So I stole TM's AXE FX 2 for 24 hours...

[petethorn]

I just didn't think they were mindbending. In other words, I don't think the hype is justified.

Same could be said about the hype and clips of the CCV.

I guess. I just think that all the people rushing to unload their Standards and Ultras are nuts. They just don't sound that different, especially from the clips I've heard from the v.11 update. Why bother?

I actually agree. I still have my standard and it will stay. I will get the 2 at some point.... not for the reason that I hear some huge tonal difference based on clips because I don't hear that much change but that can completely change in person. Also 2 addresses some of the hardware features I thought were lacking on the current ones.

I'm waiting for someone to record a real tube amp, with a video showing a Axe FX II... and for people to talk about how they can 'hear the 1s and 0s' in the fake tone. There are a lot of people who want any modelling clip to fail, and will rail one mercilessly but make excuses for a tube amp recording.

BTW, before I get accused of being a modelling fanboy, I have several really nice tube amps and some nice modelling amps. They are just tools - I think some people get too bent out of shape in either direction.

The other Pete

+10000000000

Hey I agree to some degree as well! I love my Ultras. They rock. Actually if I was Fractal, I'd still offer the Standard, and sell the Axe 2 as the new "Ultra", but that's just me. The new box has alot of cool features though, the usb is huge to me (so I can use the editor and foot controller at the same time), as is the ethernet port for the foot controller, etc. Cool functional stuff.

 

[lester]

Those mid gain tones are the most revealing. Thanks Pete for putting them up, we needed a reality check. The issues I'm seeing are: 1-compression 2-depth of tone and 3-odd/strange frequencies.

 

[Badronald]

Not saying that Pete was posting the end all tones but until you all with golden ears consistently post clips that kill this with your holy grail amps I'll quote our fellow forumite Vrad.... I put an "*" with your opinion.

I will also say I don't hear huge leap from the original AxeFX's and this one. The difference may come in player interaction so I will leave that part until I play one.

Also Pete said he thought he was getting tones that "sound really good"..... so are you guys saying Pete has shitty taste or tin ears?

I don't think that's really fair to say at all. Most everyone has been polite, even if they didn't dig the tones. Just because you don't like something doesn't mean you have to immediately produce clips that kill it. I didn't like the tones either, and I didn't think they sounded any better than the original does/did. That being said, Pete's an excellent player, and I appreciate his efforts in posting vids when he doesn't

It seems as soon as the Axe-FX isn't someone's particular cup of tea, the fanboys quickly start with the "golden ear" or "cork sniffer" accusations, which isn't right.
I think Lamborghinis are ugly cars. Does that mean I need to immediately show pictures of my McLaren?

Please. Don't apply logic to this discussion.

 

[ejecta]

Hey I agree to some degree as well! I love my Ultras. They rock. Actually if I was Fractal, I'd still offer the Standard, and sell the Axe 2 as the new "Ultra", but that's just me. The new box has alot of cool features though, the usb is huge to me (so I can use the editor and foot controller at the same time), as is the ethernet port for the foot controller, etc. Cool functional stuff.

That's actually a good idea..... or they could make the old Ultra the low cost standard.

Yeah the USB is huge for me as well. Makes recording, using the editor, and being able to use my foot controller at the same time possible.

 

[irondeth21]

I'm not really interested in any modeling gear, but that sounded great.

oh and Black Shuck!

 

[Clawfinger]

Hey I agree to some degree as well! I love my Ultras. They rock. Actually if I was Fractal, I'd still offer the Standard, and sell the Axe 2 as the new "Ultra", but that's just me. The new box has alot of cool features though, the usb is huge to me (so I can use the editor and foot controller at the same time), as is the ethernet port for the foot controller, etc. Cool functional stuff.

Hey Pete, that was awesome as usual. Great to hear the dynamics of the AFX2. Looks like Cliff made a good job.

Then again, I'd love to have you sitting at a party noodling around after a couple of beers, taking requests for that "sing-a-long" fun that we old musicians love.

 

[petethorn]

Hey I agree to some degree as well! I love my Ultras. They rock. Actually if I was Fractal, I'd still offer the Standard, and sell the Axe 2 as the new "Ultra", but that's just me. The new box has alot of cool features though, the usb is huge to me (so I can use the editor and foot controller at the same time), as is the ethernet port for the foot controller, etc. Cool functional stuff.

That's actually a good idea..... or they could make the old Ultra the low cost standard.

Yeah the USB is huge for me as well. Makes recording, using the editor, and being able to use my foot controller at the same time possible.

yes exactly! And the ethernet/cat5 cable thing is killer too, you can get them anywhere and for cheap, unlike midi cables....

 

[duodecim]

I liked the clean clips. Not much into the mid gain stuff though. Sounded kind of mid heavy and kind of dirty....like it was artificially dirtied up to be dirtier than it should.

When I was a kid, my dad always used to listen to soccer results from this little, old, battery-operated, one-speaker mono radio. It had no (or highly compressed) bass and little treble to speak of, it could only produce sounds with some weird mids, heavy compression and some slight distortion. Some high(er) gain AxeFX clips sound as if someone tries to play Metallica's Black Album through this radio. I'm not saying recordings of "real" amps can't have these properties or that I couldn't be fooled to take the AxeFX as a real amp – it sounds pretty real, I just don't like most (high gain) sounds I've heard so far. It just doesn't sound like an amp I'd want to buy.

The clean clips sound great and the playing is obviously suburb. I'm always grateful to anyone who goes through the trouble of recording clips for us to hear.

 

[duodecim]

Hey I agree to some degree as well! I love my Ultras. They rock. Actually if I was Fractal, I'd still offer the Standard, and sell the Axe 2 as the new "Ultra", but that's just me. The new box has alot of cool features though, the usb is huge to me (so I can use the editor and foot controller at the same time), as is the ethernet port for the foot controller, etc. Cool functional stuff.

Does stressing the functional aspect of the AxeFX II signify there really isn't that much difference to be heard at this point?

 

[Chubtone]

Pete posted this on another forum and I think he makes a very very good point.

With all due respect to the guys who think things are too bright, I think that alot of guys just don't realize how bright and edgy alot of what we consider "classic" tones really are. I GO for bright tones because you need that high end, IMO, to cut through a band and a mix. EVH, Pete Townsend, alot of Page, the tones are BRIGHT brash and snotty. Not really that pleasant to listen to on their own but in a mix they are just right.

I learned this when I put an Ecstacy blue channel up against a 67 plexi in the studio. I finally got what all the fuss was about- the plexi was like a wild horse, bordering on out of control- whereas the Bogner, while a nice sounding amp and fun to play through, coming out of a Bogner 2-12" sounded "like an already recorded guitar tone, coming out of studio monitors".

If it's too pretty, it ain't going to move you and cut through like the classic tones we all know and love did.

I had this EXACT same experience with my old Bogner Ecstacy 100B and a '68 plexi. I am now a Super Lead kind of guy.

 

[petethorn]

Hey I agree to some degree as well! I love my Ultras. They rock. Actually if I was Fractal, I'd still offer the Standard, and sell the Axe 2 as the new "Ultra", but that's just me. The new box has alot of cool features though, the usb is huge to me (so I can use the editor and foot controller at the same time), as is the ethernet port for the foot controller, etc. Cool functional stuff.

Does stressing the functional aspect of the AxeFX II signify there really isn't that much difference to be heard at this point?

Honest answer- I didn't have enough time to make a judgement. for that (and you guys know I'm anal about this crap) I'd set u both my ultra and the Axe 2 with identical amp models and settings, and I'd split into both of them via an a/b box, play through em both at the same time and record both onto 2 stereo tracks. Then bounce out the clips at the exact same level and we'd see what's what.

I just plugged in, dialed up some sounds that I liked and recorded (and videoed). No time to compare!


It's been awhile since I've even used the models in my Ultra, as I've either been touring and using my racked Ultra for efx only (and for this it is STELLAR, I don't care what anyone says it's a world class efx processor that I have not even begun to scratch the surface of)- or I've been at home finishing my album and trying to knock out gear demos that are piling up (pedals, mainly). I will be programming my 2nd Ultra HARD over the next couple weeks though- I'm taking it out for summer dates with Melissa Etheridge, and running it Ty Tabor style (d.i. with sims and also to a power amp and cabs).

i really enjoyed the Wrecker, and the Buttery amp, and listening back i think the Plexi sounds really cool too. And the clean stuff. Ya I maybe could have dialed back the gain on the Hiwatt and top end a bit too, it's a bit gnarly with the Tele (a VERY full-range sounding axe, lots of top end zing, it's swamp ash and a bright, full pickup but I love that about it). I like the BE too. The 1987x I intentionally made a bit saggy/squishy, as that's really what they sound like to me, they don't hold together like a 100 watt amp.

 

[thiswaythatway]

I just didn't think they were mindbending. In other words, I don't think the hype is justified.

Same could be said about the hype and clips of the CCV. That said.... I personally give more weight to a person who is a professional recording musician than any self proclaimed tone guru pontificating tone based on youtube clips..... and yes I'm talking about myself as one of those pontificators as well.

Well the difference is that when people pay for a CCV now they know they're going to get one. It used to be a huge gamble going after one so the excitement that many men feel is understandable now.

 

[Red_Label]

Pete... thanks for posting your clips. They're always great. And more than anything, they prove [to me] that no matter what you're playing through, it always sounds great. But I'm a bit "funny" in that I'm not always trying to pick apart everything everyone posts on the internet. If it sounds GOOD, then it IS good. Especially in the case where a quick "sketch" was made just to give people some ideas of what a piece of gear is capable of (but certainly not everything it's capable of).

Honestly, it's why I have yet to post clips of some of my gear and/or playing. I just have NO interest in going to the trouble of getting a perfect take, good mic placement, recorded tone, mix, etc... only to have a bunch of internet personalities pontificate and pick every little thing apart and make me wonder why I even bothered. So I salute you guys who do go to the trouble and on the occasion that a piece of gear or someone's playing doesn't impress me (none of which happens with your vids), I try to just keep it to myself. If I don't have something good to say about a forum member's contribution, I just don't say anything.

So... thanks again.