Friedman BE or Axe FX2

[Doughboy]

I'm due for new gear in the next little while & was aiming for a Friedman BE & cab. I tried this last year & Tone Merchants & was in tears at how great it sounded. It was THE plexi sound.

Having said this, I hear nothing but rave review about the Axe FX2 & how versatile it is & how you can dial in any tone. I was thinking of using a tube power amp with the Axe FX2 through a good cab to replicate an authentic tube type tone.

I'm at a crossroads as to which one to go for. I haven't heard the Axe Fx in person, but Mark Day's video clips are nothing short of amazing & he gets great a ton of great tones.

Does anyone here have both of these or tried them both & have any sage advice for a confused gearhead?

 

[steve_k]

Get the Axe and have the best of both worlds. The Fractal BE and HBE models and Mark's HBE tuned up model.

 

[university81]

i'd probably go AFX2 , i loved the demos of the amp and what i've heard, i just got to try an AFX2 out recently, i could live on the euroblue or eurored amps alone

the only thing with the axe is the whole FRFR thing, which i think will probably sound better than through a normal cab, at least that's been my experience

 

[moltisanti]

i would go for the real deal all the way, BE100 , then buy an Axe FX III next year

 

[Doughboy]

i would go for the real deal all the way, BE100 , then buy an Axe FX III next year

Hmmm, this sounds like a good plan. I would say that nothing probably replicates an true plexi tone other than a plexi with tubes a heatin' & air being pushed out of a cab.

An axe fx3 sounds great as well. Is there a 3 model coming up or is it hear say?

 

[roodboy]

if you only need two channels the be100 all the way.
if you want more then axe 2
i sold my be100 it made be nuts not being able to footswitch sat or hbe/be however it was the best marshall tone i have heard
although not necessarily 4hole "plexi"

 

[freeballinusa]

Get the Real deal, I listened to both at TM and the frosty digital one is not even close

 

[moltisanti]

the Axe Fx III comment was slightly tongue in cheek, i haven't heard anything but there will be a III at some point for sure

 

[dallasb]

Get the Real deal, I listened to both at TM and the frosty digital one is not even close

Agreed

Like one guy told me it was the difference between real warm p***y and a fl*shlight

 

[moltenmetalburn]

Wrong. User error.

The axe 2 destroys those amps by being able to replicate OR outdo them them in variability.

IF you know how to achieve the desired result.

A novice user attempting to give a review from the perspective of an advanced user...

 

[Shawn Lutz]

Buy the BE and a Kemper, profile the BE and sell it

 

[Mark Day]

if you only need two channels the be100 all the way.
if you want more then axe 2
i sold my be100 it made be nuts not being able to footswitch sat or hbe/be however it was the best marshall tone i have heard
although not necessarily 4hole "plexi"

Switchable HB/HBE is an available option

Mark

 

[Rogue]

Get the Real deal, I listened to both at TM and the frosty digital one is not even close

Agreed

Like one guy told me it was the difference between real warm p***y and a fl*shlight

 

[Rogue]

If I were going modeler, and was willing to spend the money, I'd go Kemper.

 

[Jofipe]

Oh damn.. BE all the way. Had an AFX2 for 3 month. I tried my best to be able to stand it. It just doesnt respond like the real deal.

 

[Superunknown]

BE!

 

[tfridgen]

Offtopic, but moltenmetalburn, wtf is with the avatar? Hahaha!

 

[roodboy]

if you only need two channels the be100 all the way.
if you want more then axe 2
i sold my be100 it made be nuts not being able to footswitch sat or hbe/be however it was the best marshall tone i have heard
although not necessarily 4hole "plexi"

Switchable HB/HBE is an available option

Mark

thanks for the info
I emailed friedman about that when I had the be100 and was tild it wasnt doable

 

[Doughboy]

Hmmmm, I think the Friedman BE & cab it is. Probably nothing will ever SOUND like a real plexi except a plexi.

I'll save getting an Axe FX when the III model comes out.

Thanks for the info guys. Much appreciated.

 

[Ventura]

Get the Axe and have the best of both worlds. The Fractal BE and HBE models and Mark's HBE tuned up model.

This. Of all the presets that came with it, the BE/HBE/MDHBE kicked ass.