Boom Just sold some shit and bought a AXE FX 2!! Opinions needed

[jgcable]

Jezzus Rollerblading Christ! WTF is it with the dumbass assumptions that permeate any thread about the Axe?? This is pathetic. Grow up.

Just spicing it up Chris! I am surprised you didn't comment about one of the best lines I have had in a while??

A studio is just a bedroom with lots of sliders and knobs.

Thats golden.

[jgcable]

And what is up with shitting over some other guy's thread just because you don't like the equipment the guy is using?

I wouldn't have commented at all but if you read his initial post he is asking for opinions. Well... I have 1 or 2!!

[kmanick]

These are the spoken words of bedroom guitar players everywhere. ...

this coming form the guy who swore his Line 6 (was it a Vetta or an HD I forgot) was the greatest thing since sliced bread.
JG you never cease to crack me up, still opiniated as ever.
I've lost count of how many amps you're been thru since I joined this forum
Keep em coming makes for classic reading and chuckles. don't ever change
Oh and that line is gold

I've gone axe FX II myself, I'm in the midst of selling off all of my "tube" gear. I'm not gigging right now, just recording and playing at home for the moment , but I've run it thru several different configurations so I thought I'd share.
#1:direct into FRFR monitors: sounds killer this is what IMO this thing was made for, with good monitors you can dial in sounds that translate exact to recording. It makes recording killer sounding tracks almost mindlessly easy. It takes a little bit to figure out how this box responds but once you do you can dial in very cool patches really quickly (especially with V7 firmware on the II)
#2. into n FRFR pa cab. this is a popular way to run this, I've tried a couple of different cabs (Mackie,Atomic) both pretty good neither felt like a real cab to me though. However this is at home playing alone, in a band context when you can crank it up a bit it translates much better.
#3. thru a power amp into a 'real" cab.
this is my favorite way (so far) to run this thing. I've tried it with a couple of different power amps, solid state alllows you to leave the power amp sims on so you get more verstility with it. Tube power amps fight with the amp sims and add their own color/flavor to it.
I'm currentlly using a Mesa 50/50 with mine out to a Recto cab and my Mesa Mark patches sound killer, very close to the real thing (which I have right next to the Axe so I can match it as close as possible) The problem with this power amp is that it makes everything sound like a pre amp running thru a mesa 50/50 power amp because , well that's what you're doing. My Recto Patched do not sound like a real Recto, they sound good , but "off".
so this is also up for sale.
I'm torn between getting a high end Coaxial FRFR Speaker (which is quite different from a pa speaker) or getting a more neutral tube power amp (VHT/Fyette for example) and a more neutral cab (something without V30's in it)
Cost is a factor in either direction but I've heard really good clips with both configurations.
If I was gigging , what my band did would dictate if I used this thing.
for a cover band ? this thing is gold I'd definitely use it.
for an Originals band? I'd have to go back to my trusty Mesa Mark IV (or a Mark V) as that is "my" sound when I write originals I hear them with that sound and as good as the Axe II can be I see no reason to not use the real deal, especially if I don't need 15 differnt tones.
and wehn you get down to it , how many of the drunken slobs in the audience can tell what you're playing thru?? 95% of them could honestly give a shit, it comes down to (Imo) how you feel about it, does it inspire you to play or not.
that's what's most important to me and so far the Axe II is winning me over.
Now I may go and jam with a band and come back with a completely different opinion, we'll just have to wait and see.
Oh and I saw Dream Theater a couple of weeks back and got backstage to meet the chaps (my buddy Mike M. is playing with them now so he hooked us up) and Petrucci and Myung both had Axe FX II's in the setups with the MFC 101 floorboards on stage in front of them. They're using them for the effects right now and petrucci has one back stage that he uses to warm up with. He's one of Mesa's most visible endorsees he's not going to drop them for a modeler.

[jgcable]

this coming form the guy who swore his Line 6 (was it a Vetta or an HD I forgot) was the greatest thing since sliced bread.
JG you never cease to crack me up, still opiniated as ever.
I've lost count of how many amps you're been thru since I joined this forum
Keep em coming makes for classic reading and chuckles. don't ever change
Oh and that line is gold

I've gone axe FX II myself, I'm in the midst of selling off all of my "tube" gear. I'm not gigging right now, just recording and playing at home for the moment , but I've run it thru several different configurations so I thought I'd share.
#1:direct into FRFR monitors: sounds killer this is what IMO this thing was made for, with good monitors you can dial in sounds that translate exact to recording. It makes recording killer sounding tracks almost mindlessly easy. It takes a little bit to figure out how this box responds but once you do you can dial in very cool patches really quickly (especially with V7 firmware on the II)
#2. into n FRFR pa cab. this is a popular way to run this, I've tried a couple of different cabs (Mackie,Atomic) both pretty good neither felt like a real cab to me though. However this is at home playing alone, in a band context when you can crank it up a bit it translates much better.
#3. thru a power amp into a 'real" cab.
this is my favorite way (so far) to run this thing. I've tried it with a couple of different power amps, solid state alllows you to leave the power amp sims on so you get more verstility with it. Tube power amps fight with the amp sims and add their own color/flavor to it.
I'm currentlly using a Mesa 50/50 with mine out to a Recto cab and my Mesa Mark patches sound killer, very close to the real thing (which I have right next to the Axe so I can match it as close as possible) The problem with this power amp is that it makes everything sound like a pre amp running thru a mesa 50/50 power amp because , well that's what you're doing. My Recto Patched do not sound like a real Recto, they sound good , but "off".
so this is also up for sale.
I'm torn between getting a high end Coaxial FRFR Speaker (which is quite different from a pa speaker) or getting a more neutral tube power amp (VHT/Fyette for example) and a more neutral cab (something without V30's in it)
Cost is a factor in either direction but I've heard really good clips with both configurations.
If I was gigging , what my band did would dictate if I used this thing.
for a cover band ? this thing is gold I'd definitely use it.
for an Originals band? I'd have to go back to my trusty Mesa Mark IV (or a Mark V) as that is "my" sound when I write originals I hear them with that sound and as good as the Axe II can be I see no reason to not use the real deal, especially if I don't need 15 differnt tones.
and wehn you get down to it , how many of the drunken slobs in the audience can tell what you're playing thru?? 95% of them could honestly give a shit, it comes down to (Imo) how you feel about it, does it inspire you to play or not.
that's what's most important to me and so far the Axe II is winning me over.
Now I may go and jam with a band and come back with a completely different opinion, we'll just have to wait and see.
Oh and I saw Dream Theater a couple of weeks back and got backstage to meet the chaps (my buddy Mike M. is playing with them now so he hooked us up) and Petrucci and Myung both had Axe FX II's in the setups with the MFC 101 floorboards on stage in front of them. They're using them for the effects right now and petrucci has one back stage that he uses to warm up with. He's one of Mesa's most visible endorsees he's not going to drop them for a modeler.

Thanks bro. You are right. I was a diehard modeling guy. Vetta's, every Line 6 product ever made and practically every other brand too. That was a long time ago actually. I don't think I have used a modeling amp live in about 7 years or something like that. I think its important to give a counterpoint to a thread that asks for opinions. I miss that Vetta II. That thing was alot of fun. I still use a POD XT Live for practice at home. I bring it to gigs too just in case my Rectifier or my 5150-II crap out. They never have. For live considering I play so much, I try to keep my rig as simple as possible.
1/2 stack, with a chorus, flanger, wah and a tuner out in front. I don't use delay or reverb so I never have anything in the loop. Both my 5150-II and my Mesa Rectifier have solo boost features. I can have my rig up and cranking in about 5 minutes and either one always sounds great. I just picked up a little 60W Peavey Triple XXX 1 x 12 combo for the really small clubs where a 1/2 stack is just too much. That amp really rips. Its like a mini 5150.

[xenophobe]

Just spicing it up Chris! I am surprised you didn't comment about one of the best lines I have had in a while??

A studio is just a bedroom with lots of sliders and knobs.

Thats golden.

I lol'd IRL.

[Devotee]

The only guitar player in that list that uses the Axe FX live is Dweezil. All the rest of them use boutique tube amps and cabinets. I could give you a rundown of who uses what but thats what Google is for. I will give you a few though. Guthrie uses Cornford. Steve Vai uses Carvin Legacy's.
Petrucci doesn't use the Axe FX live. He uses Mesa Boogie exclusively live and in the studio. He uses the Axe FX for effects only.
Some of the players on the list are session players that I never heard of. Mark Tremonti uses a few different tube amps live. He uses Mesa Boogie Rectifiers, Bogners and a few boutique amps. To be honest, many of the players on that list I have never heard of. My guess is they are session or clinic players.
Oh yea, Neal Schon uses Blackstar amps live. I saw them recently and he had full racks of them. He does mention that he uses the Axe FX and he mentions in an article that he loves it but he doesn't use it live. Not of the other guys he mention except for Dweezil use it live either.
Its all for the studio which is just a really fancy bedroom with lots of sliders and knobs. Regarding Dweezil, I read an article and he uses the Axe FX because he has to get so many complex textures and sounds live to recreate his dads music. I can't argue with that.

So... Devotee.... nice try bro!!!!

Fair enough, but Chris Broderick uses it live:

[nateb]

Looks like VHT made a poweramp that is switchable between FRFR and their Traditional poweramp voicing.

-Nate

[kmanick]

$1299.00 MAP though, that's a bit steep for an amp like this (IMO) but at the same time I am torn between just getting a high end FRFR wedge (like an RCF which eveyone apparently loves with the Axe) or getting this power amp and a 4X12 with more neutral speakers in it than V30's (which is what I have now)
Option 2 will cost me a bit more but I'm really torn on which way to go.

[Corpsegrinder88]

does seem like a cool amp. ill prolly still buy a vht 2:50:2 just to try. but hell i imagine by the time its done. ill have a cool arsenal of stuff.

[Larz]

I play in my bedroom sometimes but I have bunk beds so its cool

[chrisolson]

I play in my bedroom sometimes but I have bunk beds so its cool

Mine's a race car - gotcha beat!!

That Fryette is kinda cool, but not $1299 cool. I may snag a Matrix at some point though, once they have wider US distribution.

[Corpsegrinder88]

Id buy used. Hell with buying any gear new. Stuffs just to high now days and you loose like 30-50% soon as you pay for it.

Like who in there right mind would pay 2000+ for a new soloist or RR when you can get 2 used ones for that? just doesnt make sense to me. lol

but im cheap so that could explain that.

[Larz]

Like who in there right mind would pay 2000+ for a new soloist or RR when you can get 2 used ones for that?

I prefer to call them "pre-played"

[Corpsegrinder88]

I like to call them "broke in" LOL

[hippietim]

I play live pretty often. For over 4 1/2 years I gigged with an Axe-FX. initially an Ultra with a 2:90 and Port City 2x12, then I went direct with the Ultra with an FBT 12ma on stage, then I switched to an Axe II rig. Every so often I'd play with a tube combo and pedals just for the heck of it.

I got an Axe-FX II when it came out. Shortly before I got the Axe II I picked up a Bogner Ecstasy 20th Anniversary head. So I felt compelled to use the Bogner for a few gigs with a Boogie 2x12 vertical slant cab. Then I decided I'd use the Axe II just for effects since it's much more flexible than using stomp boxes. So I hooked up the Ecstasy and Axe II using the 4-cable method. Sounded great. Then I started using the Axe II for amp sims for a couple patches. Then I stopped using the Ecstasy preamps all together because I was getting better results with the Axe II amp sims. Since I was just using the Ecstasy as a power amp I snagged a Boogie 2:90 again. This is absolutely fucking killer. Then Matrix came out with their 2 space power amp. I did a bunch of A/B testing with the 2:90 - the Matrix won - it's a killer power amp. So the final rig is the Axe II -> Matrix power amp -> Boogie 2x12 vertical slant cab - it is without a doubt the best sounding rig I've ever had - and I haven't even updated my Axe II to the latest firmware. I gigged with this rig in varying configurations for quite some time.

So the Ecstasy and 2:90 have been sitting unused for several months now and are now for sale.

Having said that, I'm not using the Axe II rig much right now. The drummer quit the band I was using that in and we haven't bothered trying to resurrect it. My other band is a Stones tribute band. For that I use a 20-watt single channel Two Rock head with a Bogner 1x12 cab and a couple pedals. The Axe II can actually nail the tones I need a bit better but there is something fundamentally wrong with playing Stones tunes with a modeler