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Apparently, you can also use this modeler for Bass.
Do any of you have any experiences with it?
Apparently, you can also use this modeler for Bass.
Do any of you have any experiences with it?
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Thoughts on the Axe-FX Ultra?
- Thread starter MisterMagician
- Start date
Just got mine in the mail today. She's warming up to room temp now. Email me in a few days and I'll let you know, if I haven't posted something.
If I was to buy one all I would need to get going is a power amp and a cab, correct? It is practically an elaborate preamp, right?
Cool unit, played my guitar and cello through a friend's rack with this and the 1500W Carvin rack poweramp. Great sounds, although still not 'real' enough for me 'in the room.' Would make a great live or recording unit though.
After reading up on the Axe-FX some more I have officially GAS'd myself into oblivion.
So tell me, what is the deal with power amps? Do they color your sound at all, or are they just tone vessels for your preamp of choice?
So tell me, what is the deal with power amps? Do they color your sound at all, or are they just tone vessels for your preamp of choice?
I love the sounds I get out of Guitar Rig 3, so I'm sure I will be blown away by the Axe-FX.
I have one and I bought Komplete 6 recently so I own GR as well. The Axe is superior in every single way I can think of. It's not cheap and if you want good bass tones out of it, you need to be willing to program it as the presets and stock models are definitely geared towards guitarists. That being said, it's completely incredible and definitely my favorite piece of gear by a huge margin. I made a thread about it a while ago and have since been neglecting to add more sound clips haha. There's one there currently though.
I'm not sure what you're referring to in your question about power amps. Are you talking about the power amp models in the Axe or an external power amp? If the former, the answer is yes. You can dial in power amp tube saturation if that's your thing, and opening up the master volume on the "head" will give you more dynamic response and that fat headroom sound. With regards to the latter, nope. You can use any power amp on stage you want.
I'm not sure what you're referring to in your question about power amps. Are you talking about the power amp models in the Axe or an external power amp? If the former, the answer is yes. You can dial in power amp tube saturation if that's your thing, and opening up the master volume on the "head" will give you more dynamic response and that fat headroom sound. With regards to the latter, nope. You can use any power amp on stage you want.
I am talking about the latter, because I need something to put all of the Axe-FX tones into the cabs and all that.
Yeah you'll be completely fine. I've tried the Ultra with two different power amps and neither had any impact on its tone. If you're using a tube power amp, that's obviously a different story and not something that I'd personally recommend.
The Ultra is a really insane piece of gear. I went from an overcrowded PT-Pro to the Axe for bass and the only thing that I miss is the Brown Dog and Woolly Mammoth. It's lacking in the heavy gated fuzz department but that's really about it. Everything else sounds incredible.
The Ultra is a really insane piece of gear. I went from an overcrowded PT-Pro to the Axe for bass and the only thing that I miss is the Brown Dog and Woolly Mammoth. It's lacking in the heavy gated fuzz department but that's really about it. Everything else sounds incredible.
Do you use the Axe-FX as an amp as well, or just an overpowered effects box? Personally I am looking forward to being able to consolidate my guitar and bass rigs into one single unit. Speaking of which, what are my choices in the way of midi pedalboards?
Definitely use it as an amp too. For MIDI pedal boards, you have a lot of options. The Behringer FCB1010 is actually very well made and offers a lot of functionality at a really low price. On the more expensive side, I'd take a look at the Liquid Foot. If you can't do it with that thing, it just can't be done with a MIDI foot controller. I honestly think those are the two best options though. The advantage of the Behringer is that a lot of people have them and there's a ton of info about programming them online. The Liquid Foot is definitely more powerful but also a lot more difficult to program.
- Dec 18, 2000
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Sorry this thread got moved from amps, since any amp/cab modeling unit functions like a preamp as well. Thinking it's about effects is missing the point.
That said, the cursory look I had at the WIKI suggests that this will appeal more to users of tube guitar amps and cabs because there's a relative dearth of bass-guitar specific designs in the selection.
That said, the cursory look I had at the WIKI suggests that this will appeal more to users of tube guitar amps and cabs because there's a relative dearth of bass-guitar specific designs in the selection.
You're definitely right about its target audience but if you're looking for a hardware modeler, the Axe really cannot be beat. The technology is just there now and it has the DSP firepower to get the job done. Lately, I've been enjoying blending a Bassman simulation I've been working on with the direct sound and only sending the tube amp sim through a 4x10 cab model. Each signal is EQ'ed and compressed differently, I have a static low-pass filter on the tube side and the high mids pumped a bit. You can get creative with up to 4 parallel signal chains but to get the most out of it you need to learn how to program your own amp presets.
The Axe also hasn't been around for all that long but there are plenty of bassists using it and demanding more features on the Fractal forums. It'll definitely be more bass-friendly out of the box in the next firmware update so if you're looking for something easier to get your feet wet with, I'd consider waiting until that is released.
The Axe also hasn't been around for all that long but there are plenty of bassists using it and demanding more features on the Fractal forums. It'll definitely be more bass-friendly out of the box in the next firmware update so if you're looking for something easier to get your feet wet with, I'd consider waiting until that is released.
Im personally waiting to hear some fuzz clips that make me go OMGWTFBBQFACEMELT before I let GAS take over.
I think it would be really cool to replace even my current rig with just the axe.
I think it would be really cool to replace even my current rig with just the axe.
There is also a slightly less expensive Axe-Fx standard if you are on a budget. Yes, you will need a power amp, but a PA power amp such as a Crown or QSC should work fine.
The Axe-Fx has been the rave of the guitar forums for a long time. If I got one I would use it for guitar and bass. Its just out of my price range right now and I would have to sell somethings to get it anyway.
The Axe-Fx has been the rave of the guitar forums for a long time. If I got one I would use it for guitar and bass. Its just out of my price range right now and I would have to sell somethings to get it anyway.
The non-ultra Axe-Fx is definitely still a really good buy. If you're not really that into effects and are more interested in the amp and cab modeling, it makes a lot of sense to go that route.
The Ultra is definitely worth the extra cash if you're serious about effects though. You'll want the added DSP headroom when you're experimenting with complex routings and the added effects are all very good.
The Ultra is definitely worth the extra cash if you're serious about effects though. You'll want the added DSP headroom when you're experimenting with complex routings and the added effects are all very good.
That sounded awesome even with the filter in there.....
Again on the comparatively-expensive side is the GORDIUS LG foot controller. There are a TON of Axe-fx users in the Gordius forum and Xavier has basically made the LG work SEAMLESSLY with the Fractal Axe-fx, so much so that the latest version, LG2, will display the tuner of the Axe-fx on the LG2 display, and it can be connected via 1 USB cable and provides a 2x2 MIDI interface and an extra IN and OUT port dedicated to sending/receiving patchdumps & firmware updates (partial quote from Xavier on 12/12).
Xavier talks about it on the Axe-fx forum here: Invalid Link Removed
You can also "slave" multiple FCB1010's all over the place to the LG, for additional expression pedals, IA buttons, or tech positions.
Seems like there is absolutely NOTHING you can do with the Axe-fx that can't be controlled by the Gordius LG/LG2.
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I got mine back in May (after UPS "lost" my first one in April) and because Xavier is so responsive to the LG & Axe-fx forums, he is already offering a very reasonably priced hardware update for those of us who bought early. The free programming interface ("ControlCenter") via the PC is SUPER-easy to use and makes programming instinctive, and more-importantly, tollerable. Xavier rocks, and I can't imagine anything working better with the Axe-fx.
Mine is the LG-X format which is laid out like a set of bass pedals, so I can pull up a setting and trigger bass pedals with my MIDI controller. So awesome..!!!
Now I just need to pony up for an Axe-fx...
