Why did you sell your Axe-Fx?

[J.B.]

Only reason I sold mine was to pay bills after being laid off, (sold ALL my gear). Now, I'm getting gear back and won't hesitate to get another one. Worth every penny IMO.

 

[mentoneman]

I think it would be good for people to post the dates they had it also because it has recieved a major overhaul since its first conception back in 07. I love it - and I will never sell it. The key is getting creative and realizing what it can do, instead of what you think it should do. People that don't like the cab sims probably didn't try running their own cab IR's - which is like a major difference.

the IR thing was just dangling another 1000 variable tone carrot over my nose but this one i had to pay for. and there was no easy route to audition new cabs, at least not easy to me. yesterday i had my two rock plugged into my bogner cab and wanted to see what the amp sounded like through my tone tubies cab.

standby switch
unplug bogner
plug in tone tubbies
standby on

new amp models kept arriving with updates but no new cabs even though everyone seemed to agree that redwirez and now ownhammer cab IR dust the stock cabs.

maybe cut a license deal with one of these companies dedicated to the cab IR thing, for a slice of the pie, to install the best of the cabs into the next gen of axefx.

at least there were 10 slots available to load the cabs into so that was a nice forethought.
and atomic cabs is another wise step to normalize the process for a FRFR solution even though they may not have nailed it yet.
i think the best is yet to come from these guys. honestly i miss the ease of live setup and if the two rock wasn't such a big deal for me i'd still have my ultra.

perhaps another suggestion would be updating bank C with every version for the latest greatest discoveries. amp maker's favorite settings for their amp models/cabs/effects.

scott peterson and yek sure put a ton of time in programming that thing to max it out, and were very helpful. mark day always comes up with great tones with his too.

 

[rupe]

I loved mine for the most part but was annoyed that I couldn't tweak it on the fly to compensate for the room I was playing...I missed the ability to quickly twist a knob if I felt I needed something more/less. Since I was using the Marsha models for most of my dirty tones I figured that I would try the real thing...glad I did.
That said, I plan to add another one to my stable at some point...it really can't be beat for recording IMO.

 

[Ventura]

Couple things/observations as an owner of both big rigs and an Ultra:
1. When comparing the two, the reason my amps sounded "better" in the beginning is because in order to run them properly, the volume was always pretty high. Louder amps kick ass. I found with the Axe I was playing it always at lower or moderate volumes, because I could. However, comparing the two, they have to be matched volume for volume. This may seem very obvious, but this was an oversight on my part. A thumping amp is more exciting, more connected, more engaged. It was only when I started thumping the Ultra through my poweramp and cab it too afforded the same excitement and connectedness.
2. Tweaking isn't the most enjoyable aspect of Axe ownership. I'm just on the verge of buying a macbook to run Axe-Edit and rest on top of my rig for this very purpose. The software on a notebook is way easier than the front panel.
3. As my primary purchase purpose, effects only, this thing is a dream - a serious all-in-one amazing rack unit. I can't take that away from it.
4. As an amp emulator, it's offering me way more than I bargained for.

Just a couple top-of-mind things I thought might add to this thread...

V.

 

[robertkoa]

I kept bending the pins when I tried to install NOS Tubes.

 

[technomancer]

The only reason I sold mine was because I needed cash and it was an easy item to move. I will without question be buying another one in the future.

 

[Spaceboy]

I want one more than anything but there's no way I can scrape together 2000 bucks unless I sold basically everything I currently use, which means I would be out of commission for however long that would take. I still wouldn't even have a way to control or amplify it either.

 

[Shark Diver]

1. When comparing the two, the reason my amps sounded "better" in the beginning is because in order to run them properly, the volume was always pretty high. Louder amps kick ass. I found with the Axe I was playing it always at lower or moderate volumes, because I could. However, comparing the two, they have to be matched volume for volume. This may seem very obvious, but this was an oversight on my part. A thumping amp is more exciting, more connected, more engaged. It was only when I started thumping the Ultra through my poweramp and cab it too afforded the same excitement and connectedness.

They still don't sound the same. IMO And at the point you are using a power amp and cab.the Axe is just a digital preamp. Doesn't compete tone wise against most tube preamps.

3. As my primary purchase purpose, effects only, this thing is a dream - a serious all-in-one amazing rack unit. I can't take that away from it.

Definitely the best all-in-one unit out there.

 

[ttosh]

...

 

[Lord Toneking]

I'd buy one if I could spend the weekend at Mark Day's house I'm a retard when it comes to tweaking that crap

 

[Rogue]

IMO, I'd like to have, IMO, another one, but not, IMO, at the expense of a, IMO, real amp. YMMV

 

[sinestro]

I'm just on the verge of buying a macbook to run Axe-Edit and rest on top of my rig for this very purpose.

That would be money well spent. The only downside is you would end up using it for everything else. In a way I kind of see the PC to Mac debate as a similar debate to Analog Pre or Axe-FX. I bought a Mac to prove a friend wrong.... I lost that argument. Haven't had a PC in 5 years.

 

[Spaceboy]

To connect to Axe Edit, don't you need some kind of interface between the Axe FX and MacBook?

 

[SFW]

I would love to try one, but right now there are other things much higher on my list of gear wants.... like a seven string. That and I can't afford the price tag at the moment. Damn that house payment! lol!

 

[Ventura]

To connect to Axe Edit, don't you need some kind of interface between the Axe FX and MacBook?

Yes. In my case I have an M-Audio Pro Fire 610 that, with a firewire cable, will be the intermediary between the Ultra and the Mac. I'm using it solely to work on presets, download sysex files, etc. Once it's said and done, slap the lid down, slide it into the rear of the rig (easy Barzini, we're talking my rack rig here, nothing else), get back to playing.

Seriously - this thing has made playing so much fun again. I just want to be able to unplug the laptop, take it with me, edit a shitload of presets when not playing, and then plug'em back in to hear what I've designed/developed while away. The thing is righteously awesome!!

Peace,
V.

 

[Ventura]

1. When comparing the two, the reason my amps sounded "better" in the beginning is because in order to run them properly, the volume was always pretty high. Louder amps kick ass. I found with the Axe I was playing it always at lower or moderate volumes, because I could. However, comparing the two, they have to be matched volume for volume. This may seem very obvious, but this was an oversight on my part. A thumping amp is more exciting, more connected, more engaged. It was only when I started thumping the Ultra through my poweramp and cab it too afforded the same excitement and connectedness.

They still don't sound the same. IMO And at the point you are using a power amp and cab.the Axe is just a digital preamp. Doesn't compete tone wise against most tube preamps.

3. As my primary purchase purpose, effects only, this thing is a dream - a serious all-in-one amazing rack unit. I can't take that away from it.

Definitely the best all-in-one unit out there.

I find this discussion highly offensive.

V.

 

[Anonymous]

I have not purchased one because I fear the devil of tweaking. I don't want many options. A simple feature sparse SLO is all I need to get good tone and have fun. I don't want the distraction.

This was the reason I got rid of mine. I could not refrain from constantly tweaking...

As I mentioned in another thread, It was like playing with a toy. Lots of fun, but when I played my tube amp, that felt like a "real" tool. But, I don't look down on anybody who uses one. More power to you. I'm content with my current rig...

 

[joolzriff]

im afraid of getting one due to the amount of options,now too many options would distract my artistry....i'd love something simple like a direct Soldano made rack or box(in the lines of the AXEFX)...if it were a reality.

 

[Ventura]

im afraid of getting one due to the amount of options,now too many options would distract my artistry....i'd love something simple like a direct Soldano made rack or box(in the lines of the AXEFX)...if it were a reality.

I gotsta say, my rack with the Mak4, Ultra, and 2/90/2 going into a 4x12 is all I need nowadays. I can use the Ultra as a standalone effects processor, I can loop my Mak4 into the Ultra for pre and post distortion effects, or I can use the Ultra on its own, or the Mak4 on its own. Not saying this is the best guitar rig anyone could and should ever want, but in my case, it's killin' it. My playing has doubled due to the fact I can get EVERYTHING out of this set up I could imagine - at all volume levels. So it goes... To each their own

V.

 

[ttosh]

im afraid of getting one due to the amount of options,now too many options would distract my artistry....i'd love something simple like a direct Soldano made rack or box(in the lines of the AXEFX)...if it were a reality.

I gotsta say, my rack with the Mak4, Ultra, and 2/90/2 going into a 4x12 is all I need nowadays. I can use the Ultra as a standalone effects processor, I can loop my Mak4 into the Ultra for pre and post distortion effects, or I can use the Ultra on its own, or the Mak4 on its own. Not saying this is the best guitar rig anyone could and should ever want, but in my case, it's killin' it. My playing has doubled due to the fact I can get EVERYTHING out of this set up I could imagine - at all volume levels. So it goes... To each their own

V.

I told you the Axe was cool and I thought you would like it. I am very happy it is working out for you. The Mak4 sounds intriguing as well. Between the two I am guessing you can coax about any tone your head hears. Congrats as getting to a point of happiness with your gear is a great thing.