Posted by Norm on 5/31/2008, 3:42 pm, in reply to "Norm: Axe-FX"

Hey Jason, I am still on the waiting list for the AXE-FX. I think these things are a trade off for me but I do want more for my money. I pretty much do copy stuff just like the recordings and I do a lot of bedroom playing. (Guitar and Women) So while I love the sound of a great tube amp, I have to carry 4 of them or a Mesa Road King type amp to get that versitility just in the tone department. Then comes the volume issue! If you are in a small club, a 50 watt Germino is over kill. So now you have to have both a small and medium/large rig. For me that is 6-8 amps and cabs plus a pedal board. So the Line6 stuff sounds like a great idea.(No pun intended)But I can never get the tone just exactly right for a particular sound. It is always around 80-85%. But if you have to do that 20 times a night, ie. 1 Boston song, 2 Zeppelin songs, 2 U2 songs, 1 Eric Johnson tune, 2 SRV songs etc., it is better to use the modeling stuff IMHO. Now if I was in an all original band and I had a signature sound, or if I was in a tribute band trying to copy a signature sound, I would go with the tube amp. So what I am hoping for is that the AXE-FX gets closer to 90% or higher and even better as the software improves. Even in their clips, I still hear something not quite right yet. Like some punch is missing or not quite enough mids or something? But it is still closer than my Line6 gear and I think they are getting closer with every update. --Previous Message-- : Hey Norm...wanted to follow-up on the Axe-FX : thing. I discussed it this week with a : friend who had one. He said he sold it : because it didn't hang with his tube amps, : though he did think it represented a big : leap for modelers. In fact, he said he'd be : happy to look at them again down the road as : their technology progresses, but at the : moment, the tube amps are where it's at for : him. : : He mentioned that he intentionally stayed : away from his amps for awhile upon receiving : the Axe-FX so that he could explore the : device extensively without any interference. : However, he told me that the minute he : plugged back into one of his tube amps, it : was over. : : So...his unit was the one that I had : intended to check out; but this is not a : possibility now that it's gone. Thought I'd : give you the update. : : I do want to emphasize a couple of things: : : 1. He did have some good things to say : about the unit and in no way was dismissing : the product on the whole. He just felt that : he could get more of what he was looking for : from his other rigs. : : 2. I am not categorically opposed to : modelers because I think the good ones can : offer some utility. I have yet to encounter : an Axe-FX in person, so I'm not qualified to : make any judgments on them. The premise of : them seems sensible and versatile. I am : aware of players who are absolutely in love : with the Axe-FX, and there are some good : clips floating around on the web. It's all : about application for me, and while I do not : envision parting with my amps or finding a : modeler that would be superior in terms of : tone and feel to those, I am always open to : exploring current technology. I'm glad that : engineers are still pushing forward in this : arena and continuing to refine what these : products do. Again, there are still a lot : of folks out there who are doing some really : good things with the Axe-FX, so by no means : would I discourage you from any interest you : have in one. : : YMMV as always! : : Take care, : : JB :