Axe_FX II Rigs, or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Digital Modelling. - Amps Discussions on theFretBoard (2024)

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• digitalscream Frets: 26932

  August 2013

  Last I saw, he was selling the lot over on Rob Chapman's forum...

  <space for hire>

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• Drew_TNBD Frets: 22445

  August 2013

  He's selling it. I don't think it is anything to do with not digging it, I think he just needs a cash injection or something.
  

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• Sporky Frets: 28922

  August 2013

  This is one of those "wish I had two and a half grand spare" moments.

  Except I'd spend it on a laser cutter. So it's more a "wish I had five grand spare" moment. Except... gah.

  "[Sporky] brings a certain vibe and dignity to the forum."

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• Drew_TNBD Frets: 22445

  August 2013

  ahaha. To be honest, I'm really not feeling desire. I've really gone off the Axe FX. After using Octatonics a couple of times (and it did sound amazing!) I realized that for what I would want, it would be using a sledgehammer to crack a walnut! If Tacoma ever went full-time, then maybe it'd be worth it. But for playing out of the back of dingy pubs or the occasional biggish venue, it's just mass overkill.

  I've heard some amazing sounds come out of the Pod HD that are just as good. Some of my favourite all-digital sounds on albums came from the Pod 2.0 and Pod XT, (like the tones on the first Tesseract album for instance) and I'm sure there are others out there that I'm just not aware are digital.

  So if I was going to go all digital, I'd either use a Pod or a Kemper. Kemper is a bit cheaper, and easier to use. imho/ymmv/my 2p, etc...

  See Also

  TC Electronic Bam200 200 Watt Bass Head AmpGemini GVX-SUB18P 18-Inch Powered SubwooferPA Guitar & Bass Essentials BundleRoland AC-40 Acoustic Chorus Guitar Amplifier

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• Sporky Frets: 28922

  August 2013

  I loved the HD500 I tried, and to be fair even that is massively overkill for a bit of home noodling.
  

  "[Sporky] brings a certain vibe and dignity to the forum."

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• Drew_TNBD Frets: 22445

  August 2013

  I thought the amps and cabs were a massive step above the older models. Loads of people online moaning about the cabs, but there really is nothing wrong with them.

  I have toyed with picking up one of the HD500X's but apparently the extra CPU isn't all that much. So I might wait to see what the next firmware brings.

  I have my Marshall, so when I had the HD500 it was for effects only, 4 cable method. My effects used to be entirely Line 6, but I got bored of them - they basically haven't improved them for over 4 years or something ridiculous like that. So for FX only, I didn't stick with the HD500 for long. I quite fancy trying the GT100 out for effects only. But I just bought a Zoom CDR!

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• ddlooping Frets: 325

  August 2013

  Sporky said:

  I loved the HD500 I tried, and to be fair even that is massively overkill for a bit of home noodling.
  

  And with the HD500x out there aresome bargains to be had.
  

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• Sporky Frets: 28922

  August 2013

  Yeah - it's getting easier to justify it...

  I did find, though, that I'd start out making a nice just-breaking up sound, but two minutes later it was always face-melting brutal filth in a canyon.

  "[Sporky] brings a certain vibe and dignity to the forum."

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• ddlooping Frets: 325

  August 2013

  Sporky said:

  Yeah - it's getting easier to justify it...

  I did find, though, that I'd start out making a nice just-breaking up sound, but two minutes later it was always face-melting brutal filth in a canyon.

  
  

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• stonevibe Frets: 7181

  August 2013

  I bought an HD500 as I wanted a simple unit for the home, plus if I am gigging its just less to lug around. SOund wise its pretty good for what it costs.

  Plus its less cabling!

  Which is always a bonus

  Free Giveaway Draw - Dan's Guitar Store Precision Picks

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• p90fool Frets: 31774

  August 2013

  See Also

  Ultimate USS1EB Series One Bass Guitar Gig Bag

  Sporky;1742" said:

  Yeah - it's getting easier to justify it...

  I did find, though, that I'd start out making a nice just-breaking up sound, but two minutes later it was always face-melting brutal filth in a canyon.

  Yeah, I have to be very disciplined when I'm setting up patches, when I programmed my Zoom stuff for gigging I actually had my Marshall and Fender valve amps and a PA all running in a big room and spent hours constantly A-B-ing.

  It's amazing how short our memories for sound really are, just when you think you're there you go back to the real amp and realise you have way too much dirt or too much middle or whatever.

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• paulmapp8306 Frets: 853

  August 2013

  TBH, its probably overkill for what I want too - even though Ive been using one for 6 years now.

  Thing is, mfor home playing (which is probably 80-90% of my time) and the odd recording its fantastic. I still use a power amp and cab mostly (FRFR for recording via monitors obviously), but it gets great tones at home friendly volumes.

  For band use its too much really for what I need, and If I could make do with a small valve combo and a couple of pedals, I really should go that way - HOWEVER, the home volume issues, plus the fact I always want the best I can afford - would mean a valve based rig would be just as costly if not more so (I would be looking at things like Suhr Badgers, DrZs or Carrs for instance - not small Fenders, Egnators and the like), so whats the choice really?

  Well its a top end valve amp, thats restricted to its own sound - which MAY have knock on effects if I change band and have restricted home applications (as well as no recording - though theres other ways of tackling that) - or the AFX rig thats really overkill, but is configurable to whatever band I play is - and sounds great at home.

  Now - IF I could persuade myself a small pick up and go amp, in the mid price range was OK - AND I needed either cash, or the AFX rig blew up and needed replacing anyway, I MAY go back to valves. For now though - much like many considering the switch the other way - its just not worth changing.

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• paulmapp8306 Frets: 853

  August 2013

  p90fool said:

  It's amazing how short our memories for sound really are, just when you think you're there you go back to the real amp and realise you have way too much dirt or too much middle or whatever.

  So true - however, it depends what your trying to achieve. If its nailing said amp sounds - then you need real world comparisons from time to time. If however, your trying to get your own sound, then the AFX one (or whatever modeller you use) is probably closer to that than the real amp rig.

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• Handsome_Chris Frets: 4779

  August 2013 edited August 2013

  Sporky said:

  Yeah - it's getting easier to justify it...

  I did find, though, that I'd start out making a nice just-breaking up sound, but two minutes later it was always face-melting brutal filth in a canyon.

  
  Not to hard to believe after the VH4 based soundscape you directed me in creating at Cos's Gearfest.
  http://i903.photobucket.com/albums/ac233/elastitude/Guitar stuff/Dumpster Problem/ScreenShot2013-08-04at104628_zps58834cbd.png
  

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• Handsome_Chris Frets: 4779

  August 2013

  paulmapp8306 said:

  Now - IF I could persuade myself a small pick up and go amp, in the mid price range was OK - AND I needed either cash, or the AFX rig blew up and needed replacing anyway, I MAY go back to valves.

  Hmmm, you're only saying that because you know that my AF2 died the other day. :x

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• octatonic Frets: 33878

  August 2013

  Handsome_Chris said:

  paulmapp8306 said:

  Now - IF I could persuade myself a small pick up and go amp, in the mid price range was OK - AND I needed either cash, or the AFX rig blew up and needed replacing anyway, I MAY go back to valves.

  Hmmm, you're only saying that because you know that my AF2 died the other day. :x

  Really? What happened.

  I'm just back from holiday and working through V11 firmware.

  WOW- big changes in the feel and warmth- it feels really great.

  James Richmond

  Studio: https://www.voltperoctave.com
  Music: https://www.euclideancircuits.com
  Me: https://www.jamesrichmond.com
  

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• Sporky Frets: 28922

  August 2013

  Handsome_Chris said:

  Not to hard to believe after the VH4 based soundscape you directed me in creating at Cos's Gearfest.

  http://i903.photobucket.com/albums/ac233/elastitude/Guitar stuff/Dumpster Problem/ScreenShot2013-08-04at104628_zps58834cbd.png
  

  That was awesome. So much GRARGH and so much reverb...
  

  "[Sporky] brings a certain vibe and dignity to the forum."

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• Handsome_Chris Frets: 4779

  August 2013 edited August 2013

  octatonic said:

  Handsome_Chris said:

  paulmapp8306 said:

  Now - IF I could persuade myself a small pick up and go amp, in the mid price range was OK - AND I needed either cash, or the AFX rig blew up and needed replacing anyway, I MAY go back to valves.

  Hmmm, you're only saying that because you know that my AF2 died the other day. :x

  Really? What happened.

  I'm just back from holiday and working through V11 firmware.

  WOW- big changes in the feel and warmth- it feels really great.

  Got down to the studio the other day, I am liking the Pro Tools btw, and the screen and LEDs lit up. That's all she wrote. Danny1969, of 2020 in Portsmouth, and I had it open found an empty socket and checked to see if anything had bounced out. The socket is supposed to be empty until the EPROM Sussi has sent to me arrives.

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• chrispy108 Frets: 2336

  August 2013

  I think the main lesson from Si's thread is that you've gotta love tinkering to run something like the AxeFX.

  Even if you just run one main sound, it's a touch more work than just a valve amp.

  I think you either "get" multi-fx/modellers or you don't.

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• Handsome_Chris Frets: 4779

  August 2013

  There was also an issue of consistency. When practicing adjust your settings as you would for live e.g. equipment settings, volume levels. At rehearsal tweak your settings to sit in the mix.

  At lot of people get caught with firmware updates, they do it just before a rehearsal or worse a gig. The firmware update can rejig your settings so much that there may be a major overhaul of presets required. I suppose it's like getting you amp and pedals modded - you wouldn't tweak those before going live.

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