So to all the Axe-FX owners, what's...

[ejecta]

yeah i dunno. we'll see.
i have read though that the gsp pretty much has crap factory presets and you need to make your own to make it sound better lol. i've found a few clips of it that sound pretty good.
not gonna be any time soon anyways though so who knows lol.

I did too. But I can't on the same token imagine guys spending $3000 for a single head that at best has two to three channels and that's it. Don't get me wrong...... live I much prefer tube amps so I'm by no means turned into a digital zealot but it's hard to deny the difference gap has closed to the point where the conveniences of some digital vs tube goodness have started to weigh close enough at least for me where they are almost equal for certain situations.

yeah - i'm keeping my marshall forever. unless i sell it for a different marshall lol.
but im wanting to get a good home recording set up.
i just found out from a co-worker im supposed to be getting a nice signing bonus though, so it may be more sooner than later now lol
"11R" - you mean you have one of those eleven rack units? i see those in catalogs alot, but i haven't seen too many people talk about them. sounds good live huh? cool.

IMHO the 11R seems running it FRFR to be more present in the room but sounds not as real as theAxe. The AxeFx when I compared the two sounded more real but not as present. I just got done messing with my Axe and was having alot of fun just jamming so that's what it's about. Fact is I can't crank a tube amp anymore so my "ideal" has shifted and the Axe does better at direct and at low volumes better than anything I've tried. If I could crank a tube amp that's the way I'd probably go but I will say it's nice to hear the full spectrum of my guitar tone even if it's a simulated "mic'd tone" and have the tone sound great. IHMO it's not like a cab pointing at my back side that is EQ'd to sound good while I'm standing but when I bend down and listen to whats pointed at the people.... it rips my head off.

 

[degenaro]

yeah i dunno. we'll see.
i have read though that the gsp pretty much has crap factory presets and you need to make your own to make it sound better lol. i've found a few clips of it that sound pretty good.
not gonna be any time soon anyways though so who knows lol.

I did too. But I can't on the same token imagine guys spending $3000 for a single head that at best has two to three channels and that's it. Don't get me wrong...... live I much prefer tube amps so I'm by no means turned into a digital zealot but it's hard to deny the difference gap has closed to the point where the conveniences of some digital vs tube goodness have started to weigh close enough at least for me where they are almost equal for certain situations.

yeah - i'm keeping my marshall forever. unless i sell it for a different marshall lol.
but im wanting to get a good home recording set up.
i just found out from a co-worker im supposed to be getting a nice signing bonus though, so it may be more sooner than later now lol
"11R" - you mean you have one of those eleven rack units? i see those in catalogs alot, but i haven't seen too many people talk about them. sounds good live huh? cool.

IMHO the 11R seems running it FRFR to be more present in the room but sounds not as real as theAxe. The AxeFx when I compared the two sounded more real but not as present. I just got done messing with my Axe and was having alot of fun just jamming so that's what it's about. Fact is I can't crank a tube amp anymore so my "ideal" has shifted and the Axe does better at direct and at low volumes better than anything I've tried. If I could crank a tube amp that's the way I'd probably go but I will say it's nice to hear the full spectrum of my guitar tone even if it's a simulated "mic'd tone" and have the tone sound great pointing at my back side and just to bend down and listen to whats pointed at the people and have it rip my head off.

I can totally relate...I still hve my old JMPs and Fender stuff, the 11R because I love the input impedance switch and especially the re-amp feature (to run the signal through the Axe or old amps) and my go to set up is the Axe...all this shit plays nicely together.

 

[Ventura]

Couple things, Fractal lets you try the unit out for 12 or 15 days from the time you get it... If you're not happy with it, you pay the shipping back and you get your money back. That was something that made me feel comfortable with it.

Secondly, and this is perhaps where I differ from the typical purchaser of the Axe-Ultra. I bought mine as an effects unit first and foremost. A 2U space rack that has - via testmony of many industry professional - rivaled that of Eventide and many others. This to me was a no brainer... Not to mention, it's got a LOT of effects and more downloadable every week it seems. So this was it, my new rack mount effects processor.

Then came the realization that hey, this thing DOES sound pretty incredible when using amp sims and the like. Hmmmmmmm, well, seeing as it's going to be in a rack with a Fryette 2/90/2, I betcha presence and depth on the Fryette will certainly assist in giving the Axe "more presence" when boiled through a tube poweramp.

And then finally came the realization that hey, DI to my Mac based DAW, I can hammer shit out all night long, all different tones AND cabs AND effects, and never once have to place a speaker "just so" in some contorted position with my Les Paul hanging off my neck... Believe me, I've done this enough times with the headphones wrapped around my neck, the guitar hanging off of me, watching the levels, getting the sound "just right", for the love of pete!! 2/3rd's of my time, mic placement, 1/3 playing

So, less than $3000 all in with a GCP, cables, and a rack ready to hold this puppy already loaded with a poweramp?? In!! But that's JUST my story, and honestly, I'm equally as stoked to hear what effects I can run my Mak4 and other amps through to get funky textures as I am the sound of hearing a vintage HiWatt through pre-rola greenbacks on "10" through my headphones.

It's all good.
V.

PS - and ya, this thing will go toe to toe with my Bogner 20thA perfectly dialed in - I'm expecting no contest, the 20thA to date has been sonic perfection to my ears, with incredible feel. I'm going into this thinking there's no way 1's and 0's are going to beat that. And then there's the Diezel...

 

[degenaro]

Couple things, Fractal lets you try the unit out for 12 or 15 days from the time you get it... If you're not happy with it, you pay the shipping back and you get your money back. That was something that made me feel comfortable with it.

Secondly, and this is perhaps where I differ from the typical purchaser of the Axe-Ultra. I bought mine as an effects unit first and foremost. A 2U space rack that has - via testmony of many industry professional - rivaled that of Eventide and many others. This to me was a no brainer... Not to mention, it's got a LOT of effects and more downloadable every week it seems. So this was it, my new rack mount effects processor.

Then came the realization that hey, this thing DOES sound pretty incredible when using amp sims and the like. Hmmmmmmm, well, seeing as it's going to be in a rack with a Fryette 2/90/2, I betcha presence and depth on the Fryette will certainly assist in giving the Axe "more presence" when boiled through a tube poweramp.

And then finally came the realization that hey, DI to my Mac based DAW, I can hammer shit out all night long, all different tones AND cabs AND effects, and never once have to place a speaker "just so" in some contorted position with my Les Paul hanging off my neck... Believe me, I've done this enough times with the headphones wrapped around my neck, the guitar hanging off of me, watching the levels, getting the sound "just right", for the love of pete!! 2/3rd's of my time, mic placement, 1/3 playing

So, less than $3000 all in with a GCP, cables, and a rack ready to hold this puppy already loaded with a poweramp?? In!! But that's JUST my story, and honestly, I'm equally as stoked to hear what effects I can run my Mak4 and other amps through to get funky textures as I am the sound of hearing a vintage HiWatt through pre-rola greenbacks on "10" through my headphones.

It's all good.
V.

PS - and ya, this thing will go toe to toe with my Bogner 20thA perfectly dialed in - I'm expecting no contest, the 20thA to date has been sonic perfection to my ears, with incredible feel. I'm going into this thinking there's no way 1's and 0's are going to beat that. And then there's the Diezel...

Your story is not so different from mine...
Got it out of curiosity...to run along side the Eventide Eclipse. First thing that happened...Eventide sold...
Then I did half the guitars of my last CD with it...
Then I started gigging with it a lot with the 4CM, then i stated switching or panning between loaded down heads and the Axe's sim. Then just the Axe into either power-amp/cab or power-amp/cab and DI.
Then just DI...

 

[blackba]

The lack of knobs is probably the ONLY thing that's kept me from pulling the trigger on an ULTRA.
I do keep finding myself at the Fractal site trying to figure out how to justify another 2K+ gear purchase to the wife though!

You are trying to justify one to the wife too, know the feeling. Right now a new A/C unit is winning.

 

[Ventura]

Couple things, Fractal lets you try the unit out for 12 or 15 days from the time you get it... If you're not happy with it, you pay the shipping back and you get your money back. That was something that made me feel comfortable with it.

Secondly, and this is perhaps where I differ from the typical purchaser of the Axe-Ultra. I bought mine as an effects unit first and foremost. A 2U space rack that has - via testmony of many industry professional - rivaled that of Eventide and many others. This to me was a no brainer... Not to mention, it's got a LOT of effects and more downloadable every week it seems. So this was it, my new rack mount effects processor.

Then came the realization that hey, this thing DOES sound pretty incredible when using amp sims and the like. Hmmmmmmm, well, seeing as it's going to be in a rack with a Fryette 2/90/2, I betcha presence and depth on the Fryette will certainly assist in giving the Axe "more presence" when boiled through a tube poweramp.

And then finally came the realization that hey, DI to my Mac based DAW, I can hammer shit out all night long, all different tones AND cabs AND effects, and never once have to place a speaker "just so" in some contorted position with my Les Paul hanging off my neck... Believe me, I've done this enough times with the headphones wrapped around my neck, the guitar hanging off of me, watching the levels, getting the sound "just right", for the love of pete!! 2/3rd's of my time, mic placement, 1/3 playing

So, less than $3000 all in with a GCP, cables, and a rack ready to hold this puppy already loaded with a poweramp?? In!! But that's JUST my story, and honestly, I'm equally as stoked to hear what effects I can run my Mak4 and other amps through to get funky textures as I am the sound of hearing a vintage HiWatt through pre-rola greenbacks on "10" through my headphones.

It's all good.
V.

PS - and ya, this thing will go toe to toe with my Bogner 20thA perfectly dialed in - I'm expecting no contest, the 20thA to date has been sonic perfection to my ears, with incredible feel. I'm going into this thinking there's no way 1's and 0's are going to beat that. And then there's the Diezel...

Your story is not so different from mine...
Got it out of curiosity...to run along side the Eventide Eclipse. First thing that happened...Eventide sold...
Then I did half the guitars of my last CD with it...
Then I started gigging with it a lot with the 4CM, then i stated switching or panning between loaded down heads and the Axe's sim. Then just the Axe into either power-amp/cab or power-amp/cab and DI.
Then just DI...

Just like that, the Eventide was sold eh?? Wow... I was thinking they'd be at least on par for a little while...looks like the Axe really is the biz. I guess we'll see - haven't checked the tracking number since Friday, but it was in customs at that time, so I have to be patient. So it goes.

Peace,
V.

 

[ejecta]

yeah i dunno. we'll see.
i have read though that the gsp pretty much has crap factory presets and you need to make your own to make it sound better lol. i've found a few clips of it that sound pretty good.
not gonna be any time soon anyways though so who knows lol.

I did too. But I can't on the same token imagine guys spending $3000 for a single head that at best has two to three channels and that's it. Don't get me wrong...... live I much prefer tube amps so I'm by no means turned into a digital zealot but it's hard to deny the difference gap has closed to the point where the conveniences of some digital vs tube goodness have started to weigh close enough at least for me where they are almost equal for certain situations.

yeah - i'm keeping my marshall forever. unless i sell it for a different marshall lol.
but im wanting to get a good home recording set up.
i just found out from a co-worker im supposed to be getting a nice signing bonus though, so it may be more sooner than later now lol
"11R" - you mean you have one of those eleven rack units? i see those in catalogs alot, but i haven't seen too many people talk about them. sounds good live huh? cool.

IMHO the 11R seems running it FRFR to be more present in the room but sounds not as real as theAxe. The AxeFx when I compared the two sounded more real but not as present. I just got done messing with my Axe and was having alot of fun just jamming so that's what it's about. Fact is I can't crank a tube amp anymore so my "ideal" has shifted and the Axe does better at direct and at low volumes better than anything I've tried. If I could crank a tube amp that's the way I'd probably go but I will say it's nice to hear the full spectrum of my guitar tone even if it's a simulated "mic'd tone" and have the tone sound great pointing at my back side and just to bend down and listen to whats pointed at the people and have it rip my head off.

I can totally relate...I still hve my old JMPs and Fender stuff, the 11R because I love the input impedance switch and especially the re-amp feature (to run the signal through the Axe or old amps) and my go to set up is the Axe...all this shit plays nicely together.

Yep it's just about the right tools for the right job. I can't crank an amp in my home or jam with buds in my home anymore and I don't plan on gigging anytime soon so it was a no brainer for me to go to a direct/ low volume solution. I chose the Axe mainly for it being a bit more what I was looking for tone wise and it holding it's value. A lot of very cool options for guitar players these days.

 

[fickle]

I have had my Axe for quite a few months now, and have been using it live every weekend. I have fun with it every time I fire it up and I like how everyday I figure out something new I like with it, but by no means would I ever sell my Marsha or Splawn modded plexi. But so far I have had a blast with the Axe and don't plan on unloading it anytime soon!

 

[Sacha]

Still love mine, one of the best gear purchases I ever made. It didn't replace my amps. I bought it as an FX unit first as some others seem to have, replaced an Eventide with it. Sounds just as good and WAY easier to program, and more variety and better quality for some FX as well (like pedal type things wah / OD etc.). The modelling was just cake for me but the more I dug into it the more I realized how awesome it is too. I still reamp for recordings and use an amp live but the Axe is killer!

 

[Ventura]

Question for those running this piece of equipment in the 4-wire mode (dual inputs with dual outputs to a poweramp)... Is good quality patch cabling the right way to go for this purpose?? I've used Evidence Monorail .155 with George L ends in my Mak4 rack rig thus far... I'm assuming 2 more of the same will be fine to patch the Axe-Ultra into the mix??

Thanks!!
V.

 

[Ventura]

PS....

YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY IT'S BEEN RELEASED FROM CUSTOMS!!!!!

Should be here this week, damn I'm stoked!!!

V.

 

[mixeduplydian]

The lack of knobs is probably the ONLY thing that's kept me from pulling the trigger on an ULTRA.
I do keep finding myself at the Fractal site trying to figure out how to justify another 2K+ gear purchase to the wife though!

You are trying to justify one to the wife too, know the feeling. Right now a new A/C unit is winning.

I hear ya man. We got new windows and a new garage in October... Now we're house shopping.
I guess I'll have to deal with the GAS pains for a little while longer.

Should be here this week, damn I'm stoked!!!

Awesome! I'll have to live vicariously through you for now!

 

[mentoneman]

PS....

YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY IT'S BEEN RELEASED FROM CUSTOMS!!!!!

Should be here this week, damn I'm stoked!!!

V.

stoked for you but it's just so weird that i'm simultaneously about to get my two rock this week after selling off my ultra-

parallel universe!

 

[Ventura]

PS....

YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY IT'S BEEN RELEASED FROM CUSTOMS!!!!!

Should be here this week, damn I'm stoked!!!

V.

stoked for you but it's just so weird that i'm simultaneously about to get my two rock this week after selling off my ultra-

parallel universe!

Yo Braddah, a Two Rock is sick. Put it this way, I've already got too many heavy hitters in my home and in my possession... I'm looking at the Axe as an effects unit, and maybe something that will sate my need to buy more "big amps". If someone offered me a Two Rock or the like for the same price as an Ultra?? Sorry man, I'd have taken the Two Rock without batting an eye.

I'm still an amp guy, no binary digi sim loving zealot. As mentioned, I'm going into this with the mindset that it's an effects module, not an amp replacement. Shit man, the number of amps still out there on my roster are too numerous to simply neglect. Two Rock, Fuchs, Cornford, and many others...

Have fun with your soon-to-be new amp!!

Mo

 

[mentoneman]

PS....

YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY IT'S BEEN RELEASED FROM CUSTOMS!!!!!

Should be here this week, damn I'm stoked!!!

V.

stoked for you but it's just so weird that i'm simultaneously about to get my two rock this week after selling off my ultra-

parallel universe!

Yo Braddah, a Two Rock is sick. Put it this way, I've already got too many heavy hitters in my home and in my possession... I'm looking at the Axe as an effects unit, and maybe something that will sate my need to buy more "big amps". If someone offered me a Two Rock or the like for the same price as an Ultra?? Sorry man, I'd have taken the Two Rock without batting an eye.

I'm still an amp guy, no binary digi sim loving zealot. As mentioned, I'm going into this with the mindset that it's an effects module, not an amp replacement. Shit man, the number of amps still out there on my roster are too numerous to simply neglect. Two Rock, Fuchs, Cornford, and many others...

Have fun with your soon-to-be new amp!!

Mo

tanks braddah-!
and i'm sure you will enjoy the ultra. i do miss the universe of sounds coming out of 2 spaces with a press of a button and simple FOH hookups.
http://gallery.me.com/mentoneman#100016/IMG_2212&bgcolor=black

i highly recommend the pcm 70 and tc 2290 emulations to inspect in regards to fx only mentality. and there is a tri stereo patch floating around that rocks.
my favorite obvious live use delay came from merging the vintage delay which sounds like a deluxe memory man, and the echoplex. so many atmospheres you can create. cellos, synths.....recording DI sounds great

 

[DeezDemos]

...your "to date" take on this wondrous little piece of techno wizardy? Just as stoked as the day ya got to plug into it? Is it growing into your daily lifestyle like a family member? Is it getting boring? How long have you had it and do you think it's overrated? Has it "truly taken over and made you sell all your gear"? Is it the bees knees or "flip this please"??

Just wondering...
Mo

Mine has replaced all of my amps & just keeps getting better & better!

Going on 6 Months or so Direct to FOH, & to an RCF 310a for stage monitoring........... Love It!

 

[robertkoa]

Ola, is that because you aren't running the Axefx through a tube power amp and cab? I wonder how it compares like that for enjoyment, just using it as a preamp....that Marsha clip recently was pretty close to the real thing...not quite as good to my ear, but same ball park definitely.
.

I ran it up against a Fish, X88, X99, CAE and a few others. (VHT, Soldano and Mesa power amps with Thieles loaded with EVMs and a few Scumback cabs) I liked all the original preamps more, but not by enough to matter to most. It's worth checking out though.

I wonder if anyone will do a Tube Preamps into Cab Impulses VS. Axe Fx into cab Impulses demo /shootout.

Or a Tube Preamp WITH Axe Fx Demo since they might be great together,( not one or the other).

And even the Axe Fx Vs. A Tube Preamp with the tube preamp going into the Axe Fx Cab Sims ( turning the "Amp Model" OFF and substituting the Tube Pre for it but keeping the rest of the Axe Fx signal chain intact).

The AXe Fx might be a great way to use a Guitar Tube Preamp live into a PA* ( adding FX, and of course Cab Impulses ) and some monstrous complex tones could probably be done with a Guitar Tube Pre in Parallel with the Axe or in it's loop somewhere ( might be too complicated for "Live Gigs", though ).

I'm impressed that Ed D and others have felt able to go "direct" at his live Gigs - and again for certain gigs where you need beefy , screaming tones without high SPLs ( sound pressure ) anywhere or more even coverage Axe Fx enables that.

*So far no one has a reliable way to download Cab Impulses and store them in a hardware device either, except Axe Fx, so to have your studio tones happening "live" at almost any volume is pretty amazing, without a sophisticated ,huge Rack of stuff.

So Axe seems like a very useful device for some people- I just wish it had about 5 more knobs, but it's on my Radar as something to check out.

I have done a JMP into impulses/Axe youtube joint....

As for impulses and hardware...talk to Shark Diver, he's doing that with the Two Tone, no?

Thanks Ed - very interesting - sounds extremely good* ! Theoretically you could go direct this way with similar results , right?
*Some very "Brown Sounding" Tele !-- even your dog was impressed, though he got a little bored after 50 seconds or so..........

 

[Doubleneck]

PS....

YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY IT'S BEEN RELEASED FROM CUSTOMS!!!!!

Should be here this week, damn I'm stoked!!!

V.

Congrats brotha, I want one of these soo bad!

 

[degenaro]

Ola, is that because you aren't running the Axefx through a tube power amp and cab? I wonder how it compares like that for enjoyment, just using it as a preamp....that Marsha clip recently was pretty close to the real thing...not quite as good to my ear, but same ball park definitely.
.

I ran it up against a Fish, X88, X99, CAE and a few others. (VHT, Soldano and Mesa power amps with Thieles loaded with EVMs and a few Scumback cabs) I liked all the original preamps more, but not by enough to matter to most. It's worth checking out though.

I wonder if anyone will do a Tube Preamps into Cab Impulses VS. Axe Fx into cab Impulses demo /shootout.

Or a Tube Preamp WITH Axe Fx Demo since they might be great together,( not one or the other).

And even the Axe Fx Vs. A Tube Preamp with the tube preamp going into the Axe Fx Cab Sims ( turning the "Amp Model" OFF and substituting the Tube Pre for it but keeping the rest of the Axe Fx signal chain intact).

The AXe Fx might be a great way to use a Guitar Tube Preamp live into a PA* ( adding FX, and of course Cab Impulses ) and some monstrous complex tones could probably be done with a Guitar Tube Pre in Parallel with the Axe or in it's loop somewhere ( might be too complicated for "Live Gigs", though ).

I'm impressed that Ed D and others have felt able to go "direct" at his live Gigs - and again for certain gigs where you need beefy , screaming tones without high SPLs ( sound pressure ) anywhere or more even coverage Axe Fx enables that.

*So far no one has a reliable way to download Cab Impulses and store them in a hardware device either, except Axe Fx, so to have your studio tones happening "live" at almost any volume is pretty amazing, without a sophisticated ,huge Rack of stuff.

So Axe seems like a very useful device for some people- I just wish it had about 5 more knobs, but it's on my Radar as something to check out.

I have done a JMP into impulses/Axe youtube joint....

As for impulses and hardware...talk to Shark Diver, he's doing that with the Two Tone, no?

Thanks Ed - very interesting - sounds extremely good* ! Theoretically you could go direct this way with similar results , right?
*Some very "Brown Sounding" Tele !-- even your dog was impressed, though he got a little bored after 50 seconds or so..........

You could and I have...go scroll through my youtube stuff for it
youtube.com/loudfunk

 

[jlbaxe]

Yo Braddah, a Two Rock is sick. Put it this way, I've already got too many heavy hitters in my home and in my possession... I'm looking at the Axe as an effects unit, and maybe something that will sate my need to buy more "big amps". If someone offered me a Two Rock or the like for the same price as an Ultra?? Sorry man, I'd have taken the Two Rock without batting an eye.

I'm still an amp guy, no binary digi sim loving zealot. As mentioned, I'm going into this with the mindset that it's an effects module, not an amp replacement. Shit man, the number of amps still out there on my roster are too numerous to simply neglect. Two Rock, Fuchs, Cornford, and many others…

Mo

They are all in there. The Axe help me push the Cameron mod'd Uber Rev Blue out the door. I had a list of amps I wanted also, ask Dan (Mailman1971). Hiwatt DG103, Orange AD30, Plexi, Fender, SLO100, etc. Nada not anymore. Been filling up the savings acct.

I'm still an amp guy, no binary digi sim loving zealot. As mentioned, I'm going into this with the mindset that it's an effects module, not an amp replacement.Mo

I fought it for 2 years, " I wont buy an Axe-Fx" "Not me" "Oh i am just going to get it for effects"

I hear ya