Talk me out of getting back into amps

[Mark Al]

I'm So glad I don't have to continuously go broke replacing tubes!

Not a real problem, to be honest. I owned dozens of amps, never need to replace any broken tubes, somehow, they all just work fine for years...

As many have said, if circumstances permits, definitely have both: nothing replace the ethereal experience of playing a good tube amps after it's warmed up, feeling dynamic and oozing tones at your fingertips.

On the other hand, for quiet night noodling with headphone while watching/reading stuff, and for all sort of recording tasks, nothing beats the Axe III.

 

[Andy Eagle]

I have lots of both, no reason to give up amps. The story used to be people would play real amps live and a modeller in the studio but now it's the other way around. An axe rig can give you something that would require a truck and crew to move and give it the consistency of tone that you have to battle with in tube amps live. More forgiving feel too.

 

[Thomas Obester]

I have lots of both, no reason to give up amps. The story used to be people would play real amps live and a modeller in the studio but now it's the other way around. An axe rig can give you something that would require a truck and crew to move and give it the consistency of tone that you have to battle with in tube amps live. More forgiving feel too.

yup, feel is the biggest difference for me.
for example any real vh4 is 10x times more unforgiving compared any dizzy v4 model.

 

[Rogerthat]

Nah. Buy amps, do drugs, and hail satan!

 

[DBraz]

I use real amps and Fractal and for me both have their place. I love my 101b and there's just something about it when its cooking with a real 4x12 that I cant shake despite being a Fractal user for over 12 years.

These days I record almost exclusively with the Axe FX III and play live and rehearse with the 101b. Each to their own I guess?

 

[karak]

Do you know Bluguitar AMP1, two versions, each with 4 chanels, small, great volume range. You can use it as power amp for modeler.
I think that it is quite overlooked amp.
And probably you can afford it not selling modeler.

 

[Andy Eagle]

Do you know Bluguitar AMP1, two versions, each with 4 chanels, small, great volume range. You can use it as power amp for modeler.
I think that it is quite overlooked amp.
And probably you can afford it not selling modeler.

This looks like spam , smells like spam.

 

[FractalAudio]

Do you know Bluguitar AMP1, two versions, each with 4 chanels, small, great volume range. You can use it as power amp for modeler.
I think that it is quite overlooked amp.
And probably you can afford it not selling modeler.

 

[karak]

Why, only recommending of Messa etc. is ok and other amps are spam?

 

[Jim DeSchamp]

I go back and forth. I have collected quite a few amps and pedals over the years and still have my plexi stack (2) plus Divided by 13’s, Fender, Mesa, 65 Amp, ADA and others. A Champ or Princeton are still my favorite amps to record still but lately I have been using those two in the AXE paired with my fav M20 cab. Lowering the SC from 2000 to below 1000 gives me the sound of a hot VC that I would get after the playing the original amp.

 

[m4ssi]

And a week later you’ll be thinking: Why did I want this?

I did it probably 3 times...amps have been sold, fractal is still there.

 

[mrleon83]

Hi had the urge too ended up picking up a mesa express, short body and upgraded the speaker to a celestial neo creamback. It’s not boutique or overly expensive but f-me it’s amazing. The fm3 won’t be going anywhere, it’s been great for gigging a quiet recording , but the amp is just such an awesome experience … so the answer is yes, buy an amp

 

[ApocalypticKatana]

If you like turning amp knobs maybe change the rotary knobs on the axe fx to those

Though if I were in your shoes I’d just get a good quality power amp and 2 4x12’s instead of getting a seperate tube amp and cab.

I don’t think there’s anything that the axe fx can’t come close to practically (since you mention the be100 it’s already in there )

 

[Andy Eagle]

If you like turning amp knobs maybe change the rotary knobs on the axe fx to those

Though if I were in your shoes I’d just get a good quality power amp and 2 4x12’s instead of getting a seperate tube amp and cab.

I don’t think there’s anything that the axe fx can’t come close to practically (since you mention the be100 it’s already in there )

Have you tried this ?

 

[ApocalypticKatana]

Have you tried this ?

If you’re talking about the knobs part no but now that I think about it more since the space between the knobs are narrower and some the actual rotary positions is “infinite” it doesn’t make much sense to put “marked” knobs on some of them.

For AITR, I just got a rack amp with the ax3 in a pseudo-case with a 4x12 and 5” studio monitors for that recorded-cab sound

Best of both worlds (not the most expensive gear speakers and PA wise, but happy enough with them)

Don’t have to spend alot of money you don’t have to get AITR and that recorded-cab sound.

 

[lauke-lux]

Did you mean to include a link?
Or am i being dumb?

Haha actually yes, no you are doing well Dave, guess I forgot to paste the link,

Here you are :
With FM3

With AXE FX II

 

[Andy Eagle]

If you’re talking about the knobs part no but now that I think about it more since the space between the knobs are narrower and some the actual rotary positions is “infinite” it doesn’t make much sense to put “marked” knobs on some of them.

For AITR, I just got a rack amp with the ax3 in a pseudo-case with a 4x12 and 5” studio monitors for that recorded-cab sound

Best of both worlds (not the most expensive gear speakers and PA wise, but happy enough with them)

Don’t have to spend alot of money you don’t have to get AITR and that recorded-cab sound.

No I mean the real thing in comparison.

 

[GreatGreen]

I like both tube amps and Fractal's modeling. However there is something about the workflow of a tube amp I really go for. All the knobs being right in front of you means if you want to make an adjustment, you just reach over to the knob and bam, adjustment made. Right now. That's it.

When I use tube amps, I run them into a reactive load and put route them through one of the Axe-Fx's loops, and use the Axe-Fx for pre and post effects, and IR processing. Works great.

 

[Andy Eagle]

I like both tube amps and Fractal's modeling. However there is something about the workflow of a tube amp I really go for. All the knobs being right in front of you means if you want to make an adjustment, you just reach over to the knob and bam, adjustment made. Right now. That's it.

When I use tube amps, I run them into a reactive load and put route them through one of the Axe-Fx's loops, and use the Axe-Fx for pre and post effects, and IR processing. Works great.

So there is absolutely no point.
The reason to have both is to play to the different strengths not make them the same.

 

[GreatGreen]

So there is absolutely no point.
The reason to have both is to play to the different strengths not make them the same.

Wrong. And spoken like someone who has never used the Fractal and tube amps in this way and has no idea how awesome it is.

The reason to have both and use them like I do is because I like the tone and workflow of my tube amps (and because I have some that Fractal doesn't model), and I also like Fractal's ecosystem and how incredible its effects, IRs, and routing options are.

Sometimes I also use the Axe-Fx to do everything including amp modeling, which is also awesome. And some other times I use tube amps and cabs in the room.

It's art, dude. It's not a math problem to be solved in the most efficient way possible. Do whatever feels best along the way to getting where you want to go.