Discussing the Axe-FX

[WerewolfG]

Hey there,

So, I never owned any rig. used to plug into whatever amp there was at the rehearsal room/show.
About time, I'm trying to pull the best combinations that will satisfy my taste, and like any other musician in the world - bumped into the Axe-FX hype.

My idea is basicly to use the axe as both amp and effects unit, but I'm not quite sure whether it can hold a show while plugged directly into the console?
Thought maybe of buying a seperate power amp, preferably the Ampeg SVP-1600, cause I'm just that Ampeg type of guy


Please share your opinions regarding the Axe-FX, plus - any bass-only recs through the axe will be great!

[cybersnyder]

If I were a guitarist, I'd probably have an Axe-FX. There is a little bit of bass support, but it's definitely a guitar processor first. I guess I don't have much to add other than my reason for not being interested in it.

[Fretless5verfan]

I have one for my studio. I'm sure you could coerce a good bass tone out of it, but it isn't worth the trouble honestly lol.

[WerewolfG]

Did any of you seriously tried it on a bass? more specificly, at a gig?

[Fretless5verfan]

Originally Posted by WerewolfG

Did any of you seriously tried it on a bass? more specificly, at a gig?

The axe-fx isn't the type of thing you just "try on a gig" really. It's not that plug and play.

[superbassman2000]

you know, I wonder how the Axe-FX would work with something like the crown Xti power amp? the Xti has a subharmonic generator--I wonder if that would add in some girth to the sound?

[WalterBush]

My church's soundguy bought an Axe-FX. There are plenty of programs, including impulse responses (for the ultra model, anyway, don't know about others) that sound fantastic on bass, available for download. It also works well plugged directly into a mixing board, for bass or guitar; it's what it was designed for, and it has enough outputs to send an XLR to the board AND to your onstage power amp.

Since I don't need that kind of processing I still use a tube DI, but we've messed around quite a bit with his through the church's PA, just for grins. It works just fine for bass. Shoot, it's not a bad vocal processor, either!

As has been pointed out, though, it's not exactly plug-n-play for bass; all the presets are for guitar with a couple of room reverbs thrown in. Programming is required, unless you want to sound like you plugged your bass into a guitar amp, in which case you're good to go out of the box.

[rockstarbassist]

Is a stellar unit, but for bass seems overkill IMO.

B/c trust me, I have looked at intently!

[Hollywars]

At the moment, it only has like the SVT amp and cab simulation put in. The designer/developer/creator is planning on adding more, and has a thread on his website where you can give schematics for bass amps and what not.

[aledeville]

I saw that you can make several audio paths. Then you could split the signal, run one straight and the other distorted etc.
I'd love to try that one out, but the price...

[rockstarbassist]

Originally Posted by aledeville

I saw that you can make several audio paths. Then you could split the signal, run one straight and the other distorted etc.
I'd love to try that one out, but the price...

True, it's high, even used.

But if I had a studio and knew how to make stuff sound good, I'd have one asap.

[WerewolfG]

Originally Posted by Fretless5verfan

The axe-fx isn't the type of thing you just "try on a gig" really. It's not that plug and play.

Of course it's not a plug and play, but say I'm willing to build an honest preset, will it ever feel\sound anywhere near a real tube amp on stage? (btw I mostly play metal, so it definitely requires some balls)

And I'd really like to hear if anyone here tried to chain the axe through a tube power amp - is there any difference? better? not a good option?

[jpTron]

Are you looking to totally shape your sound with this thing or just go for a more direct sound and use the effects as a bonus? Sounds like overkill. Ever consider using a bass pod or pod x3 through a power amp?

[Sten]

Originally Posted by WerewolfG

Thought maybe of buying a seperate power amp, preferably the Ampeg SVP-1600, cause I'm just that Ampeg type of guy

The Ampeg poweramp is just a very expensive regular poweramp with Ampeg logo on it. Besides, they really do not sound as loud as the advertised power rating would suggest. I see no valid reason to buy one of those.

[WerewolfG]

^ Thx for that advice...
Can you recommend any other bass power amps?

and jpTron:
Yes, I'm willing to use the axe as any other preamp, and I'd rather have it than some other pods because it has tons of other amazing guitar amps which I'll surely find useful when recording - that is something I do alot.
Point is - I'm not interested in any other pod as a replacement for effects, I want to know whether the axe can replace a bass preamp for live use and stuff..

[Jarrett]

I gigged with an Ultra for over a year, mostly on guitar, but also on bass. It's incredible for guitar, kinda so so for bass. As soon as I went to bass full time I sold it and now use a Genz Benz Shuttle 9.0 and a Line M9 for effects and it sounds better, imo. The M9 has more bass specific effects.

I'm a huge fan of the Axe-FX for guitar, but its really just not worth it for bass.

Let me know if you have any other questions about it.

Here are some clips I did with it:
http://www.plaidfaction.com/mp3s/Myc...02/bigbass.mp3
http://www.plaidfaction.com/mp3s/Myc...wnsyndrome.mp3
http://www.plaidfaction.com/mp3s/Myc...2/mutronic.mp3
http://www.plaidfaction.com/mp3s/Myc...phaseebass.mp3
http://www.plaidfaction.com/mp3s/Myc...etsunbass1.mp3
http://www.plaidfaction.com/mp3s/Myc...etsunbass2.mp3

The only thing I really miss about it for bass was the VelvetSun presets. Can't do that with the Line6.

[WerewolfG]

^ The VelvetSun does sound pretty damn well
Thx for the tunes