This might be the right time and place to state the obvious: "Maybe it's just not for you".
Because I can take a new Axe-Fx, start with a clean preset, add nothing else than Amp and Cab and have it sound great, in 20 seconds.
Basic adjustments only.
Depending on the monitoring / amplification of course.
As advised before: get together with an experienced Axe-Fx user. You need a reference point.
bg: yek may just be onto something with his post above. Although I sincerely don't think the axe isn't for you just yet, I would definitely talk to someone who can really dial it in. OR....post up a sound of yours without using the Axe and see if someone here can get close.
I've been messing with my Axe since I got it. There's just about nothing I can't do with it. However, it takes time to REALLY hone in on specifics. As yek says, he can dial something in at around 20 seconds....I can say the same. BUT...if it's something I need to be totally thorough about, it's going to take me some time depending on how in depth I want to be.
If I can give a word of advice? I don't think any of us should be comparing our Axe's to real amps unless you can literally model the real amp correctly. Don't go by the models inside...they won't work for everyone. Some to me sound close, others sound pretty far off when *I* have plugged into the real amps.
I've stated many times before that I have been a die-hard Digitech 2101 user since they came out. I was able to cop my favorite tones in my 2101 to the "T" to where they actually sound better in the Axe. With the new firmware allowing me more cool options over the power amp section, this thing is screaming. So my advice in a nutshell is this....create something new if possible and if you really miss your amp sound, follow the instructions and model it. Then see how you fair. I had 0 problems dialing in my 2101 tones. When I compare my Axe 2101 cop vs the original....there's nothing in the original that wins me over for a second. I have so much more power in the Axe, after copping the tone I modded it to perfection. No one else may like the tone, but I sure love it.
But again, for certain things....it's going to take time and experimentation. This is an easy unit to use...but it has unlimited possibilities that can be overwhelming and I truly feel your pain. Another suggestion to try bg (I'd really love to see you make use of everything you purchased brother, from the heart) is to find a great cab sim, dial in the sound and then don't turn it off when going through a cab. Many of the guys on the forum here (including Cliff) have mentioned that the Axe is best when turning off cab emulation and power amp emulation when going into a cab.
My goofy butt has found this to be the furthest from the truth in my personal situation. I leave all the emulations on at all times and am totally happy with my tone going into my 25 watt Greenback cabs. Now, the sound I use in the studio has a little less bottom end....so I had to tweak my live tone that goes through my cabs a bit differently. I bring in a filter, raise the low end at like 100 Hz by 2dB and my live tone is perfect. I also drop the gain lower because my Greenbacks saturate a little bit...so I can use less pre-amp gain.
But maybe we gotta think a little outside the box with your situation? I tried those wedges and have to admit, though they are cool....I STILL prefer my Greenback cabs. What I like about my Greenbacks is....the sound they give me enhances the Axe, so tweaking it up to sound good in my cabs really brought it to life. Due to the Greenies saturating a little bit, it also adds a little sustain and the darned thing always seems to feedback in key. It's the weirdest thing! I've only used my Axe for 1 gig so far, but men, it was one of the best gigs of my life and EVERYONE complimented me on my new sound. My soundman is a stickler for guitar tones. He told me "I never thought you'd outdo your other tone...wow..impressive...this obliterates it."
So maybe (as much as it may bother you to do this) you may need just a little more patience and some assistance from the fine people on the forum here. What if you could model your amps yourself? That's what I did and that's what made the difference for me. But even there, if I had to take the approach that yek mentioned about just creating a quick sound with an amp and a cab, I too would land a good one that could be useable on a recording or live in 20 seconds. I don't think the Kemper will help you. I had 2 of those here in my studio to record. They were pretty cool and to me, felt more like a real amp. BUT...and this is important....the sounds did nothing for me and man...those things are UG-LY! It was cool for certain things...but I'll take a finely tuned Axe over that any day brother. We just gotta get you straightened out and I think you'll love it.
Some people are tweakers and can keep at it forever. Others need to dial in a sound and move on. I know how difficult this can be. I've been dreading switching over from my 2101's to something new for years. Mt Axe (though amazing) still can't do some of the stuff I could do with my 2101. So I'm either having to compensate, settle for a little less in some areas, and just do the best I can. But the sound I've achieved smokes the 2101 as well as all the additional options I have. I'm just missing little things that took me forever to create in the 2101....I don't have the time I once had, and I'm still learning the new system. I just figured out the Steve Stevens ray gun sound on the Axe...so that's a major breakthrough for me! I came up with the coolest sound on my 2101 for that and figured the Axe wouldn't be able to cut it...but it does. You just gotta be patient with it and experiment. If you don't have the time to get it how you like it, maybe someone can help for a small fee or something. Tough situation no matter what....but it's sort of like practicing. Sometimes if we practice the wrong stuff...we don't get better. Maybe the info you've researched isn't stuff that may apply to the sound you're looking for and maybe you're going about it the wrong way? I'm just taking guesses...not saying that's the case or not. Anyway....I sincerely hope you do find a light at the end of the tunnel. Good luck brother...and you're welcome on the compression stuff. I mutilated your thread with lots of stuff hoping to help people out. I meant to say I'm sorry for that, but sincerely hope some of it helped.