Good time or terrible time to buy Axe-Fx II?

Also let us wildly speculate that the next Fractal product could be a 'III' version of the AX8. If it was to be released soon, how would that change your decision making process?
 
If you like upgrading firmware every week for the next five years, go with the Axe III

Joke !
Of course the Axe FX III is a beast and better and ......If you can, go for it.

I personally have a axe FX II mark 2.
I don't imagine replacing it , even in dreams, even for the Axe FX III.
It sounds great for my needs, the firmware is stable with a lot too much amps and effects I will never could use.
It remains a fantastic unit. I will change it when broken.
 
I think it's a completely valid and good strategy to buy a II now, while you can get a used one for cheap. Learn it, use it, love it. Enjoy the consistency and just play guitar without having to keep applying firmware updates and re-dialing tones. Get a used III several years from now, after the IV comes out. :)

It's also perfectly valid to get a III, be state of the art and have fun with ongoing firmware updates. You might even get better tones from the III... but I have to say 'might', not 'will'.. because with the number of variables either way there is no guarantee.

There must be billions of combinations of ways to configure your total signal path just inside the Axe, from input through all the blocks and all their possible settings and routings, to IRs to output.

On either unit, there is ALWAYS a better undiscovered tone in there somewhere, on today's firmware. There will be plenty of bad tones on tap too, if you're not careful.
 
I/O Connections and routing flexibility in the III are IMO the big differentiators. That coupled with the FC allows you to make the III the centerpiece of truly pro level guitar rig.

Remember the II is now at EoL. No more firmware updates except for bug fixes. So the II is a dead end for new innovations.

When then FC is released for public, non-waitlist availability I think that the Axe II after market will be flooded with IIs for a while while people transition from the II to the III. That should at least temporarily reduce prices. I think that would be the time to buy a II if that is what you decide to get.
 
I still think the II is more then good enough for anyone, yeah, its a product that has reached the end of its life, but until Line 6 comes out with the Helix II there is still nothing better on the market. It's not like Line 6 can improve the Helix firmware to make it more capable then the Axe II. Helix just does not have the DSP to pull that off.

And besides, you buy a stomp box that thing has no firmware and upgrade potential other then via a soldering iron. And most pedals have been around for decades now and people seem more then satisfied with them, so why wouldn't you be satisfied with the II for at least a few more years?
 
No bad time to buy any axe fx. If you can buy the iii rather tka it than the ii. But even the ii is a good investment.
 
Started with the Ultra I....used that until about 2013 when I got the II MK XL.
I use it for live gigging and in all reality..do the majority of my night on five presets.
Clean, crsipy, crunchy (Like SRV), Petrucci like disto, and the 80s shred distortion....
That's pretty much it...
I do use other patches and create presets for specific reasons...I'm doing cover pop in Casinos..and I look at it like a job (cuz it pays better than a job if you're doing covers in casinos)...not uncommon to make $2,500-$3,500/mo each.)
But...the majority of what the III brings to the table, appears to be more something that would matter to me if I were recording and making my own music....

I don't think I"ll be getting a III at all.
 
My Axe/FX II does way more than I use. I won't be getting a III anytime soon. That said, if it's for live use more than studio I'd wait as long as possible for an update on the AX8. Dealing with rack gear and MIDI pedals live kinda sucks. It's a time sink with more points of failure than one needs. Sure, it can be done and done well. I have done it successfully for years but I'd give it all up in a hot second for a state-of-the-art FAS pedal unit that I can carry in a padded bag...
 
Last edited:
I just got a ii. I just wanted to “dip my toe” in the pool and next thing I sold all my amps so I’m “all in”.

Best $1150 I’ve spent on gear since I got Pro Tools! :)

I’ve noticed there is some heated debate not only between the amp guys and the modelers, but between the Helix, Kemper and Faractal users and between the Axe iii guys and the Axe ii guys.

It’s fun to watch. I think the Axe ii is one of the best deals right now.

Ever notice how some of the iii guys keep saying the ii is over? (EOL)
Yet in the last few weeks we’ve seen some incredible advances ported to it. It’s almost like they want it to end.

I don’t see much discrimination going in the direction of the AX8 they get a pass... even though it isn’t as powerful as the ii.

I feel some peer pressure to get a iii and of course I will. Even in the videos it has a clarity to it, I’m sure the new converters have a lot to do with that.

As it stands for the money the ii is a great tool and a great deal.
 
unix-guy said:
Actually, I've seen a lot of Axe Fx II users saying that, too... And many are HAPPY about it because they are not fans of post firmware tweaking.
Click to expand...
Yes I’ve seen a lot of that.
I have heard that it affects some people more than others. As an owner of an Axe FX III yourself does a firmware update cause you to spend a lot of time making adjustments to your patches?
Or does it just depend on how significant the update is?
 
Toowoombaus said:
Yes I’ve seen a lot of that.
I have heard that it affects some people more than others. As an owner of an Axe FX III yourself does a firmware update cause you to spend a lot of time making adjustments to your patches?
Or does it just depend on how significant the update is?
Click to expand...

As an Axe FX II and III owner, the firmware update process is fundamentally the same between the 2 units. The amount of time spent tweaking depends mostly on what has changed in the FW update, and also what parameters you tend to prefer to tweak in your presets. I have a lot of presets (around 20 on the Axe FX III, probably about 40 on the Axe FX II) and in most cases I hardly need to tweak either of them. With recent updates (FW4.03 onwards) I have been tweaking bit more, but it takes me about 3 minutes to find my sound.
 
chucma said:
As an Axe FX II and III owner, the firmware update process is fundamentally the same between the 2 units. The amount of time spent tweaking depends mostly on what has changed in the FW update, and also what parameters you tend to prefer to tweak in your presets. I have a lot of presets (around 20 on the Axe FX III, probably about 40 on the Axe FX II) and in most cases I hardly need to tweak either of them. With recent updates (FW4.03 onwards) I have been tweaking bit more, but it takes me about 3 minutes to find my sound.
Click to expand...
Pretty much what I was going to say ;)
 
Toowoombaus said:
I just got a ii. I just wanted to “dip my toe” in the pool and next thing I sold all my amps so I’m “all in”.

Best $1150 I’ve spent on gear since I got Pro Tools! :)

I’ve noticed there is some heated debate not only between the amp guys and the modelers, but between the Helix, Kemper and Faractal users and between the Axe iii guys and the Axe ii guys.

It’s fun to watch. I think the Axe ii is one of the best deals right now.

Ever notice how some of the iii guys keep saying the ii is over? (EOL)
Yet in the last few weeks we’ve seen some incredible advances ported to it. It’s almost like they want it to end.
Click to expand...

I reckon that when the III came about and the early adopters raced to buy it, many of them had to sell their old II's, probably taking a hit as II's were now dropping in value, they had to legitimize their purchases. Even though just days before the existence and release of the III everybody was 100% happy with their old II's and singing it's praise.

I don’t see much discrimination going in the direction of the AX8 they get a pass... even though it isn’t as powerful as the ii.
Click to expand...

The AX-8 is like your little disabled brother. You look out after him, you don't make fun of him. ;)

Seriously though, the AX-8 is in a different class then the II or the III. It's competitor is the Helix.

I feel some peer pressure to get a iii and of course I will. Even in the videos it has a clarity to it, I’m sure the new converters have a lot to do with that.

As it stands for the money the ii is a great tool and a great deal.
Click to expand...

If I manage a way to raise the cash needed I'll probably get it too. But its not like I feel its outdated or something. Still as happy with it as I used to be. Hell, the only thing right now that makes the III look more appealing to me is its DSP, cause I like to use lots of FX. Soundwise I'm still very happy with the II.
 
Muad'zin said:
The AX-8 is like your little disabled brother. You look out after him, you don't make fun of him. ;)

Seriously though, the AX-8 is in a different class then the II or the III. It's competitor is the Helix.
Click to expand...

:tearsofjoy: LOL! I almost spit out my coffee reading that!

I’ll never think of the AX-8 the same way again OMG! :expressionless:
 
I went for II just after iii was released in my country, as I thought ii would fulfill my requirement. I plan to jump to iv in the future!

I recommend you think how you would like your patches to be. If ii cannot handle your ideal patches due to limitations, no matter how cheap ii is now, you should get iii.
 
I just got an XL on Friday to go with my Helix and Kemper. I've had the Kemper for 6 years and got the Helix 2 years ago because reasons. After spending a total of about 14 hours with the Axe-FX over the last two days, I can say I'm completely blown away and can't believe I didn't get one sooner. I'm sure the III is probably better, but the II is still very much top tier. I'm setting up the Helix to MIDI control the Axe-FX and running the Axe-FX in the loop since I need to be plugged into the Helix for Variax control. Still experimenting, but overall VERY impressed.
 
Kyo Gt said:
I recommend you think how you would like your patches to be. If ii cannot handle your ideal patches due to limitations, no matter how cheap ii is now, you should get iii.
Click to expand...
The problem is that until you have one you can't know...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom