Don't run at me with fire and pitchforks. Axe-FX Questions..

[jcj]

Title is priceless

To add something useful (or not ), I've had an Axe for a couple of years, and love it; very easy to use and sounds great.

I don't try and make the Axe sound exactly like a specific amp, I just dial what I want to hear.

If you go into it that way, I think it's all but impossible to be disappointed.

This took two minutes

 

[Ventura]

i wonder how long these things are gonna last before - if and when - they become outdated, or something better comes along?
or if it's gonna be like an old amp that will always be good to go back to. i mean if it has the tone in it i would think it will always have a place, just wondering if they'd become obsolete at some point.
im still undecided about wether or not i should get some other good amp, or just get the snaxfx when i get ready to.

Not for a while as the sharc processor chip they are using has yet to be replaced by an upgraded model. Right now they cannot make a more powerful unit until the tech catches up.

The chip they use is 4-5 years old. The Sharc 2 is out, but not used in the Axe.

Marketing will be the only thing that gets better... Seriously, unless a newer processor makes a more accurate emulation of an amp or cab or whatnot, what's the "better" unit going to offer?? Sure, more stuff, maybe a better room dynamics palette or the like, more input/output options, but at the end of the day, it sounds great as is. And that's where it's at for me - it sounds great.

V.

There are enough people who max the CPU out. The newer chip would help that. I'm sure the tones would get even better with the tweaks that a new processor would allow. Maybe more IRs, mic positions, things like that. Who knows? It will only help, always good to have more power. (insert Tool Man grunt)

Fair enough. Even though I'm able to add all the techno wizardry to my line up in the Axe, I still choose an approach similar to my analog approach: KISS - Keep It Simple Stupid. I've never been one to laden my signal heavily with gobs of effects, I'm very selective and minimalist in my effects approach. The only reason I've had so many effects in the past is kinda for this very reason - each one either did 'one' thing perfectly well, or did 'several' things perfectly well, but they were never all lined up on a tap dance mat in front of me. Selective. So for me - hey, I'm cool with my Ultra, we get along great, and as mentioned above, I'm not going for the perfect amp emulation, whatever stock pres they have that sound good? I'll work with 'em. Gotta say though, there are a few out of the box that are stellar straight up:
SLO
IIC+
Uberschall
Vox
Brown Eye
808 + gained out 800
HiWatt

These tones alone?? Well worth the price of admission. And hey, as for effects?? Hot DAMN I'm a mega Eventide fanboi, and this thing is totally trick. The delays, pitch based effects, and wahs are simply - AWESOME - !!!!!

Done. But ya ya, they'll HAVE to come out with a "new and improved" model eventually, that's the nature of a capitalist business model Even though "new and improved" is an impossible descriptor for anything, seems it gets the attention of the drone bee populous most every time

V.

 

[romanianreaper]

Title is priceless

To add something useful (or not ), I've had an Axe for a couple of years, and love it; very easy to use and sounds great.

I don't try and make the Axe sound exactly like a specific amp, I just dial what I want to hear.

If you go into it that way, I think it's all but impossible to be disappointed.

This took two minutes

Nice clip!

You know I've tried to justify NOT getting the Axe-FX by saying it is too expensive or that I can get something else like an Eleven Rack or a BOSS GT-10 but when I hear the clips of the Eleven Rack and GT-10, it doesn't hit me in the chest like the Axe-FX clips I've heard. Those other units sound good for what they do but the Axe-FX seems to have it all.

With that said, I still think tweaking the Axe-FX could require some type of rehab afterwards but we'll see. It just seems like a phenomenal unit and I'm surprised when people sell it. Of course people also sell 1981 Les Paul Customs and Fender Amps from the 50's, etc.

 

[romanianreaper]

By the way, what is the wait for an Axe-FX Ultra and what is the method of payment?

 

[Shark Diver]

JCJ, V - the SLO patch is what made me go try a Soldano. And Intense Jim. lol

Still my favorite sim.

So definitely a plus for guys who who can't try a lot of amps locally. The Axe gets close enough for a good taste of the amp.

 

[Ventura]

By the way, what is the wait for an Axe-FX Ultra and what is the method of payment?

Just hit the Fractal Audio site, choose Canadian or US, choose which model to stick in your cart, and hit BUY. If it's in and available, you'll be able to pay with CC (and maybe PP, not 100% sure on that) ASAP. If it's not, it doesn't process your request to pay. I know a couple cats had to try for a week+ to get their order in. I got mine the 1st try I did. Took about 10 days to get to me, but that's because I'm in Canada, usual shipping is something like 5 business days anywhere in the lower 48 I believe. They're located out of NH.

I owned a HR100+ which had the same circuit as the SLO, didn't hit me as hard as I would have hoped, I liked it a lot, but didn't love it. Too bad, that rig was a sweet set up. But hey, if it's not spankin', it's not worth holdin'...

Peace,
V.

 

[jlbaxe]

I've never owned a Diezel, Bogner, CarolAnn, etc. or other boutique amps. I wonder if the Axe-FX would completely blow me away in a good way since I normally only own one amp at a time?

I A/B'd mine with my 20th X and have it damn close. I had an 80' Marshall JMP100 and a Cameron Mod'd Uber and do not miss them a bit. I havent sat down and tried to copy my Mesa MK III yet but those are the only 2 amps I have left. I think not having the same amp in the room, you would be super happy, hell I had a few of the amps in the room and was still super happy. I sold 1 amp head and it more than paid for it. Then I sold of 2 power amps, another amp head a bunch of rack and pedal effects and have a lot more cash in the savings acct.

 

[romanianreaper]

By the way, what is the wait for an Axe-FX Ultra and what is the method of payment?

Just hit the Fractal Audio site, choose Canadian or US, choose which model to stick in your cart, and hit BUY. If it's in and available, you'll be able to pay with CC (and maybe PP, not 100% sure on that) ASAP. If it's not, it doesn't process your request to pay. I know a couple cats had to try for a week+ to get their order in. I got mine the 1st try I did. Took about 10 days to get to me, but that's because I'm in Canada, usual shipping is something like 5 business days anywhere in the lower 48 I believe. They're located out of NH.

I owned a HR100+ which had the same circuit as the SLO, didn't hit me as hard as I would have hoped, I liked it a lot, but didn't love it. Too bad, that rig was a sweet set up. But hey, if it's not spankin', it's not worth holdin'...

Peace,
V.

Thanks man!

 

[killertone]

I still think tweaking the Axe-FX could require some type of rehab afterwards but we'll see.

That was my experience. The Axe Fx is totally off my radar now that I have spent some time with one.

Can't wait for the first "you must not know what you are doing" reply...

 

[9ball]

i wonder how long these things are gonna last before - if and when - they become outdated, or something better comes along?
or if it's gonna be like an old amp that will always be good to go back to. i mean if it has the tone in it i would think it will always have a place, just wondering if they'd become obsolete at some point.
im still undecided about wether or not i should get some other good amp, or just get the snaxfx when i get ready to.

That is a good point. There were a few folks here on the forum talking about the Rockman that Tom Scholtz put out years ago. Also, alot of people here on the forum love the old Marshall Plexi and other classic amps even though alot of newer amps have come out.

thanks!
but yeah i never thought of it that way - like as compared to the rockman x100 which was what - 20 years ago - if it's good shit it's just good shit i guess.
i had one of those x100's a loooong time ago when i was like 17 - 1989/1990 lol.

 

[9ball]

This took two minutes

dude that sounds fuckin awesome.

i dont know if this has been brought up before or not - but does it clean up rolling the volume knob down like a real amp?

 

[Shark Diver]

i dont know if this has been brought up before or not - but does it clean up rolling the volume knob down like a real amp?

Yes, it cleans up very well.

B
I owned a HR100+ which had the same circuit as the SLO, didn't hit me as hard as I would have hoped, I liked it a lot, but didn't love it. Too bad, that rig was a sweet set up. But hey, if it's not spankin', it's not worth holdin'...

Peace,
V.

It's all in the SLO transformers

 

[threadkiller]

Can you set up the effects, amp simulations, eq the amp etc using a power amp/cab and then just add in the cab simulation and mic placement parameters for direct to board use without having to tweak the amp settings again or does one effect the other?

I have been thinking about getting an Axe FX and probably will eventually. One thing holding me back is my main focus for it would be live use in a band setting. To me, if I'm not running it direct to board it kind of defeats the purpose of having it for this setting. However, I don't have my PA at home so I'd have to try to tweak patches on the fly at practice or run it into my power amp and guitar cab at home and then just add the cab simulation and mic placement parameters, etc based on best guess. I'm guessing this might not work out to well. Any experience out there with this?

 

[threadkiller]

i wonder how long these things are gonna last before - if and when - they become outdated, or something better comes along?
or if it's gonna be like an old amp that will always be good to go back to. i mean if it has the tone in it i would think it will always have a place, just wondering if they'd become obsolete at some point.
im still undecided about wether or not i should get some other good amp, or just get the snaxfx when i get ready to.

Not for a while as the sharc processor chip they are using has yet to be replaced by an upgraded model. Right now they cannot make a more powerful unit until the tech catches up.

The chip they use is 4-5 years old. The Sharc 2 is out, but not used in the Axe.

My plan is to wait for the latest, greatest hot shit unit to come out and then buy an Axe-FX used when the prices fall. Just sayin'

http://www.theonion.com/articles/new-de ... able,2862/

 

[duodecim]

I understand that feeling. I'm in IT doing Unix administration, coding and security consulting, and I have to stare too much at computers already. It's one reason I steer clear of the Axe-FX and other digital rack units – I strongly feel I just want to plug into a simple amp with real knobs and murder people with a wall of sound. I don't want to "program" my amp and get all OCD with it.

I also fear to end up with 60 amp models that sound good but none of them great. At least, for better or worse, a tube amp sounds like a tube amp, and if you choose the model wisely you should more or less get the sound you wanted.

Still, I'm on the fence. I just don't get to crank amps at home, and the Axe-FX might sound better than a whisper-silent tube amp trying to do metal. This dilemma wouldn't be so difficult if the Axe-FX wasn't so prohibitively expensive here.

 

[jlbaxe]

Still, I'm on the fence. I just don't get to crank amps at home, and the Axe-FX might sound better than a whisper-silent tube amp trying to do metal. This dilemma wouldn't be so difficult if the Axe-FX wasn't so prohibitively expensive here.

I dont get it. An Uber,xtc,vh4s,marsha,Prs,Surh,Andersons all cost as much or more than a Axe-fx and they are all over this board. I dont see why people think it is so expensive for what you get in effects alone not to mention the amps. I have seen 2 Klon pedals cost more than a Standard. The money I made back from selling my extra gear was well worth it. Rant over

 

[Ventura]

Still, I'm on the fence. I just don't get to crank amps at home, and the Axe-FX might sound better than a whisper-silent tube amp trying to do metal. This dilemma wouldn't be so difficult if the Axe-FX wasn't so prohibitively expensive here.

I dont get it. An Uber,xtc,vh4s,marsha,Prs,Surh,Andersons all cost as much or more than a Axe-fx and they are all over this board. I dont see why people think it is so expensive for what you get in effects alone not to mention the amps. I have seen 2 Klon pedals cost more than a Standard. The money I made back from selling my extra gear was well worth it. Rant over

This.

Bottom line? I play more, screw around less. That's just me, but the fact I'm playing over 2x the amount I normally do is well worth $2000. I find it dead simple to use, and if I don't feel like 'tweakin', I just use a preset like corksniffer or brown eye and lay it out till my fingers are tender

V.

 

[romanianreaper]

Can you set up the effects, amp simulations, eq the amp etc using a power amp/cab and then just add in the cab simulation and mic placement parameters for direct to board use without having to tweak the amp settings again or does one effect the other?

I have been thinking about getting an Axe FX and probably will eventually. One thing holding me back is my main focus for it would be live use in a band setting. To me, if I'm not running it direct to board it kind of defeats the purpose of having it for this setting. However, I don't have my PA at home so I'd have to try to tweak patches on the fly at practice or run it into my power amp and guitar cab at home and then just add the cab simulation and mic placement parameters, etc based on best guess. I'm guessing this might not work out to well. Any experience out there with this?

I was wondering about that myself. Can you have a setting that is normally used for recording and then just hit "cabinet emulation on" and have the same sound that you had in your house. Obviously some tweaking would be necessary but would be better than having "preset 1 - Mesa Live", preset 2 - Mesa at Home", etc.

 

[Ventura]

Can you set up the effects, amp simulations, eq the amp etc using a power amp/cab and then just add in the cab simulation and mic placement parameters for direct to board use without having to tweak the amp settings again or does one effect the other?

Sure you can. Make one preset as it pertains to your poweramp & cab; copy it to a second preset and add the rest. Preset 1a is for rig, Preset 1b is for DI or PA or the like. No problems.

V.

 

[Shark Diver]

Can you set up the effects, amp simulations, eq the amp etc using a power amp/cab and then just add in the cab simulation and mic placement parameters for direct to board use without having to tweak the amp settings again or does one effect the other?

Sure you can. Make one preset as it pertains to your poweramp & cab; copy it to a second preset and add the rest. Preset 1a is for rig, Preset 1b is for DI or PA or the like. No problems.

V.

I think he means to not have additional presets. Couple of ways to do this.

Have them in the preset and turn global cab/power amp sims off or on. This would be for times you would only run it one way - FRFR or real amp/cab.

If you aren't using the 4 cable method you could have one set of outs to the real amp/cab, and another path in the same patch going to the second set of outs with the power amp/cab sims in line. Very well thought out and useful function. To me really the best thing about the Axe Fx.