My Axe FX Ultra just arrived

[Zaman]

Look at this in general.
http://wiki.fractalaudio.com/index.php? ... ks_How_Tos

Look at this specifically for integrating with an (pre)amp.
http://wiki.fractalaudio.com/index.php? ... 8pre.29amp

Power amp/cab.
http://wiki.fractalaudio.com/index.php? ... er_cabinet

I do plan on doing my homework so thank you for the links. I know Rusty Cooley hated his Axe FX when he first got it then after tinkering with it for a while fell in love with it and swears by it now. I'll try to do the same and not just give up on it so easily.

 

[Zaman]

Cutting through the mix has to do with frequency only. The axe has more frequency range than the amps it models. If you're not cutting turn the knobs until you do.

That's true, but sometimes certain amps and/or signal processors are inherently incapable of achieving a decent level of that frequency in order to cut through a mix. I do think I need to get more familiar with the settings though before I pass judgment.

 

[university81]

modellers will take longer to dial in, the beauty of tube amp heads is that it usually saves you most of the hassle,

i just got a pod hd 500 this week, as a practice kind of rig into the return of a blackstar ht-5, after 3-4 days of tweaking and trying different things i'm almost there, with so many settings/Eqs and little tricks to fatten up your tone it can test your patience, but it also means a lot of playing =0

i'm suddenly adding a tiny bit of reverb , layering delays in the signal chain , mixing two different amps together, to fatten things up different pedals to different amps etc.., while fiddling i found out that the output mode set to 'stack front' sounded better in my setup then anything else, go figure, and don't get me started on eq

then i fire up my pedalboard/hiwatt setup and the tone is there with a few knob turns , the axe fx goes even deeper with tweaking possibilites, have fun =)

 

[rokker]

The Axe-FX IMO sounds best through a true Full Range Flat Response speaker like the FBT Verve 12ma.
It doesn't sound good through the FX loop of an amp to me. I have owned both the std and ultra and ran them through FX loops, power amps and FRFR. FRFR sounds way better as you get to use all the power of the unit, power amp modeling, cab modeling etc.
I think a lot of people would agree if they could A/B/C this setup that FRFR works best.

 

[ttosh]

I have ran an Axe FX through a Diezel head and through a Mesa and VHT power amp. To whoever said there is no difference they could not be further off of the truth. The Axe FX sounded so much punchier and fuller with the VHT and Mesa power amp than through the Diezel power section. And the Diezel power section is not a slouch IMHO.

As far as cutting I played the Axe in a band that the other guitarists played different amps, Cameron modified Aldrich Marshall, Elmwood M60 and the Axe FX kept up just fine in the mix. It lacked some of the dynamics I thought overall but if you spend some time with it I think you find better results than you have so far.

Does that mean you should keep it? Well that is up to you!!

 

[shred-o-holic]

I personally wouldn't judge the Axe-FX just by running it quickly through the effects loop of an amp. You can get it to sound good through anything eventually but to me it shines best thru a dedicated power amp or FRFR. I prefer still using mine feel wise with a power amp and speakers.....

 

[shred-o-holic]

I have ran an Axe FX through a Diezel head and through a Mesa and VHT power amp. To whoever said there is no difference they could not be further off of the truth. The Axe FX sounded so much punchier and fuller with the VHT and Mesa power amp than through the Diezel power section. And the Diezel power section is not a slouch IMHO.

I missed this before posting but.........exactly!!

 

[Red_Label]

I have ran an Axe FX through a Diezel head and through a Mesa and VHT power amp. To whoever said there is no difference they could not be further off of the truth. The Axe FX sounded so much punchier and fuller with the VHT and Mesa power amp than through the Diezel power section. And the Diezel power section is not a slouch IMHO.

I missed this before posting but.........exactly!!

Has anyone tried the Axe through a decent SS power amp? I'm curious because my Eleven rack prefers the Rocktron Velocity 300 SS power amp (2-space old style) to the VHT 2:50:2. So much punchier, clearer, more headroom, etc. I also have a friend who has an 11R (and used to have an Axe Standard) who prefers his through a SS power amp over his VHT 2:90:2. So I wondered if the Fractal preferrend one or the other (SS vs. tubes).

 

[shred-o-holic]

Has anyone tried the Axe through a decent SS power amp? I'm curious because my Eleven rack prefers the Rocktron Velocity 300 SS power amp (2-space old style) to the VHT 2:50:2. So much punchier, clearer, more headroom, etc. I also have a friend who has an 11R (and used to have an Axe Standard) who prefers his through a SS power amp over his VHT 2:90:2. So I wondered if the Fractal preferrend one or the other (SS vs. tubes).

Yep I use one of these SS Analog Randall's and prefer it over the Mesa 2:90 sitting at my house:

They are dirt cheap and not highly revered by many people on the internet. But they are warm, punchy, clear, etc. Tried the newer Rocktron Velocity 300 side by side and it still sounded and felt better to me.......

 

[RedB4Black]

I have a Carvin FET 1000 that I used with the Axe. Sounded great. Better than the newer Carvin DCM1540L that I had.

I heard a Carvn F1200 (the one Cliff uses) compared to a Marshall 9200 last sunday with the AXE on v11.0. I thought the Marshall sounded better.

 

[Red_Label]

Yep I use one of these SS Analog Randall's and prefer it over the Mesa 2:90 sitting at my house:

They are dirt cheap and not highly revered by many people on the internet. But they are warm, punchy, clear, etc. Tried the newer Rocktron Velocity 300 side by side and it still sounded and felt better to me.......

Roger.

From what I hear, the older style 2-space Velocities are much preferred over the new ones.

Interesting thing is that the new modelers seem to sound better when paired with a very clean, crisp, power amp instead of one loaded with tubes and bringing its own tube warmth and tone coloration to the mix. Must be because of the hi-fi nature of the modelers?

 

[shred-o-holic]

Yep I use one of these SS Analog Randall's and prefer it over the Mesa 2:90 sitting at my house:

They are dirt cheap and not highly revered by many people on the internet. But they are warm, punchy, clear, etc. Tried the newer Rocktron Velocity 300 side by side and it still sounded and felt better to me.......

Roger.

From what I hear, the older style 2-space Velocities are much preferred over the new ones.

Interesting thing is that the new modelers seem to sound better when paired with a very clean, crisp, power amp instead of one loaded with tubes and bringing its own tube warmth and tone coloration to the mix. Must be because of the hi-fi nature of the modelers?

Well it's definitely that way with the Mesa to me. I don't know about any other tube power amps........haven't tried any.....happy with my cheap ass Randall......

 

[shred-o-holic]

I have a Carvin FET 1000 that I used with the Axe. Sounded great. Better than the newer Carvin DCM1540L that I had.

I heard a Carvn F1200 (the one Cliff uses) compared to a Marshall 9200 last sunday with the AXE on v11.0. I thought the Marshall sounded better.

I used to have a 9200 back in the 90's.......sounded great but blew 2 PT's......heavy as hell too.....be interesting to try one.......but I don't like coloration.......

 

[Zaman]

Okay, I spent all freaking day playing with this Axe FX and, man, I did not know what the f* I was doing before lol. Now I have a pretty good grip of how to use it (still a lot to learn), but the tones I am getting out of this thing are freaking UNREAL!

First of all, the thinness was fixed by tweaking the virtual knobs just like moltenmetalburn said, but the trick is that you have to know exactly where, out of the several places where you can tweak the virtual knobs, to do it. Now I've got such a rich sound that I don't think the average person would ever guess that I wasn't playing through a boutique tube amp.

Second, I wasn't digging the sound through my Mesa Rectoverb as a poweramp, but after tweaking it, it sounds freaking GORGEOUS. I'm actually now wanting to find a poweramp that will sound EXACTLY as my Rectoverb's poweramp sounds. Would that be any Mesa 6L6 based power amp?

I gotta tell ya...I'm seriously thinking of selling off a LOT of gear because of this. This one unit replaces THOUSANDS of dollars worth of gear.

Some questions to those very familiar with it:

1) I love what the "Enhancer" does to the tone, but it does thin it out a bit. I noticed it has no "Level" or "Mix" control. Is there any way I can dial it down in the effects mix or is it all or nothing?

2) I notice a bit of buzz. How can I minimize this? I heard its a common problem for there to be buzz/hum when going through a head as the power amp and that there's a solution. I just don't know the solution.

I have a lot more questoins, but that'll do it for now. Thanks for all your input, guys. It really helped me tap into the beauty of this beast!

 

[roadifier]

Okay, I spent all freaking day playing with this Axe FX and, man, I did not know what the f* I was doing before lol. Now I have a pretty good grip of how to use it (still a lot to learn), but the tones I am getting out of this thing are freaking UNREAL!

First of all, the thinness was fixed by tweaking the virtual knobs just like moltenmetalburn said, but the trick is that you have to know exactly where, out of the several places where you can tweak the virtual knobs, to do it. Now I've got such a rich sound that I don't think the average person would ever guess that I wasn't playing through a boutique tube amp.

Second, I wasn't digging the sound through my Mesa Rectoverb as a poweramp, but after tweaking it, it sounds freaking GORGEOUS. I'm actually now wanting to find a poweramp that will sound EXACTLY as my Rectoverb's poweramp sounds. Would that be any Mesa 6L6 based power amp?

I gotta tell ya...I'm seriously thinking of selling off a LOT of gear because of this. This one unit replaces THOUSANDS of dollars worth of gear.

Some questions to those very familiar with it:

1) I love what the "Enhancer" does to the tone, but it does thin it out a bit. I noticed it has no "Level" or "Mix" control. Is there any way I can dial it down in the effects mix or is it all or nothing?

2) I notice a bit of buzz. How can I minimize this? I heard its a common problem for there to be buzz/hum when going through a head as the power amp and that there's a solution. I just don't know the solution.

I have a lot more questoins, but that'll do it for now. Thanks for all your input, guys. It really helped me tapped into the beauty of this beast!

buy a mesa 2:100 if you like the mesa power amp tone

 

[Mailman1971]

Sweet man!! Dont sell it down the River TOO QUICK....