Is the Axe-Fx worth $450,000?

Entasis

Inspired
Is the AxeFX worth $450,000? Probably not to you and me--there's only one person insane enough to buy 129 amps ;)
But maybe take the three amps you use the most and see what amount that adds up to and compare it to what you paid for the AxeFX!
 
Last edited:
1100W Marshall Super Lead Plexi 1959 reissue$3,499.00https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/1959HW--marshall-1959hw-100-watt-handwired-tube-head
250W Marshall 1987X reissue$2,599.00https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/1987XL--marshall-1987x-50-watt-plexi-tube-head-with-fx-loop
3EVH 5150-III$1,299.00https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/51506L6HSpc--evh-5150-iii-50-watt-tube-head-black-stealth
459 Fender Tweed Bassman, 5F6-A$7,795.00https://reverb.com/ca/p/fender-bassman-5f6-1959
5Fender Tweed Champ, 5F1$2,545.00https://reverb.com/p/fender-champ-5f1-1958
6Fender EC Vibro-Champ$1,200.00https://reverb.com/ca/p/fender-ec-vibro-champ
7Keith Urban's '59 high-powered Fender Tweed Twin, 5F8$10,000.00https://reverb.com/ca/item/2840668-fender-twin-amp-5f8-a-1959-tweed
8Dweezil Zappa's '65 blackface Fender Bassman, AB165$1,500.00https://reverb.com/ca/p/fender-blackface-bassman-head
960 brownface Fender Concert, 6G12$3,828.00https://reverb.com/ca/p/fender-concert-amp-1961
1060 brownface Fender Super, 6G4$1,685.00https://reverb.com/item/3947309-fender-6g4-a-brownface-super
11Morgan AC20 Deluxe$2,199.00https://www.sweetwater.com/store/de...c40-deluxe-40-watt-power-scaled-head-twilight
12Engl Savage 120$2,399.00https://reverb.com/item/3171554-engl-savage-120-head
13100W PRS Archon$2,300.00https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/Archon--prs-archon-100-100-watt-tube-head
14Cameron Atomica$5,500.00https://reverb.com/item/23669244-cameron-atomica-orange-tolex
1568 silverface/blackface Fender Bandmaster, AB763$1,999.00https://reverb.com/ca/p/fender-bandmaster-1965
16Dweezil Zappa's Blankenship Leeds 21$1,350.00https://reverb.com/item/2720031-blankenship-leeds-21
17Bludotone Ojai$6,000.00https://reverb.com/item/2747254-2013-bludotone-ojai-bludodrive-amplifier-w-matching-2x12-cabinet
18Bogner Fish preamp$2,800.00https://reverb.com/ca/p/bogner-fish-4-channel-rackmount-tube-guitar-preamp-reissue
19Matchless Chieftain$1,849.00https://reverb.com/ca/item/1386297-matchless-chieftain-head-w-reverb-and-oem-matchless-dust-cover
2050W Marshall JCM 800 2204$1,956.00https://reverb.com/ca/p/marshall-jcm-800-2204-50-watt-lead-head-1988
21Marshall AFD100SCE$4,500.00https://reverb.com/item/669923-mars...al-collectors-edition-amp-head-2011-52-of-100
22Marshall JTM 45$2,599.00https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/JTM45--marshall-jtm45-2245-30-watt-plexi-tube-head
23Marshall JVM410H$2,749.00https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/JVM410H--marshall-jvm410h-100-watt-4-channel-tube-head
24Marshall JMP-1 preamp$800.00https://reverb.com/ca/p/marshall-jmp-1-preamp
25100W Marshall 2555 Silver Jubilee$1,999.00https://www.sweetwater.com/store/de...55x-silver-jubilee-100-watt-reissue-tube-head
26Marshall AFD100$3,650.00https://reverb.com/ca/p/marshall-af...ppetite-for-destruction-100w-tube-guitar-head
27Budda Twinmaster$1,399.00https://reverb.com/ca/item/68229-budda-twinmaster-1997-all-tube-guitar-amp-made-in-usa
28Custom Audio Amplifiers 3+ SE preamp$2,000.00https://reverb.com/item/2584499-1993-custom-audio-electronics-cae-3-se-preamp-with-mods
29Carvin Legacy VL100$569.00https://reverb.com/ca/p/carvin-lega...-signature-2-channel-100-watt-guitar-amp-head
30Cameron CCV-100$3,400.00https://reverb.com/item/1011650-cameron-ccv-100
 
31Hook Captain 34$1,850.00https://reverb.com/item/5845861-hook-captain-34
32Carr Rambler$2,934.00https://reverb.com/p/carr-rambler-28-watt-1x12-guitar-combo-2010s
33Carol-Ann OD-2$1,899.00https://reverb.com/item/658442-carol-ann-od2-mkii
34Carol-Ann Triptik$1,799.00https://reverb.com/ca/item/4665978-carol-ann-triptik-black-pepper?show_sold=true
35Carol-Ann Tucana 3$2,199.00https://reverb.com/ca/item/4368401-carol-ann-tucana-3?show_sold=true
36Orange AD30HTC$1,659.00https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/AD30H--orange-ad30h-30-watt-2-channel-head
37Orange AD200B bass amp$2,399.00https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/AD200B--orange-ad200b-mk-3-200w-bass-head
38Orange Rockerverb 50 MK II$1,999.00https://www.sweetwater.com/store/de...ckerverb-50-mkiii-50-watt-2-channel-tube-head
39Orange Tiny Terror$651.00https://reverb.com/ca/p/orange-tiny-terror-amp
40Vox AC15 Top Boost$699.00https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/AC15C1--vox-ac15c1-15-watt-1x12-inch-tube-combo-amp
41Vox AC30 Hand-Wired head$1,299.00https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/AC30HWHD--vox-ac30hwhd-30-watt-handwired-tube-head
42Komet 60$2,900.00https://reverb.com/item/6056650-komet-60-ken-fischer-trainwreck
43Komet Concorde$3,200.00https://reverb.com/ca/item/13510087-komet-concorde?show_sold=true
44Cornford MK50 II$2,550.00https://reverb.com/ca/item/283129-cornford-mk50-ii-2010-black
45Diezel VH4$4,399.00https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/VH4Head--diezel-vh4-100-watt-4-channel-tube-head
46Fender Tweed Deluxe, 5E3$4,000.00https://reverb.com/p/fender-deluxe-5e3-1955
47Fender blackface Deluxe Reverb, AB763$1,850.00https://reverb.com/ca/item/10645531-1969-fender-deluxe-reverb-ab763-blackface-circuit
4840W Friedman Dirty Shirley$2,499.00https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/DirtyShirley--friedman-dirty-shirley-40-40-watt-tube-head
49Divided By 13 CJ 11$1,100.00https://reverb.com/ca/p/divided-by-13-cj11
50Divided By 13 FTR 37$2,995.00https://reverb.com/ca/item/45022-divided-by-13-ftr-37-head-with-2x12-cabinet
5166 Fender blackface Twin Reverb$2,400.00https://reverb.com/ca/item/37031867...in-reverb-custom-w-jbl-d130f-new-mojotone-cab
5271 Fender silverface Twin Reverb$1,330.00https://reverb.com/ca/item/37778591-fender-twin-reverb-1968-silverface-guitar-combo-amp
53Dweezil Zappa's modded '65 blackface Fender Bassman, AB165$1,965.00https://reverb.com/ca/item/372725-1965-fender-bassman-ab165-w-vertical-cabinet
54Engl Powerball$2,399.00https://reverb.com/ca/p/engl-e645-slash-2-powerball-ii-100-watt-tube-guitar-head
55Bogner Ecstasy 20th Anniversary$3,818.00https://www.sweetwater.com/store/de...andwired-tube-head-with-el34s-and-a-ab-switch
56Bogner Uberschall$2,789.00https://www.sweetwater.com/store/de...in-jet-150-watt-high-gain-handwired-tube-head
57FAS 6160$ -
58FAS BASS$ -
59FAS BROOTALZ$ -
60FAS BROWN$ -
 
Last edited:
61FAS CLASS-A$ -
62FAS CRUNCH$ -
63FAS EXPRESS$ -
64FAS HOT ROD$ -
65FAS LEAD 1$ -
66FAS LEAD 2$ -
67FAS MODERN$ -
68FAS MODERN II$ -
69FAS MODERN III$ -
70FAS RHYTHM$ -
71FAS SKULL CRUSHER$ -
72FAS WRECK$ -
73Fuchs Overdrive Supreme 50$2,595.00https://reverb.com/ca/item/5139104-fuchs-overdrive-supreme-50-head
74Friedman BE-100$3,799.00https://www.sweetwater.com/store/de...an-be-100-deluxe-3-channel-100-watt-tube-head
75Friedman Smallbox$2,799.00https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/SmallBox--friedman-small-box-50-watt-2-channel-tube-head
76Fryette Deliverance 60$850.00https://reverb.com/item/10838633-vht-fryette-deliverance-60
77Gibson GA17RVT Scout$449.00https://www.creamcitymusic.com/vintage-1964-gibson-ga-17rvt-scout-12w-1x10-tube-combo-amp/
78Diezel Herbert$4,199.00https://www.sweetwater.com/store/de...ezel-herbert-iii-180-watt-3-channel-tube-head
79Hiwatt DR103$3,260.00https://reverb.com/ca/p/hiwatt-custom-100-dr103
80BadCat Hot Cat 30$1,500.00https://reverb.com/ca/p/bad-cat-hot-cat-30r-head
81Fender Blues Junior$674.00https://www.sweetwater.com/store/de...watt-1x12-inch-tube-combo-amp-lacquered-tweed
82Marshall JVM410HJS$2,749.00https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/JVM410H--marshall-jvm410h-100-watt-4-channel-tube-head
83Roland Jazz Chorus 120$999.00https://www.sweetwater.com/store/de...zz-chorus-120-watt-2x12-inch-stereo-combo-amp
84Matchless DC-30$2,695.00https://reverb.com/ca/item/3823954-matchless-dc30-black
85Dr. Z Route 66$1,395.00https://reverb.com/p/dr-z-route-66-32-watt-guitar-amp-head
86Dr. Z Maz 38 SR$1,999.00https://reverb.com/ca/p/dr-z-maz-38-senior-reverb-38-watt-2x12-guitar-combo
87Dr. Z Maz 8$1,100.00https://reverb.com/ca/p/dr-z-maz-8-8-watt-1x12-studio-guitar-combo
88Swart Atomic Space Tone$1,250.00https://reverb.com/ca/item/6605114-swart-atomic-space-tone
89Dumble OD Special$65,000.00https://reverb.com/ca/item/262246-dumble-overdrive-special-1977-brown-suede?show_sold=true
90Peavey "Block Letter" EVH 5150$500.00https://reverb.com/ca/item/2139492-peavey-5150-block-letter
 
Last edited:
91Peavey 6505+ / EVH 5150-II$1,199.00https://reverb.com/ca/p/peavey-5150-ii-120-watt-guitar-head
92Marshall Plexi$3,499.00https://reverb.com/ca/p/marshall-1959hw
93Ampeg Portaflex bass amp$449.00https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/PF500BH--ampeg-pf-500-500-watt-portaflex-bass-head
94Fender Tweed Princeton, 5F2-A$1,099.00https://www.sweetwater.com/store/de...watt-1x12-inch-tube-combo-amp-lacquered-tweed
95Fender silverface Princeton without reverb, AA964$2,500.00https://reverb.com/ca/p/fender-princeton-reverb-1968
9666 Fender blackface Princeton with reverb, AA964$2,999.00https://reverb.com/ca/p/blackface-fender-princeton-reverb
97Mesa's two-channel Dual Rectifier$1,500.00https://reverb.com/ca/p/mesa-boogie...-2-channel-100-watt-guitar-amp-head-1992-2000
98Paul Ruby Rocket$1,799.00https://www.sweetwater.com/store/search.php?s=Paul Ruby Rocket
99Ampeg SVT bass amp$1,999.00https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/SVTCL--ampeg-svt-cl-300-watt-tube-bass-head
100Bogner Shiva 20th Anniversary$2,595.00https://www.sweetwater.com/store/de...y-shiva-90-watt-handwired-tube-head-no-reverb
101Soldano SLO-100$3,999.00https://www.sweetwater.com/store/de...ead-overdrive-100-watt-tube-head-metal-grille
102Soldano X88R preamp$1,800.00https://reverb.com/item/6300706-soldano-x88r-preamp-vintage-1990
103Soldano/Caswell X99 preamp$3,500.00https://reverb.com/item/864826-early-90-s-soldano-x99-caswell-motorized-preamp-72
104Splawn Nitro$1,850.00https://reverb.com/ca/item/56431-splawn-nitro-100-watt-guitar-amp-guitar-amp-head
105Splawn Quickrod$1,295.00https://reverb.com/ca/item/988778-splawn-quickrod-100w-amplifier-head
106Suhr Badger 18$1,750.00https://reverb.com/ca/p/suhr-badger-18-head
107Suhr Badger 30$1,995.00https://reverb.com/ca/p/suhr-badger-30-head
10864 Fender Super Reverb, AB763$2,499.00https://www.sweetwater.com/store/de...eluxe-reverb-20-watt-1x12-inch-tube-combo-amp
109Supro 1964T$2,000.00https://reverb.com/ca/item/6029067-vintage-supro-1964t-early-1960s
110Mesa Lone Star Classic$3,568.00https://www.sweetwater.com/store/de...-watt-1x12-inch-tube-combo-amp-premier-walnut
111Mesa Dual Rectifier$2,299.00https://www.sweetwater.com/store/de...ier-100-watt-tube-head-black-taurus-faceplate
112blackface Fender Tremolux, AA763$2,349.00https://reverb.com/p/fender-tremolux-1962
113Mesa/Boogie Triple Crown TC-100$2,399.00https://www.sweetwater.com/store/de...boogie-triple-crown-tc-100-100-watt-tube-head
114Two-Rock Jet 35$1,500.00https://reverb.com/ca/p/two-rock-jet-35-head
115Mesa/Boogie Bass 400 bass amp$950.00https://reverb.com/item/666450-mesa-boogie-bass-400
116Mesa/Boogie Mark IV$1,200.00https://reverb.com/ca/p/mesa-boogie-mark-iv
117Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ without GEQ$3,850.00https://reverb.com/ca/item/20228521-mesa-boogie-mark-iic-dg-simul-class-geq
118Mesa/Boogie JP-2C John Petrucci signature model$2,749.00https://www.sweetwater.com/store/de...n-petrucci-60-100-watt-tube-head-black-taurus
119Mesa/Boogie TriAxis preamp$3,995.00https://reverb.com/ca/p/mesa-boogie-triaxis-programmable-pre-amp
120Mesa/Boogie Subway Blues$1,099.00https://www.sweetwater.com/store/de...-subway-tt-800-lightweight-800-watt-bass-head
 
No one? OK, I'll start:
Marshall AFD100 ......... $ 3,650.00 Bogner Shiva ............ $ 2,595.00 Mesa/Boogie Mark IV ..... $ 1,200.00 Budda Twinmaster ........ $ 1,399.00 Total ................... $ 8,844.00
 
Last edited:
Not really, no. Most of those amps have substantial residual value, and can be sold. In fact, some of the amps I bought in the past I sold for more than I paid for them (I mostly buy amps used). Also, while a lot of the models are great, some (e.g. Carvin Legacy) don't sound like the amps they are supposed to model to my ears when compared side by side with physical amps. Not that they're unusable or anything, you're just not getting a real replacement for that amp in AxeFX. Then there's also the fact that nobody actually uses all the amps. I consistently use like 3 models.

Is it worth its selling price? No doubt about it. It'd likely sell for twice the amount, although marketing would be a huge chore. Is it worth "$450K"? No way.
 
Not really, no. Most of those amps have substantial residual value, and can be sold. In fact, some of the amps I bought in the past I sold for more than I paid for them (I mostly buy amps used). Also, while a lot of the models are great, some (e.g. Carvin Legacy) don't sound like the amps they are supposed to model to my ears when compared side by side with physical amps. Not that they're unusable or anything, you're just not getting a real replacement for that amp in AxeFX. Then there's also the fact that nobody actually uses all the amps. I consistently use like 3 models.

Is it worth its selling price? No doubt about it. It'd likely sell for twice the amount, although marketing would be a huge chore. Is it worth "$450K"? No way.

I reckon that considering electronic parts have tolerance drifts, especially potentiometers (up to 20% at times), just like with electric guitars of the same model, no two amps of the same model will sound exactly alike. At least at the same setting.
 
Back
Top Bottom