Tell Me about AXE FX II Post your rig

[supersonic]

To get the most out of the Axe for live use you need to spend as much if not more than a top end valve rig. At the end of the day the Axe falls short in things like rolling your guitar volume down and overall Mojo. They are great but do not hang with a great valve amp. I can not put my finger on it but there is something missing with the Axe II where the amp does not feel like an extension of yourself as it does with a good valve amp. My playing actually took a downward spiral in the time I was trying to make the Axe II work for me.

 

[Mizati20]

Here's my current setup... didn't take the picture specifically for this thread so sorry it's not "all" there but I'll break it down...

Axe FX II (running FW14)
Matrix GT800 Poweramp
Line 6 G90 Wireless
Furman Power
Rack Drawer

I run this into an Orange 4x12 with Celestion V30's and control everything with an FCB1010

I've been back and forth between tubes and the digital stuff more times than I care to think about... specifically between the Axe and the VH-4, which is my favorite tube head and every time I got sick of the Axe is the head I wanted back...

But I can honestly say, it had been a long while since I had owned another Axe II... I was just grabbing standards and ultras to use for live use as I've always been able to make them work for me in the past for just live use with a poweramp/cab...

But god damn, with the new firmware for the Axe II I can safely say I'll never go back... it's unreal... can get every tone I've ever wanted and I am even able to recreate some synth type stuff from our EP into our live set... with the two expression pedals on the FCB the options really are limitless

As far as price goes... not including the cab and wireless I got the Axe and the power amp for $2300... found a used FCB1010 for 70 bucks... could gig with that all day long, the Furman and Wireless are just conveniences... that's much less than what I was spending on tube heads and my options of sound are exponentially greater...

Good luck with your rig brother!

 

[Splinterhead]

I started with the Standard for recording use only. In that application for direct recording I feel that the AXE is pretty much peerless.
I picked up an AXEII and paired it up with my 2:90 and the results have been good. I used to use a Triaxis live but was having a hell of a time getting the sound I was looking for. With the AXE I feel that with all the parameters and amps on board i can get closer to my elusive tone. For me the AXE does take a bit of work as far as overall tweakage. The effects are brilliant and the routing options are pretty much mind boggling. I love mine, I don't think I'd sell it. I think that I'll end up selling my 2:90 for something lighter. Man that thing is HEAVY!

 

[lester]

I'm using the Axe II at home for low volume stuff, recording, whatever...it's great. Sometimes I use it just for the IR's and effects with an amp, kind of like the Two Notes unit(I'm using a Palmer PDI-03 for load/line out).
I also like using it with my 2/50/2 with two 412 cabs...great.
I have a pair of CLR's and those are fun too. And lastly, for the fuck of it, I'll throw a sub in the mix with the CLR's for a bass rig.
It kinda gets around for me and if I could work it in as an effects only thing, in a loop, that'd be alright too.

*I really like, like Reza pointed out, the way Meshuggah use them with Cubase for program changes.

 

[steve_k]

OK I see so many guys these days throwing out their killer tube heads for one of these it defiantly intrigues me. Whats the cheapest way into a solid but affordable AXE FX rig. power amp suggestions, do you use a cab or a stage moniter, I guess the expensive footswitch is a must too? Also is it really worth leaving my precious tube amps I mean does it really bring all the mojo and feel of a real tube amp or is it going to leave me wanting in that department? Any info would be much appriciated thanks

Where people fuck up is to sell all their amps to buy an Axe rig, only to find out they can't gel with it. My advice is find a way to get an Axe Mark I or II, just to try it out and see if it interests you. I play more sitting at home with headphones on than I ever did worrying about the neighbors and raising the roof in the house. You need to approach the Axe with patience and get your hands around how it works and how to make it work for you. It took me 3 stabs at it, but I wouldn't go back to fucking with tube amps, pedalboards, noisy cables, and all that for it. Yeah, it's a bit of a trade off on feel, depending on what you are playing, but 99% of the audience, if you are playing live won't be able to tell. One good thing about the Axe II is the routing capabilities and the convenience of it. I use 3 different presets with several scenes programmed in it for FX. I made mine from scratch and voiced them how I wanted them. If you set out to see if "x" sounds like "y" amp, you are fucked from the start. Anyway, for live use, I have my presets set up so that I get a DI straight to the FOH out of the Output 1 XLR outs and then to my floor monitors through the 1/4's outs on Output 1. The patch's send the preamp signal only from Output 2 which connects to my Matrix power amp and then to a 412. Really though, this is more for stage ambiance and nor needed, as you can get by with monitors. But, its always nice to aim a blast toward the audience. FWIW, the Axe dials up almost anything Mesa Boogie very well. I don't think it does a very good Plexi or anything like that and don't even attempt it.

Steve

 

[flash6969]

Some interesting feedback so far, but it all seems to be about choosing the Axe FX OR tube amp. Why can't I use both?
Has anyone got any feedback about using it in the EFX loop of a tube amp? I believe Vai has been using it this way?
Thanks

 

[supersonic]

Some interesting feedback so far, but it all seems to be about choosing the Axe FX OR tube amp. Why can't I use both?
Has anyone got any feedback about using it in the EFX loop of a tube amp? I believe Vai has been using it this way?
Thanks

Steve Vai uses the FX only. I tried this but it digitalized the tone IMO.

 

[wIsEbLooD]

still have my amps but i can do anything with the axe so...

 

[Orvillain]

I just bought one. Plan is to get an MFC later next month, and use the Axe live for FX-only with my Diezel D-Moll.

Rest of the time I'll use it direct to my computer for recording.

 

[peterc52]

I have an XL on order!

Matrix and cab

or

Atomic wedge????

 

[wIsEbLooD]

go with the wedge. not having to use guitar cabs is the best thing about the axefx.

 

[Rich7620]

Here is the start of my rack. going to get a furman and probably a 2 space draw seeing as I'm a home player.

 

[supersonic]

I have an XL on order!

Matrix and cab

or

Atomic wedge????

Get the Matrix power amp then you have more options.

 

[steve_k]

I have an XL on order!

Matrix and cab

or

Atomic wedge????

Matrix and cab, then add on some active monitors if you gel with the Axe FX. As for the monitors, I have two Atomic CLR's, but I am not all the way sold on them. They are getting better as they get broke in, but out of the box, they have a nasal like tone that pissed me right off. When I had my first Axe rig, I had the RCF NX12SA'a and they ran circles around the Atomic CLR's, IMO.

Steve

 

[flash6969]

Here's my current setup... didn't take the picture specifically for this thread so sorry it's not "all" there but I'll break it down...

Axe FX II (running FW14)
Matrix GT800 Poweramp
Line 6 G90 Wireless
Furman Power
Rack Drawer

I run this into an Orange 4x12 with Celestion V30's and control everything with an FCB1010

I've been back and forth between tubes and the digital stuff more times than I care to think about... specifically between the Axe and the VH-4, which is my favorite tube head and every time I got sick of the Axe is the head I wanted back...

But I can honestly say, it had been a long while since I had owned another Axe II... I was just grabbing standards and ultras to use for live use as I've always been able to make them work for me in the past for just live use with a poweramp/cab...

But god damn, with the new firmware for the Axe II I can safely say I'll never go back... it's unreal... can get every tone I've ever wanted and I am even able to recreate some synth type stuff from our EP into our live set... with the two expression pedals on the FCB the options really are limitless

As far as price goes... not including the cab and wireless I got the Axe and the power amp for $2300... found a used FCB1010 for 70 bucks... could gig with that all day long, the Furman and Wireless are just conveniences... that's much less than what I was spending on tube heads and my options of sound are exponentially greater...

Good luck with your rig brother!

Nice rig - don't want to get sidetracked but i noticed your instrument cable runs from behind to the front input of the Axe FX. Im also looking at the Line 6 wireless into an Axe FX combo. Is there a reason you've done it this way & not used the rear input on the Axe FX?


Also, most (if not all) of the comments here state "I sold all my tube amps to use the Axe FX". Why not use both? Why cant I use the Axe FX with my tube amp - it doesn't have to be "one or the other", does it?

 

[Marshall Freak]

How many versions are there? Are all the others junk after the II came out?

 

[74JMP]

The standard accepted theory is that after designing and building the pyramids, Cliff Chase went on to design and build the snaxFX.

Up until the last few years there was no debate as to his genius, but there are competing theories and evidence that he was exceeded in greatness by one man; no not just man; GOD-man, Jay Mitchell. Jay Mitchell has never lost an internet argument and has corrected ALL naysayers who have ever questioned the Atomic CLR. In fact his claim that he IMPROVED all versions of the snaXFX, simply by thinking about it, has NEVER been questioned.

All mortals, including tube map purists, must bow before these two men, in hopes that they will honor us with their internet presence to correct any impure beliefs we may have about how humans ACTUALLY HEAR sound.


" Information taken from the holy tome, "CC/JM, God's Gifts to Bald-men in Cover Bands", written by acolyte First Class, Scott Peterson. "

 

[JimmyBlind]

The standard accepted theory is that after designing and building the pyramids, Cliff Chase went on to design and build the snaxFX.

Up until the last few years there was no debate as to his genius, but there are competing theories and evidence that he was exceeded in greatness by one man; no not just man; GOD-man, Jay Mitchell. Jay Mitchell has never lost an internet argument and has corrected ALL naysayers who have ever questioned the Atomic CLR. In fact his claim that he IMPROVED all versions of the snaXFX, simply by thinking about it, has NEVER been questioned.

All mortals, including tube map purists, must bow before these two men, in hopes that they will honor us with their internet presence to correct any impure beliefs we may have about how humans ACTUALLY HEAR sound.


" Information taken from the holy tome, "CC/JM, God's Gifts to Bald-men in Cover Bands", written by acolyte First Class, Scott Peterson. "

I didn't understand any of this.

 

[ctoddrun]

I'm still running an Ultra after all these years and have no reason to keep chasing.


I get those who do, but I've got sounds that work for me and I'm tired of spending more money for that imaginary .05% gain in some secret sauce that would be the end of my search.

Screw all that.

I've got nice gear and nice tones and havent spent another dime in three years.

Search on, Brothers.

 

[rabies]

caveat emptor here.

I literally just shipped back my AXE FX II XL unit for refund today.

It has some sick effects and it looks like that's what a lot of the pros are using it for. It's great in that it makes it much easier to practice and record (I used Garageband on Mac) at night. Does not have the same tube tone/feel but it's pretty close in that area. The reason I got it was to hopefully replace my dry/wet rig (I tote around a Marshall combo and Rivera head with 212). You can add two amp blocks in a preset with AFX. And the preset grid/layout is a 4x12 structure (meaning it can get very complicated in terms of the signal chain, etc.)

I am a professional computer programmer for a living. You can literally make so many tweaks to this unit and patches that you'll be busy for months. Cool stuff like changing the power tubes on the fly is interesting. Compensating and configuring for output level clipping is a pain in the ass as is most other stuff with this unit.

I returned this unit and bought a brand new Line 6 POD HD500x which is similar and hopefully less complicated. Probably won't sound as great but way cheaper (it's a floorboard unit with footswitches built-in so you don't need to buy an equivalent to the MFC101 rip off unit).

Try it out and send it back unless you have unlimited time and funding. The AXE Edit program on Mac was actually pretty decent for creating/editing patches and global settings, etc. I ran a Diezel/JVM patch (wet/dry) into my Rivera efx loop and Gflex 212 and it was pretty killer for rhythm and leads.

You be the judge but caveat emptor...

Here are some shitty samples but you'll get the flavor:

https://soundcloud.com/rabiesjoy

Every track in there after the banjo song was recording using the AFXIIXL...