The AX8 is definitely doing the job for me too...I've gotten more then a few queries from guitar players saying "great tones, but what are you playing thru, I don't see any amps" and are baffled when I say everything your hearing is this little box on the floor plugged right into the PA. A die-hard tube guy has seen us play several times and
always enthuses about my tones and the versatility, etc. of the AX8, but says "I'll still never buy one...I just don't do digital"