"Real amps just have something modelers can't replicate"

On top of sounding amazing, the Axe FX also offers too many advantages over a tube amp to ever go back, the effects, hundreds of amp choices, amazing sound at low volume, noise floor, weight, cost of maintenance, reliability, integrated FC ecosystem, audio interface, MIDI, desktop editor, I could go on.
 
jaycal6 said:
I love Fractal. But I think there are a handful of models which seem pretty spot on, a ton that are quite good, and then a few that sort of miss the mark. Bell curve.

I’m recording some metal songs, and I spent way too long trying to dial in the right boosted Recto tone on my Axe. It should be pretty simple. But in the mix nothing sounded quite right. I bought a real 2-channel older Recto and bam, the tone was instantly there and it worked great in the mix. Took literally less than 10 min to dial in. Why is that? User error? Maybe, but I dialed in the real Recto just fine. And I’ve tried many presets. The real amp just worked better in the recording. And this is with using the same IRs for Axe and real amp, so that’s not the variable.
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Component drift, part tolerances, different revisions....could be a lot of reasons. Congrats on finding a Mesa that hasn't failed spectacularly yet! I lost two dual recs to fireworks and swore never again lol
 
duzie said:
Let’s turn this around

Real modelers just have something amps can’t replicate
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Ok, so I feel like I need to get something off my chest with this.
I have four amps in addition to my Fractal gear. I have two Swarts, which are great, and I love them, and two Carol Anns, which are genuinely special amps- they're included in the Fractals for a reason. I find that I approach the Carol Anns in particular differently than I do anything else, because the amps are so freaking loud (yes, I know they have master volumes.). When I'm playing my real amps, I play much more quietly than I do my Fractal stuff, because I have a family and a wife and neighbors close by, and playing so carefully significantly changes my style of playing. It's kind of a problem! Through the Fractals, I can let loose and play normally- I play more naturally on the Fractals than I do on the big rigs, because I don't have to worry about hearing damage and pissing off everyone in a 3 mile radius. The Fractals are also more quiet- less background noise.

All of that said, I've got the Carol Anns in stereo with the 7 cable method with my Axe Fx 3, and I realized there's a perfect workaround- I can simply use the Output 4 level knob on the front panel as an overall master volume. The Carol Ann power amps are relatively clean power amps, and this works beautifully. I'm working on a preset now where I'm hoping to be able to take both the Tucana preamp and Triptik preamp and select which I'd like to send to both power amps at once with stereo effects...

I guess my overall point is that the Axe works extremely well alongside traditional gear, and it's flexible routing really opens up all sorts of possibilities.

If I could only have one or the other though, I'd take the Fractal every time. It's just too useful to let go of.
 
Frodebro said:

“Real amps just have something modelers can't replicate"​


This overused and abused statement emanates largely from the mouths of people who made up their minds going in that they will NEVER let go of their emotional bond with their traditional amps. No matter what happens in the modeling world, they will NEVER accept it. So they think up objections that are vague enough to escape debunking. Press them for specifics and they can’t come up with anything.

See also: “Sounds digital.”
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This exactly. It’s so tiresome.
 
I have gone back and forth with Axe-FX only and Axe-FX in 4cm. While Axe-FX is great and I’m sure well over 90% of the way there, so am also in a situation where volume concerns are minimal and my current recording setup is switching between 4 tube amps with 2 cabs and 4 mics. Essentially as if I had 4 dynacabs. If I were limited in volume I could get similar results from Axe-FX alone, but I enjoy the setup I have now. I have been using Axe-FX live for convenience, but plan on taking the JP2C out more often now.

Get your pitch forks and torches on come get me.
 

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I really enjoy the tones and flexibility of the Axe 3, and it's way more portable and cheaper to maintain than big amps, though I'm not gigging these days. I haven't had a tube amp for a very long time.

That said, a little small voice wants me to try an Astro 20 combo (Soldano semi programmable all tube 1x12). I'd try one if there was one near me, but no. We'll see.
 
For anyone playing frequently and wanting a stadium rig that fits in a shoe box the AxeFX is a no brainer.

Can I cop my modded Mesa Roadster’s tone and feel exactly? Nope. Do I really care? Nope. I never expected it to, especially considering the amp is modified. The Triple Crest however is ridiculously close to both of the TC-100s that I own, most likely modeled from the TC-50. I’m very impressed with that.

I find the Recto models to be just like the actual amps, a b!tch to dial in but once you find that sweet spot, oh mamma!

I’m perfectly happy melting faces with the Revv Generator’s Purple channel model right now, and the JP2C’s Green channel for incredibly clean ‘clean tone’. I would have never even considered the Revv if it wasn’t for my AxeFXIII.
 
mr_fender said:
Many a tube amp has been sold off because of Fractal Audio... mine included.
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A true story:

I was brought in by a big name in Alt Rock to explore the feasibility of their switching from tube amps to the (at that time) Axe-Fx II.
We dialed in the principal artist's main sound in about ten minutes.
He turned to his studio assistant and said, "well, I'm sold. Put all the amps on Reverb!"
We all laughed -- I'd heard plenty of comments like this from artists who are hesitant but willing to be pleasantly surprised.
"No, I'm serious," he said; "start listing them while we work through the rest of the set."
By the end of the day, he'd put every one of his 25+ amps up for sale, except the very first one he'd bought as a kid.
Been on a Fractal device for all live and studio playing ever since.
 
I like em all too .... but... but.... but....

My 2018 EVH 5150iii 6L6 50 watt is way way "meaty-er" (yes I made that word up) than the models in the FM3 or the Axe-Fx II, also its tone changes based on tube wear and how long its been on (powered on in use, not in stand by).... its a completely different beast after its been cooking for 30 mins it's like the sound gains weight lol.

I wish Cliff could model that phenomenon.
 
Severed said:
I wish Cliff could model that phenomenon.
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He will :) :) :cool: :cool: ;) ;)....... or at least I'm sure he will look into it..... if he hasen't done that already.....:):). I assume (or guess - right or wrong) that the reason component values change with temperature and stabilize after a while. Like starting you car engine from cold and after some driving the temperatures (lube oil and toleranses between components like e.g. pistons and cylinder walls) stabilise and the engine performs at its optimum.
 
Never cared about amps vs modelers vs software vs whatever, really. I couldn't care less about a faithful recreation of some obscure limited run of a Marshall model that had some holy grail component that was actually defective but just happened to make it sound godly. Or whatever

None of that junk mattered to me. What I have always cared about was:

  • Do I like how it sounds?
  • Do I like how it feels to play?
  • Does it make me want to play and write and perform?

Every amp, sim, modeler, plugin, etc has always been in pursuit of those questions. At the end of the day, I don't care if the AxeFX is a faithful recreation of any given amp. I know I can use it to create a sound that I love playing, and that feels amazing under the fingers. It makes me want to play my guitar.
 
The only thing that really matters to me in comparing Modelers v Amps...is how good the player is.

I'm an average player on Amps & Modelers.
 
Is it not just another example of the vinyl vs cd or mp3 argument? You've effectively got a superior product now, but it's not tactile and doesn't look as good as the original thing. However the modern equivalent product is so much more convenient.

I propose the following solution - a dummy Recto head (or 5150 etc.. JCM 800) that people can put in their playing spaces with all the lights and switches and hum..

But inside is an Axe FX III haha!
 
Severed said:
I like em all too .... but... but.... but....

My 2018 EVH 5150iii 6L6 50 watt is way way "meaty-er" (yes I made that word up) than the models in the FM3 or the Axe-Fx II, also its tone changes based on tube wear and how long its been on (powered on in use, not in stand by).... its a completely different beast after its been cooking for 30 mins it's like the sound gains weight lol.

I wish Cliff could model that phenomenon.
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My Engl Savage 120 mk II is like this. Thirty minutes or so of playing and it kicks into a different gear, like Secretiat rounding the last turn lol
 
I had several amps when I bought my Axe FX3- Vox AC30, Orange Rockerverb 50, Friedman Runt, Marshall JVM410 and a JVM410 Satch, EVH 5150, etc. Once I learned my way around the Axe, I sold all amps except for the Satriani. I could get the exact sounds for all the amps except that one. Turns out that Cliff had modeled Satch’s personal amp which differed a bit from the regular production run. When he brought in the production amp- there it was- exact match! I much preferred the production model over the special one. Sold the Satch model a few weeks later. My back doesn’t miss tube amps at all! Nor do my ears.
 
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