Fractal Audio Axe-FX price

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blackba

blackba

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The Axe-Fx seems to be the rage of the forums, getting lots of praise on TGP and here. The main thing holding me back from trying one is the price. At $1500 USD for the regular and $2000 USD for the Ultra, that is more than I have ever spent on an amp (I do usually buy used though). I have never been much of a modeling amp fan, but this thing has my interest peaked, much more so than any POD or Vox Tonelab, etc has. It doesn't help that I am broke and trying to save up for a mesa mark V if that does come out.

How are you guys able to justify the price? Do you think the unit is overpriced or a great value considering for what its done for your rig?

My buddy who is using a POD into a Tube power amp for his live rig was checking them out and then saw the price, which sent him running....
 
I'm very curious about it as well. I couldn't care less about the modeling, it just looks like a
great, flexible processor.
 
I paid a little less than new (not too much less though) for a used one. One thing going for it, in terms of buying new, is that there's a trial period. I forget how long, but you can return it if necessary.
 
The Axe-Fx is really something special.....buy one NOW!!! :rock:
 
Ask David Simpson who posts here he hears my AXE set up at last nights gig.
 
The thing I like about it right now is that I bought used for damn near what they sell for new - which means if you buy one and don't like it, you aren't going to get hurt. Heck, some guys have been selling the ultras for a few hundred MORE than they sell for new because the demand is outstripping the production.
 
degenaro":3dnb27vn said:
Ask David Simpson who posts here he hears my AXE set up at last nights gig.
Click to expand...


Yeah...I was there...It sounds great. If fact....band mix, it sounded much like when Ed uses tubes and his eclipse set-up.
The amp models aside...the effects in that thing are amazing. When I played this set-up over at THD a couple weeks ago...some of the effect presets sounded really close to the eventide to my ears.
 
I think it depends on what you want to do and use it for if its worth it. Honestly, I think you can get great results for direct recording using Revalver, Soft tube amp room, Digi's 11, etc. The fractal Axe is great for direct , but not 1000 dollars greater, though definetally deeper and more customizable.

but if you want a box that is both great direct, great for EFX, good for a preamp, good for home and on the road, then I think the axe FX starts to look more appealing.
 
I'm very interested in one of these too, but am trying to wait 'till the hype dies down and they start appearing used at a discount.

I mainly want one for recording direct and for using the FX in a W/D/W setup. So far, everyone says they sound and feel just like a real amp, but not better.... I seriously doubt I'd be inspired to sell my amp collection once I get one. One thing's for sure, they won't appreciate like a vintage amp will. Computer based gear will only go down in value.
 
david simpson":1rxjlgnc said:
degenaro":1rxjlgnc said:
Ask David Simpson who posts here he hears my AXE set up at last nights gig.
Click to expand...


Yeah...I was there...It sounds great. If fact....band mix, it sounded much like when Ed uses tubes and his eclipse set-up.
The amp models aside...the effects in that thing are amazing. When I played this set-up over at THD a couple weeks ago...some of the effect presets sounded really close to the eventide to my ears.
Click to expand...
I think so, that's why the Eclipse is gone.
 
blackba said:
How are you guys able to justify the price? Do you think the unit is overpriced or a great value considering for what its done for your rig?

quote]



I think it is beyond a great value considering all it does and does incredibly well.


FWIW< I am no Line 6 basher, in fact I think several pieces of their gear can be good.... but comparing the Axe to any thing Line 6 makes is incredibly unfair to the Line 6 products. Not even the same league
Click to expand...
 
I am holding out till the Standard gets to around $1000 used, I just think at some point the market will get a tad full of users that are ready to try something else and I will be there waiting. I have given up the dream of owning a high end Eventide due to the resale never goes down, the H3000s are up for just 1 year ago.
 
I bought one used to try out and I could sell if I didn't jive with it. Well, it looks like my JVM is going up for sale soon.
 
Like I've always said if your happy with just a few tones, you love twisting amp dials, you like stroking Tolex, or staring at all your favorite amps lined up against a wall because they look cool then the Axe ain't for you. However, if you have an open mind and you want a plethora of real tubelike tones and effects with the click of a midi pedal without having to twist dials then the Axe IS for you.

IMO, it is what it is. Running it through a Carvin TS-100 poweramp and Marshall 2X12 cab it blows the doors off of my JVM. FYI- After several months unplugged and covered up in the corner of my studio room I played my JVM 410H cranked while the wife was gone this weekend. My mind is definitely made up now that it is going up for sale on Craigslist immediately.
 
So what floorboard are you guys using with your Axe-FX?


Since the Axe-Fx is holding its value used, that is actually a bad thing for me. At its price I would have to sell an amp or two to get one and I have no idea what I would get rid of. With the economy the way it is, its a bad time to sell anyway.


Like other modeling technology I have this strange fear that my tube amps will be devalued, pedals will be obsolete and I will want to sell all my amps. I try to keep an open mind, but in general I am slow to adopt new things, for example I still don't own an HD TV....
 
blackba":3urmiwhk said:
So what floorboard are you guys using with your Axe-FX?


Since the Axe-Fx is holding its value used, that is actually a bad thing for me. At its price I would have to sell an amp or two to get one and I have no idea what I would get rid of. With the economy the way it is, its a bad time to sell anyway.... :no:
Click to expand...

I'm in the same boat as you. I'm giving it a try, but if I end up keeping it, that means an amp is going to have to go. So it had better kick some serious ass. :gethim: :D

I ordered a Behringer FCB1010 from MF to have something to use to test the AFX wah and stuff. They're pretty cheap compared to some other controllers. I don't know if it would be a good permanent solution but I wanted a way to test the wah and switching fx on and off on the fly. I figure if it sucks, if I want something better, or if I don't keep the AFX, I'll just return the FCB.
 
I am using the Ground Control Pro, Carvin DCM1000 and two Bogner cabs w/Webers. Very happy!

For recording, this thing is off the charts...like Mark Cameron says....use your ears and not your eyes.

John Suhr just bought an Axe-Fx Ultra as well. I will be really interested to hear what he has to say....
 
What is the difference between the standard and the ultra?
 
For low bucks, the Rocktron MidiMate is a great deal and easy to set up. I have one and it worked well - has a setting where you can have 5 presets and 5 effects you can turn off and on within the axe.

Medium bucks is what I have now - ground control pro. I have mine set up for 4 presets but 8 different effects off and on. I like using the same amp sound and then changing the effects or boosting the volume/tap tempo/etc.

The behringer is a great deal if you don't mind a little bit of skull sweat programming it. I set up my midimate basically within 5 minutes with no problems at all.

One thing I love about the axe - you can set it to keep your tap tempos globally, so if you set it for a song, and change patches - it remembers the tempo. VERY nice!

Pete
 
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