Post Your Axe-Fx III Rigs Here!

Forgot to post a updated picture in here!

AM4 and VP4 connected together and hooked into the AXE-FX 3 turbo MKII OUTPUT / INPUT 4 and can be moved around anywhere in the AXE-FX 3 signal path.

Boss vg-800 and Boss gm-800 connected via serial cable together with a Boss gk-5 pickup on my Kiesel Tim Miller M6 guitar and the output from the gm-800 goes into INPUT 2 of AXE-FX 3 and the output from normal guitar jack to the input of AXE-FX 3. These 2 Boss units with the gk-5 hex pickup gives me tons of guitar synth options and different tuning options without the need of actually tuning my guitar and virtual guitars and even extra amps / effects if i want them.

Then I have a Empress Effects ZOIA for more crazy effects in OUTPUT 3 / INPUT 3 that can be moved around anywhere in the AXE-FX 3 signal path.

NOTE: AM4 and VP4 is safe on top of AXE-FX 3. The edges hang off just a little but they're sturdy and besides I use the editors a lot anyway and sit in front of my computer most times.

589794914_10240301133529659_2242619500548616007_n.jpg
 
Forgot to post a updated picture in here!

AM4 and VP4 connected together and hooked into the AXE-FX 3 turbo MKII OUTPUT / INPUT 4 and can be moved around anywhere in the AXE-FX 3 signal path.

Boss vg-800 and Boss gm-800 connected via serial cable together with a Boss gk-5 pickup on my Kiesel Tim Miller M6 guitar and the output from the gm-800 goes into INPUT 2 of AXE-FX 3 and the output from normal guitar jack to the input of AXE-FX 3. These 2 Boss units with the gk-5 hex pickup gives me tons of guitar synth options and different tuning options without the need of actually tuning my guitar and virtual guitars and even extra amps / effects if i want them.

Then I have a Empress Effects ZOIA for more crazy effects in OUTPUT 3 / INPUT 3 that can be moved around anywhere in the AXE-FX 3 signal path.

NOTE: AM4 and VP4 is safe on top of AXE-FX 3. The edges hang off just a little but they're sturdy and besides I use the editors a lot anyway and sit in front of my computer most times.

View attachment 163090
Awesome 👍, but please please, my OCD begs you, get a separate shelf for VP/AM.
 
Forgot to post a updated picture in here!

AM4 and VP4 connected together and hooked into the AXE-FX 3 turbo MKII OUTPUT / INPUT 4 and can be moved around anywhere in the AXE-FX 3 signal path.

Boss vg-800 and Boss gm-800 connected via serial cable together with a Boss gk-5 pickup on my Kiesel Tim Miller M6 guitar and the output from the gm-800 goes into INPUT 2 of AXE-FX 3 and the output from normal guitar jack to the input of AXE-FX 3. These 2 Boss units with the gk-5 hex pickup gives me tons of guitar synth options and different tuning options without the need of actually tuning my guitar and virtual guitars and even extra amps / effects if i want them.

Then I have a Empress Effects ZOIA for more crazy effects in OUTPUT 3 / INPUT 3 that can be moved around anywhere in the AXE-FX 3 signal path.

NOTE: AM4 and VP4 is safe on top of AXE-FX 3. The edges hang off just a little but they're sturdy and besides I use the editors a lot anyway and sit in front of my computer most times.

View attachment 163090

UPDATED RIG: Ok got some expression pedals connected. 1 for boss vg-800, 1 for boss gm-800, 1 for empress effects zoia and 2 for fractal axe-fx 3. Still need 2 more for AM4 and VP4, but I have no idea where to put them now lol. I do have 2 boss fs-5u switches I may use in them too.

Also secured 2 rack mount metal things on the top of Axe-fx 3 and secured a piece of super hard long foam behind the AM4 and VP4 to prop them up to see better and edit from the hardware when needed.

SPACE_STATION_12-4-2025_1_optimized_2000.jpg
 
UPDATED RIG: Ok got some expression pedals connected. 1 for boss vg-800, 1 for boss gm-800, 1 for empress effects zoia and 2 for fractal axe-fx 3. Still need 2 more for AM4 and VP4, but I have no idea where to put them now lol. I do have 2 boss fs-5u switches I may use in them too.

Also secured 2 rack mount metal things on the top of Axe-fx 3 and secured a piece of super hard long foam behind the AM4 and VP4 to prop them up to see better and edit from the hardware when needed.

View attachment 163242

Darth Sidious Power GIF
 
IMG-8160.jpg

I changed power amps.
I’ve been using the Synergy 5050 for the last 10 months. It’s been excellent. It really starts to add to the “feel” when I crank up the system.
However, the Fryette 2/90/2 is in a different league.
Even at reasonably low volume level, you can feel the “thunk”/attack. Overall, it just seems “clearer”,
tighter, and the attack is faster.
My guess is that the KT88 power tubes, and the big iron transformers are the primary culprits.
Really looking forward to using this system in live situations next year.
 
@NorCal_Val Is that a VHT / Fryette Valvulator I running between the guitar and the Axe-FX III input? What do you find are the benefits?
Yes, the OG version.
Ok, here’s my impression of what the Valvulator does for me;
(your results may vary)
It somehow makes the guitar “feel connected” to an actual amp.
When I first brought the Axe Fx down into the basement, and hooked it up to the Synergy 5050 and cabs, it sounded GOOD, like really good.
But, it didn’t feel like playing through a real amp.
(And I play at a pretty solid volume level)
So, I knew about the Valvulstor, and how it was used at the front of pedalboards, to drive all that cable length to the amps.
I picked up a Valvulator on Reverb for a very reasonable price.
When I first plugged it in, I noticed a difference in feel, much more like plugging into an amp.
Of course, not trusting myself, I invited my amigo over to try it out.
We did an afternoon of testing, and arrived at the conclusion that the Valvulator was indeed contributing to the overall feel.
Currently, I’m giving a rough estimate of the rig feeling 95%+ of what it feels to play an actual tube amp.
(it’s one hell of a lot closer than my rack rig from the ‘90s)
I’ve been playing guitar for closing in on 46 years, so how an amp/rig feels is a huge deal for me.
 
Yes, the OG version.
Ok, here’s my impression of what the Valvulator does for me;
(your results may vary)
It somehow makes the guitar “feel connected” to an actual amp.
When I first brought the Axe Fx down into the basement, and hooked it up to the Synergy 5050 and cabs, it sounded GOOD, like really good.
But, it didn’t feel like playing through a real amp.
(And I play at a pretty solid volume level)
So, I knew about the Valvulstor, and how it was used at the front of pedalboards, to drive all that cable length to the amps.
I picked up a Valvulator on Reverb for a very reasonable price.
When I first plugged it in, I noticed a difference in feel, much more like plugging into an amp.
Of course, not trusting myself, I invited my amigo over to try it out.
We did an afternoon of testing, and arrived at the conclusion that the Valvulator was indeed contributing to the overall feel.
Currently, I’m giving a rough estimate of the rig feeling 95%+ of what it feels to play an actual tube amp.
(it’s one hell of a lot closer than my rack rig from the ‘90s)
I’ve been playing guitar for closing in on 46 years, so how an amp/rig feels is a huge deal for me.
I have a Valvulator I in my basement. I may have to dig it out and see for myself.
 
My new minimalist rig, first pic shows its absolute smallest config for situations where space is tight, second pic adds a speaker for stereo when stage space allows.

The rig can grow from there by adding “accessory stalks“ that place things like iPad and computer at waist height. I will eventually add a heavy duty tripod that mates with the horizontal tube and can raise the AFX for stage configurations where it’s appropriate to elevate the speakers.

I loved my old rig (also made from drum rack parts), but it had slowly grown to the point where it took up too much visual space on stage. I love this pared down version, and the other thing I love is that the overhang of the AFX creates the perfect space for hiding the power cords and the support electronics. Everything is clean and contained, and visually it is much less intrusive than the old rig.
 

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