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Post by indiehouse on Nov 21, 2019 18:04:08 GMT -6
I keep thinking about all the sounds in the Axe that I’d be paying for and never use...
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Post by Johnkenn on Nov 21, 2019 19:10:20 GMT -6
Holy crap I’m literally about to order this thing. Might have some things going on the classys I feel you. I'm starting to be a convert too, although used kempers are starting to get cheaper.. I know a guy that will sell you one. |
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Axe FX III
Nov 21, 2019 19:48:08 GMT -6
via mobile
Post by svart on Nov 21, 2019 19:48:08 GMT -6
I feel you. I'm starting to be a convert too, although used kempers are starting to get cheaper.. I know a guy that will sell you one. You're killing me, smalls |
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Axe FX III
Nov 21, 2019 22:12:12 GMT -6
via mobile
Post by Johnkenn on Nov 21, 2019 22:12:12 GMT -6
I know a guy that will sell you one. You're killing me, smalls Well, a Kemper that is... |
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Post by ragan on Nov 21, 2019 23:02:00 GMT -6
Listen to 15:32 to the Tie Your Mother Down riff in the Axe vid above and then listen to the same riff at like 1:16 on the Kemper vid. I do like the Axe better than the Kemper, no doubt. I'd try one someday, why not. Based purely on clips (which is really limited, validity wise) that Iridium sounds like some of the best modeling I've heard. But the Axe FX sounds like you can do a helluva lot with it. I didn't really love the Queen tone there but I think that was just because it was way too gained up, more Van Halen than Brian May, nothing inherent about the Axe FX. |
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Post by indiehouse on Nov 22, 2019 4:15:39 GMT -6
Listen to 15:32 to the Tie Your Mother Down riff in the Axe vid above and then listen to the same riff at like 1:16 on the Kemper vid. I do like the Axe better than the Kemper, no doubt. I'd try one someday, why not. Based purely on clips (which is really limited, validity wise) that Iridium sounds like some of the best modeling I've heard. But the Axe FX sounds like you can do a helluva lot with it. I didn't really love the Queen tone there but I think that was just because it was way too gained up, more Van Halen than Brian May, nothing inherent about the Axe FX. I suppose the Axe III is a tweakers delight, you can really dive in deep there. But man, after living with the Kemper, I’m no tweaker. More of a set it and forget it type. I use just a small handful of tones, most of which I get from pedals (how does the Axe handle pedals?) And I live right at that edge of breakup region, light overdrive, or fuzz. Not a high gain guy at all. And I don’t work with a lot of other guitarists that I would need to have all of those options. I’m definitely keeping an eye on the Axe and Iridium. Quite a price difference. But I really like the limited options of the Iridium. That’s right where I live, tone-wise. |
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Axe FX III
Nov 22, 2019 11:00:37 GMT -6
via mobile
Post by Johnkenn on Nov 22, 2019 11:00:37 GMT -6
Listen to 15:32 to the Tie Your Mother Down riff in the Axe vid above and then listen to the same riff at like 1:16 on the Kemper vid. I do like the Axe better than the Kemper, no doubt. I'd try one someday, why not. Based purely on clips (which is really limited, validity wise) that Iridium sounds like some of the best modeling I've heard. But the Axe FX sounds like you can do a helluva lot with it. I didn't really love the Queen tone there but I think that was just because it was way too gained up, more Van Halen than Brian May, nothing inherent about the Axe FX. Yeah it was too hot, but I thought the tone was spot on. |
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Post by Johnkenn on Nov 22, 2019 15:12:28 GMT -6
Holy crap
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Axe FX III
Nov 23, 2019 20:48:28 GMT -6
via mobile
Post by Johnkenn on Nov 23, 2019 20:48:28 GMT -6
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Post by Johnkenn on Nov 25, 2019 18:10:51 GMT -6
Well...I did it.
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Axe FX III
Nov 25, 2019 18:14:08 GMT -6
via mobile
Post by svart on Nov 25, 2019 18:14:08 GMT -6
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Post by Johnkenn on Nov 25, 2019 18:42:18 GMT -6
Couldn’t stand it. Now I need to get more work.
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Post by matt on Nov 28, 2019 11:08:23 GMT -6
Got an AF3 and FC-12 last week. As I tweak presets, I keep thinking: it doesn't sound as good as amp X/Y/Z that I own. So I plug into amp X/Y/Z and the comparison session is over in seconds. The tube amps (some of them legendary) get turned off, every time. I haven't used it in a live situation yet but I am confident it will hold it's own. JK, I wouldn't even bother with presets other than use them as a platform to build your own. They typically have too much reverb and too much gain for my taste. But the user community is awesome and there's loads of shared presets and IRs out there to grab and manipulate. I've built a "kitchen sink" preset from one posted by Leon Todd (2112 on the Axe-FX forum) and copy it to create presets simulating different amps. It's a deep deep tool that has killer development and support from Cliff and team at Fractal. The pace of updates is phenomenal compared to the competition and these firmware revisions are not just window dressing- they offer fundamental improvements in sound quality and functionality. It has displaced my Kemper, Helix and Synergy gear. It's good, and will only get better. |
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Axe FX III
Nov 28, 2019 14:07:31 GMT -6
via mobile
Post by indiehouse on Nov 28, 2019 14:07:31 GMT -6
Got an AF3 and FC-12 last week. As I tweak presets, I keep thinking: it doesn't sound as good as amp X/Y/Z that I own. So I plug into amp X/Y/Z and the comparison session is over in seconds. The tube amps (some of them legendary) get turned off, every time. I haven't used it in a live situation yet but I am confident it will hold it's own. JK, I wouldn't even bother with presets other than use them as a platform to build your own. They typically have too much reverb and too much gain for my taste. But the user community is awesome and there's loads of shared presets and IRs out there to grab and manipulate. I've built a "kitchen sink" preset from one posted by Leon Todd (2112 on the Axe-FX forum) and copy it to create presets simulating different amps. It's a deep deep tool that has killer development and support from Cliff and team at Fractal. The pace of updates is phenomenal compared to the competition and these firmware revisions are not just window dressing- they offer fundamental improvements in sound quality and functionality. It has displaced my Kemper, Helix and Synergy gear. It's good, and will only get better. Oh man. Tell me more about it compared to Kemper? How long have you had it? Are these honeymoon thoughts or fleshed out experience? |
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Post by matt on Nov 28, 2019 18:38:28 GMT -6
Got an AF3 and FC-12 last week. Oh man. Tell me more about it compared to Kemper? How long have you had it? Are these honeymoon thoughts or fleshed out experience? I'm still in the honeymoon phase with the AF3, but I try to look at any piece of new gear with a critical ear (and eye). I must admit that I was not happy with the AF3 at first. The presets are too over-the-top in many ways. Heavy tones too distorted, too reverb-drenched, etc. Typical of all the modeler companies, I suppose, but initially disappointing. So I went looking for options and found Leon's KS preset and set about learning the minutia of AF3, focusing on the amp and cabinet blocks first, to get that "base tone" before adding anything else, even reverb or EQ. The tweakability of the amp block alone is insane, and the various parameters matter and affect the resulting sound. It's early days for my preset library, but I am optimistic that I will develop a set of worthy "amps" for use live and in the studio. I have mixed thoughts about the Kemper. I can make it sound really good in isolation, no problem. But however much I tweak a particular profile, when tracking I find the results a bit wanting. It could be user error, but I tried a lot of different profiles and was never entirely satisfied. Also, I have never bonded with the physical design. I don't find it particularly user-friendly, but that's a personal thing. The lack of software control is another drawback for me. As I type this, I see that Fractal has released FW update 11.01. Between the aggressive updates, great I/O, and full-featured software app, I am committed to the AF3. Oh, and it sounds pretty good too. |
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Post by Johnkenn on Nov 29, 2019 12:30:27 GMT -6
Just sold my Kemper...and don't get the AFX3 till tomorrow...so I won't have them at the same time.  |
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Post by geoff738 on Nov 29, 2019 16:24:18 GMT -6
Just sold my Kemper... It’ll be back. I keed. Will be interested to hear your thoughts on the Axe once you’ve had it for a bit. I just ordered an Iridium so that’ll kick my GAS for a Kemper/Axe down the road always I hope. Cheers, Geoff |
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Post by Johnkenn on Nov 30, 2019 14:41:23 GMT -6
Just spent about 2 hours with it...Holy shit...I still can't play lol. No seriously, it is by far a big step up from the Kemper. There's no questioning that. I agree with matt that a lot of the presets are over-everything'd. But it didn't take me long to be able to pull back stuff and get a killer, killer tone. It's COMPLETELY different than my experience with the Kemper with dynamics - playing this really made me realize how one dimensional the Kemper could be. And that's not to slag it at all - because it's really good. But - there's something about the way this thing reacts and the way the amps react...I know people have said it, but the Kemper feels like a snapshot and this feels like it's a dynamic instrument. The FX are a completely different story too - just the way they interact with the amp. The drives are completely another level than the Kemper and the Delays and verbs seem better to me too. The biggest differences I hear is the quality of the midrange and the differentiation in the amps - there was a sameness to the amps in the Kemper. These amps are all distinctly tonally different. I was able to easily figure out (without RTFM) how to create my own amp block with all FX I wanted...I initially started with "Boutique" preset which is their Matchless Chieftain...and then I started auditioning different amps...they all sounded just killer. Then I realized I was still using the Matchless cab lol. Once I went in and matched up the amp with a multitude of choices for mic choice...holy crap. The possibilities are endless. I'll report back when I have more time with it. |
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Post by mikec on Nov 30, 2019 16:46:20 GMT -6
Congrats. The AXE FX is one of the most used pieces of gear in my studio. It also works great as a recording interface if I just want to quickly record some guitar or bass ideas and don't want to fire up the entire studio. I also use it every day in my guitar practice due to its built in metronome. Oh yea, it also sounds great. One of my favorite presets is number 125, Dual Clean. I just changed the reverb to one of the studio reverbs and added a second scene with the drive turned on. It sounds incredible. The new DC30 preset that Cliff built is also really nice.
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Axe FX III
Nov 30, 2019 17:28:50 GMT -6
via mobile
Post by Johnkenn on Nov 30, 2019 17:28:50 GMT -6
I’m still swimming a bit. Trying to figure out why some have extra scenes and some don’t. And I’m also wondering whether I have the newest presets...I’m pretty sure I do because it came loaded with FW 11. But I noticed that some of the cabs have the legacy cabs loaded? I could see how this could be a total rabbit hole. Probably just need to make my own presets and stick with them.
How do you import new factory presets?
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Axe FX III
Nov 30, 2019 18:08:09 GMT -6
via mobile
Post by indiehouse on Nov 30, 2019 18:08:09 GMT -6
Why are some of these selling for 2500-3000 used on Reverb?
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Axe FX III
Nov 30, 2019 18:12:38 GMT -6
via mobile
Post by Johnkenn on Nov 30, 2019 18:12:38 GMT -6
I think some have the foot controller...but it looks like they just haven’t adjusted to the Holiday sale. I think it’s normally $2399 and now it’s &1999
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Axe FX III
Nov 30, 2019 18:16:33 GMT -6
via mobile
Post by Johnkenn on Nov 30, 2019 18:16:33 GMT -6
Just to answer the question I always wondered about...IMO, it is absolutely an upgrade from the Kemper.
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Axe FX III
Nov 30, 2019 18:33:10 GMT -6
via mobile
Post by indiehouse on Nov 30, 2019 18:33:10 GMT -6
Just to answer the question I always wondered about...IMO, it is absolutely an upgrade from the Kemper. Damnit. |
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Axe FX III
Nov 30, 2019 18:37:01 GMT -6
via mobile
Post by indiehouse on Nov 30, 2019 18:37:01 GMT -6
When is the sale over? It doesn’t look like it gets any cheaper than that right now, even used ones.
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