Community: Message List - You knew this was coming - AXE-FX-II

Re: You knew this was coming - AXE-FX-II

support@line6.com — Fri, 21 Dec 2012 06:11:03 GMT

Maybe if Fractal Audio made a version of the Axe FX with a built in power amp, I'd be more than sold. Don't get me wrong I love my Vetta II, but it's been awhile and the Axe FX just keeps looking better and better. The only thing keeping me from grabbing one is that outrageous price. Till then my Vetta should keep me satisfied. But I'd really like to see Line 6 do something similar to the Vetta in the future. Or atleast an update.

Re: You knew this was coming - AXE-FX-II

support@line6.com — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 15:16:13 GMT

mikey1 wrote:

The thing that gets me is you don't even understand what I said. The point of my post was not to complain I can't sell it. The fact I can't sell it is merely illustrative of my point. The point being, (this is where you pay attention) NOBODY WANTS IT. Nobody wants it. Nobody wants it. Sure, if I put in for 50 bucks somebody might buy it. The same way my wife buys crap at a garage sale because it's too cheap to pass up. But nobody is saying to themselves, gee, I'd sure like to have me one of them Flextones.

My post to Wardick required no response. The experts, hey, that's what they're paid to do. But you, it's just brown nosed pandering. You focus on the one thing you can twist. Like my using the term, "my boy", a common term in literature. You somehow twisted that into what, a racial slur? Is that what you were going for?

I take issue with a lot of the things you post but I rarely respond. I usually just chuckle. You amuse me. And I'm serious, you'll get that expert status. Unless my kicking up all this ruckus has jinxed your chances. That would be a shame wouldn't it

So are you really telling me you couldn't just give this stuff to a kid just starting out on guitar and he wouldn't love it? I had a Tascam 4-track which cost £600 back in 1984. By the mid-'90s you can imagine the value of such a thing, so I gave it away to some kid just starting out and introduced him to the world of recording and overdubs. No doubt he probably went the computer route shortly after but at least it got him started. Oh, and I didn't go on the Tascam forums and b1tch about how I couldn't resell my 4-track. It did what it did when I needed it to, it's resale value didn't magically devalue its worth to me. No doubt you'll tell me I've missed the point again.

Most tech gear devalues, unless you're very cunning on what you buy. Even then fashion rather than actual musical value can dictate value. Gone on, give to a kid or a charity shop, you might even feel good about yourself.

The experts do not get paid to do anything, so again you're the one with slurs trying to twist it around. The 'brown nose' jibe I won't dignify with a response. Oh, and for the record I'm white so no, that's not why I took offence. Your use of "my boy" was intentionally derogatory and nothing to do with literature. Please.

And yes you amuse me too. Why anyone would spend so much time on a board devoted to kit they hate, do not use and cannot even give away I can't fathom. And don't fret about my status, I won't be an expert any time soon as I think Line 6 prefer people who are a little more neutral than I'm prepared to be.

Re: You knew this was coming - AXE-FX-II

support@line6.com — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 17:06:52 GMT

If you didn't like the AxeFX's complexity then you probably hated the Vetta as well. A AxeFX with a power section gives you all the same capabilities that a Vetta head would. Just better sounding, and much easier to dial in a good tone. I was able to dial in a killer crunch during sound check when I got to use one. Rarely could I get something sounding that well in a Vetta that quick. And that's with 6 years of ownership experience. It's also much more expensive though, that's why I don't own one. Currently running a HD147, can't beat it for 450, loving the way it sounds and it's so easy to dial it in and make it growl. I do want to eventually get back to something that has Vetta like capabilities (AxeFX or maybe a Pod HD Pro if they rack'em) but in the meanwhile no complaints with the HD147.

The DT50 controlled by the Pod HD footswitch sounds interesting. But for the money I'd much rather get something else. Also have a habit of destroying gear, footswitches, guitars, I'd rather have the brains of my rig far behind me than on stage with me. Thanks god the Shortboards are built like tanks!

Re: You knew this was coming - AXE-FX-II

support@line6.com — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 16:53:04 GMT

pigwalk wrote:

Fractal does

If you're referring the the Fractal/Atomic combination, that's not even close to the same thing. The Atomic FR series is a bunch of full range monitoring solutions powered by tubes. Why tubes? Because it's the cheapest way to make a quality linear power amp. You're not getting "tube goodness" from that power section. And there's no integration between Axe-Fx and Atomic FR.

The DT50 is a stand alone guitar amp with a real GUITAR tube power section. And not only that, it dynamically reconfigures itself to one of 4 different topologies for different flavors and feels. Plug in the POD HD and you have digital control fom the POD controlling the DT50 power section. And you have digital audio going from the POD to the DT50. Phil is right in stating that nobody else out there is doing this right now.

Glad you enjoyed the Axe-Fx. I got quickly fed up with the complexity and chasing the tone with that machine. It just wasn't as plug and play as a good amp and pedals, and I never got to where I felt great about the tone in a live setting. But hey, if it works for you, then that's cool.

Re: You knew this was coming - AXE-FX-II

support@line6.com — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 16:15:40 GMT

Well, the Axe-FX is just a modeling preamp. You would still need a power amp and cab. It's not a true all-in-one solution as in it will in and of itself replace a tradional guitar/amp/pedalboard rig.

Re: You knew this was coming - AXE-FX-II

support@line6.com — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 16:13:16 GMT

Fractal does

Re: You knew this was coming - AXE-FX-II

support@line6.com — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 16:00:14 GMT

They're definitely in there with Fender, Vox, Boss, EHX, etc. Plenty of pros and gigging musicians use Line 6 stuff. They aren't relegated simply to bedroom players. I actually think the DT-50/HD500 is a pretty uniquw move on Line 6's part. They're not really anyone else doing the modular thing at the moment. I just think that era of playing wanting a true all-in-one super amp like the Vetta has passed. There's not really anyone making that sort of thing at the moment.

Re: You knew this was coming - AXE-FX-II

support@line6.com — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 15:37:03 GMT

For the mainstream market I'd agree 100%. The bedroom player, the beginner learning or the kid in his first band is going to gravitate towards a Spider or POD setup. And I'm sure it's making them bank! Same way First Act is making a killing selling 100 dollar guitars at Wal-Mart. But First Act also has their custom shop for people that want a top notch guitar for a few bucks. Line 6 has most definitely left the top end of the market to Fractal big time. Which is too bad, because the HD500 seems like a killer piece of gear, but they need a new Vetta. A flagship that can run head to head with the Fractal gear.

Re: You knew this was coming - AXE-FX-II

support@line6.com — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 14:57:36 GMT

Well, I think the DT-50 combined with an HD500 offers a pretty flexible rig, but, yeah it's not quite the complexity of the Vetta, and it's nowhere near the complexity of the Axe FX. I'm just not convinced that the added complexity equates to a better overall tone, or maybe more importantly, a better overall playing experience - at least for me personally. If people are willing to invest the time and effort in programming an Axe-FX based rig, that's great.

I just think that the if you were to plot a graph with demand on the x-axis and complexity on the y-axis, you'd probably end up with something that looks very close to the typical normal or bell curve curve. At the one end, you have the simplest of rigs - a guitar and an amp. There are probably a relatively small amount of players who just want that. At the other end you have the complex rigs like the Axe-FX with MIDI controllers or whatnot. There's probably a relatively small amount of people who want that. In the biggest part of the curve are people looking for something that's flexible, moderately complex, but doesn't necessarily have all the bells and whistles. So I think that's why companies like Line 6 develop the biggest part of their product lines for things that fall short of what people who are tweakaholics want. The modeling game is different now than it was when the Vetta was released. It's much more mainstream now, so Line 6 is primarily competing against much larger companies - not companies like Fractal.

Re: You knew this was coming - AXE-FX-II

support@line6.com — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 14:42:29 GMT

The Rocktron Velocity is a 300w power amp and I'm speaking of re-using the cab that I've been using on Vetta's for years. And currently running a HD147 through! I'm more than content with my HD147 right now, and I didn't like the idea of going with a rack setup either. Until my 2nd Vetta 1 in 6 years died 2 weeks ago and one of the bands let me use their AxeFX that evening. I was 100% sold. I've been a long time Vetta user, and this was the first amp that I found that made me consider moving on.

Line 6 hit a very specific group of players with the Vetta's years ago. People willing to dish out the money for the biggest and best available at the moment, with all the bells and whistles available to make some great tones. And it's just left us behind since then.