I bought a POD X3 Pro last december. At first I was like.. wow

Then, I was like.. ugh

Then, I was like.. POD what?

Now I am like, woow how good some of the stuff sounds through a good tubes pre or with this IR etc

(Same old process with any MFX)

It matters - what gear you have, but is +important how good you are in tweaking

I will still be buying an AxeFX ultra this year -like I was going to back in december-, but I'm in no hurry now

I'm tweaking the crap out of my POD and enyoing/learning every bit of it

If you dismiss the X3 too fast it means you are either not serious about tweaking, or biased towards your new gear (understandable of course )

Lots of pros DO use L6 among their gear, FYI

 

My point being, I wouldn't expect that sort of treatment if I bought any product.  I believe that was the exception, not the rule.

I haven't purchased an FX, but I have strongly considered it. As part of my research into the product, I spent a lot of time on the AXE-FX user forum. IMO, Cliff provides the same kind of service to everyone who purchases an FX, and doesn't play favorites. He consistently responds to all user complaints on that board, either by provision of software updates, or by explaining to the OP that what he wants can be accomplished by proper use of the equipment.  His treatment of Radley was the rule, not the exception over there.

Still, I have no plans to purchase one. Modern amp technology is just getting too good, and the on-stage sound and feel can't be beat.

@Karl_Houseknecht:

Which "real thing" would you buy?  There are very few things that the Axe-FX models that you could get for the cost of the Axe-FX.  The effects are Eventide quality and an Eclipse costs more than the Axe-FX.  You can barely get a high quality real amp, cabinet and decent palette of effects for the price of an Axe-FX.  And the Axe-FX has way more amp capabilities than the POD, near limitless cabinet options (since you can download your own), and studio quality effects.

There are so many things that the Axe-FX offers that just comparing to an amp or a POD is really narrowing the scope considerably.

BTW, I own an X3 and think it sounds pretty darn good - it's my backup rig though.

Karl_Houseknecht wrote:

 

Hippie, it's a great product.  I just don't need the diversity of options.  Too many options makes me dizzy.  I also don't want Eventide quality effects.  I want good analog stompbox effects for the most part.  Actually, I rarely use effects except for a touch of delay or chorus on my clean sounds.  I certainly could buy a real all-tube amp for the nearly $3100 an Axe rig would cost me:

 

Ultra: $2000

MIDI controller + expression pedal: $800

Rack + Power Conditioner: $300

 

Marshall JVM 410H half stack: $2800

A couple of good pedals: $300

 

But it really isn't money that's a factor.  I just don't really want to play a modeler live.  Recording is fine.  But there's no way in heck I'm going to spend $3000 on a recording rig.

It's interesting that you are comparing the top of the line in modeling against the middle of the road for traditional gear. Also note that you can get a Standard Axe-FX for about $500 less and there is no reason you have to spend $800 on a foot controller - you could easily get by for around $200 or use your POD (xt/x3) Live if you have one (and it'd be a great backup rig as well.

As for recording, all you need is the Axe-FX itself which is half of your $3k.  If you need an expression pedal and/or foot controller it's obviously a bit more.

Karl - I was where you are.  I've been through nearly every modeler since the Rocktron Chameleon came out.  I've had all the PODs, Boss VG and GT stuff, V-Amp, a couple Vettas, SpiderValve, etc.  In fact, I'm even on my second Axe-FX.  I've had just about every kind of rig you could imagine from complex racks with several switchers to heads/combos w/pedals.

With the 7.x software on the Axe-FX it is "there" for me.  I run it into an FBT Verve 12ma full range speaker and the tone is just amazing.  It's got the "in the room" sound for me on stage and in rehearsal and sends a killer signal to FOH.  The rig that is now sidelined is a Bogner Fish preamp, Boogie 2:90 power amp, Eventide Eclipse, a handful of stomp boxes, and a killer Port City cab.  The Axe-FX rig is about 40-50lbs lighter and over $3000 cheaper.  Prior to the Bogner/Boogie rig I was using a Straub Cantus (single channel hotrodded plexi) with the PC cab and pedals.

I was very apprehensive about using the Axe-FX live direct and almost busted out the Bogner/Boogie rig at the last minute the first time out.  But I went for it and the results were fantastic.  Our sound guy is a guitarist that is a total tube and boutique pedal guy and he couldn't believe it - I got so many compliments on my sound and playing that night.

Karl_Houseknecht wrote:

 

Well, that's Marshall's flagship amp, isn't it?   12 voicings, 128 MIDI presets, all tube. 

That still puts it at the mid point in terms of good tube gear.  It's got a lot of bells and whistles and the tone is decent but it ain't exactly the pinnacle of tube amps.  It is the V-Amp of tube gear

Karl_Houseknecht wrote:

 

Look, I don't want an argument here because what I've learned over the years is you can't win one with an Axe-Fx enthusiast.  And I don't mean that in a derogatory way.  You've had a great experience with a great piece of gear and that's very cool.  I get it that it's a great modeler.  But that's what it is, a modeler.  And an expensive one at that. 

It is part modeler.  It is also part high-end effects processor.  It is also an audio router.  Is it expensive?  Yes, particularly when you compare it to a POD or a GT-10.  But it is substantially cheaper than what it would take to get the same functionality from other gear.

As for an argument - I've similarly learned that you can't win with someone with fixed/rigid definitions of things.  Besides, so what if it's a modeler?  All of these things are tools - other than debates on Internet discussion forums, who cares how the tools are built?  That's an implementation detail that doesn't mean anything to me.  If it sounds good, it is good.

Karl_Houseknecht wrote:

 

You need great sound reinforcement, good monitoring, and a sound guy that understands direct applications to get a good live tone with a modeler.  Compare to a traditional mic'd amp and a couple of good pedals that are hard for sound guy to screw up.

 

My experience has been dramatically different than yours (and most folks I know as well).  Our sound guy doesn't have to do anything for me.  On the other hand, I've spent over 25 years wondering how sound guys can take my kick *** tube amp, a decent mic, a decent PA, and make it sound bad.  Sound guys have been ******* up mic'd amps for as long as I can remember.

Then there's the whole issue of stage volume.  In small clubs there is no way to get your suggested Marshall tube amp to hit the sweet spot and still get a good band mix - unless you like buzzy preamp distortion then there is no sweet spot to worry about.  My current rig sounds better in a mix than anything I've ever used.

U B 1 young dinosaur

I am raising money to buy a new ampor unit.

I am debating between a Fractal ultra or the new Mark V

Edited by Line6Miller

These types of religious experience threads really do nowhere.  There is no such thing as the "best" unit.  The best unit is the one that does what you want, at the price you can afford, at the level of complexity you are comfortable with and produces the results that work for you.

The AXE-FX is a boutique modeler (who would have ever thought we would get there!) and how good it is vs. what it costs is going to vary wildly.  If you are recording, it really becomes even more of a who cares as it is not a plugin.  There is such a swath of excellent plugins, why would you waste your time with a hardware unit?

For those that can, Tube amps rule this environment.

G.A.S is fun and it shakes things up.  But gear can't improve or hide your playing and if you can play it doesn't matter all that much what gear you use.  It's a matter of preference and comfort.

There is very little I cannot do with my Line 6 gear.