ADA Depot - A Forum To Support Users of ADA Amplification Gear
Miscellaneous => Rants & Raves => Topic started by: Batsinthebelltower on April 18, 2014, 08:06:42 PM
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Anyone think the axe fx is overstated and overpriced at £1800 (ish)
Ive been doing a lot of reading , youtube vids, and forum research on it. The forum stuff in particular was quite revealing , because you have noob to intermediate guitarists recording with it , and it sounds like any other amp or even an impulse response software amp. Then ofcourse you have pro recordings too , in which it sounds really great , but i wonder howmuch of that is down to good mixxing and mastering techniques...
I also see loads of people selling their latest axefx2 , so they can get the new axefx2XL ; the only difference is the XL has more memory for presets , no new sounds. Do you think its a cult following, or is the item really that good ?
After nearly 20 years playing and being an equipment enthusiast , it feel like the majority of stuff is marketting hype these days , and i can imagine spending thatmuch money only to be let down by what is , basically , a guitar sound. Id probably tweak it to get an ada sound , when ive already an ada sitting here :facepalm:....
Any thoughts guys !? :banana-dance:
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I'll quote you Bats...."The majority of stuff is marketing hype these days" B-I-N-G-O! Yes Sir I feel the same way about ALOT of products out there for sure Dude..
"A guitar sound. Id probably tweak it to get an ADA sound" :thumb-up:
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Id probably tweak it to get an ada sound , when ive already an ada sitting here
Absolutely, why attempt to clone something when you have the real thing. I know a couple of guys who bought one, one of them never plays live just in his home studio, he loves it, another who plays live and likes big tube input stages, he said it's good for recording but no enough dynamics for him live. I must try one sometime and form my own view but I suspect I'd agree with them an like it for recording but not live.
I agree they are very expensive (~$3.5k AUD ish) although, I paid $2.5k AUD many years ago for my MP2 so probably about the same in future value of money terms.
I've never been a fan of the whole tone cloning thing and prefer real analogue stuff. That said though, if I was going to buy a cloner, the AxeFX seems to be the one to go for. They have a couple of advantages, the CPU they use is specifically designed and optimised for DSP (and very fast, which is what you need..), big wide fast buss paths (again what you need), fractal algorithms (if you are gona clone, fractals are the go) and all the bells an whistles built in and fully flexible routing between them. So I can see the attraction particularly if you want to have many different sounds. Perfect for a session player.. :thumb-up:
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I paid $2.5k AUD many years ago for my MP2 so probably about the same in future value of money terms.
I had no idea the MP1 was ever that expensive !! Insane !! Anyone got the official USA / UK release price ? On the upside, the price has dropped, but the sound has remained the same , ADA really is my favourite brand ! Another cool thing is , anyone i mention it to here in ireland , has never heard of it , other than JD who also lives in ireland and i -think- is a member of this forum !! Gotta love that secret tone !! :banana-trip:
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The MP1 was a bit cheaper than the MP2 here IIRC (maybe $1500 AUD ??), as the MP2 had so many more features. Some people in Oz know of ADA probably mostly because of Nuno and Paul Gilbert. Trevor Rabin is also an ADA user I think (Yes, owner of a lonely heart etc)
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I payed 38000 franks (about 950 euro) back in 1991 for my mp-1.An mp-2 was around 65000fr (about 1625 euro) back then.
I still have some pricelists of ADA gear.
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NO!!! it is not overhyped. I bought an Ultra in 2008 and it is nothing short of superior. (Paid $2500). The things you can do with this unit are incredible. I ran it for a while without my 3TM and it sounded killer. (Have since put the 3TM back in.)
You have endless amounts of amps, you can configure your effects chain, any and every tweak you can think of for amps, cabs, mic placement, diodes, :banana-trip: plus you can use custom cabinets, with various mic positions, speakers. The harmonizer and 'dreamscape' patches are top notch.
For instance I have a Diezel amp running in my primary chain and a clean Blues Jr. in my secondary chain.
This thing replaced my:
ISP Decimator
onboard tuner
GForce (it can do 98% of what the H3000 can do as well.)
ISP-33B
MicroCabII
If you think about what it will replace in your rig, it helps justify the cost. Plus a LOT easier on the back. lol
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Hey finstah, I really get that they are so versatile and pretty much one stop shopping which is what I envisage for an MP3, same idea but with tube analogue signal generation, in many ways the ADA pre-amps where the predecessor to an AxeFX type unit. If you took an MP1, MP1 3TM and MP2 and put them in the same unit combined with digital analogue/effects with flexible routing and variable cab sims for recording.... I recon it would sound "better" and be as conveinient (not to bag AxeFx out BTW, they've gone the digital way and, it would seem done a good job doing so).
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(not to bag AxeFx out BTW, they've gone the digital way and, it would seem done a good job doing so).
that's the thing, all the fan boys said digital... blah. And I was one of them. But Cliff nailed it.
Speaking of the MP3. I heard ADA was suppose to make it a few years back and shelved it. They bringing it back?
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Not sure, not much news from ADA re MP3, I did start a thread of what we'd all like in one (in case they are taking any notice ?), they seem focused on the APP-1, wouldn't mind trying one but; 1 - I don't want a stomp box and power adaptors near my feet (fu#k that and ADA solved this so well!!!!), 2 - I don't want all SS, I like tubes, they sound better and allways will (IMHO). Moreover, while using fractal algorithms may help to clone stuff, there's nothing like the real thing :thumb-up:
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I think that a part of it's popularity comes from low tuned guitars/djent scène. Think about it, digital modelers sound thin compared to tubes right? Well, they make a perfect match for 7-8-9 strings because it compromises both problems... A 8 string might sound flubby true an tube amp, but not true a "thin" digital modeler. So the 8 string makes the modeler sound fatter/fuller.
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I payed 38000 franks (about 950 euro) back in 1991 for my mp-1.An mp-2 was around 65000fr (about 1625 euro) back then.
I still have some pricelists of ADA gear.
HOLY CRAP Marshall.....That's some serious Coin Dude! (Even back then!) :o
If you still have some price lists from back in the day can you post them up or send me them? I would like to see them...Thanks Dude! :thumb-up:
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I think that a part of it's popularity comes from low tuned guitars/djent scène. Think about it, digital modelers sound thin compared to tubes right? Well, they make a perfect match for 7-8-9 strings because it compromises both problems... A 8 string might sound flubby true an tube amp, but not true a "thin" digital modeler. So the 8 string makes the modeler sound fatter/fuller.
I get where your coming from, tubes amps should still be ok but they are optimised for "normal" guitar tunings. I recon if you chucked a couple of 15s under some ADA split stacks with a MP1/2 and decent power amp (obviously adjust patches accordingly) and did the big detune thing it would be fine/good.
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I think that a part of it's popularity comes from low tuned guitars/djent scène. Think about it, digital modelers sound thin compared to tubes right? Well, they make a perfect match for 7-8-9 strings because it compromises both problems... A 8 string might sound flubby true an tube amp, but not true a "thin" digital modeler. So the 8 string makes the modeler sound fatter/fuller.
I get where your coming from, tubes amps should still be ok but they are optimised for "normal" guitar tunings. I recon if you chucked a couple of 15s under some ADA split stacks with a MP1/2 and decent power amp (obviously adjust patches accordingly) and did the big detune thing it would be fine/good.
Yep probably... Still, the axe has tons of options and fx, but i personally dont need all that stuff. All i need is an awesome leadtone and a good cleantone... So i'll take the ada Thank u :).
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Yep probably... Still, the axe has tons of options and fx, but i personally dont need all that stuff. All i need is an awesome leadtone and a good cleantone... So i'll take the ada Thank u (http://adadepot.com/Smileys/default/smiley.gif).
+1 :thumb-up:
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$2500 seriously wtf? Fora digital product...? Why would you do that lol? Why do people think you can get the same sounds as a real amp with Digital? Tone has been and will Always be Guitar-Amp-Mic period. Whats funny is most people think its sounds good but have yet to ever own a Amp that actually produces. I can always spot Fake Distortion. Hella 90's solid state sounds better than the crap they make today. Perfect example Line 6 Users go and fire up the Line6 Chunky patch or any fake ass patch. When it comes to.Digital ill leave it up to T.C. Electronics or Eventide. Unless the Axe Fx can do what a H3000 or H5000 does .. I could give a rats ass. Just another bullshit overpriced Digital fakeness. $2500 a unit is not even worth the Research and Development of that product. Ppen that Axe Fx up and I bet youll find TL072s or TL084s lol
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And to top it off Digital Mic,Cab sims really... Does anyone hear know anything about Analog Passive/Active filters... ? Thats why the Microcab sounds better than any of the modeling Garbage. I hate Modeling. And if I did use Modeling I'd use my Bad Ass Mac.. why? Univeral Audio makes the best DSP engines ever... I dont recall their UAD chipset being in AXE Fx so... Yup
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It just grinds my gears to her people rave about AXE FX or Line 6. Boss has done decent job with their COSM. I just waiting for someone to post Hey! Check out these killer Tones im getting with my Guitar plugged into my SmartPhone or Android.
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Robb did you hear of the new AXE FX floor processor that it's coming out soon? It will just be an effects floor procesor ment for people that want to have the preamp tone of there tube amp and then use that for the pre and post effects.
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Thats cool I guess. Theirs just other companies that have done digital effects longer and I like their work. Its just that everytime I hear Modeling.... the sounds they produce arent the worst but sound like there Wax paper covering the sounds. Example Marshall Modeling... sounds Marshallish but sounds like their is Wax paper over the Tone. Line 6 products are even worse. Ive just about removed most of the Line 6 from my studio... I think we have one floor unit left.
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Hey El, sounds more interesting than the cloning. The AxeFX according to their blurb has some fairly good DSP power under the lid (not that I'm a big fan of DSP but I do like my Quadverb and TC M one xl particularly for reverb). The thing will be how do you "blend" it in. If you plug your guitar through it it will A/D D/A you signal, as it will also in MP1 loop unless it has a true analogue pass through of your direct sound/signal, so again you're at the mercy of A/D D/A converters ... The TC has reasonably decent AD/DA converters but, having tested MP1 through TC GMaj OR mixing it into analogue signal, the difference it quite apparent.
If you can "blend" it into your signal, then from what I've read the effects and effects routing should be very versatile. Then again, I'm with Robb here, analogue effects sound better (although for reverb, I think digital wins out, making a good reverb room in you house has logistical issues lol).
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For what it's worth (and I can't really compare because I haven't hear any of them live next to me) if I had the money I would preffer to buy a Kemper over an AXE FX.
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I don't get that excited about digital guitar products. What I am waiting for is Axe of Line6 to do a digital controlled Reconfigureable usingVCA'$. A Tube preamp that can have it circuitry rerouted to actually be the Preamp sections they clone or model. That would be Epic.
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I.E an MP3 :thumb-up: There's a thread what would you like in MP3 I just hope the A/DA guys are listening :wave:
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Yeha Robb look up that thread and put your wishlist for what a MP-3 should be.
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As others have pointed out, not knocking the AXE FX unit, but they are modelling after something that is already sounding good, but they are doing it starting with a digital signal ?
I like plugging into guitar rig and practising, and heck even recording with it, but listening to it long enough, drives me crazy. Yeah consistent, but the sounds are so direct, my ears start to cry for analog gear...lol
I have a friend who has a Line 6 HD 300 floor board, great sound he gets at practise, low volumes sounds pretty good, but it is always the consistent in your face sound. When he used to take his 50 watt Marshall amp, with only pre amp tube in it to smaller gigs, the same shit kept happening, we CANNOT hear you the crowd would always say, and no matter how loud he turned his amp up, it was either to freaken loud, or just not there.
I brought him to a friends place (who has many tube amps), said plug your pedal into the power stage of one of these amps. Every time we go to a gig now, he wants to know if he can borrow the tube amp...lol
Major difference, still gets the nice tone, but even nicer that the tubes make it warmer, and he can actually cut through and be heard.
Like I said, not knocking the AXE or any other modeller, heck I use a Zoom Z2.9 tube board with a tube amp, and sounds pretty good. The reason for the floor board was the midi to change the channels on the MP-2 and Sansamp (using 4 cable method), and use the effects on the floor board as stomp boxes. But since the tube pedal sounded good and downsized a bit, I only use the board with a tube amp.
I have plugged the MP-2 back into the signal chain to record, and prefer it much more over the guitar rig or VST plugins, for overdub, for sure, adds a little bit more depth.
I have found that I only need 1 good heavy distortion, semi crunch, and clean with some added effects, so not even using the pedal board to it's fullest either.
If the effects in the AX FX are what others have said, I would use it for that, but the cost cannot be justified unless I was running a studio or making tons of money, both of which I do not do...lol
The other thing I noticed, is so many people want to cover other bands tones, and do it via a cover band, but yet, the solo's they play are not even close to the original solos, so why bother with trying to replicate someone else's tone when the solo is not replicated...lol
Digital modellers are good tools, and it all depends what you want and looking for.
I just wanted to play rock covers, and found couple of decent distortions, good clean from a tube amp which I keep referring back to, and happy at that.
M
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Unless you've actually had the pleasure of playing thru an AxeFX, don't criticize it. I've had mine for 6 years and I absolutely love it. Yes the price is steep, but it's replaced my entire rack and is easier on the back. :thumb-up:
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I will say the Impulse technology is very cool and the fact you upload your own made impulses is even cooler.
ADA has it Pros and Cons as well.
No stress bro.