The Axe III is awesome!

rodzimguitar68

Fractal Fanatic
I've been fortunate to volunteer at my church as one of the guitarists, for about 10 years now. My work and travel schedule has not allowed me to volunteer as much over the past several years.

During those years, I played widely different setups - amps/pedalboards, simulators, etc...., as the needs and the requirements changed. Been with Fractal since May 2012.

I've owned my III since late April.

However, also in April, my wife (we met in June 2014, and were married that December) was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. Her prognosis after surgery in May, was expressed to us by her surgeon, in the waiting room, as "it will be months, not years".

I immediately took 2 months off work, to spend time at home with her. Some other things were going on at the office while I was on hiatus, and I came back to a big mess. I resigned, and with my contract, basically received another 2 months at full pay and benefits.

I have been fortunate to have been everywhere in the US, and all over Europe and Western Russia, on business travel over the past 30 years. I grew up in Miami - so I've been to the beach a zillion times. My wife has not been able to travel very often throughout her life. It has been a wonderful thing to be off from work, and able to take her on trips to see places she's never been - Green Bay, Port Washington, Milwaukee, Chicago, DC, Nashville, Siesta Key, FL(just her and her girlfriends and daughter), Coco Beach, Daytona, Charlotte, Gettysburg....

My wife is now being cared for by medical teams and specialists with Ohio State "The James" Cancer Hospital, The Cleveland Clinic, and a team at The Dana Farber Institute in Boston (ironically, we were in Boston for a consultation, the weekend my Axe III was being shipped to me in Ohio, it was difficult to resist the urge to drive to Fractal - and ask for a T-shirt or something). Since getting the proper long-term care, thankfully, her prognosis has improved dramatically, and her cancer is responding to the chemo. She is tired and weakened from it, but feeling okay, besides that.

I am eager to get back to work, and I have a good reputation in my industry. The job market is really great right now, and I think I can coordinate a balance between getting a new job before my benefits run out, but also, not going back to work too soon --- so I can spend more time at home. We are going away tomorrow morning to one of my favorite cabin/camp grounds. I'm excited she will get to see it first hand. We won't be able to hike or ride trail horses, but we will be able to sit by the fire ring together and look at the clear sky and stars, that you can't see from the city.

Anyways - all of this turmoil, and my absence from road life, has allowed me to participate more often in the church band, and I did again today. When I play, it is very high-energy, and we run the mains at about 102-103 db, with some of bigger songs just shy of 105 db. It is like a professional rock concert, with lights, smoke, projection screens, fixed tri-pod cameras, and guys with shoulder-held pro TV cameras wandering around to video the band up close.

I'm loving the way the Axe III sounds and feels!!! Some guys have reported, "yeah, it's better, but the II was good also". I own a Mark I and an XL Plus......The Axe III is waaaaayyyyy better, and if you are using it on a stage, with in-ear monitors in a stereo mix, it is really noticeable. There's something magical about the "3d-ness" of the overall sound. I can't explain it. It sounds more round, full - I can play with a brighter tone, and it still doesn't rip my head off, it is just clear and articulate. I like that a lot. I wish I had two of them! Maybe next year.....??? Lol

If you haven't ordered one yet - go ahead and get it asap!!!!

Rod
 
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Here's to hoping for your wife's full and speedy recovery.

Reminds us all that everything is relative, and the health of you and your loved one is so valuable.

Glad you're getting to enjoy playing and using the Axe Fx III.
 
Your wife and you are in my prayers, brother.

Thanks for sharing. Too often we get lost in work or whatever and lose track of what’s truly important. Recent possible heart issues have been an awakening for me.
 
Having been in a similar (though not as severe a diagnosis) situation, it really does help to set one’s priorities straight. Things just flip upside down overnight. Or rather right side up. I’ve learned valuable lessons from this adversity, and my wife’s initial prognosis (wheelchair in a few years) turned out to be, shall we say, exaggerated, and she’s very likely to live the rest of her life with no impairment at all.

Which is a long winded way of saying, looks like you’ve found a silver lining in a difficult situation, and that’s the best way to deal with it. Best of luck to you and your wife.
 
Rodney, you and your wife are definitely in my prayers! I hope the chemo is successful and she is able to return home soon!!

with in-ear monitors in a stereo mix

Using my Axe 3 live this weekend for the first time (also with IEMs), and really looking forward to this. I always loved my sound with my XL but not so much through my IEMs. There is something about the Axe 3 that really plays above the XL, it just feels more responsive.
 
The III ain't as awesome as your wife is ..... glad to hear things are heading in the right direction for her.

PS Coming from a country bumkin in this island I live in where the local churches are generally quaint small ancient piles of mossy stone, the concept of playing to a congregation of 4,000 is simply mind blowing. The minister must have the hand shook off him when everyone files out at the end! :)
 
Rod, best hopes for you and your wife.
I can relate to your story and I hope the treatment will give her a speedy and full recovery.
It's situations like this shows you what your made of and whats important in life, and you have chosen wisely by spending as much time as possible with her and getting as many special moments together as possible.
I'm sure showing her how much she matters to you has keept her possitivity and fighting will up, which is important.
Good to have the awesome black box to "meditate and/or vent" through - enjoy it.
 
When I play, I am playing for about 4,000 people and we run the mains at about 102-103 db, with some of bigger songs just shy of 105 db. It is like a professional rock concert, with lights, smoke, projection screens, fixed tri-pod cameras, and guys with shoulder-held pro TV cameras wandering around to video the band up close.

:openmouth:

Churches must have changed a bit since I went last...

I've got one near me that advertises craft beer with services.
 
Rod, just prayed for you and your wife, and will continue to do so. I also have some pretty significant prayer warriors in my chain, and they also are praying for you and your wife.

God's mercy and blessings on you and yours, always, brother.
 
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