Friedman BE or Axe FX2

[freeballinusa]

I sure as fuck notice when there is no amp behind me in monitors in front! feels wrong...

 

[syncrodude007]

rob a 7-11 and get both... plus p/u a fleshlight w/ the change...
I love my Friedman Marsha can't speak for the axe 2...but I'll eventually procure 1

 

[steve_k]

I like this thread... more so.. Axe Fx II vs Friedman BE-100 for live applications?? I know with the axe fx II and mfc controller your presets are endless... the friedman somewhat limited with no boost, etc. Can the Axe Fx II sound 'good' live say thru 2x12's or 4x12 and can you get that pushed air sound that you know you get with tube amps?? Im sure in a room the axe fx II sounds great.. or thru frfr's.. but can it sound as good on a stage in a band mix?? Cheers

Cory

Cory, in the clubs you play, don't you mic through the PA? If so, hit it direct with the Axe FX2 to the mixing board. Use an active monitor with all you in it and send a monitor mix to you back from the sound desk. You won't notice not have a cab behind you. Plus, the rest of the band can all of a sudden hear each other and you won't be sending ice picks to the audience. If you just got to have a cab and an power amp, there is already a set up in the Axe directory, as well as a 4CM set up. Turn the sims off and pick your preamp and FX blocks.

Steve

Yeah, we are all mic'd thru the PA. And Im using in ears for monitoring.

If you are using IEM's, you can really take advantage of the quiet stage. Just feed your direct signal through the Aux outs to everyone's monitor mix. It's definitely the way to go.

 

[steve_k]

I sure as fuck notice when there is no amp behind me in monitors in front! feels wrong...

move over a few feet and you won't notice.

 

[suhrimmetal]

I like this thread... more so.. Axe Fx II vs Friedman BE-100 for live applications?? I know with the axe fx II and mfc controller your presets are endless... the friedman somewhat limited with no boost, etc. Can the Axe Fx II sound 'good' live say thru 2x12's or 4x12 and can you get that pushed air sound that you know you get with tube amps?? Im sure in a room the axe fx II sounds great.. or thru frfr's.. but can it sound as good on a stage in a band mix?? Cheers

Cory

Cory, in the clubs you play, don't you mic through the PA? If so, hit it direct with the Axe FX2 to the mixing board. Use an active monitor with all you in it and send a monitor mix to you back from the sound desk. You won't notice not have a cab behind you. Plus, the rest of the band can all of a sudden hear each other and you won't be sending ice picks to the audience. If you just got to have a cab and an power amp, there is already a set up in the Axe directory, as well as a 4CM set up. Turn the sims off and pick your preamp and FX blocks.

Steve

Yeah, we are all mic'd thru the PA. And Im using in ears for monitoring.

If you are using IEM's, you can really take advantage of the quiet stage. Just feed your direct signal through the Aux outs to everyone's monitor mix. It's definitely the way to go.

I know my drummer would love a quiet stage He's always complaining about my guitar players quikrod cutting thru the mix so loud...but it's just me and drummer with in ears.... other guys have there cabs so they can here themselves. Definitely wouldn't work in our situation cuz bass player and rhythm player need to hear my guitar and vocals.. whether they want to or not

 

[Elric]

My main rig is an Axe, but I'd say it depends on whether that (the Friedman) is very specifically the sound you want. If you want THAT tone, I'd personally recommend THAT amp. I got the Fractal because it can get a zillion tones and I'm constantly dicking around with new ones, so I would tire of one amp quickly. But if I wanted to nail a very specific tonal area with complete authority and minimal fuss, I'd just pull the trigger on the real deal. The fractals and Kempers are like super high quality 200 channel preamps from the future, nifty, but not the optimal solution 100% of the time.

 

[MantraSky]

I really Love my Fractal AxEfx II but I can't seem to stop playing my BE100

 

[Balaguer]

My AX8 gets pretty dang close to the real Friedman tone, so I would recommend the Fractal 100%.

 

[Slaytallica]

I own a Fractal, Kemper and just bought the Runt. Now I know the Runt is not the BE but I love the feel of the real amp.

That being said the AxeFX is amazing when you know how to tweak it and finally get past the learning curve. It's a great to have all that power, and choices of CABs at your finger tips not to mention the effects you cant find anything better. The Kemper though it may not have as many effects as the Fractal tone wise as far as amps go I have to say I prefer my Kemper most of the time. It's pretty hard to tell the difference between the live amp and the real deal .

At first I was running my AxeFX through a a smaller rig of dual 10 inch Tannoy's with a QSC Power Amp Sounded amazing but upgraded to a larger set up as I wanted to move more air and now I'm pushing both through a dual EV ETX 12P's. And the sound is massive. 138db's continuous without fail. Get the right speakers for your Axe or Kemper and you cannot do wrong.

I even use my Kemper and AxeFX with my Acoustic to get some great tones.










You have to go with your heart and gut. I haven't plugged into one of my amps in over a year. I do love my Friedman Runt and have been playing it non stop though its new there is something about the amp that makes me want to play. It's unforgiving so I have to try harder to play better. I like that. Sometimes simple is best. But it's also great to have a ton of tone choices in one box.

 

[romanianreaper]

I think a comparison like this has to go beyond just the tones and look at the applications.

- Are you planning on doing recordings?
- Are you in a band and out gigging?
- Is weight an issue?

I think there are so many variables. I think both are awesome pieces of gear. I own an Axe-Fx II and have had it since about 2012. I have barely craved getting another amp since I bought it. With that said, the Friedman BE-100 is the one amp I would buy if I didn't have the Axe-Fx. In fact, if it was cheaper, I'm sure I'd already own one.

I still would love to get a BE-100 down the road. As I'm getting older, I don't want to carry a 4x12 around though. I've gone a bunch of recordings with my Axe-Fx and sounds phenomenal. I also use a Friedman ASM-12 FRFR cab with my unit and love it.

At the end of the day I think it comes down to tone, but also use. If you don't do any recordings and have never used anything FRFR like LINE 6, Kemper, Fractal, etc. I"d lean toward the BE-100.

 

[JerEvil]

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.

I had great success with the Fractal stuff but I too would say get the real deal. I'm off modelers since getting my Torpedo Studio.

I want a BE something fierce.

 

[mxr2000]

I vote for the BE-100. I know it does not have a boost, but I heard the Koko Boost works great with it.

Not only the Koko Boost an Empress ParaEQ did amazing thinga with the BE-100.

 

[Elric]

Have yet to hear anything that makes me GAS since going AxeFx2, years of rig stability... so nice.... That said, if you KNOW what you want is this particular amp, and can afford one, get it. you can always try digital products later, they are here to stay and will not get more expensive, only cheaper. I wanted a BUNCH of amps not one that's why a modeler worked well for me. I DO love the HBE model on the Axe it's a great tone.

 

[stratjacket]

Well, I suppose since this thread is over 4 years old, perhaps Doughboy can give us an update on what he chose, how it faired and if he still has it...

I vote for the BE-100. I know it does not have a boost, but I heard the Koko Boost works great with it.

Not only the Koko Boost an Empress ParaEQ did amazing thinga with the BE-100.

How do you like that ParaEQ? I was in major research mode between that and the Whirlwind Perfect 10 EQ. I went with the Perfect 10 and it's great. But still always wondered about the ParaEQ.

 

[PBGas]

I'd get the amp as well! Like JerEvil above, I have a Torpedo studio as well and that with my amp has curved any gas for a modeller at all. Aren't they supposedly coming out with an Axe plugin at some point? That might be a great scenario to having the best of both worlds. Currently waiting to hear more about the Helix plugin.

 

[mxr2000]

Well, I suppose since this thread is over 4 years old, perhaps Doughboy can give us an update on what he chose, how it faired and if he still has it...

I vote for the BE-100. I know it does not have a boost, but I heard the Koko Boost works great with it.

Not only the Koko Boost an Empress ParaEQ did amazing thinga with the BE-100.

How do you like that ParaEQ? I was in major research mode between that and the Whirlwind Perfect 10 EQ. I went with the Perfect 10 and it's great. But still always wondered about the ParaEQ.

ParaEq its a very powerful tool, have a endless ways which can be used, not only with guitars but almost any instrument with studio quality, you can use it to enhance or cut, in front of the amp or in the FX Loop, all this without adding color to your sound, let say you feel that your amp or od pedal sound is a bit muddy you can use the paraEQ to clean up in a very musical way, you feel that your PAF pickups are too low on output you can use the paraEQ to add some output, the paraeq is built with a transparent boost. Its very useful you will love it

 

[RedB4Black]

I own a BE-100 and an AX8. If you want the in-the-room feel, the Axe is a toy compared to the BE. I've been down the Fractal road many times, with various incarnations and no one will ever convince me otherwise. lol Though my AX8 into a 2/90/2 with a cab is pretty solid.

If you want for recording/low-volume playing at night, then get the Axe FX. I really do like the AX8, but I really only use it at low volumes late at night when it isn't feasible to crank up my tube amps.

 

[romanianreaper]

I own a BE-100 and an AX8. If you want the in-the-room feel, the Axe is a toy compared to the BE. I've been down the Fractal road many times, with various incarnations and no one will ever convince me otherwise. lol Though my AX8 into a 2/90/2 with a cab is pretty solid.

If you want for recording/low-volume playing at night, then get the Axe FX. I really do like the AX8, but I really only use it at low volumes late at night when it isn't feasible to crank up my tube amps.

There you go! That is kind of what my point was about which is "better". I love doing late night recordings and don't gig anymore so an Axe-Fx II works for me. Tone-wise, I'm a big fan of the Friedman sound and is the sound I always heard in my head growing up. Captures those great modded Marshall tones I always wanted.

 

[mniel8195]

Or wait and check out the new Synergy stuff. Looks amazing.

 

[MikeDV]

MantraSky, just that picture SOUNDS badass. Given an either/or choice, who could pick an Axe/FX over either one of those setups?