Unit to match the effects of an Axe FX?

[ibanez4life SZ!]

Hey guys!

I went ahead and ran my Axe as a processor through the Effects loop of my Mark IV....HOLY SHIT....I have never heard such good delay, reverb, phaser, etc...I thought my MXR carbon copy was a cool pedal. This really puts it to shame.

It's an EXPENSIVE unit to just use for a few FX though....I really don't use more than reverb and delay at the same time..maybe a phaser on another patch, and a pitch shifter on another...

Is there a unit out there that could match the Axe for effects, without all the amp sims? If not, I really don't mind keeping it, as I love the amp sims on it too...just want to see if there is something simpler that could pull of this task for me!

Thanks gentlemen!

Eric

 

[ttosh]

In my opinion the only options that are as good for FX or better to some is the Eventide H3000 and up stuff, and the TC G Force. I have tried the G Major and G System and neither one sounded as transparent and as nice as the G Force to me. You are going to pay more or just as much for either new and used you can find good deals sometimes. The Axe FX is really worth it for effects as the routing is easy to use and I think the setup of the effects is simple. YMMV

 

[ibanez4life SZ!]

I think that's where I'm going to stay to be honest...I've never invested this much in effects, but they are just SOOO inspiring. I think I'm gonna stick with it! Time to make some music

 

[thiswaythatway]

I think effects like phaser, flanger, chorus, sound real sterile in the loop. I like them into the input of an amp. But i like reverb and delay in the loop. Try using the Axe with the 4CM.

 

[ttosh]

I think effects like phaser, flanger, chorus, sound real sterile in the loop. I like them into the input of an amp. But i like reverb and delay in the loop. Try using the Axe with the 4CM.

^^ This

 

[Digital Jams]

I think effects like phaser, flanger, chorus, sound real sterile in the loop. I like them into the input of an amp. But i like reverb and delay in the loop. Try using the Axe with the 4CM.

Agreed!

To ask the OP the axefx is not that expensive when you look at the other options like the one I went with....

Roland SDE-3000
Roland SDX-330
Eventide H3000
Lexicon MPX-1
Rane mixer

Plus all the stomps..........................damn cheap if you ask me.

 

[Ancient Alien]

Yeah, I agree. The G Force and Eventide stuff is where it's at for me too.
Though the Eventides are even a step further up from the G Force (which I love and use all the time)
In one of my racks I have a G Force and Eventide GTR 4000, and that is like night and day when I A/B them.
There is a guy over at sevenstring.org selling a mint G Force for $600, which is a steal.
I personally think the effects in the G Force are better than the AxeFX Ultra as far as tone.

 

[ibanez4life SZ!]

I've been wanting to do the 4 cable method with my Mark IV and axe fx, but everytime I do, I get a really bad ground loop...tried using an Ebtech Hum X to break it, but no luck :/

 

[Audioholic]

Hey guys!

I went ahead and ran my Axe as a processor through the Effects loop of my Mark IV....HOLY SHIT....I have never heard such good delay, reverb, phaser, etc...I thought my MXR carbon copy was a cool pedal. This really puts it to shame.

It's an EXPENSIVE unit to just use for a few FX though....I really don't use more than reverb and delay at the same time..maybe a phaser on another patch, and a pitch shifter on another...

Is there a unit out there that could match the Axe for effects, without all the amp sims? If not, I really don't mind keeping it, as I love the amp sims on it too...just want to see if there is something simpler that could pull of this task for me!

Thanks gentlemen!

Eric

I like my TC Electronic G-system. I also have an Axe Fx, and the best way to describe them to me would be like this, the axe-fx sounds great, very hi-fi, but almost too clean at times. the G-system sounded a bit more analog, I hate to use that word, but it sounded to me like it didn't quite have that hi end sheen and crystal clear detail, which actually worked a tad better for my personal taste in the efx loop. Though thats not a cheap unit either. perhaps one of the lower priced efx units from TC might make you a happy camper?

 

[Zachman]

Hey guys!

I went ahead and ran my Axe as a processor through the Effects loop of my Mark IV....HOLY SHIT....I have never heard such good delay, reverb, phaser, etc...I thought my MXR carbon copy was a cool pedal. This really puts it to shame.

It's an EXPENSIVE unit to just use for a few FX though....I really don't use more than reverb and delay at the same time..maybe a phaser on another patch, and a pitch shifter on another...

Is there a unit out there that could match the Axe for effects, without all the amp sims? If not, I really don't mind keeping it, as I love the amp sims on it too...just want to see if there is something simpler that could pull of this task for me!

Thanks gentlemen!

Eric

Not, imo, in a cheaper price bracket. The upper end Eventide units are the only ones that I'm aware of that'll allow complex routings of the effects (Even more than the Axe-- though not likely a guitar rig use-- more for studio mix downs of sound tracks etc...), and as many simultaneously.

The main difference is as was previously mentioned the "tone" of the effects. In the Axe, they are KILLER Cool, and VERY transparent, and with the Eventide units-- they have "a sound" about them-- Not transparent but a REALLY nice color, that only they get-- but they are at least 2-3x's more expensive than the Axe.

H8000FW:

 

[Ancient Alien]

Thats why I like the GTR 4000 even more than the Eclipse.
It is designed for guitar players, and has zero lag time between presets if set up properly.
A lot of the Eventide units are studio pieces, and do sound freaking amazing.
But the GTR has a certain guitar "MOJO" that the others don't have.
The Eclipse is very very very close, but the GTR has the stomp box settings that are stellar.

 

[mightywarlock]

There is a guy over at sevenstring.org selling a mint G Force for $600, which is a steal.
I personally think the effects in the G Force are better than the AxeFX Ultra as far as tone.

you talking about mine for sale?

Yeah, I was planning in advance, trying to sell the G-force before i got the AxeFx.

now I have it.

the G-force is still for sale if anyone wants it. barely used. i just prefer to plug direct in to most amps.
turned on the Axefx and started turning OFF the effects tonight.
kinda funny that way.

 

[mentoneman]

Yeah, I agree. The G Force and Eventide stuff is where it's at for me too.
Though the Eventides are even a step further up from the G Force (which I love and use all the time)
In one of my racks I have a G Force and Eventide GTR 4000, and that is like night and day when I A/B them.
There is a guy over at sevenstring.org selling a mint G Force for $600, which is a steal.
I personally think the effects in the G Force are better than the AxeFX Ultra as far as tone.

one thing great about both the gforce and the axefx is how fast they switch presets.
i have and love both but the gforce has been sidelined pretty hard by the axe. and the g and axe, as awesome as they are, still sound like "effects", and from a strictly guitar pov that's totally perfect.

the 2290 sounds like something is actually moving away from you, same with lexicon verb, and eventide sounds like something's melting right before your eyes. the imaging in these devices is so realistic, making them the better studio choice. i've had the good fortune of being able to hear the pcm 70, 2290, and eventide h3000 at pro studios DI'ed through high end consoles on high end headphones and the resolution is incredible. i use a tc m2000 and lexi pcm 91 at work running live sound and can solo them on headphones through our soundcraft series 5 console and again i have a front row seat to these toys and they sound killer.

we are so spoiled these days. hendrix would have lost his mind if any one of these boxes were available in his time.

 

[Digital Jams]

The Keeper!