Axe-Fx

Muhammad

Ok this is getting a bit crazy....

I'm so GASing for an Axe-Fx unit.
I've checked out as many youtube vids and high quality mp3 downloads as I can and I'm sold..
The amp and cab sims are insane..
I really think this might be the last piece of gear you'll ever need and I realise what a big statement that is but the evidence is speaking for itself.

I've emailed the distibutors about send one here, so lets see what they say.
If it pans out, there'll be a GT-10 up for sale soon ?

Alan, any comments on the axe?

inflames

If it pans out, there'll be a GT-10 up for sale soon

Keep me in mind if you do want to sell, I'm in the market for one ?

Muhammad

inflames wrote:
If it pans out, there'll be a GT-10 up for sale soon
Keep me in mind if you do want to sell, I'm in the market for one ?

Lol, you'll be my first contact!

AlanRatcliffe

I haven't read a bad review yet. I've never tried one, but judging from the clips I've heard and the reviews I've read, it's the best hardware modeller on the market. The processing power alongside the detail of the algorithms sets it far above the competition and it seems to be a real advance in modelling technology.

However, I've seen this kind of fuss before and generally you only get the true unbiased opinion once the honeymoon blush wears off and guys have been gigging with them for a while. A good example was when the original Line 6 POD came out - everyone bought them and raved about them. Two years later and "Line 6" is a dirty word to many of those same people and - like in old sci-fi movies - "nothing good comes out of a pod"...

So I'd say if you are a musician that needs the sonic flexibility and switchability of a modeller, want the best available and can afford it, they make sense as a significant but expensive upgrade for a POD or GT. If you are looking to emulate a brace of real amps, I'd say go for it, but don't sell off the vintage amp collection just yet.

Muhammad

Fair enough Alan,
you make a few valid points.
The thing is though, this particular unit has much more processing grunt than anything from line6 or even Roland.
Add to that the fact that there have been 8 firmware updates, each bringing more and more improvements to the sound, and I think the difference is clear.
The Axe may not be a perfect simulator that replaces vintage tube amps and cabs, but it offers a similar sound with all of the richness and dynamics..
thats a big win right there.
Add to that, the effects are just so rich, tweakable and bright, that they leave anything i've heard from other modelers in the dust.

I do however, have a limit on how much trouble i'm prepared to go through to get one.

I've emailed the company, and if they're willing to send one I'll bite.

Muhammad

I might have a second hand axe unit from the uk.
Gotta see if the guy accepts my offer..

So, if all goes according to plan, my GT-10 will be up for grabs..
Inflames, I havent forgotton about you ?

By the way, what would be a fair asking price for it? (its about 2 months old, never taken outside, perfectly new with box etc.)

MoJo-JoJoe

Muhammad: I've been thinking about getting an Axe-Fx Ultra for a while now but haven't taken the step of emailing the European agents. Did they ever come back to you?

If you're in the Cape and get the Axe-Fx, I'd be very keen to check it out if you're up to that.

Muhammad

Hey Mojo, they replied to me, but only to say that they referred the matter to the US company.
No reply since then.

I have a mate going to the UK in Feb which is why I'm even considering this.

Waiting for the guy to accept my offer then the GT-10 is up for sale to help fund this.

I'm in JHB by the way so if I getit, your welcome to pop around and take a gander.

Tokai-SA

I posted one mic'd Marshall TSL602 clip for years, and I challenged the entire Axe-Fx community, including Kliff the owner of Fractal Audio to match the tone using the Axe-Fx.....they didn't even come close, in fact their attempts were embarrassing to say the least...of course they will never admit that.

Like all modellers it does the clean thing well, it does the lead thing well, but when you hit a few strings at once, RHYTHM PLAYING, and add DISTORTION, it falls apart.
Yes it has great effects, but so do most other modellers.
IMO, it's way overpriced, like about $500 overpriced.

Beware, the Axe-Fx users are a cult, if you say one bad word about the Axe they will jump all over you and destroy you...and they'll tell you you're a moron who doesn't know how to tweak the thing. ?

Just my opinion.

Muhammad...you looking for a new one or a used one?

Muhammad

Tokai, looking for a used one, do you have one to sell?

Tokai-SA

Nope, I don't have one, but I can make an enquiry or two tonight for you.

The way I see it is, it's not the modeller that creates the magic, it's the guitarist/musician/recording engineer that can make magic with any good modeller.

For example...not me playing, it's an old internet friend Robert Hannenberg from the old Tonelab days.
Here's two Tonelab clips, using a Desktop Tonelab, you can pick them up for $120 used these days.
http://soundclick.com/share?songid=7189663
http://soundclick.com/share?songid=7189658

I've never heard the Axe-Fx sound this good....for 10 times the price.

Muhammad

Ah man, I agree about it being the musician not the instrument, and I'm not an Axe-zombie,
but i'm really keen on the warmth and dynamics of what i'm hearing from the clips I've been downloading.
Also, I really like the effects capabilities of the unit, specifically the delays.. Wow..
My Gt-10 has about 5 or 6 delay types, but none of them can get the kind of rotoscopic effects i've been hearing..

If you can get me one here that'd be great!!

Tokai-SA

I'll let you know tomorrow if I can find one for you.

inflames

Hi guys,

I have never heard of Axe-FX until today :-\
It looks like a great system, but is it really that WoW?
Would it really kick the GT-10's but? or even the T.C Electronics G-Major2?

Muhammad

@Tokai I'm waiting with bated breath lol ?
Thanks for the help.

@inflames.. what axe-fx? ?
Seriously tho, the gt-10, pod x3 etc are all much better than your average processor, and they have lots of options (Gt 10 has about 40 effects sims), but the axe is a bit different, it's got much more powerful hardware and top quality components. It also costs a bit more.. and it's rack mounted so you'd need a midi floorboard for live situations..

Muhammad

Woop woop!!! My axe fx is on it's way.
Should be here in about a week.

I'll post some sounds once I've got it all figured out.

I was really hoping to have sold my gt-10 by now, but it occured to me, maybe i could swap it for a set of full range flat response powered monitors and a midi floorboard...

any takers ??

guitarboy2828

Muhammad wrote: Woop woop!!! My axe fx is on it's way.
Should be here in about a week.

I'll post some sounds once I've got it all figured out.

I was really hoping to have sold my gt-10 by now, but it occured to me, maybe i could swap it for a set of full range flat response powered monitors and a midi floorboard...

any takers ??

Don't got either of those, but I do got a green with envy look on my face. Wish I could afford an Axe-fx. If you don't mind, what did you pay for it? Looks awesome, really does!

[deleted]

Muhammad wrote: Woop woop!!! My axe fx is on it's way.
Should be here in about a week.

I'll post some sounds once I've got it all figured out.

I was really hoping to have sold my gt-10 by now, but it occured to me, maybe i could swap it for a set of full range flat response powered monitors and a midi floorboard...

any takers ??

I am sure one of the music shops in and around Joburg could do a deal with you... Go see what they will give you to trade it in ?

Muhammad

@guitarboy I paid 10k ex shipping and still not sure bout duties but I think it'll be just the vat.

I'm looking at it this way: no more amp GAS, ever.. (hopefully)
That's the biggest thing for me, and the fact that I can take it with me and use a small set of speakers for jamming/fun and still get a huge tube amp sound..

@brentc: I might do that but I'd prefer to swap privately.. Will wait and see..

guitarboy2828

Great thinking, that is my thinking with my nova system. However, the axe fx is amazing. I may continue saving and getting something in those lines in the future. ?