wardick wrote:

 

Hey my Ultra is up on Feebay.  Guess my DB goes with it.     No I am not getting AFXII or anything Fractal..... nor Line 6.

LOL...yes, you're no longer in the DB category.  I must admit, I was there too.

What you get? Real amp?

I've used it all, both for recording and live.  I just read through this thread which popped up on a search I did for the Axe FX II.  Someone nailed it early on (in the midst of all of the name calling and hypocritical remarks - my favorites boil down to people ganging up on someone for knocking someone elses' opinions and then knocking his) - it's amazing that anyone would presume to tell someone why they shouldn't be happy - or something to that effect.

The "real" vs. "fake" arguement is the most tired out there.  Who cares?  The only thing that matters is how it sounds to you.  Even the "feel" arguement is really about how it sounds in response to your playing.  Well, that and your back when you're setting up or tearing down.

If you use amps and mics and don't mind being limited to what they can do (assuming you don't take a ton with you when you play), that's fantastic.

If you have a processor that sounds good and works for you, wonderful.

I've used amps and mics, Pods (xtl, pro, hd), Eventide, other COSM stuff, Axe FX Ultra - like I said, both live and for recording.

My current live rig includes various guitars including a JTV59 into a Relay G90 into an Axe FX Ultra with MFC-101 through a DBX Driverack and BBE 882i through a Presonus Studiolive and into a pair of JBL PRX 635s and JBL PRX 618SXLFs.  I was monitoring through the Sennheiser IEMs but have switched back to JBL PRX 612s for wedges.  I keep all of the rack gear in an Odyssey rolling case.  For me, this is a really compact, sub $15k rig that all fits in a small enclosed trailer.  It doesn't weigh a lot, but most importantly, because we do a majority of covers, I can replicate any mic'd amp, cab and effect very accurately.  That for me is the why I use the AFX.  Going direct to a PA is so much easier than micing an amp.  No feedback issues, less gear on stage and the sound is blended, rather than louder in one place.   That's my opinion - I'm not knocking anyone who likes to use regular amps and cabs that are mic'd.

For recording, if I can imagine a tone, I can produce it with the Axe.  Again, I can emulate mic'd cabs very well.

The AFX Ultra falls short in a few areas that are really important to me: there is no direct link to a computer for recording dry and/or wet tone.  The controls on the front of the unit aren't intuitive.  The connection to the MFC sucks - it requires 3 3rd party MIDI items and 2 MIDI cables (if I want to adjust presets on the computer while using the controller).  Fortunately the AFX 2 solves all of these problems.  The increased processor power and increased control over sound and increased number of cab emulations don't matter much to me.  I can already make the AFX Ultra sound amazing.  I couldn't get any of the L6 gear to do all that the Axe does.  It's not "over the top" for me because I'm picky about sound.  It's also worth every penny.  In fact, I'd pay double for it because I am so picky.

It's all opinion.  I've seen patients cured of terminal diseases because they believed in their treatment, not becaue the treatment was that effective.  To presume to tell someone that what they think sounds good, doesn't - or tastes good, isn't - or looks good...  That's ridiculous.  Sharing an opinion on the other hand, that's human - and very cool besides.

And for the record, I love to sniff the cork.  I drink the best.  But I figure that we're only here once, so I do what makes me happy.

wardick wrote:

 

I have decided not to disclose anything that I end up using.   Let people guess rather than already have opinions.   For example I use Dunlop picks.  Now we can debate which model and thickness is best and how they sound digital or not and compare to every other pick out there.  Without a doubt the guy paying $50 for boutique pick is going to have the best tonez right? 

I have a boutique pick.  Stumps gave it to me.  One of those starpics made of stone.  It's cool.  About $30, I think.  Without this pick, nothing sounds right.

I also use Dunlop picks, the Big Stubby 2mm ones.  Love them.

you got an axefx II

It seems that this thread has become a Line6 users vs FarBeyond thread.  Despite the tone of his posts, he's actually made some good points..
I find that the words "for the money" play a HUGE part in conversations pertaining to the Axe FX as well as the HD500. 
I believe the HD500 is a very viable option for a lot of guitarists as most gigging guitarists just need the basics to be covered with a few nice bonuses.  The HD is good...well, probably great for that.  While I was underwhelmed with its versatility compared to my GT-10, I think the high gain amp sims are good (better than the ones in the GT) and that this unit is great for a lot of gigging situations.  If that's all you need, paying $500 makes more sense than $3k. 
BUT...
When it comes to sound and tone CREATION, there is no comparison.  The HD500 can't even touch my GT-10 in that department.  As far as quality effects combinations and what's possible, there are things that you can do with a tool like the Axe-FX that you simply can not come close to in any Line6 piece.  That's not a knock to Line6 - its more of an understanding of the marketing of the different products. 
I have a lot of effects, effects processors and so on.  I'm not a fanboy of any company.  I buy the tools I need for the purposes I need them for.   While I haven't taken the Axe-FX plunge yet, I plan to  because for me, a tool like that is pretty much the ultimate in one-stop-shop tone creation outside of a laptop and many effects plugins (which I also have). 
Not everyone is interested in creating unique tones or spending a lot of money to get certain sounds.  Not all tones require a box like the Axe-FX or even a box like the HD500 for that matter.  It really all comes down to your resources vs. your interests vs. your g.a.s. for any particular piece of gear.
The very nature of the title suggests a snide dig at Fractal Audio for improving on their product.  Wouldn't Line6 users be interested in a HD600 or HD1000 if they came out with it?  What's the difference?  People pay for what they want.  If you have $3k to spend on something that does exactly what you want it to, then why not do it?  Fractal Audio isn't in the same market as Line6, so the whole argument seems to be a bit moot, IMO.

AudioMajik wrote:

 

It seems that this thread has become a Line6 users vs FarBeyond thread.

All he had to do is open his mouth for that to happen.  Seriously, have you seen some of the stuff he writes?

FarBeyond3 wrote:

 

the more blocks you add to the signal - the more analog and  vintage it sounds

Really?  Is he serious, or is he just playing everyone to get his jollies?  I hope it's the latter.  Because he seems like he's a 12 year old.

AudioMajik wrote:

 

there are things that you can do with a tool like the Axe-FX that you simply can not come close to in any Line6 piece....

 

While I haven't taken the Axe-FX plunge yet...

It's okay to have a healthy respect for a unit you don't own or haven't played yet.  But I have to ask, how do you know this for sure?

Fractal Audio isn't in the same market as Line6, so the whole argument seems to be a bit moot, IMO.

Consider that many Fractal users are both current and former Line6 users.  A lot of Axe owners have PODs.  So I'd say it's the same market.  Or that there's at least a considerable overlap.  And that's why the talk about value for money matters.  Go over to the Fractal forum right now.  There are people over there considering the HD500 instead of waiting for the Axe-II.  And since the price of the Axe-II has been increased to $2600...yes, that's right, $2600....without even a foot controller which will run you another $750, and a $150 expression pedal, and a rack, and a power conditioner, etc, etc...now you're talking $4000 and you need a small hand truck to wheel your rig in.  HD500:  ~1/8 of the cost of the total rig and you can carry it in a bag with one hand.

There are advantages to both tools.

AudioMajik wrote:

 

Karl, I HAVE played an Axe-FX.

My apologies for assuming you didn't.  You're right, the feature set is considerably stacked in the Axe-Fx's favor.  And I'd expect that from a device costing so much more.  You're also right that it sounds fantastic.  I enjoyed the crap out of mine.

I only took slight issue that you said the "value for the money" argument wasn't applicable because they aren't in the same market.  Clearly there's a big overlap.  If both you and I and lots of other people have either owned or will own an Axe and an HD500, then that's proof right there. 

As far as the whole price point thing goes, even with just the Behringer controller, you're still talking about a unit that's about 5 times more expensive than the HD500, so naturally some people are going to question that decision, and indeed some already are questioning waiting for the Axe-Fx II.  I certainly won't be buying one of those.  $2600 for a modeler...way too rich for my blood.   I'd rather buy another really nice tube amp for that money.

rograt wrote:

 

"As far as the whole price point thing goes, even with just the Behringer controller, you're still talking about a unit that's about 5 times more expensive than the HD500, so naturally some people are going to question that decision, and indeed some already are questioning waiting for the Axe-Fx II.  I certainly won't be buying one of those.  $2600 for a modeler...way too rich for my blood.   I'd rather buy another really nice tube amp for that money."

 

Amen to that. Another of many pointless posts that belong to Harmony Central or The Gear Page rather than Line 6's own community forum

The cost of the AxeII is not $2600. It's $2200 after the immediate coupon code you receive after you get on the waiting list. This is until they clear out the que. If you want to sit there and continuously hit refresh on the store button, then yes, it's $2600.

It's an interesting way of managing orders, but apparently it works for them.