New Axe-FX Ultra Owner...HELP!!!

[DeezDemos]

So after two years of reading all the threads/debates, watching all the videos, & listening to a multitude of clips, I finally broke down and ordered an Axe-FX Ultra. I've only had it for a few days, and so far, I can't really hear much of a difference between the Ultra & my BOSS GT-10...

I'll be the first to admit that I am clueless when it comes to editing equipment like this, so based off the presets in both units, I don't hear a lot of difference. So far, I've ran the Axe-FX direct into my studio monitors, direct into a FRFR Monitor, and as a preamp through a Mesa 50/50 power amp & Bogner OS 2x12 cab. I followed the directions in the owner's manual for each application, and have yet to dial in a tone that is much better than the GT-10 and neither are remotely close to sounding like my real tube amps for live use. (Diezel Einstein/Herbert, Boger Shiva, Mesa Boogie Triaxis, etc.)

I'm not trying to diss the Axe or anything, I'm just hoping that maybe some of you Ultra owner's that know the ins & outs of this thing might be able to give me some pointers. FWIW, I love the GT-10 for what it is, & the only reason I'm using that as a comparison is because it's the only modelling type processor that I own or have any experience with. The Axe-FX sounds good, I just don't know if it sounds 4x the price of the BOSS good..............I'm also wondering now if so many years of playing traditional tube amps and my ears being too used to listening to an actual guitar cab have ruined me for ever being able to appreciate any type of modelling no matter how good it is.

I'd also like to clarify that it's not about the price, or buyer's remorse or anything like that. I plan on keeping the unit regardless. I'd just like to be as satisfied and ecstatic about this piece of equipment as so many of you seem to be.

Thanks,
-d

 

[thiswaythatway]

Can't you download some patches from the Fractal site? Maybe that will show you what you're doing wrong.....that is if you are doing anything wrong or overlooking something. Don't you have to adjust the cabinet air setting?

 

[dpeterson]

clear out a patch (put all shunts), put an amp and a cab block. get that going, then add to it. try all the cabs before you get into custom ir's. tweak with your ears not your eyes. daily i'm coming up with new patches or tweaking my old ones.

Dave

 

[The_Kid]

i come from your same background. GT 3/8/10....then the axe fx. I could hear immediate improvement in the tones stock amp cab style....I could always hear a cocked wah sound in the GT that I could dial out, but would need, two EQs, while running a Harmonic Converger in the loop, and even then there were only 5 preamps that seemed very usable at all. and I tried running direct (best results), into a VHT 2/50/2 > cab. Still had the same issues....for its price, its not bad. But I'd much rather not have to use up, the EQ block, FX 1/2 block just to make the preamps usable.

I also tried clean preamps with drive pedals to compensate for the cocked wah issue with the preamps and couldnt deal with it. It completely complicated the unit to the point that getting proper lead boosts or changes became a hassle with the 8 assigns they had.

I've had mine for about a month and a half. I'm really digging my tones. I got usable tones for my show (only had week and a half to get stuff programmed), but have trashed those tones and rebuilt 3 times. each time getting a better and better grasp of the pre/post amp variables. There are tons more variables, tons more possibilities, so you have to expect more time than you spent on the GT to get the tones you hear.

I suggest, going up to the last patch, should be the completely empty one...copy that to patches 300-310. Go into those patches and just create some simple amp/cab type scenarios. Save the patches as the general tone name you were going for. I started with cleans and moved towards medium gain. Take a simple stock cab on each patch, I used the 4x12 brit, with a 57 mic on it. And just play....

 

[DeezDemos]

clear out a patch (put all shunts), put an amp and a cab block. get that going, then add to it. try all the cabs before you get into custom ir's. tweak with your ears not your eyes. daily i'm coming up with new patches or tweaking my old ones.

Dave

i come from your same background. GT 3/8/10....then the axe fx. I could hear immediate improvement in the tones stock amp cab style....I could always hear a cocked wah sound in the GT that I could dial out, but would need, two EQs, while running a Harmonic Converger in the loop, and even then there were only 5 preamps that seemed very usable at all. and I tried running direct (best results), into a VHT 2/50/2 > cab. Still had the same issues....for its price, its not bad. But I'd much rather not have to use up, the EQ block, FX 1/2 block just to make the preamps usable.

I also tried clean preamps with drive pedals to compensate for the cocked wah issue with the preamps and couldnt deal with it. It completely complicated the unit to the point that getting proper lead boosts or changes became a hassle with the 8 assigns they had.

I've had mine for about a month and a half. I'm really digging my tones. I got usable tones for my show (only had week and a half to get stuff programmed), but have trashed those tones and rebuilt 3 times. each time getting a better and better grasp of the pre/post amp variables. There are tons more variables, tons more possibilities, so you have to expect more time than you spent on the GT to get the tones you hear.

I suggest, going up to the last patch, should be the completely empty one...copy that to patches 300-310. Go into those patches and just create some simple amp/cab type scenarios. Save the patches as the general tone name you were going for. I started with cleans and moved towards medium gain. Take a simple stock cab on each patch, I used the 4x12 brit, with a 57 mic on it. And just play....

Thanks for the tips! I've got a few patches sounding really good now. I doubt this unit will ever replace my live rig, but boy does it kick ass for recording & is a ton of fun to mess around with!

 

[Tone Zone]

I sent mine back. I ended up spending more time playing with it than actually playing guitar.

 

[jcj]

clear out a patch (put all shunts), put an amp and a cab block. get that going, then add to it. try all the cabs before you get into custom ir's. tweak with your ears not your eyes. daily i'm coming up with new patches or tweaking my old ones.

Dave

i come from your same background. GT 3/8/10....then the axe fx. I could hear immediate improvement in the tones stock amp cab style....I could always hear a cocked wah sound in the GT that I could dial out, but would need, two EQs, while running a Harmonic Converger in the loop, and even then there were only 5 preamps that seemed very usable at all. and I tried running direct (best results), into a VHT 2/50/2 > cab. Still had the same issues....for its price, its not bad. But I'd much rather not have to use up, the EQ block, FX 1/2 block just to make the preamps usable.

I also tried clean preamps with drive pedals to compensate for the cocked wah issue with the preamps and couldnt deal with it. It completely complicated the unit to the point that getting proper lead boosts or changes became a hassle with the 8 assigns they had.

I've had mine for about a month and a half. I'm really digging my tones. I got usable tones for my show (only had week and a half to get stuff programmed), but have trashed those tones and rebuilt 3 times. each time getting a better and better grasp of the pre/post amp variables. There are tons more variables, tons more possibilities, so you have to expect more time than you spent on the GT to get the tones you hear.

I suggest, going up to the last patch, should be the completely empty one...copy that to patches 300-310. Go into those patches and just create some simple amp/cab type scenarios. Save the patches as the general tone name you were going for. I started with cleans and moved towards medium gain. Take a simple stock cab on each patch, I used the 4x12 brit, with a 57 mic on it. And just play....

Thanks for the tips! I've got a few patches sounding really good now. I doubt this unit will ever replace my live rig, but boy does it kick ass for recording & is a ton of fun to mess around with!

Another thing that made a big difference for me was messing with the bias and B+ settings.

Really changes things up.

 

[steve_k]

I sent mine back. I ended up spending more time playing with it than actually playing guitar.