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Post by ragan on Jul 14, 2024 8:08:32 GMT -6
The Marshall and Vox on the Iridium are really good fwiw. I have mine loaded with other IRs (Ownhammer) because I like them. The $$$ for the AxeFX can be justifiable when it’s replacing everything (pedals, all amps, etc). If you just want a couple amp more colors in the palette, I’m not sure it makes sense to spend that kind of money.
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Post by thehightenor on Jul 14, 2024 8:30:39 GMT -6
The Marshall and Vox on the Iridium are really good fwiw. I have mine loaded with other IRs (Ownhammer) because I like them. The $$$ for the AxeFX can be justifiable when it’s replacing everything (pedals, all amps, etc). If you just want a couple amp more colors in the palette, I’m not sure it makes sense to spend that kind of money. Thanks for that recommendation - I'll check this pedal out, I'm not familiar with it. |
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Post by indiehouse on Jul 14, 2024 17:02:01 GMT -6
I had an Axe-FX 3 MKII, but I never gave it a fair shake before I moved on. I should try it out again. The presets and menu diving turned me off. I went tube amp -> load box route. Not entirely happy with things. Which load box? I literally just bought a Boss WAZA Tube Amp Expander to use with my tube amps and pedal board and I think the results are fantastic and the feel of the guitar is great. I very much like modellers and amp sims too, I think they’re brilliant for writing as they’re so quick and convenient and you’re not burning up you’re tube collection sitting coming up with ideas! I have the Suhr RL IR and a Fryette Powerstation. |
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Post by thehightenor on Jul 15, 2024 1:23:28 GMT -6
Which load box? I literally just bought a Boss WAZA Tube Amp Expander to use with my tube amps and pedal board and I think the results are fantastic and the feel of the guitar is great. I very much like modellers and amp sims too, I think they’re brilliant for writing as they’re so quick and convenient and you’re not burning up you’re tube collection sitting coming up with ideas! I have the Suhr RL IR and a Fryette Powerstation. Great gear you have there - and you're not happy with those units? I'm very impressed with the WAZA TAE, I'm able to really push the channels on my Tone King Imperial Mk2 and it doesn't feel spongy or loaded down like the built in Iron Man II attenuator. (The tuneable reactive load Roland have designed is very effective imho - this is what Roland are great at - same as my TD-50x E Drum kit - playability and feel - they're big on that) The amp still has that Blackface spank the Imperial does so well - it's not 100% the same, but I'll take 85% of the feel of amp to cab - it's great for my application. If I eventually add a Fractal FM3 - I'll have a system to cover my needs across the genres I produce music in. |
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Post by damoongo on Jul 15, 2024 1:38:27 GMT -6
I have the Suhr RL IR and a Fryette Powerstation. Great gear you have there - and you're not happy with those units? I'm very impressed with the WAZA TAE, I'm able to really push the channels on my Tone King Imperial Mk2 and it doesn't feel spongy or loaded down like the built in Iron Man II attenuator. (The tuneable reactive load Roland have designed is very effective imho - this is what Roland are great at - same as my TD-50x E Drum kit - playability and feel - they're big on that) The amp still has that Blackface spank the Imperial does so well - it's not 100% the same, but I'll take 85% of the feel of amp to cab - it's great for my application. If I eventually add a Fractal FM3 - I'll have a system to cover my needs across the genres I produce music in. What genres? |
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Post by thehightenor on Jul 15, 2024 2:22:49 GMT -6
Great gear you have there - and you're not happy with those units? I'm very impressed with the WAZA TAE, I'm able to really push the channels on my Tone King Imperial Mk2 and it doesn't feel spongy or loaded down like the built in Iron Man II attenuator. (The tuneable reactive load Roland have designed is very effective imho - this is what Roland are great at - same as my TD-50x E Drum kit - playability and feel - they're big on that) The amp still has that Blackface spank the Imperial does so well - it's not 100% the same, but I'll take 85% of the feel of amp to cab - it's great for my application. If I eventually add a Fractal FM3 - I'll have a system to cover my needs across the genres I produce music in. What genres? Pop and roll singer songwriter stuff. Sting, Gabriel, Crowded House and some modern pop productions too, as I also write for a young singer. Some Blues, classic RnB, funk, jazz funk Steely Dan vibe. No heavy metal stuff, or heavily guitar oriented stuff like The Foo’s etc |
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Post by indiehouse on Jul 15, 2024 5:10:10 GMT -6
I have the Suhr RL IR and a Fryette Powerstation. Great gear you have there - and you're not happy with those units? I'm very impressed with the WAZA TAE, I'm able to really push the channels on my Tone King Imperial Mk2 and it doesn't feel spongy or loaded down like the built in Iron Man II attenuator. (The tuneable reactive load Roland have designed is very effective imho - this is what Roland are great at - same as my TD-50x E Drum kit - playability and feel - they're big on that) The amp still has that Blackface spank the Imperial does so well - it's not 100% the same, but I'll take 85% of the feel of amp to cab - it's great for my application. If I eventually add a Fractal FM3 - I'll have a system to cover my needs across the genres I produce music in. The Suhr sounds a bit flat and scratchy to me. The Suhr guys tell me that's just what close mic'd amps sound like...scratchy. I don't hear scratchy guitar tones on my favorite records. And I don't hear scratchy guitar tones on the modelers and amp sims I've used. I dunno, probably user error. Still a work in progress. But it makes me not want to run my amps. |
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Post by thehightenor on Jul 15, 2024 7:41:24 GMT -6
Great gear you have there - and you're not happy with those units? I'm very impressed with the WAZA TAE, I'm able to really push the channels on my Tone King Imperial Mk2 and it doesn't feel spongy or loaded down like the built in Iron Man II attenuator. (The tuneable reactive load Roland have designed is very effective imho - this is what Roland are great at - same as my TD-50x E Drum kit - playability and feel - they're big on that) The amp still has that Blackface spank the Imperial does so well - it's not 100% the same, but I'll take 85% of the feel of amp to cab - it's great for my application. If I eventually add a Fractal FM3 - I'll have a system to cover my needs across the genres I produce music in. The Suhr sounds a bit flat and scratchy to me. The Suhr guys tell me that's just what close mic'd amps sound like...scratchy. I don't hear scratchy guitar tones on my favorite records. And I don't hear scratchy guitar tones on the modelers and amp sims I've used. I dunno, probably user error. Still a work in progress. But it makes me not want to run my amps. Which amps? The Waza TAE seems to work very well with my Tone King Imperial MK2 (essentially a Deluxe Reverb/Tweed) and Princeton 68 - both Fender style and quite smooth sounding amps with that Blackface smack. This comes out a bit smoother through the TAE and yes, it is a touch flatter than the amp to cab sound, but not by much and definitely not scratchy. The Fractal is a great unit too - there's so many ways to get a great tone these days, and everyone has their personal preference. |
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Post by indiehouse on Jul 15, 2024 10:21:39 GMT -6
The Suhr sounds a bit flat and scratchy to me. The Suhr guys tell me that's just what close mic'd amps sound like...scratchy. I don't hear scratchy guitar tones on my favorite records. And I don't hear scratchy guitar tones on the modelers and amp sims I've used. I dunno, probably user error. Still a work in progress. But it makes me not want to run my amps. Which amps? The Waza TAE seems to work very well with my Tone King Imperial MK2 (essentially a Deluxe Reverb/Tweed) and Princeton 68 - both Fender style and quite smooth sounding amps with that Blackface smack. This comes out a bit smoother through the TAE and yes, it is a touch flatter than the amp to cab sound, but not by much and definitely not scratchy. The Fractal is a great unit too - there's so many ways to get a great tone these days, and everyone has their personal preference. I had a Benson Monarch, Swart AST, Dr. Z Z28-MKII, Fat Jimmy Jimmy Jr. and a 12" BF Princeton clone. |
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Post by thehightenor on Jul 15, 2024 10:30:47 GMT -6
Which amps? The Waza TAE seems to work very well with my Tone King Imperial MK2 (essentially a Deluxe Reverb/Tweed) and Princeton 68 - both Fender style and quite smooth sounding amps with that Blackface smack. This comes out a bit smoother through the TAE and yes, it is a touch flatter than the amp to cab sound, but not by much and definitely not scratchy. The Fractal is a great unit too - there's so many ways to get a great tone these days, and everyone has their personal preference. I had a Benson Monarch, Swart AST, Dr. Z Z28-MKII, Fat Jimmy Jimmy Jr. and a 12" BF Princeton clone. Lovely amps! You certainly have had great gear! |
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Post by indiehouse on Jul 15, 2024 10:43:15 GMT -6
Yeah, I've been spoiled. I recently sold my Benson after someone offered me ridiculous money. And I sold my Swart to pay for the Dr. Z. I may consider the Axe-Fx if I can't get what I want out of the Suhr RL.
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Post by thehightenor on Jul 15, 2024 11:27:38 GMT -6
Yeah, I've been spoiled. I recently sold my Benson after someone offered me ridiculous money. And I sold my Swart to pay for the Dr. Z. I may consider the Axe-Fx if I can't get what I want out of the Suhr RL. The Fractal units do sound great! I’ve got a 15 pedal boutique pedal board that cost me a kings ransom to build (started it in 2012) and it’s got some fantastic analogue and digital pedals on it - proper drive/mod/delay/rev sections and I’m not ready to give it up as I love the tones it produces, so a Boss TAE and my tube amps makes a lot of sense. There’s so many paths these days and each has its pro’s and con’s - strengths and weaknesses. |
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Post by indiehouse on Jul 15, 2024 11:47:10 GMT -6
Yeah, I've been spoiled. I recently sold my Benson after someone offered me ridiculous money. And I sold my Swart to pay for the Dr. Z. I may consider the Axe-Fx if I can't get what I want out of the Suhr RL. The Fractal units do sound great! I’ve got a 15 pedal boutique pedal board that cost me a kings ransom to build (started it in 2012) and it’s got some fantastic analogue and digital pedals on it - proper drive/mod/delay/rev sections and I’m not ready to give it up as I love the tones it produces, so a Boss TAE and my tube amps makes a lot of sense. There’s so many paths these days and each has its pro’s and con’s - strengths and weaknesses. Same. I love using amps and pedals, and have a really nice board that I’ve put together over the years. An Axe would make it all redundant. |
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Post by thehightenor on Jul 15, 2024 13:23:11 GMT -6
The Fractal units do sound great! I’ve got a 15 pedal boutique pedal board that cost me a kings ransom to build (started it in 2012) and it’s got some fantastic analogue and digital pedals on it - proper drive/mod/delay/rev sections and I’m not ready to give it up as I love the tones it produces, so a Boss TAE and my tube amps makes a lot of sense. There’s so many paths these days and each has its pro’s and con’s - strengths and weaknesses. Same. I love using amps and pedals, and have a really nice board that I’ve put together over the years. An Axe would make it all redundant. I would have to be convinced the Axe could replace my analogue pedals. For example - I've just bought some more rack hardware compressors because I'm not getting want I want from software compression for certain tracks like vocals, bass, snare on mixdown - so I'd need a lot of convincing. For digital FX I'm certain the Axe is great - even the Waza TAE has great digital FX built in. I think the amp modelling in the Axe is excellent too - not the same as a tube amp to my ears - but very close and I'd be happy to use one for some situations. |
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Post by the other mark williams on Jul 15, 2024 14:56:51 GMT -6
Same. I love using amps and pedals, and have a really nice board that I’ve put together over the years. An Axe would make it all redundant. I would have to be convinced the Axe could replace my analogue pedals. For example - I've just bought some more rack hardware compressors because I'm not getting want I want from software compression for certain tracks like vocals, bass, snare on mixdown - so I'd need a lot of convincing. For digital FX I'm certain the Axe is great - even the Waza TAE has great digital FX built in. I think the amp modelling in the Axe is excellent too - not the same as a tube amp to my ears - but very close and I'd be happy to use one for some situations. Yeah, FWIW, I'm considering a Fractal, too (prob the one Wiz got), but even if I were to do it, I wouldn't plan on selling any of my pedals. I've collected quite a few over the years that I really like, and I would use them as the front end to a Fractal the same way I use them as a front end to my amps (Vox AC-15, Top Hat Club Royale, and Fender Pro Jr.). |
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Post by thehightenor on Jul 15, 2024 15:04:38 GMT -6
I would have to be convinced the Axe could replace my analogue pedals. For example - I've just bought some more rack hardware compressors because I'm not getting want I want from software compression for certain tracks like vocals, bass, snare on mixdown - so I'd need a lot of convincing. For digital FX I'm certain the Axe is great - even the Waza TAE has great digital FX built in. I think the amp modelling in the Axe is excellent too - not the same as a tube amp to my ears - but very close and I'd be happy to use one for some situations. Yeah, FWIW, I'm considering a Fractal, too (prob the one Wiz got), but even if I were to do it, I wouldn't plan on selling any of my pedals. I've collected quite a few over the years that I really like, and I would use them as the front end to a Fractal the same way I use them as a front end to my amps (Vox AC-15, Top Hat Club Royale, and Fender Pro Jr.). From my limited experience hitting the front end of an Axe FX with a pedal doesn't work quite the same as hitting the front end of a tube amp. The gain structure is different - it doesn't "goose" the front end of the pre they way it does with a real tube amp - it's hitting an A/D first then the modelled amp - it sounds a bit differently in practice. I think what does work is putting modulation, delay and reverb pedals in the FX loop of the FM3. But it's questionable if the Axe makes doing that obsolete as it's own FX are very good. I think the FM3 is a great addition to a player who already has real amps, pedals and load boxes etc. I think the Axe FX 3 is a replacement for the lot and an end to end solution and priced accordingly. As I already have an extensive analog set-up I think the sweet spot for me is the addition of an FM3 and the fact I can use the FM3 live as well as the studio. |
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Post by Johnkenn on Jul 16, 2024 19:22:42 GMT -6
Yeah, FWIW, I'm considering a Fractal, too (prob the one Wiz got), but even if I were to do it, I wouldn't plan on selling any of my pedals. I've collected quite a few over the years that I really like, and I would use them as the front end to a Fractal the same way I use them as a front end to my amps (Vox AC-15, Top Hat Club Royale, and Fender Pro Jr.). From my limited experience hitting the front end of an Axe FX with a pedal doesn't work quite the same as hitting the front end of a tube amp. The gain structure is different - it doesn't "goose" the front end of the pre they way it does with a real tube amp - it's hitting an A/D first then the modelled amp - it sounds a bit differently in practice. I think what does work is putting modulation, delay and reverb pedals in the FX loop of the FM3. But it's questionable if the Axe makes doing that obsolete as it's own FX are very good. I think the FM3 is a great addition to a player who already has real amps, pedals and load boxes etc. I think the Axe FX 3 is a replacement for the lot and an end to end solution and priced accordingly. As I already have an extensive analog set-up I think the sweet spot for me is the addition of an FM3 and the fact I can use the FM3 live as well as the studio. Dude. Just get one. |
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Post by wiz on Jul 16, 2024 19:28:21 GMT -6
From my limited experience hitting the front end of an Axe FX with a pedal doesn't work quite the same as hitting the front end of a tube amp. The gain structure is different - it doesn't "goose" the front end of the pre they way it does with a real tube amp - it's hitting an A/D first then the modelled amp - it sounds a bit differently in practice. I think what does work is putting modulation, delay and reverb pedals in the FX loop of the FM3. But it's questionable if the Axe makes doing that obsolete as it's own FX are very good. I think the FM3 is a great addition to a player who already has real amps, pedals and load boxes etc. I think the Axe FX 3 is a replacement for the lot and an end to end solution and priced accordingly. As I already have an extensive analog set-up I think the sweet spot for me is the addition of an FM3 and the fact I can use the FM3 live as well as the studio. Dude. Just get one. So thehightenor you played one? cheers Wiz |
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Post by thehightenor on Jul 17, 2024 1:00:23 GMT -6
Yes, I've now had a demo of one, I have a guitarist friend who uses an FM3 in his studio set up. It is indeed very impressive! I will buy one, I've first got to financially recover from (this week) buying a Waza Tube Amp Expander for my current analog rig. |
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Post by indiehouse on Jul 22, 2024 12:55:45 GMT -6
What are the reasons someone would choose the AXE-FX III over the FM3? Does the AFIII sound better?
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Post by Johnkenn on Jul 22, 2024 13:26:07 GMT -6
Same sounds, just less processing. Well, mostly the same sounds as things always get ported to the III first. So, it sometimes takes a little while to get to the 3 and 9 I think. Also don’t think you can do two amps at once in the 3. I’d imagine if you were trying to run a comp, drive, flange, amp, cab, chorus, delay and reverb all that the same time on the FM3, you’d run into maxing it out.
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Post by indiehouse on Jul 22, 2024 14:54:38 GMT -6
Same sounds, just less processing. Well, mostly the same sounds as things always get ported to the III first. So, it sometimes takes a little while to get to the 3 and 9 I think. Also don’t think you can do two amps at once in the 3. I’d imagine if you were trying to run a comp, drive, flange, amp, cab, chorus, delay and reverb all that the same time on the FM3, you’d run into maxing it out. Oh nice, thanks. I can't ever see myself running a complex FX chain, or two amps at once. Also, why are people selling these on Reverb for more than new? I had no idea it was so hard to find one at a reasonable used price. I woulda been better off buying straight from Fractal during their summer sale. Kinda bummed I missed it now. |
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Post by Johnkenn on Jul 22, 2024 15:33:57 GMT -6
Same sounds, just less processing. Well, mostly the same sounds as things always get ported to the III first. So, it sometimes takes a little while to get to the 3 and 9 I think. Also don’t think you can do two amps at once in the 3. I’d imagine if you were trying to run a comp, drive, flange, amp, cab, chorus, delay and reverb all that the same time on the FM3, you’d run into maxing it out. Oh nice, thanks. I can't ever see myself running a complex FX chain, or two amps at once. Also, why are people selling these on Reverb for more than new? I had no idea it was so hard to find one at a reasonable used price. I woulda been better off buying straight from Fractal during their summer sale. Kinda bummed I missed it now. Here’s V1 for $750. That’s actually the one I’ve had before and how I was judging the processing power. Forgot the new ones are “turbo” with more power. There are a couple on reverb for $1000 but I’d make sure they were the mkII turbos. www.sweetwater.com/used/listings/194876-used-fractal-audio-fm3-amp-modeler |
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Post by thehightenor on Jul 23, 2024 1:39:25 GMT -6
There's always a lot of Axe FX II/ III on sale on Reverb UK.
Some people want almost the same price as a new one - strange as they are available in the UK for next day delivery.
I was initially a bit put off that there are so many for sale second hand, but it's also true of Kempers, Fender Tone Master.
I guess it's just the nature of digital devices, people use them and then move onto something else.
The sweet spot for a bargain is definitely the Axe FX II - they come up at some great prices.
John, are the amps and FX in the FX II the same as the III and there's just less processing power?
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Post by indiehouse on Jul 23, 2024 8:15:42 GMT -6
Oh nice, thanks. I can't ever see myself running a complex FX chain, or two amps at once. Also, why are people selling these on Reverb for more than new? I had no idea it was so hard to find one at a reasonable used price. I woulda been better off buying straight from Fractal during their summer sale. Kinda bummed I missed it now. Here’s V1 for $750. That’s actually the one I’ve had before and how I was judging the processing power. Forgot the new ones are “turbo” with more power. There are a couple on reverb for $1000 but I’d make sure they were the mkII turbos. www.sweetwater.com/used/listings/194876-used-fractal-audio-fm3-amp-modelerThanks! |
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