Posted by Jason on 6/23/2008, 11:43 am, in reply to "Re: Axe-Fx Tone"

You ask all the tough questions! And I have a hard time giving a simple yes/no answer. I think good tube amps (and there are some inferior ones) will usually give a feel and width of sound that modelers haven't captured yet, and that likely goes for the Axe-Fx based upon some opinions I trust. However, that doesn't mean that the Axe-Fx doesn't kick tail and have some amazing applications in its repertoire. I am still quite intrigued by it. Sounded really good Norm. Tube or not tube...that is the question, and the answer isn't always clear- not because there can't be a dramatic difference between the two (there often is). Rather, the player has a lot to do with it and camera variables always come into play. Plus, I think the FEEL, which is usually discerned more by the player, is of paramount consideration. As someone who has done the camera thing for a long time, I know that it isn't really possible to capture the true and total essence of anything as it sounds and feels in real life. We're trying to shove all that air and energy into a miniscule microphone, which in turn is sent over wires and ultimately comes out of an assortment of speakers. That's not to say these things aren't useful (or else I wouldn't even bother with it). Bottom line for me is I like your vid and the tones. Unless you are putting one over on us, I have no reason to doubt you are not using tubes. And...in either case...it sounds good. Refer back to that Eric Johnson/ Fender G-Dec link for a relevant example. I've seen Pete Anderson play in person onstage with an original Line 6 POD and it sounded very musical. Or...go look at the David Grissom vids I shot from a few NAMMs ago where he was killing through a POD. Sure, both of those guys probably sound "better" through their tube amps, but they were making MUSIC and I never found myself in either of those instances feeling like the absence of tubes was interfering with the emotional expression. So last night, I did a session with a Roland battery-powered Cube for convenience. I need to lay some tracks for something and didn't feel like lugging a heavier rig or pedals. Did I notice a sonic and feel difference as opposed to my tube amps? You bet! However, if I were to play the tracks for somebody, they might not be able to notice the difference. If they had enough points of reference of work I've done with tubes, then maybe they'd hear the difference. Until I can actually experience an Axe-Fx in person, I can't pass judgment on it; but I think it's an interesting idea to have so many tone options and versatility into a compact package. I think that's probably where these things stand right now. Do they give you 100% tube sound and feel? Well- I've already spoken with people who prefer their tube amps. I'm a tube amp guy myself, but I've always said that modelers, Line 6 included, have great utility for many situations. Given a choice, I'll go for the good tube amp over a modeler. Convenience? Sometimes the modeler wins. (deep breath) Ok- sounds tube-like to me. I do not like fizz, and I do hear and FEEL fizz in most modeling/ solid-state formats. So, I did not hear that in your video. If it's the solid-state Axe-Fx, then you've dialed it in nicely and avoided the fizz. Maybe I could've just answered it all with this paragraph? Nah! --Previous Message-- : So what did you think of the tone, tube or no : tube? I know it is hard to tell with just : the little camera mics but at least you can : get a reference. I think a lot of the other : posters used Line6 gear and I hear a : fizziness that I don't hear with the AXE-FX. : : Here is how I set the patch: Knight PA head : into Handsome Devil into Ultimate Attenuator : into Plank Cranker (lower gain setting) then : into custom pedal board with Klon then : though AXE-FX in bypass mode. : : --Previous Message-- : Nice Norm! Thanks for the link and the vid. : I will pick up some stuff from it. Keep 'em : coming. : : JB : : --Previous Message-- : Hey Tone Brothers, : I just uploaded a video lesson that I did on : a free guitar lesson site and I used the : Axe-Fx for it. It was only the second preset : that I made after I finally got the Editor : working. The song is an Eric Johnson song : called 12 to 12 Vibe. Here is the link to : the first part of it: : : : : http://www.vanderbilly.com/Guitar-Lesson-Eric+Johnson+-+12+to+12+Vibe+16,7041,1.html : : : : :