Porkchop Xpress
Inspired
OK, I have been very hesitant to post my review of the Axe-fx Ultra because I wanted to make sure I was clearly out of the honeymoon phase. I feel like I am now ready to give my honest opinion on this black box of tone.
A little background; I am a casual player. I have played the guitar for over 20 years in some form or fashion. Had a few bands. Played a lot in the basement just jamming. I joined the military in '97 and laid the guitar down for a short while. Once I moved to Japan in '99 I started finding incredible deals on vintage equipment (think Roland RE-201 space Echos for about $40) I have gone through an incredible amount of gear in the past few years. After meeting Robert Keeley, he turned me on to Harmony-Central Effects forum in 2001. I then met some of the dirtiest gear junkies imaginable in those forums. Sick, twisted, obsessed individuals who spend every cent earned on the newest boutique amps, guitars and effects. I learned a lot about gear through HC and The Gear Page.
I have owned many types of gear ranging from the Boss DS-1 to a full Marshall stack. I went through my "boutique phase" and spent a lot of money on some great gear and some VERY hyped gear. My first dabble into the multi-effects/modeling arena was a Digitech RP2000. I bought it on a whim from some cash I won in a slot machine. It was digital and noisy and I had NO idea how to program it or what certain things were supposed to be used for. I was, however, intrigued that for the first time, I was playing a "dimed" sound through headphones and recording clips at 130 AM while my wife and kid were in bed. I remember wishing it had better sound, though. When I would play with a band at that time it was through a few typical pedals (Boss, Ibanez, BK Butler, DOD, etc...) into a combo amp (Peavey, Marshall, Fender, etc...) At the time I didn't think I "pushed enough air" so I bought a Marshall head and some cabs. What a pain in the ass. Then I found Mesa Boogie. I loved the Mark series. I ended up keeping a Blue Angel (EL-84/6v6 simul-class) and a Mark IV (EL34/6L6 simul-class) to cover the spectrum of sounds I was looking for. My pedal board was the size of a warehouse pallet and cost god-knows-what to assemble.
See...
So anyways, I missed playing through headphones and lucked into a thread started by MrMunky at HC about the Tonelab SE. I bought one and was hooked. The sounds were getting very good. It was limited, but very usable and EASY. I had a few issues with it, but for the most part, really enjoyed the Tonelab. A couple of years later I saw a new thread by the same MrMunky about the Axe-Fx. He was raving about the tone and responsiveness. Then he posted a clip... holy shit.
This black box seemed like the modeling/multi world had finally arrived. I saw the price-tag... holy shit. How am I gonna talk the wife into this?
Well, I didn't I ended up selling a bunch of the gear that I had been collecting over the years in hopes that the Ultra would be one of the few pieces of gear that lived up to the hype. I bought the Ultra in April 09.
The Fractal Audio Axe-Fx Ultra is the best piece of musical gear I have ever purchased, bar none. That is a pretty bold statement coming from an ex-gear junkie. I say "ex" gear junkie because I haven't GAS'd for an effect or new amp since I bought it. My wife can't believe it! The only amp purchase I've made since buying the Ultra was the Atomic Reactor FRFR (I want another one!) I sold almost all of my other gear. Amps...gone. Pedals...almost all gone. I just don't need them anymore. Everyone that hears the Axe-Fx is blown away. I have gone through 4 semesters of the Masters of Guitar through Berklee College of Music online and recorded EVERY assignment using the Axe-Fx. I get compliments on my tone on almost every assignment. It makes me play better. It makes me smile. It makes me experiment.
The only thing I GAS for anymore are new guitars. I think I'm going to buy the new James Tyler Variax just to see how far they've come with that technology. I'm thinking I can get some great tones running that through the Axe.
Bottom line--I LOVE MY AXE-FX ULTRA. I don't care what new gear is coming out because I'm content with my tone and versatility. I still read some of the gear forums, but it is just out of habit. I see threads like "I wish there was a pedal that could make this sound" or "I can't get my amp so sound like'..." and I think. You poor suckers. I have owned this box for 1 year and 8 months and it still feels NEW! I can't get over that. I have not had one moment with the Axe-Fx when I was bored.
Thank you Cliff!
A little background; I am a casual player. I have played the guitar for over 20 years in some form or fashion. Had a few bands. Played a lot in the basement just jamming. I joined the military in '97 and laid the guitar down for a short while. Once I moved to Japan in '99 I started finding incredible deals on vintage equipment (think Roland RE-201 space Echos for about $40) I have gone through an incredible amount of gear in the past few years. After meeting Robert Keeley, he turned me on to Harmony-Central Effects forum in 2001. I then met some of the dirtiest gear junkies imaginable in those forums. Sick, twisted, obsessed individuals who spend every cent earned on the newest boutique amps, guitars and effects. I learned a lot about gear through HC and The Gear Page.
I have owned many types of gear ranging from the Boss DS-1 to a full Marshall stack. I went through my "boutique phase" and spent a lot of money on some great gear and some VERY hyped gear. My first dabble into the multi-effects/modeling arena was a Digitech RP2000. I bought it on a whim from some cash I won in a slot machine. It was digital and noisy and I had NO idea how to program it or what certain things were supposed to be used for. I was, however, intrigued that for the first time, I was playing a "dimed" sound through headphones and recording clips at 130 AM while my wife and kid were in bed. I remember wishing it had better sound, though. When I would play with a band at that time it was through a few typical pedals (Boss, Ibanez, BK Butler, DOD, etc...) into a combo amp (Peavey, Marshall, Fender, etc...) At the time I didn't think I "pushed enough air" so I bought a Marshall head and some cabs. What a pain in the ass. Then I found Mesa Boogie. I loved the Mark series. I ended up keeping a Blue Angel (EL-84/6v6 simul-class) and a Mark IV (EL34/6L6 simul-class) to cover the spectrum of sounds I was looking for. My pedal board was the size of a warehouse pallet and cost god-knows-what to assemble.
See...
So anyways, I missed playing through headphones and lucked into a thread started by MrMunky at HC about the Tonelab SE. I bought one and was hooked. The sounds were getting very good. It was limited, but very usable and EASY. I had a few issues with it, but for the most part, really enjoyed the Tonelab. A couple of years later I saw a new thread by the same MrMunky about the Axe-Fx. He was raving about the tone and responsiveness. Then he posted a clip... holy shit.
This black box seemed like the modeling/multi world had finally arrived. I saw the price-tag... holy shit. How am I gonna talk the wife into this?
Well, I didn't I ended up selling a bunch of the gear that I had been collecting over the years in hopes that the Ultra would be one of the few pieces of gear that lived up to the hype. I bought the Ultra in April 09.
The Fractal Audio Axe-Fx Ultra is the best piece of musical gear I have ever purchased, bar none. That is a pretty bold statement coming from an ex-gear junkie. I say "ex" gear junkie because I haven't GAS'd for an effect or new amp since I bought it. My wife can't believe it! The only amp purchase I've made since buying the Ultra was the Atomic Reactor FRFR (I want another one!) I sold almost all of my other gear. Amps...gone. Pedals...almost all gone. I just don't need them anymore. Everyone that hears the Axe-Fx is blown away. I have gone through 4 semesters of the Masters of Guitar through Berklee College of Music online and recorded EVERY assignment using the Axe-Fx. I get compliments on my tone on almost every assignment. It makes me play better. It makes me smile. It makes me experiment.
The only thing I GAS for anymore are new guitars. I think I'm going to buy the new James Tyler Variax just to see how far they've come with that technology. I'm thinking I can get some great tones running that through the Axe.
Bottom line--I LOVE MY AXE-FX ULTRA. I don't care what new gear is coming out because I'm content with my tone and versatility. I still read some of the gear forums, but it is just out of habit. I see threads like "I wish there was a pedal that could make this sound" or "I can't get my amp so sound like'..." and I think. You poor suckers. I have owned this box for 1 year and 8 months and it still feels NEW! I can't get over that. I have not had one moment with the Axe-Fx when I was bored.
Thank you Cliff!
