Who has " sold it all" and gone AXE FX??????

[Reiep]

I'd say keep your current gear and give a try to the Axe FX. If it suits you 100%, OK, then sell your gear. If it's not a perfect match, maybe you can integrate it as a multi FX in your rig and sometimes use it as a whole rig when it's needed, so you'll have the best of both world. And if it doesn't work for you, sell it back, your beloved rig will still be in the house.

 

[Dominik1986]

I did it. Sold my tube amp, my rack effects and went the Axe FX route. And I regretted it, so here I am, back with a tube amp and I also have some nice rack units on my list as well
BUT it was worth a try, now I know what I want, and I don't think about going off tube amps anymore

 

[21_guitars]

I'd say keep your current gear and give a try to the Axe FX. If it suits you 100%, OK, then sell your gear. If it's not a perfect match, maybe you can integrate it as a multi FX in your rig and sometimes use it as a whole rig when it's needed, so you'll have the best of both world. And if it doesn't work for you, sell it back, your beloved rig will still be in the house.

Good advice here.

I sold all of mine gear to go an Axe FX rig and drove everyone crazy with the tweaking. That said, I am thinking of trying the Axe II as a multi fx unit with an amp and use it at home for recording.

 

[glpg80]

The axe fx is a tool like any other piece of gear. IMHO it is quite stupid to sell everything you worked hard to get, all because of skepticism. Like any expensive investment do your best to research it and play it first hand before making the leap.

Personally i think it is a terrible idea. One thing i absolutely hate about any modeler is the endless buried menu and navigation requirements that guarantee nothing. I like few knobs and hate knob twisting - i prefer to play.

Any processor is not an end-all be all solution. The sooner everyone realistically comes to terms and accepts that perfection does not exist, the happier they will be with the gear they already have or gear that is already available to them in order to meet their needs.

FWIW there is nothing wrong with wanted to sell all of your gear and look for a change. Just be for-warned that modelers are the same as any other piece of gear that require more attention and testing as it is not for everyone and it is not the perfect solution.

 

[moltisanti]

I used a very compact Axe FX rig dor a year live and while it was super easy to set up and lightweight it was a bastard to EQ during a set. Plus you need to spend a lot of time dialling it in for a guitar cab and then separately for FOH.

I bought a Mesa ElectraDyne while i still had my axe rig, did one show with it and sold the Axe stuff the next week. The Axe is great but as many have said a valve amp it is not...

 

[King Crimson]

I have GAS'd on an off for over a year for an axe fx, much harder than for anything else I've ever owned for some reason.

You just answered your own question - GAS. And it will pass, like gas.

You cannot fake "real tube tone" in a guitar amp - this is a given across the board - as our good friend Mo might suggest.

 

[Spaceboy]

I'm selling my Axe FX II, just FYI if someone interested.

 

[JTyson]

it boils down to point of reference
if you start from the line 6 generation, axe-fx is a dream come true.

if you started on modern tube amps from major manufacturers and primarily like heavy tones, you might still dig axe fully.

if you started 30-40 years ago + on tube amps and have actually spent time with the vintage classics and ultra boutiques, axe may not float your boat.

for example, you can convince yourself a leslie sim pedal is just as good as the real thing, until you sit in front of a real leslie. but if you don't know what a real leslie sounds like and plays like, the pedals will do the job.

i spent the day with a hammond xk-c3. great b3 controller with very convincing sounds,
but without the real leslie 2 rotating speaker box it aint the goods.

that said i gotta get me one of these:

Very cool, I can only imagine it with a Hammond

 

[zentman]

I'm done with amps. I moved on and never looked back. Three years now and no regrets.

 

[ejecta]

Since the VHT is your sound, why not try to build a useable live rig based around that and a 412? Cut the fluff and just go with that amp and the effects that you actually need. Cut the fat and keep all the tone. That is what I did with my Fortin amps. I only use one head live and either one or two 412s depending on where we are playing or what slot we have. Have a small pedal board, tiny compared to most of the ones around here, and it absolutely kills live. When I got down to it, it was really easy and I could not be happier now.

I agree. My tube rig is not bad at all. Friedman BE head, Bogner OS 2x12, 4 space rack with an AxeFX standard for effects on a tilt back stand that sits over my pedal board with the controller. I really don't see that as much more trouble to haul around than a 6 space rack for an AxeFX rig plus a guitar cabinet and or monitors.

It sounds great, versatile and not a pain to me to move around.

Any processor is not an end-all be all solution. The sooner everyone realistically comes to terms and accepts that perfection does not exist, the happier they will be with the gear they already have or gear that is already available to them in order to meet their needs.

TRUTH!

 

[Reiep]

I'd say keep your current gear and give a try to the Axe FX. If it suits you 100%, OK, then sell your gear. If it's not a perfect match, maybe you can integrate it as a multi FX in your rig and sometimes use it as a whole rig when it's needed, so you'll have the best of both world. And if it doesn't work for you, sell it back, your beloved rig will still be in the house.

Good advice here.

I sold all of mine gear to go an Axe FX rig and drove everyone crazy with the tweaking. That said, I am thinking of trying the Axe II as a multi fx unit with an amp and use it at home for recording.

That's also why I sold my standard, but I kind of regret it now, it would have been a hell of a multi FX... maybe sometime if I find a good deal

 

[racerevlon]

Splawn rig. 'Nuff said...

 

[SkyhighRocks]

i've done it twice and am back to my Marshall for good.

 

[tweed]

That's also why I sold my standard, but I kind of regret it now, it would have been a hell of a multi FX... maybe sometime if I find a good deal

Been running this option through my mind as well. I thought finding a standard as an effects option only would be a great idea. Still throwing around the 1101 and foot controller idea as well. I love my pedal board, but man am I getting tired of checking connections, running cables, lifting the damn thing at the end of the night lol.

The thought of having my effects back by the amp and having a foot controller with one cable going out front is starting to look really attractive!

 

[ejecta]

That's also why I sold my standard, but I kind of regret it now, it would have been a hell of a multi FX... maybe sometime if I find a good deal

Been running this option through my mind as well. I thought finding a standard as an effects option only would be a great idea. Still throwing around the 1101 and foot controller idea as well. I love my pedal board, but man am I getting tired of checking connections, running cables, lifting the damn thing at the end of the night lol.

The thought of having my effects back by the amp and having a foot controller with one cable going out front is starting to look really attractive!

I use a Standard with my Friedman rig and I really like it. I use a Rocktron Midinmate to switch the Friedman and patches as well as instant access effects. There is a video on Youtube showing you how to set up the Midimate to use with the AxeFX.

 

[killertone]

Since the VHT is your sound, why not try to build a useable live rig based around that and a 412? Cut the fluff and just go with that amp and the effects that you actually need. Cut the fat and keep all the tone. That is what I did with my Fortin amps. I only use one head live and either one or two 412s depending on where we are playing or what slot we have. Have a small pedal board, tiny compared to most of the ones around here, and it absolutely kills live. When I got down to it, it was really easy and I could not be happier now.

I agree. My tube rig is not bad at all. Friedman BE head, Bogner OS 2x12, 4 space rack with an AxeFX standard for effects on a tilt back stand that sits over my pedal board with the controller. I really don't see that as much more trouble to haul around than a 6 space rack for an AxeFX rig plus a guitar cabinet and or monitors.

It sounds great, versatile and not a pain to me to move around.

Yup.

I totally see how a tiny rig would be great for hauling around, but a head and 412 just doesn't seem like that much stuff to deal with, at least to me. Throwing an extra 412 for big stages doesn't seem like that big a deal to me, either. Nothing beats that sound of a good tube head cranked up behind you on stage, IMO. Looks cool, too.

If someone is using an AFX and power amp through a 412, I don't see the weight/space benefit when compared to a rig like what I have described. I mean, if you have to haul a rack and cab around, not a huge difference to a head and cab.

In the end, you have to be able to really cut the fat and build a rig that isn't for show but kicks ass and does the job. I have been through it in the past and could not be happier with me basic rig these days. I don't think a modeler will ever do it for me, personally.

 

[dfrattaroli]

I had a Standard and an Ultra. I ended up getting out of it because of the way the II was rolled out. I use a JVM/Bogner 4x12 and Mark IV/Recto 4x12 with pedals and don't miss the Axe. I was a huge advocate of the Axe though. I was hoping to get great, not good, great direct tones in my DAW and that's where I felt the Axe fell short for me. I know other guys do it. But I couldn't. Probably user error. Truth be told, I'm getting better (not great) direct tones with my POD HD300 and Amplitube 3 than I did with the Axe. Who knows? If I had an Axe II, maybe I'd be getting better direct tones with that.

All that said, I had an absolute blast playing the axe through an SS amp into real cabs. The effects are just stupid. Especially if you run in stereo. Maybe one day I'll have one again but I just don't have the GAS for it right now.

In the end, everyone sticks to one or 2 main sounds and that's it. You can get that out of any good amp.

Dave

 

[ejecta]

Since the VHT is your sound, why not try to build a useable live rig based around that and a 412? Cut the fluff and just go with that amp and the effects that you actually need. Cut the fat and keep all the tone. That is what I did with my Fortin amps. I only use one head live and either one or two 412s depending on where we are playing or what slot we have. Have a small pedal board, tiny compared to most of the ones around here, and it absolutely kills live. When I got down to it, it was really easy and I could not be happier now.

I agree. My tube rig is not bad at all. Friedman BE head, Bogner OS 2x12, 4 space rack with an AxeFX standard for effects on a tilt back stand that sits over my pedal board with the controller. I really don't see that as much more trouble to haul around than a 6 space rack for an AxeFX rig plus a guitar cabinet and or monitors.

It sounds great, versatile and not a pain to me to move around.

Yup.

I totally see how a tiny rig would be great for hauling around, but a head and 412 just doesn't seem like that much stuff to deal with, at least to me. Throwing an extra 412 for big stages doesn't seem like that big a deal to me, either. Nothing beats that sound of a good tube head cranked up behind you on stage, IMO. Looks cool, too.

If someone is using an AFX and power amp through a 412, I don't see the weight/space benefit when compared to a rig like what I have described. I mean, if you have to haul a rack and cab around, not a huge difference to a head and cab.

In the end, you have to be able to really cut the fat and build a rig that isn't for show but kicks ass and does the job. I have been through it in the past and could not be happier with me basic rig these days. I don't think a modeler will ever do it for me, personally.

I agree. When I gigged a lot with my band in Nashville I had a Dual Rec Tremoverb head, Rivera cab that was the size a 4x12 but was 2x12 on the top and sub on bottom, a pedal board, and two guitars. We had a practice place with an elevator and I got all that in a VW Beetle believe it or not. I could very easily load-in in one trip. Head on cab to roll in and out, board in gig bag and guitars in dual gig bag over my shoulders. Most places we played I never had to deal with steps. It was pretty easy rig to haul IMHO.

You know the funny thing is back then I didn't switch gear at all.... what I had worked for the band I was in and was like you said.... lean and kicked ass. I stop gigging and the gear whore in me comes out. I need to gig just to keep from buying shit.

 

[mentoneman]

the axe-fx was awesome in terms of setup/tear down and the soundman loved the DI "mic'lessness" and consistent levels and control. and pulling out a cello patch, or acoustic sim, or shimmering ice like crystal echo here and there made things interesting.

my biggest obstacle with it was i love stereo effects and i play a mono house. trying to make the sounds i love translate/sum to mono is hit/miss. the wide/phased stuff like choruses and some stereo modulated delays really went south in mono. but i just couldn't bring myself to use the axe in mono.

strangely, i am currently running wet/dry with my triaxis and am getting great results, both on stage and in the house, and when i recently experimented with some of my w/d/w patches, they didn't sound as good.

 

[romanianreaper]

I sold a Peavey JSX and Friedman Modded Marshall to get the Axe-FX II but I'm a bedroom player and no longer gig, so it was an easy decision for me. I play the Axe-FX II thru a Mosvalve MV-962 into two Marshall cabs at home but think I'll eventually get some nice monitors or a better poweramp.

The whole Axe-FX II debacle turned into a "listen how close this gets to a tube amp" rather than "listen how great this sounds" thing. The unit sounds great but there will always be something about tube amps that have a certain sound that can't be duplicated fully.