axe-fx is overkill for me

[supersonic]

The Axe may very well be the most amazing piece of gear ever made......

This is all one needs to understand of the AxeFX.

Not really, not if you can't dial it in well. I've heard plenty of AxeFX clips that sounded like flat mushy turd just because the user didn't understand all the parameters and couldn't dial it in well. Then you've got others that make it sound as if the greatest tube amp is a downgrade. It all depends on the person.

This goes for any amp!

 

[Ventura]

The Axe may very well be the most amazing piece of gear ever made......

This is all one needs to understand of the AxeFX.

Not really, not if you can't dial it in well. I've heard plenty of AxeFX clips that sounded like flat mushy turd just because the user didn't understand all the parameters and couldn't dial it in well. Then you've got others that make it sound as if the greatest tube amp is a downgrade. It all depends on the person.

This goes for any amp!

+1

Look, the OP came out with this and I see his point, if it's not working for him, it's the same as an Eventide not working for someone, or a TC Electronics, or even an amp. I for one started in on the "c'moooon, just keep it, it'll be good for ya" bent, but quite honestly, this was said with tongue planted firmly in cheek. I love the Axe, and I do believe the thing's like Pandora's box, but that's just me. I'm also a guy who couldn't care less about vintage Marshalls and their "plexi tone". We all have our preferences, so be it. However, if someone's going to come in stating - flatly and broadly - that the Axe is simply not as good as any amp out there, that I will have to contest because it's simply not true. It's entirely subjective, but neither one is better carte blanche against the other. They're just different tools for different people.

Peace,
V.

 

[romanianreaper]

Do most people watch YouTube vids to figure out how to set certain tones, etc.? Seems like a great resource if people are frustrated.

 

[daveg62]

This thread is focusing more on whether the axe-fx is good vs. an amp. Not what I intended when I posted but I guess I expected that. Bottom line is yes, the axe-fx does get identical tones I like w/ the Mark III, plus more of course! But I am happy with my mesa and looking for a cheaper option for fx. I'd like to re-coup some cash and save for a new guitar so I can play rather than tweak which is what the axe-fx is real good at wasting a lot of time on, at least for me. Axe-fx is like having a room full of amps... I can't just be happy playing through one without constantly comparing it to the others.
Back to the original topic.. I'm kinda leaning toward a g-system..

 

[rokker]

Hey Dave62, I see your point exactly. I unlike some of the other guys here don't have a large budget for gear either so I've sold things to be able to get something that does work. The Axe is great, for me I felt like I did not understand mutliband compression and things like that that are way more advanced than a two or three knob pedal. IR's were another entire universe that could be explored and tweaked. I didn't mean to compare the Axe to an amp but wanted to say I just didn't fully understand all the parameters. The videos and fractal forum helped but never quite got me there.

As far as the G system goes....I've heard some say you need very good cables to avoid noise as you will run a 4 cable method if you use drive pedals in the loops and the time based fx through the fx loop of your Mesa. That's a lot of wire which is basically an antenna to pickup noise. If the FX unit can go in a rack that certainly cuts it down dramatically. There's a lot of press about various issues some have had with the G, not saying everyone does.

I just picked up an used Rocktron intellifex that looks to be good enough for me, gets rave reviews for a simple FX unit and can be had for about $150 or less. Do a search on those and you'll see what I mean. I'm pretty sure there are several intellifex users here on RT that are satisfied with them. Just a suggestion that will maximize the dollars in your pocket and leave you with a good FX unit.

 

[daveg62]

As far as the G system goes....I've heard some say you need very good cables to avoid noise as you will run a 4 cable method if you use drive pedals in the loops and the time based fx through the fx loop of your Mesa. That's a lot of wire which is basically an antenna to pickup noise. If the FX unit can go in a rack that certainly cuts it down dramatically. There's a lot of press about various issues some have had with the G, not saying everyone does.

I just picked up an used Rocktron intellifex

Yeah I was wondering how that would work w/the OD's in front and the time-based fx in the loop...looks like a really nice unit but that might be the only drawback. I'll check out the rocktron, thanks!

 

[rokker]

I could be wrong but think you will be pleased with an intellifex. Psychodave swears by the intellifex...if it's good enough for him....then it's plenty good enough for me.

There's tons of posts on TGP and other forums complaining about the G system. Sure there are plenty of positive ones too. A good general rule is not having cable running everywhere to avoid noise.

Hope you find what works, know how it feels to have your cash tied up in something you aren't sure about and to want or need something else

 

[steve_k]

FWIW, the Intellifex is a great box. I picked up one of the older black face one's off of ebay for $120 about 5 months ago. I haven't even programmed shit in it either and found several go-to canned programs in it. The only thing I did was go in a bypass the Hush block in the programs. I don't use much effects, but this sounds great for the money and does what I need as far as delays/verbs/pitch.

Steve

 

[killertone]

TC GM2. Used an Intellifex before that for over 10 years and the TC kills it, IMO.

 

[6AM]

I have a Bachelors in Computer Science and the Axe-FX scares me. I just want to plug in, I don't want to have to figure out how to program anything.

 

[Rogue]

I have a Bachelors in Computer Science and the Axe-FX scares me. I just want to plug in, I don't want to have to figure out how to program anything.

It's not that bad. You don't have to program anything. It does have a lot of features to tweak, but you don't have to....you can just use the basic parameters.