Axe-Ultra, this thing is totally off the hook...

[Nico]

I am surprised Steve hasn't tried the Ultra or at least the Standard, considering the huge gear whore that he is!

Especially taking into account that the resale value is good and that it can still be used for effects only and no emulation...

 

[King Guitar]

If your selling an Ultra, skip the classifieds and just PM me, Im just going to end up buying it anyway.

 

[RedB4Black]

I bought 2 new Ultras last year. Ended up selling both times. I gave it a fair shake I'd say. I think they sound very, very good. I think I'd be happy if I just had one of those and nothing else. Problem is, when it is sitting next to a real tube amp, the tube amp just sounds a little better to me. Since I really don't use a whole lot of effects when I play, it seemed stupid to me to be sitting there playing the Axe amp model dialed into a tone that was similar to what I'd use on my tube amp.

That being said, I'll probably own another Axe some day.lol.

 

[Ventura]

If your selling an Ultra, skip the classifieds and just PM me, Im just going to end up buying it anyway.

I thought you already went through the Kool Aid process Brad?? I remember your avatar having an Ultra in it....??

Whatever, I ain't DUMPING the rest of my rigs, there's some shuffling going on, but no dumping As for the FRFR, no dice, poweramp and cabs, baby...push that air

Alright, it is what it is - as for lowering the resale value, if you are seriously selling your unit, I am 100% positive it'll sell for retail less 5% providing it's in ace shape. The resale on these things are pretty f*ckin' stellar for a piece of techno gizmology.

Tim - thanks Braddah!! Damn straight, I get a LOT out of this little black box, and Stevie, seriously, if you haven't done so already, get one and try it out. Turn off the cab function, hook it up to your fave poweramp and 4x12, and start in on the presets. I'd suggest trying SLO, 800, HigherWatt, Brown Sound, Corksniffer... And try these out LOUD, and soft, and everything in between. Kool Aid will be drunk - it's up to your neuro network and synaptic matrix to decide on how to deal with it... Takes me no time at all to dial it in, I don't get the "too much finnagling" complaint. The thing's as straight up as a 10 button amp face. Just so happens you can work under the hood of said 'amp' should you wish

V.

 

[gibson5413]

I know I didn't dive deep enough into Cliff's unit but I'm happy to see other men get excited over it, it's one of the nicer ones out there.

You'll have to tell us how that goes for you next time.

 

[Mark Day]

Since I got my Ultra I actually play a lot more. Anytime I want a new sound it only takes a few minutes to dial up. Even the 6 harmony presets I made for that Hotel California thing I did took like 20 mins.

I love my tube rig very much, but the AxeFx is an awesome tool as well. I couldn't be without either. Just because there are a million "potential" tweaks doesn't mean you have to go there.

It's funny, hardly anyone complains about sending their head off to get modded (often more than once) yet tweaking the AxeFx takes too much time???
And trust me I'm all about sending a head away to maximize it's potential. The too much tweaking argument just doesn't float. I tweak like crazy with a head/rack/pedals rig...we all do. Instead of going to a box with a bunch cables and pedals and racks or resistors and capacitors...you use a mouse. Either way we are trying to acheive a "tone goal". Neither is wrong, both can take no time or a ton of time.

Tone is an never ending quest. I love the tone I get from my Suhr rig and my AxeFx rig....soon I'll love the tone from my Cameron rig and someday soon a Friedman. Ain't it all a tone party!!!! Guitar is some fun shit!

Mark

 

[Rogue]

I thought you already went through the Kool Aid process Brad?? I remember your avatar having an Ultra in it....??

I think it's customary to own one 2 or 3 times.

 

[rupe]

Shameless fanboi

On a serious note, I loved my Ultra but traded because it didn't cut it for me live from an "instant tweakability" standpoint. I plan to get another one for the home studio though.

Mo...have you tried a good FRFR with Redwirz IRs? I found that setup to blow away using a power amp and 4x12 cabs. My FBT Verve 12ma hung with a 2:90 for sheer volume as well...stand right in front of that monitor and you'll experience all the same dynamics and air that you do with a more traditional arrangement.

 

[Ventura]

Since I got my Ultra I actually play a lot more.

THIS!!!!

And Rupe, quite honestly, no.... I've not ventured out of the domain of the Axe 'as is', and am ONLY using it with poweramp and cab right now, and as an effects module. The DI is good too, but I've been playing with it more than anything else, not recording yet.

V.

 

[ttosh]

Great Unit, amazing tones and of course your an amazing player. Good players always seem to get good tone out the equipment they have. If you cannot find amazing tones in the Axe FX it is only because you did not give it enough time or have closed your mind to tubes only.

I know I didn't dive deep enough into Cliff's unit but I'm happy to see other men get excited over it, it's one of the nicer ones out there.

Surprising, that has to be the first unit you did not bottom out....

 

[jcj]

Great Unit, amazing tones and of course your an amazing player. Good players always seem to get good tone out the equipment they have. If you cannot find amazing tones in the Axe FX it is only because you did not give it enough time or have closed your mind to tubes only.

I know I didn't dive deep enough into Cliff's unit but I'm happy to see other men get excited over it, it's one of the nicer ones out there.

Surprising, that has to be the first unit you did not bottom out....

Actually LOL'd

 

[ejecta]

Just because there are a million "potential" tweaks doesn't mean you have to go there.

It's funny, hardly anyone complains about sending their head off to get modded (often more than once) yet tweaking the AxeFx takes too much time???
And trust me I'm all about sending a head away to maximize it's potential. The too much tweaking argument just doesn't float. I tweak like crazy with a head/rack/pedals rig...we all do. Instead of going to a box with a bunch cables and pedals and racks or resistors and capacitors...you use a mouse. Either way we are trying to acheive a "tone goal". Neither is wrong, both can take no time or a ton of time.

I agree! How many amps and pedals and pickups etc have been flipped on all the gear forums where guys are trying to "tweak" their tone? Like you said nothing wrong with it and I'm as guilty as anyone but I agree the tweaking argument is lame and it's something within the player not the gear. I guarantee you most guys on this forum get better tone than many players in the present and in the past but yet aren't happy. You can choose to stop "tweaking" parameters and/or amps and just play and be happy with your tone.

 

[aftec]

New amp model preview from the next firmware

 

[lespaul3013]

Man...I'm torn...I need a new main rig and I don't know whether to go the Axe Fx route, or to go ahead and get a new tube amp.

Axe would sure be a lot easier to transport...

 

[Shark Diver]

Great Unit, amazing tones and of course your an amazing player. Good players always seem to get good tone out the equipment they have. If you cannot find amazing tones in the Axe FX it is only because you did not give it enough time or have closed your mind to tubes only.

Just wow, so anyone who doesn't like a SLO or Cameron or Diezel or whatever is just a lousy player? Or closed minded? Or does this statement simply apply to the Axe?Last defense - user error. Well I had the unit for 3 years and heard very talented players coming through the shop who have sold millions of records play it and not like it. Really?

 

[jlbaxe]

I am surprised Steve hasn't tried the Ultra or at least the Standard, considering the huge gear whore that he is!

He had a standard and sold it to me

 

[BIGKAHUNA]

Ventura you are right on my brutha I have to get rid of my gear - and the AxeFx has made it completely painless. I plugged in yesterday and dialed in a Recto/5150 combination that KILLLED (Ola inspired) - after that I dialed up a dimed Plexi with boost up front and damn....it might not be identical to the real to my ears its out of this world. I have seen A/B comparisons and the AxeFx does a fine job of recreating tones of the amps that inspired it.

I run my AxeFx through my Randall RM100 power section (highly underated amp) and into a G-Flex 212 and it sounds absolutely friggin HUGE I am extremely pleased with this peice of gear and I havent even scratched the surface of its potential.

All of that fanboism being said - I will still own a Cali Mod when I get back to the states and maybe one more head but one thing is for sure - the AxeFx aint goin no where.

 

[ttosh]

Great Unit, amazing tones and of course your an amazing player. Good players always seem to get good tone out the equipment they have. If you cannot find amazing tones in the Axe FX it is only because you did not give it enough time or have closed your mind to tubes only.

Just wow, so anyone who doesn't like a SLO or Cameron or Diezel or whatever is just a lousy player? Or closed minded? Or does this statement simply apply to the Axe?Last defense - user error. Well I had the unit for 3 years and heard very talented players coming through the shop who have sold millions of records play it and not like it. Really?

I like tube amps better you took this totally the wrong way. I said good players can get the tone out of the equipment they have, be it the Axe FX, a Mesa, Bogner, etc.... That does not mean you cannot prefer one over the other or even have to like the Axe FX. You really took this way too personal and like it was an attack when it was not.....

To me a good player can find amazing tones in the Axe FX, does that mean they prefer it, well that is up to the person. No different than I am confident a good player can find amazing tones in a Bogner, Soldano, etc.... however it does not mean that is their amp of choice. It is all quality gear as I am sure you will agree with.

 

[Shark Diver]

Great Unit, amazing tones and of course your an amazing player. Good players always seem to get good tone out the equipment they have. If you cannot find amazing tones in the Axe FX it is only because you did not give it enough time or have closed your mind to tubes only.

Just wow, so anyone who doesn't like a SLO or Cameron or Diezel or whatever is just a lousy player? Or closed minded? Or does this statement simply apply to the Axe?Last defense - user error. Well I had the unit for 3 years and heard very talented players coming through the shop who have sold millions of records play it and not like it. Really?

I like tube amps better you took this totally the wrong way. I said good players can get the tone out of the equipment they have, be it the Axe FX, a Mesa, Bogner, etc.... That does not mean you cannot prefer one over the other or even have to like the Axe FX. You really took this way too personal and like it was an attack when it was not.....

To me a good player can find amazing tones in the Axe FX, does that mean they prefer it, well that is up to the person. No different than I am confident a good player can find amazing tones in a Bogner, Soldano, etc.... however it does not mean that is their amp of choice. It is all quality gear as I am sure you will agree with.

It's probably my time of the month.

 

[chumbucket]

Since I got my Ultra I actually play a lot more. Anytime I want a new sound it only takes a few minutes to dial up. Even the 6 harmony presets I made for that Hotel California thing I did took like 20 mins.

I love my tube rig very much, but the AxeFx is an awesome tool as well. I couldn't be without either. Just because there are a million "potential" tweaks doesn't mean you have to go there.

It's funny, hardly anyone complains about sending their head off to get modded (often more than once) yet tweaking the AxeFx takes too much time???
And trust me I'm all about sending a head away to maximize it's potential. The too much tweaking argument just doesn't float. I tweak like crazy with a head/rack/pedals rig...we all do. Instead of going to a box with a bunch cables and pedals and racks or resistors and capacitors...you use a mouse. Either way we are trying to acheive a "tone goal". Neither is wrong, both can take no time or a ton of time.

Tone is an never ending quest. I love the tone I get from my Suhr rig and my AxeFx rig....soon I'll love the tone from my Cameron rig and someday soon a Friedman. Ain't it all a tone party!!!! Guitar is some fun shit!

Mark

This is great advice but I just can't seem to help myself when the endless tweaking options are there, and then I waste too much time tone tweaking. I find that with a regular tube amp with 5 tone knobs max, I just get the best sound possible and go. Setup is a few minutes at the most. Much more satisfying in the end for me at least. It seems more productive.