Is An Axe Fx Worth The Money???

This seems to be a popular question so i thought this might be the best way to address it. This is simply my outlook on it .

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[jrose]

Generally, people that bash on the Axe FX cannot justify the cost or cannot afford one. I myself completely agree with everything you said. I have played many of the real amps the Axe FX models and i believe them to sound and even feel very much the same. I dare someone to add up the cost of each individual amp, cab, and pedal this thing has and see what the cost is. The train wreck (wrecker model) is $20, 00 plus if you can find Video!

[theartfuldodger]

When you buy an AxeFx II, you are getting every amp ever made (practically) PLUS every amp that WILL ever be made in the future (practically) and it will sound so close to the original reference amp that only anal-retentive guitarists will care about the difference. PLUS you get all of the killer effects that come with it. PLUS you get tone-matching so you can nail the exact Van Halen tone if you want to right off the CD.

How much will it cost to own several amps and a shitload of pedals?

It's no contest. Not even close.

[flownomis]

wait a second ! aren´t you the guy, who got his axe fx as a present from his wife ?!
then it´s surely worth the money ! :D

[KillerShark]

I agree 100%.  I love amps and cabs but the Axe Fx is so much more convenient.  If you put it in terms of number of different tones per dollar it just makes sense.

[johanblume]

I own the Axe-FX II XL+, as well as a Marshall SLP 100.. In all honesty, I can feel the air move when standing in front of the SLP 100 - not to mention feel my internal organs shake and vibrate when I hit an A chord....but, you're right Robert; the Axe offers incredible tones, features, and convenience that you can't get out of an amp. I love the Axe, especially for recording! In the end, I like great modelers (Axe) and real amps...they both have their respective places.

[brpadington]

To me the biggest selling point of the Axe and other modelers is the ability to get the sound of a full volume amp at low volume or with headphones. These amps are all great but I would never have the ability to crank a Marshall stack without the neighbors wanting me blood and my wife leading the rebellion.

[PierreMiniggio]

I don't use any of these, i edit my guitar sound (plugged into my sound card) through audacity or Fl studio and my amp is my PC Speakers. Works for me <3

[george.kollaros]

The only question I have is: Is it a long term investment? Will be obsolete/superseded by another model in short time? What is the life span of it? That's the problem with software/computer based systems. A vintage (or new) tube amp will be delivering it's one or two glorious tones for 50 years, at least. If I spend $2, 500 and then I have to spend 1, 000's again in 1-2 years it's not an investment, especially if you use a couple of dirty and a couple of clean tones as most guitarists use. It is a very good tool, but for a studio or for a session guitarist who must cover a lot of styles with a lot of different sounds.

[TheMusicfan]

Completely agree with you Robert. I have always been a amp guy so I go more for the analogue sound over digital but in my experience both are great if that's what you are looking for. I think recording wise for YouTube and other websites I think the axe effects are great, you get good tones without having the trouble of recording in a quiet environment with a microphone. So I think there's a place for the axe effects in the market. Everyone has their opinion but at the end of the day if you get the tones you want it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks. Cheers!!

[jaycoxguitars]

I play mostly 80s hair metal and classic rock.  My current signal chain consists of Ernie Ball Slinky 9-42s --> homegrown H-H alder super strat with Bareknuckle Holy Diver pickups --> Line6 G90 xmitter/wireless receiver --> Axe FX XL+ --> Peavey 50/50 Classic Series Power Amp --> 1987 Marshall 1960A cabinet with the original Celestions.  I use the Fractal MFC101 for switching (which, BTW, is the most versatile - and easiest to program/customize - MIDI foot control I've ever used).  Best tone I've ever had.  In addition to the other points made here, I'd just point out that being able to duplicate the high gain tone of a JCM800 or SLO100 WITHOUT having to worry about blowing a tube mid-show, or my tone changing radically over time or after re-tubing, is priceless.

[MarkVincentNevadaslick]

Nice argument you've made for buying an Axe FX! As a LA recording engineer, convenience is important. I've had pretty much every amp in my studio at one time or another and depending on who's setting the tones, good amps can sound like crap just like anything. The playing is taken way too much for granted and then it seems that all people talk about is tone rather than the notes being played. Having said all of that, I have no problem with modeling, The digital age has evolved into what we all had hoped it to be. Unfortunately, it scares many folks because it means they have to think differently. I grew up learning computers from the beginning back in the 80's. On the other hand my brothers didn't, and to this day neither of them own or know how to operate a computer. It's good to have an open mind and allow progress to flourish!

[silverdragon]

I really like my axe fx II :) I bought it for 800 used with scratches and dents and stuff. From Craigslist. It was worth it :) it works well and hold up to its hype. I only play djent, progressive metal, jazz, Spanish guitar, tho so I don't care what else it does. It's good for me :)

[getpickin]

I've always been a tube amp guy, but I the real question for me at least is, is it musical? Does it sound good? when I hear the fractal being played by guys on YouTube, I can tell most of the time it's not a tube amp. Doesnt matter though, they always have a great musical quality to them. I agree that it's worth it. Guys that havent had have a lot of exposure to tube amps can still have great ears and musicality. I say hey, whatever gets your MOJO on.

[lesterhsieh]

I recently got an AX8 to replace a Mesa Boogie Mark V with a Digitech GSP1101 rack-mounted multi-effects unit and Control2 foot controller. The AX8 can replicate the sounds of my Mesa and effects patches, and open up a greater variety of tones. For example, for one song, I have set up 4 different patches, clean vs. dirty, each based on a different amp and cabinet like they might do in a studio, and have played through them live. Moreover, being in two cover bands, it's much easier to move the AX8 around instead of my rig. The only issues I've had are equalizing volumes and tones across patches when playing live. The tones I set up through monitor speakers at home don't always carry through to a live PA. Some patches sound great, others not so much. Still a work in progress, but when I get all the tones dialed into each PA I play through, I will have no regrets.

[wheresallthezombies]

this is all a fair argument, the only problem i had when i had one was option paralysis. i tend to be indecisive and constantly tweaking so it was just to much. i actually now have a 6505+ and mark v. but ones at home and the other is at the rehearsal space. although it would be sweet to just it as an effects unit.

[luckycat]

I finally make enough money to spend a tidy sum on guitar equipment. I have numerous tube amps, my best two are a Clark Amplification lil'bit (based on fender champ) and a Tone King Metropolitain. I have an Eleven Rack as well as Axe-fx ii with the latest firmware (quantum 1.03) and MFC control board. There is nothing that will replace sitting in my studio next to the metropolitan. I have heard it referred to as the "same room experience" It is stunning to be for sure. The experience starts to fade as I play with band members and even more so in a club setting. It's freaking awesome to be in the same room though. Nothing compares. Guitar/amp/room/ears... way cool. That being said recording it will never be the same. I can't explain it but for most people there is an immediate recognition of a recorded guitar vs a live guitar. it just the way it is. And at the end of the day an amp is just one amp. For me it's like being in a different part of town but its the same town. The tones I can get out of the 11r or the axe fx can be extremely satisfying. They sound like killer RECORDED amps. Just like if I were to record my metropolitan. With the 11r or the axe-fx I can be on a different planet at the stomp of a button. Way Way Way cool. If I had to pick just one it would be the Axe-fx. I play it 80 percent of the time. Not so much that it has better tone than the 11r but more features but cost way more. For 3 or 4 hundred you can get a used 11r and a midi foot controller and have around 2000.00 more in your pocket. I have a really hard time justifying the extra expense for the axe-fx but product support is unsurpassed and I can afford it. I've gotten killer tones out of just about anything these days. I got a little line 6 pocket that has a couple of just awesome tones. Point is you can get great tones cheap these days. It's just for me the AXE-fx has many killer tones, not just a couple.

[DonLeeelbow]

I very much agree. I built my own Marshall plexi clone from plans found online and love that amp. But it's pretty much a dirty deeds/74 Jailbreak type of tone and that's it.. I go with modelers to experiment and find something inspiring with a minimum of fiddling with knobs .

[christianthompson]

Nice quick outlook.. "thumbs up". You hit it dead-on when you say most modern day guitarists haven't even played these amps. That's the main reason to use a modeler, aside from just the convenience. I use both. I keep the tube amps for live shows and some recording, and use the modelers for rehearsals and any fly dates that limit my ability to bring an armada of gear.

[DAVEBLISS]

Good points raised here. I particularly agree that most young players have never experienced true vintage guitar amps so they don't know any better when offered inferior sounds from Line 6 and such. AXE FX II does great emulations especially of some amps that I could never possibly get to own like Dumbles, Trainwrecks etc. If a vintage Dumble head sells for 30, 000 dollars the AXE FX II is a gift at 3, 000$.

[Scias]

I agree. I do like even my decade old marshall 30W combo, but hey you can plug the axe fx in to a cab if you want to move air so hey it's best of both worlds.