Axe FX users question and opinion

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MKibanez

MKibanez

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I play mostly, well 99 % in my basement. I thinking of changing my amp for an Axe FX. Would like to know if there is a big difference between the Axe Fx, the ultra and the Axe fx II. I have to tell you that I also don't record and do nothing business with my guitar but I love to sound awsome as everybody! Also how does it sound direct in a PA?

Thanks for your comments guys?
 
Yes. Mega difference.

Go with the Axe-II and invest in some decent FRFR monitors and you won't look back. Seriously. You'll be stoked. And very impressed.

Mo
 
I wouldn't say mega difference, just more choices in the II. You can get a great sound out of both... meshuggah still used the Ultras, and they crush your skull.
 
No brainer dude. The Axe II thru good studio monitors or a good pair of FRFR speakers is killer!

And yes the II is much better than the Ultra. Better feel/tone & easier to dial in. Plus has tone matching, better looper, USB audio, headphone output, upgraded effects/drive pedals, much more amp models plus still more to come....
 
If you're on a tighter budget you can get a Standard for under $1000 if you look. If you've got the money to invest get the II as there are new updates to it like every other week it seems lately.
 
Ventura":1xt3tpxp said:
Yes. Mega difference.

Go with the Axe-II and invest in some decent FRFR monitors and you won't look back. Seriously. You'll be stoked. And very impressed.

Mo
Click to expand...
What is FRFR monitors?
 
MKibanez":2md7099r said:
Ventura":2md7099r said:
Yes. Mega difference.

Go with the Axe-II and invest in some decent FRFR monitors and you won't look back. Seriously. You'll be stoked. And very impressed.

Mo
Click to expand...
What is FRFR monitors?
Click to expand...
Full Range Flat Response

Basically, unlike an actual guitar cab, these FRFR monitors or speakers will replicate and reproduce the exact frequency of the signal being fed from the Axe-II (or whatever modeler). Since the Axe-II does the full signal chain - including guitar cab and mic used - you want to have a sound reproduction source that offers the best flat response as possible without putting its own sonic fingerprint on it. You know, people say "a Marshall 1960B sound like this" and a "Diezel FL412G12K sounds like that", well, they do. And when the Axe-II creates its patches, it takes into account the sonic signatures of the cabs and speakers and angle of mic and distance of mic "simulated in use". So you want as neutral a sound reproduction source as possible, in order for "it" to sound as real as the cabinet and entire signal chain being replicated/modeled from the Axe-II.

Mo
 
Yes, the II is better. I had the Standard and upgraded to the II.

I think when the II first came out there wasnt a huge difference between it and the Ultra, and that is why you hear people say the difference isnt that large. They tried it when it was new. The II is up to Version 11 now, and the improvements since the early days has been dramatic.
 
Shask":uxmwar7q said:
Yes, the II is better. I had the Standard and upgraded to the II.

I think when the II first came out there wasnt a huge difference between it and the Ultra, and that is why you hear people say the difference isnt that large. They tried it when it was new. The II is up to Version 11 now, and the improvements since the early days has been dramatic.
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Agreed. And personally I'll go outside the norm and say it's less the Axe-II's developments that are killing it, than it is the development of outstanding IRs (Impulse Responses - the things that sound like cabs but are just algorithmic models within the Axe-II). These are getting designed and developed my some outstanding science with awesome ears :yes: The "FF" or "Far Field" stuff is getting awesome - really starting to hit home as to that "amp in the room" sound. Which has been one of the toughest things to duplicate for people weening off of analog heads... Recording artists, giggers, etc love the Axe-II as it's consistency and flexibility 100% of the way. But noodling at home in the early stages missed that "in the room" feel.

It's practically there now with good FRFR monitors (Atomic active CLRs for the win :thumbsup: trust me, just buy 1 or 2 and forget about the rest) and the IRs included in the firmware upgrades as well as companies like OwnHammer, etc.
 
MKibanez, also consider Kemper KPA.
Real dials to turn and much easier to get great sound in seconds. On Amp sounds alone the KPA beats the Axe FX in a heartbeat.

Big advantage of the Axe FX: The effects sections is much better, if you are into a complex FX chain. The Kemper has all thinkable effects on board, too, but the Axe has even more and the chain is more flexible.

Big disadvantage of the Axe FX: It get's updated often and every update messes with the sound of your patches. You can choose not to update but then you will miss out on the latest and greatest.
 
I have an Ultra and I'm really happy with it. Of course if you compare, the II is going to win and still has a long way to go whereas the Ultra isn't getting anymore updates. If you can get the II than of course go for it, but if you want to save money and are just coming from a traditional amp, any Axefx is going to be pretty mind blowing. The Ultra was the best modeler until 2011 haha.
 
hoss33":1zkgcz8e said:
MKibanez, also consider Kemper KPA.
Real dials to turn and much easier to get great sound in seconds. On Amp sounds alone the KPA beats the Axe FX in a heartbeat.

Big advantage of the Axe FX: The effects sections is much better, if you are into a complex FX chain. The Kemper has all thinkable effects on board, too, but the Axe has even more and the chain is more flexible.

Big disadvantage of the Axe FX: It get's updated often and every update messes with the sound of your patches. You can choose not to update but then you will miss out on the latest and greatest.
Click to expand...

Pfft. I own both units and call bullshit.
 
shodan5000":1juhoi0f said:
hoss33":1juhoi0f said:
MKibanez, also consider Kemper KPA.
Real dials to turn and much easier to get great sound in seconds. On Amp sounds alone the KPA beats the Axe FX in a heartbeat.

Big advantage of the Axe FX: The effects sections is much better, if you are into a complex FX chain. The Kemper has all thinkable effects on board, too, but the Axe has even more and the chain is more flexible.

Big disadvantage of the Axe FX: It get's updated often and every update messes with the sound of your patches. You can choose not to update but then you will miss out on the latest and greatest.
Click to expand...

Pfft. I own both units and call bullshit.
Click to expand...
I had both.
 
shodan5000":200pbijs said:
hoss33":200pbijs said:
MKibanez, also consider Kemper KPA.
Real dials to turn and much easier to get great sound in seconds. On Amp sounds alone the KPA beats the Axe FX in a heartbeat.

Big advantage of the Axe FX: The effects sections is much better, if you are into a complex FX chain. The Kemper has all thinkable effects on board, too, but the Axe has even more and the chain is more flexible.

Big disadvantage of the Axe FX: It get's updated often and every update messes with the sound of your patches. You can choose not to update but then you will miss out on the latest and greatest.
Click to expand...

Pfft. I own both units and call bullshit.
Click to expand...


I own both and call BS too. Both have their good points, and both have cons --albiet different based on the user. Using both regularly, I am still amazed at the comments about about one unit blowing the other out of the water sound wise. It just isn't fact, and no one can prove indisputable truth either way because it's just a personal perception. These units are all just tools in the toolbox, nothing more. I wonder if contractors argue about their hammers and drills this way??
 
STOP!!
This thread is not supposed to be a shit slinging about the merits and benefits of one over the other, the OP asked about the Ultra versus the II, that's about two products within the Fractal lineage. This isn't a Kemper versus Axe thread.

Just sayin'...
 
Kemper aliases, pfffft. Unusable in my book.

Axe 2 destroys ultra as well.

You will love the axe 2 for basement playing!
 
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