My AxeFx is having me consider selling my amps

  • Thread starter Thread starter gybe!
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Badronald":2xmu8wn2 said:
I'm sure I'll never own one, but it's cool that they are getting close to amps I suppose. Cool for home studio recording.

I'd just prefer not to simulate something. I prefer to have the real thing.
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Even when the simulated thing is sometimes "better"? Check out Ed's loaded down plexi vs axefx, tone was strikingly similar but the axefx has way less noise, didn't require a load box and is light as a feather in comparison.

I think we sometimes should remember that tube amps are just an electric circuit with some 1920s technology. They aren't some sort of mystical animal with magical powers, just a few resistors, caps and tubes wired together.
 
After beginning to get my feet wet in the recording aspect of music, I have come to the conclusion that clips are not way a good enough indicator to make a decision on an amp, at least in my opinion.

Its a bummer that you can't go somewhere to try out an Axe FX unless you know someone who has one.
 
Brick_top":3cwvn1c9 said:
TheMagicEight":3cwvn1c9 said:
Here's my favorite Rectifier clip:


You decide for yourself how close they sound. Me? I'll be sticking with tubes.
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I think you are probably going to understand what I'm going to say as blasphemy but..

I honestly don't see why that clip couldn't be successfully simulated with an Axe-Fx

or at least similar enough to fool most ears..

or.. maybe just another usable tone

I just posted these clips because of the other poster saying that he haven't heard good enough clips from the axe-fx.
I thought I posted my favourites, maybe he could like those.
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I think this clip - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MnA64V--PMg - is decent, but that's all. That's what I was comparing the clip I posted to, and IMO, the one I posted is light years ahead. I even asked my girlfriend - with no background in guitar - to check them both out, and she said with certainty the real deal sounded better. Now, you can't know that I didn't bias her one way or another, and she's only one person, but that right there is convincing enough to me that the model isn't close. And definitely worth mentioning is that I'm not looking for something to sound the same; I just would want the model to sound good. To me, the response is all messed up.

However, if you think it can be set up to fool most ears, I'd love to hear it! I'd really like to have something like the Axe for silent recording, but at this point - based on those clips (please, no offense) - it's still got a long way to go.
 
TheMagicEight":rk4t2wjb said:
I think this clip - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MnA64V--PMg - is decent, but that's all. That's what I was comparing the clip I posted to, and IMO, the one I posted is light years ahead. I even asked my girlfriend - with no background in guitar - to check them both out, and she said with certainty the real deal sounded better. Now, you can't know that I didn't bias her one way or another, and she's only one person, but that right there is convincing enough to me that the model isn't close. And definitely worth mentioning is that I'm not looking for something to sound the same; I just would want the model to sound good. To me, the response is all messed up.

However, if you think it can be set up to fool most ears, I'd love to hear it! I'd really like to have something like the Axe for silent recording, but at this point - based on those clips (please, no offense) - it's still got a long way to go.
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I didn't realize you were trying to compare the clip you posted to one that I had posted.

By reading your post I think there isn't much to argue about. You say you would just want the model to sound good and that the reponse is all messed up. But it sounds good to me.

But let me say I have never played a rectifier, so I guess I'm not qualified to say if the model sounds similar or not. I posted these clips as in "they are my favourites"

Are you really serious about the "light years ahead" comment? Are you able to define what you listen in that clip that you think is light years ahead?

About the comparison based on what my ears are telling me I do feel that someone could create a very similar tone to the one in the clip you posted. I'm sorry to say I'm not the guy who is going to do that.

You don't offend me :) But these clips are still my favourites
 
TheMagicEight":3geygtb7 said:
Axe:
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_songInfo.cfm?bandID=630564&songID=9082143
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MnA64V--PMg
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_songInfo.cfm?bandID=630564&songID=8506235

Real
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ks2wSCgFHYE&

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0esBY1m9-PM
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Maybe there is something I'm not able to listen to or feel.

All I can ear in all those clips is different tones

And if I may say, they don't sound like something that could not be reasonably simulated with the axe
 
Here is a comparison someone made:

The guy said:

It's not that I tried to copy one or the other with the sound but they turned out sounding pretty much alike.
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=76S3E-wEgYY

I guess if the guy tried hard enough it could be nearly undistinguishable in the clip.

But as it is the differences I ear are minute enough to make me not care much
 
I've never owned an Axe-Fx but I think that if you use a very good tube poweramp with it, you can sound as good as any full tube amps.
Solid state Preamps will be the key of the tone in a few years.
Power tube amps will always remain.
Just look at Megadeth.. they're now playing with a Digitech GSP1101 preamp powered by a Huge Marshall EL34 100watts tube amp
And for those who think it's too complicated to tweak, I think that anyone can upload tweaked presets on an axe-fx and sound badass..
I wouldn't try to tweak my self.. I'd just upload some presets from Big Studio Producers or users like MarkD or now Steve Vai who's using it.
Or Zappa.. etc..
My 2 cents
 
wizardy":1r1adf3k said:
Just look at Megadeth.. they're now playing with a Digitech GSP1101 preamp powered by a Huge Marshall EL34 100watts tube amp
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Not trying to be funny but I thought Megadeth were using Axe-Fxs now.

I really would love to get an Axe-Fx but I'm not much of a tweaker and I think the tone chasing would drive me insane. I'm sure you can get ok sounds from it, but I get the impression I would have to tweak things I know nothing about. I have been playing guitar since 1985 and when I hear people talk about some of the tweaks, I think I would end up being confused. They are parts of the chain I've never had to think about because they happen naturally (speaker air, etc.).
 
manyaxes":3gx5pae6 said:
Badronald":3gx5pae6 said:
I'm sure I'll never own one, but it's cool that they are getting close to amps I suppose. Cool for home studio recording.

I'd just prefer not to simulate something. I prefer to have the real thing.
Click to expand...

Even when the simulated thing is sometimes "better"? Check out Ed's loaded down plexi vs axefx, tone was strikingly similar but the axefx has way less noise, didn't require a load box and is light as a feather in comparison.

I think we sometimes should remember that tube amps are just an electric circuit with some 1920s technology. They aren't some sort of mystical animal with magical powers, just a few resistors, caps and tubes wired together.
Click to expand...

Nothing sounds "better" than my Plexi. Only different. :salute:
 
romanianreaper":2uuv0k8n said:
wizardy":2uuv0k8n said:
Just look at Megadeth.. they're now playing with a Digitech GSP1101 preamp powered by a Huge Marshall EL34 100watts tube amp
Click to expand...

Not trying to be funny but I thought Megadeth were using Axe-Fxs now.

I really would love to get an Axe-Fx but I'm not much of a tweaker and I think the tone chasing would drive me insane. I'm sure you can get ok sounds from it, but I get the impression I would have to tweak things I know nothing about. I have been playing guitar since 1985 and when I hear people talk about some of the tweaks, I think I would end up being confused. They are parts of the chain I've never had to think about because they happen naturally (speaker air, etc.).
Click to expand...
They were using the Digitech for awhile, now they are using the axe.
 
spawnofthesith":6a9qj9s6 said:
This guy has the best sounding Axe FX clips I have heard
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That is the best I have ever heard on the Axe FX .......period!
But Mark is an animal!! :rock:
 
Solid state Preamps will be the key of the tone in a few years.
Click to expand...

In the future I'm seeing a device that is universal for which I buy amp and effect models off the various manufacturers to load into that device. Maybe its the Axe Mark II or maybe someone else will do it...who knows.

Maybe I am completely wrong!

Reading through this discussion reminds me of the film v digital camera argument a few years back......all I know is I'm gassing pretty bad for an AxeFX.....
 
Brick_top":oik9p1we said:
I didn't realize you were trying to compare the clip you posted to one that I had posted.

By reading your post I think there isn't much to argue about. You say you would just want the model to sound good and that the reponse is all messed up. But it sounds good to me.

But let me say I have never played a rectifier, so I guess I'm not qualified to say if the model sounds similar or not. I posted these clips as in "they are my favourites"

Are you really serious about the "light years ahead" comment? Are you able to define what you listen in that clip that you think is light years ahead?

About the comparison based on what my ears are telling me I do feel that someone could create a very similar tone to the one in the clip you posted. I'm sorry to say I'm not the guy who is going to do that.

You don't offend me :) But these clips are still my favourites
Click to expand...
Let me preface what I'm about to write by saying these Axe clips - and more so, the ones by Mark Day - sound better than many of the clips of tube amps I've heard from youtube or other sites for gear. Honestly, the ones by Mark Day sound great. I don't like writing that because after working in IT with computers for years I have a pretty strong bias against digital. Alas, there it is.

After letting it sit in my head for the day, I think I know what I'm hearing that I don't like, and I'll do my best to describe it in words. I think it's an issue of transparency, where a great tube amp will allow a person listening to hear the music better while the great Axe clip has them noticing the amp more. These are very subtle differences we're talking about, but my immovable opinion stems from this: even though the difference between modeled and real may become too small to be detected when analyzed, there still may be a difference in subconscious perception, and my gut reaction is that for guitar tones, analog will always fare better than digital. Wouldn't surprise me if many saw my stance as impractical, stubborn, or even downright dumb, but that's okay; I'd rather stick with tubes and know with certainty that nothing is being lost in between the lines, than go with digital and always wonder. Am I reading too far into it yet?

And to confide with you, the Axe clips from Mark Day are definitely not light years behind, as I previously stated. There's something in the top end that is too prominent for me - too stiff for what I'd want - but it still sounds excellent. I do seem to feel that the more I listen to the digital clips though, the less I like them, where the opposite is true of tubes. I really wish there was some sort of blind test so I could know if I'm just BSing myself though.
 
Brick_top":go8kbpm7 said:
Here is a comparison someone made:

The guy said:

It's not that I tried to copy one or the other with the sound but they turned out sounding pretty much alike.
Click to expand...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=76S3E-wEgYY

I guess if the guy tried hard enough it could be nearly undistinguishable in the clip.

But as it is the differences I ear are minute enough to make me not care much
Click to expand...

You know....I love this kids clips, but it is hard to tell, because he is playing over the original track...not a backing track, and his levels are close to the original...Kinda tricks your ears....wish he woulda left the damn artist track off and cut between the Recto and the Axe. :gethim:
 
crwnedblasphemy":5m3io6hj said:
You know....I love this kids clips, but it is hard to tell, because he is playing over the original track...not a backing track, and his levels are close to the original...Kinda tricks your ears....wish he woulda left the damn artist track off and cut between the Recto and the Axe. :gethim:
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It seems many are thinking that there is a lot going on in there. Here is what he said about people commenting on that:

Don't know what you guys mean about layering but the video recorded guitars are the only ones you hear in the clip.
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http://acapella.harmony-central.com/showpost.php?p=39877733&postcount=67
 
TheMagicEight":17ezpb2l said:
Let me preface what I'm about to write by saying these Axe clips - and more so, the ones by Mark Day - sound better than many of the clips of tube amps I've heard from youtube or other sites for gear. Honestly, the ones by Mark Day sound great. I don't like writing that because after working in IT with computers for years I have a pretty strong bias against digital. Alas, there it is.
Click to expand...
There are a lot of crappy clips both with the axe and tube amps. It's easy to make something sound bad, especially in youtube. In my mind the clips I posted sound pretty good, to my ears they are my favourites. I'm no expert in tube amps as I only had one in my life and played some others occasionally. In my opinion the tones I posted sound on par with anything I have listened to in all of my life being it recorded with tube amps or not that I considered "good tone", they sound to me like they could have been created with some "monster rig" some artist would use to create a great tone in a famous album, maybe I'm blessed by being happy with axe-fx tones.

After letting it sit in my head for the day, I think I know what I'm hearing that I don't like, and I'll do my best to describe it in words. I think it's an issue of transparency, where a great tube amp will allow a person listening to hear the music better while the great Axe clip has them noticing the amp more. These are very subtle differences we're talking about, but my immovable opinion stems from this: even though the difference between modeled and real may become too small to be detected when analyzed, there still may be a difference in subconscious perception, and my gut reaction is that for guitar tones, analog will always fare better than digital. Wouldn't surprise me if many saw my stance as impractical, stubborn, or even downright dumb, but that's okay; I'd rather stick with tubes and know with certainty that nothing is being lost in between the lines, than go with digital and always wonder. Am I reading too far into it yet?
Click to expand...

Well then if you are able to get the gear that sounds right to you, just use it, I don't think there's much to say about it.

And to confide with you, the Axe clips from Mark Day are definitely not light years behind, as I previously stated. There's something in the top end that is too prominent for me - too stiff for what I'd want - but it still sounds excellent. I do seem to feel that the more I listen to the digital clips though, the less I like them, where the opposite is true of tubes. I really wish there was some sort of blind test so I could know if I'm just BSing myself though.
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This just shows how different people can experience this things, most people in here see mark day's clips as being the best, and although I do think they sound very good (that's why I posted one in my list) I don't see them as my top favourite.

It would be fun if people could exchange ears like headphones. Now I'm getting obssessed with what I may not be able to feel :aww:
 
Brick_top":1sbk2505 said:
It would be fun if people could exchange ears like headphones. Now I'm getting obssessed with what I may not be able to feel :aww:
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Agreed 1000 times over!!!

Although, I think most of what we listen to is simply a matter of perception.
 
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