Hi all,
first post here.
Since I first heard of the Axe FX I've been very interested in it. I've been following this forum since before AxeII was released, and I've read a real lot of it as well as other forums.
I've heard many good sounds (and many bad ones) from the clips on the Net, so I was positive I could get something good from an Axe. Two days ago I had my first opportunity to put my hands on an Ultra (v.11). It was a private sale, and while the owner was demonstrating some patches and sounds I heard something quite appealing, even though I couldn't say it was more appealing to me than my Lonestar Special The sound was reproduced through a couple of 3,500 € (each) Yamaha studio monitors.
Problems started when I myself played the Axe. If there's one guitar sound which amazes me is a clean, neck-HB sound from an LP (or similar guitars) through a valve amp with crancked mids, medium-to-low gain and and bass, tamed highs and quite high master. I thought to myself, had I been able to replicate that sound, that would proof I'd be able to make the Axe sound good for all other patches.
Well, there was no way for me to even get close to my favourite sound. I choose a patch with an amp and a cab only. The guitar I used for the test was LP/PRS-like with ALNICO HBs. The sound was always too much "hi-fi", like through a home stereo system. Operating the tonestack did not change the intrinsic quality of sound. I tried to work with several advanced parameters as well (hereby including GEQ), but there seemed to be a strong "hi-fi DNA" which could be only tamed but not really got rid of. And no punch. I also tried several amps and cabs, w/ and w/o compressor. Have you ever played your guitar through a stereo or a dry mixer?
As a side note, I have to add that the unit sounded better when the owner played it; I believe this may have also to do with the sound-vs-feeling issue (and with him being accustomed and more comfortable with the unit).
The FRFR-vs-guitar cab aspect should be taken into consideration as well: I'm not accustomed to listen to a FRFR rig. But my point is, it should be anyway able to re-create a realistic sound: I'm not sure I'm willing to "get accustomed" to a sound hence convincing myself it sounds good... I'd rather want the machine to convince me :mrgreen
I was somewhat aware I was listening to something new I would need time to get accustomed to. So I took my time, and on Wednesday I'm going to try another unit (no Yamaha this time), after some days of meditations and hopefully some good advises from you guys.
There must have been something wrong in my attempts, or in my approach; I can't believe that with a load o thousands pages of enthusiastic reviews, opinions, praises this unit fails in its basic task: reproducing a clean LP-like neck PU! Too high an expectation from my side maybe? :?
Is it possible I won't be able to get a realistic sound from the Axe until I use a cab? If this is true, I wouldn't really understand all the FRFR enthusiastic (unless they're only speaking of processed sounds). But, after my long experience as a forum reader, I'd say this is not the case. I remember, BTW, a clip on the Tube where a very young and skilled guitarist played with a magnificent clean sound something smooth jazz-fusion-style. I'm sorry I was not able to find the clip...
I'm strongly attracted by the AxeFx concept, but I'm not sure I'm ready to trade off when it comes to sound and feeling, which is a strong part of the reason why I love playing guitar, much more important than versatility, routing possibilities and whatever.
I'd be really happy to receive some advises from you guys, to try and take the best out of my next Ultra close encounter. Would you address me to some amp, cab, setting (both for FRFR and cab: I'm taking my 2x12 Dragoon with me this time) able to unveil AxeFx potential to me?
Thanks a lot for you time!
Gianfranco
first post here.
Since I first heard of the Axe FX I've been very interested in it. I've been following this forum since before AxeII was released, and I've read a real lot of it as well as other forums.
I've heard many good sounds (and many bad ones) from the clips on the Net, so I was positive I could get something good from an Axe. Two days ago I had my first opportunity to put my hands on an Ultra (v.11). It was a private sale, and while the owner was demonstrating some patches and sounds I heard something quite appealing, even though I couldn't say it was more appealing to me than my Lonestar Special The sound was reproduced through a couple of 3,500 € (each) Yamaha studio monitors.
Problems started when I myself played the Axe. If there's one guitar sound which amazes me is a clean, neck-HB sound from an LP (or similar guitars) through a valve amp with crancked mids, medium-to-low gain and and bass, tamed highs and quite high master. I thought to myself, had I been able to replicate that sound, that would proof I'd be able to make the Axe sound good for all other patches.
Well, there was no way for me to even get close to my favourite sound. I choose a patch with an amp and a cab only. The guitar I used for the test was LP/PRS-like with ALNICO HBs. The sound was always too much "hi-fi", like through a home stereo system. Operating the tonestack did not change the intrinsic quality of sound. I tried to work with several advanced parameters as well (hereby including GEQ), but there seemed to be a strong "hi-fi DNA" which could be only tamed but not really got rid of. And no punch. I also tried several amps and cabs, w/ and w/o compressor. Have you ever played your guitar through a stereo or a dry mixer?
As a side note, I have to add that the unit sounded better when the owner played it; I believe this may have also to do with the sound-vs-feeling issue (and with him being accustomed and more comfortable with the unit).
The FRFR-vs-guitar cab aspect should be taken into consideration as well: I'm not accustomed to listen to a FRFR rig. But my point is, it should be anyway able to re-create a realistic sound: I'm not sure I'm willing to "get accustomed" to a sound hence convincing myself it sounds good... I'd rather want the machine to convince me :mrgreen
I was somewhat aware I was listening to something new I would need time to get accustomed to. So I took my time, and on Wednesday I'm going to try another unit (no Yamaha this time), after some days of meditations and hopefully some good advises from you guys.
There must have been something wrong in my attempts, or in my approach; I can't believe that with a load o thousands pages of enthusiastic reviews, opinions, praises this unit fails in its basic task: reproducing a clean LP-like neck PU! Too high an expectation from my side maybe? :?
Is it possible I won't be able to get a realistic sound from the Axe until I use a cab? If this is true, I wouldn't really understand all the FRFR enthusiastic (unless they're only speaking of processed sounds). But, after my long experience as a forum reader, I'd say this is not the case. I remember, BTW, a clip on the Tube where a very young and skilled guitarist played with a magnificent clean sound something smooth jazz-fusion-style. I'm sorry I was not able to find the clip...
I'm strongly attracted by the AxeFx concept, but I'm not sure I'm ready to trade off when it comes to sound and feeling, which is a strong part of the reason why I love playing guitar, much more important than versatility, routing possibilities and whatever.
I'd be really happy to receive some advises from you guys, to try and take the best out of my next Ultra close encounter. Would you address me to some amp, cab, setting (both for FRFR and cab: I'm taking my 2x12 Dragoon with me this time) able to unveil AxeFx potential to me?
Thanks a lot for you time!
Gianfranco
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