.