Would you sell your Amps to get an Axe-fx 2+Kemper+matrix?

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wizardy":19cfscd7 said:
I'm trying to convince myself not to sell all my amps and 4x12 cabinets to go FRFR with a combo of Axe-FX II (which I already own) and a Kemper Profiling with a good power amp like the Matrix GT1000FX or the new Fryette LXII

I know tube amp will always be good and some people will always swear by them but
In real life, I think anyone could gig and play at home with digital units and get the same good result as a 100 watt tube amp through 4x12 speakers

Other then the killer look of a Head over 2 4x12
Who else still think either a Kemper or an Axe-FX II couldn't do the same job as a 100 watt tube head?

I mean, I really think it's useless these days to spend 3000 to 4000$ on a good tube head + various delay pedals and cables and power supply and everything...
when you can have the same result and even better with a Kemper and an Axe-FX II

I've almost sold half of my boutique pedals and think I'll sell them all because they're only collecting dust since I have my Axe-FX II..
Now if I get the Kemper, I'm afraid I'll do the same with my tubes heads ! :doh:
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If the axe 2 is making you happy don't worry about what anyone else would do. I would ditch the 4x12 and go with a powered 12" sub and floor monitor. Or just go with IEM's.

I don't see anything wrong with down sizing your rig. If it makes you happy. I am a tube purest myself but I also live on the 3rd floor. :cry:

I had a old Digitech Genesis 3 processor back in the day that was my go to piece of gear. Not because it sounded all that great but because I could throw on some headphones and jam anywhere anytime. My live rig at the time was a Mesa Recto Pre into a Mesa 2:100 and I used a rocktron Multivalve for switching and effects. This was circa 2003 mind you. It sounded great to me at the time but there was hardly anywhere in town that would let me play it as loud as I had in my rehearsal studio. Point is, sell what your not using and keep what you are using. Everyone is going to have an opinion but do what works best for you.

Luke
 
Heritage Softail":u8mdfaa5 said:
Why would I sell 6 whole pies for 6 slices of pie??
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Damn you! Now I am dying for some home baked pie! :lol: :LOL:

Now, where's the wife's mobile number...... :lol: :LOL:
 
I've done exactly that not once but twice....we'll I'm back.
Sold the axe-fx2 and all the stuff that goes with it and am back to amps.
It seems like a great idea and could be for a great many but it's just never the same as a good amp and cab.
The axe can do a lot but for late night jamming or playing through headphones you could get a zoom G3 and save a lot of money.
I will never say never but I don't think I'll go back to modelers only again and will at least have one amp handy if I do.
Just my $.02.
 
Hey Charles! What amp are you back to?

I think I still owe you a response re: the 20th Shiva. Sorry about that. Maybe you have already moved ahead anyways? :confused:
 
Never considered selling off my tube amps to get an Axe-Fx or Kemper. Adding an Axe or Kemper sure. Currently GASing for a Kemper actually.

If I was starting over, the Axe-Fx II rig would cost me more than my tube amp rigs. I bought my amps and cabs used. I would have at least $3500 in an Axe-FxII rig, by the time you add a midi foot controler, rack case, tube power amp, and speaker cab. My mesa mark IVA rig by comparison (bought all used) is more like $2000.
 
Without going too far into detail... I've gone back and forth several times... there are advantages and disadvantages to both... tubes amps sound better.. period, but they are less flexible, weigh a shit ton... blah blah blah, digital is super convenient, can sound GOOD as well...

If you are going to do something like this you have to have the frame of mind that you aren't going to be comparing the digital stuff to tube stuff... it's just never going to sound the same... if tubes amps didn't exist would the digital stuff be considered to sound incredible? Absolutely... you have to go into the digital world with the intentions of getting a great sound, and that's it, not a great sound that sounds exactly like a tube amp...

With all the being said.... the closest thing to tube amps is a pweramp/cab setup... FRFR will never get you there... period...

...all IMO of course...

The AxeFX+Matrix stuff+4x12 cab is a fucking incredible setup... especially since they just release the 1000 unit as a 1-space rack unit....
 
Spaceboy":plhdit7f said:
I did it and went back to tube amps.
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Same here I still use the axe DC for effects and down and dirty recordings. But live I am back to tube heads and never felt better about my live tone.
 
lester":3aqdbilg said:
I was using my Axe II, a 2/50/2 and a couple of four twelve cabs. I don't know, but the Axe is getting pretty close. Pwr amp sim on, cab sim off and just a few tweaks and that shit was hitting pretty hard. The cleans were great too......it's getting pretty close, maybe on some stuff it's even better. It hasn't really achieved yet though, that kind of over the top wildness. Maybe it's still a little too well mannered. But it is definitely great to have all your effects and gate and stuff in one package. It does have me eyeballing my amps a bit differently and keeping up with all their tube munching is really starting to piss me off. So yeah, I'm thinking about it. That's about it though.
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Amp sims on with the 2/50/2. This is crucial information, thanks for that. Glad to know it's working out for you.

I was tinkering with the idea of going FRFR, but it's a costly avenue only to realize it maybe works well or it maybe doesn't. If I can get poweramp sims ON and still run everything through my 4 different cabs (with cab sims OFF), I'm a happy guy. I've only been using the A2 for headphones/DI recording, and I'm growing very pissed with it. Sounds too sterile and thin, so I thought I have to play it "in a room" to truly get the sense of what it can do.

But ya, back to the OP, there's no need to go all or nuthin', just mix it up a bit.
 
I own an Axe-FX II and run it into a Matrix GT1000FX thru two Marshall 4x12 cabs. I'm getting a really good tone and love having the option to play thru different types of amps. With that said, I'm basically a bedroom player now and haven't gigged in years. If I were gigging, I'd probably have a tube amp, most likely an EVH 5150-III mini, etc., as at least a backup.

I love my Axe-FX II but I also love tube amps. I can't afford to own both, so I have the Axe-FX II. I sold guitars, amps, etc. to get the Axe-FX II and Matrix but I'm the type of guy that normally has one amp and two guitars. If I were you, I'd get the Matrix, skip on the Kemper, and keep your stuff.
 
rlord1974":l1wdvdny said:
Heritage Softail":l1wdvdny said:
Why would I sell 6 whole pies for 6 slices of pie??
Click to expand...

Damn you! Now I am dying for some home baked pie! :lol: :LOL:

Now, where's the wife's mobile number...... :lol: :LOL:
Click to expand...

This is sig worthy :lol: :LOL:
 
No. Im a live player. I HATE tweaking rigs. JTM45, Stratocaster, couple pedals and the volume knob on my guitar and I can do anything I need to.
 
I own an Axe-Fx II, but only use it for post-amp effects now. With my available cash sunk into it though, I have considered selling it and grabbing a DSP4000 or a PCM, and then using the leftover cash for more pedals.

I had really hoped that either technology had finally jumped far enough along to provide a piece that converts analog to digital and back that felt and sounded *right* to me. I am so incredibly envious of those who can use modelers/profilers and still enjoy playing just as much. So envious..

As far as the quiet recording thing; I just either use a "quiet box" speaker (stuff it in a closet with blankets, etc) or load, and then run a DI from the speaker out, and use IRs in my DAWquencer. I make my own, so I can get results that are very close to what I would get with my cabs mic'd up.
 
I personally would not, but I do have the luxury of being able to play loud (mostly when recording - for semi-daily noodling, I just use software). IF I had an old lady who eventually shows signs of getting pissy about the volume, then ya, I'm no fool, I'd sell gear off (ERR, CHECK THAT SHIT, I'd STORE IT :lol: :LOL: because some of it is truly collectable and worth keeping) and try to enjoy recording and making music at mouse fart levels via these new recording gizmos and their direct route. If you truly just wan't to create music and have fun, then to me, they seem more than sufficient for that...in the end, I picked up the instrument because I luv being creative and trying to make music. I know tone is paramount for many and that's totally normal as well.
 
Getting into a good frfr is expensive and heavy as well. If you really really require a vast supply I potentially different sounds it might be a look into. For me I have always preffered an amp and Cab live and the convenience of recording direct. I think If I had one I would maybe look into a power amp to use a cab if I had one I really liked. Or if I didnt really love my current tube amp stable think about tryi g frfr.

It really all depends on what you are currently unhappy with I guess and what is your playing venue or experiences like
 
I find myself wrestling a similar problem. Should I dump all my current gear and go for a Kemper setup? I'm in the situation that I can't afford to own both setups, I'd have to flip most of my current gear to be able to get a decent Kemper setup.

I love the mojo of a half stack, a (Marshall) head on a 4x12 on stage, that unfortunately is one thing I do consider. Then there's the monitoring, we're a five piece, 2 guitars, bass, vocals and drums. Would I get by with a active FRFR monitor or would I get buried in the mix at rehearsals? Or should I go with a decent FR (PA?!) power amp with the Kemper and run it thru my 4x12 or get a 2x12 (to downsize the rig), then when gigging go direct from the Kemper to FOH and use the cab setup as monitoring on stage? Man oh man, tough questions.
 
With all the money I've probably wasted over the last couple years flipping stuff, I probably could have sold my amp as well and gotten an Axe or Kemper. But honestly the thought of tweaking all that is just not at all enticing, despite how good they can sound.

Instead I bought a custom guitar and a POD HD500, and kept my amp.
 
I went through that and I kept 2 amps, Bogner 20th XTC and Mesa MK III. With the Ultra I tried FRFR and just didn't like it. Everyone said you have to tweak it a lot, bump up the 750k slider etc. The ultra through my RT2/50 into a real 212 or 412 or 2 412s :D sounded great. Right now I run the AFII (sometimes my Pod Pro500) into the effect loop return of my 2 tube amps into a 412 and 2 cameron cubes and really like that, i know its an expensive power amp :lol: :LOL:

The answer from me nah. FRFR just does not have that speaker moving air in the room feel and my tube amps still have that special feel. As for Kemper, AFII, 11R and The Pod300/400/500 series all have there place and I tried everything but the Kemper and 300/400 pods. But I would play out with the AFII or Pod pro500 instead of hefting an amp and taking a chance on it getting damaged.
 
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