Axe-FX question

[Omar]

I'm thinking about getting Axe-FX II, I saw something interesting in the recording videos for Periphery II. Misha used a 5150iii as the power amp and used Axe-FX as the pre-amp and recorded that way. Seems like a good set up. From what I understand about Axe-FX you'll need to use something as a power amp and drop a few hundred bucks on that. At least this way I'd have an amp/cap as well as Axe-FX. My question is this: would a 50 watt 5150iii be enough power to drive a good guitar sound through Axe-FX? I would probably use the 5150iii 50 watt and a Orange or a Mesa 2x12.

I play bass and keys, and I'm into a lot of music outside of metal, so Axe-FX is a pretty intriguing prospect for me. How does Axe-FX work for bass too? Would I need to use a different power-amp for this rig or would the 5150 work as a power amp too? Is 50 watts enough? I know I'd need a different cab, but that's okay.


Any help would be appreciated.

 

[electricred]

The 50w would be plenty of power for the Axe FX II. It's also great for bass, but not any better than a SansAmp with plugins, and using the 50w power section probably wouldn't be enough for bass, depending on what you're doing. I actually sold my Axe FX II and bought a 5150 III 50w and Orange 212 as replacement, and it's serving me much better.

 

[Omar]

Fuck. I keep hearing that 50 watts of tube isn't enough for the bass power amp. Damn, I may bump it up to a 100 watt head, though. I agree the 5150iii is a beast of an amp. That being said I do lots of different things with music and I have a wide musical pallet. I've heard some videos of guys just screwing around with Axe-FX and I'm floored. My problem is that I don't want to use it exclusively since for my more traditional projects I do like the classic sound of a guitar plugged into an amp.


Money's always a concern, and while I'm no where close to wealthy I can afford to save up for these things.

 

[electricred]

100w still isn't a lot pushing bass.

 

[Matt-Steele]

The Axe FX II is designed to digitally model as accurately as possible the entire signal chain. You can globally defeat any portion of the chain for any purpose or set up you may want to use. If you use a solid state power amp along with FRFR speakers, you can use the Axe's many amp, poweramp and cabinet emulations. The great thing about this type of set up is the flexability of the unit. You'd have countless combinations at your fingertips. Although... If you end up incorporating a tube poweramp, you should disable the Axe's poweramp modeling. The downfall to this is that no matter what type of amp you choose, the poweamp section will always feel like the tube poweramp you're using. Same if you're using a real cab instead of a FRFR/impulses situation. In the end, it's all up to you. The Axe has the flexibility to work with you any option you choose.

 

[Omar]

100w still isn't a lot pushing bass.

Most bass amps are solid state...100 watts of tube power pushes quite a bit of air...

 

[Omar]

The Axe FX II is designed to digitally model as accurately as possible the entire signal chain. You can globally defeat any portion of the chain for any purpose or set up you may want to use. If you use a solid state power amp along with FRFR speakers, you can use the Axe's many amp, poweramp and cabinet emulations. The great thing about this type of set up is the flexability of the unit. You'd have countless combinations at your fingertips.

Yeah all this stuff is fucking fascinating. So much so that I'm considering getting a master's degree in signal processing so I can so this kind of thing for a living...or at the very least incorporate business like these into my current profession.

Although... If you end up incorporating a tube poweramp, you should disable the Axe's poweramp modeling. The downfall to this is that no matter what type of amp you choose, the poweamp section will always feel like the tube poweramp you're using. Same if you're using a real cab instead of a FRFR/impulses situation. In the end, it's all up to you. The Axe has the flexibility to work with you any option you choose.

Yeah probably what I was going to do. The 5150iii is a fucking beast of a head. I wouldn't mind having that feel all the time. I do see the flipside of it though, but could I just turn it off and use the 5150iii's juice and use the molded power amp?


I really see endless possibilities for Axe-FX, I've just looked at a few of the things that I've seen on YouTube from basement dwellers and even they've came up with some pretty cool stuff. Can't wait for Steve Vai's new album recorded with Axe-FX, and it's getting to the point where if you're a top shelf musician there's no reason not to incorporate it into your playing, which isn't to say that I'm calling myself a top shelf musician.

That being said, there's still something to playing behind a traditional half-stack...playing classic rock/metal should be played on a real amp, IMO. Because of this, I really feel using the power amp section of a real tube amp with Axe-FX is probably the best way to go. You not only get the awesomeness of Axe FX but also an actual rig too...it's expensive but really it's the best of both worlds. Also given the way Periphery II sounded the power section of a 5150 through Axe-FX sounds fucking great.

 

[caneris]

Don't forget you can use the axe fx in 4CM and use both the axe and 5150iii preamps

 

[006]

Most bass amps are solid state...100 watts of tube power pushes quite a bit of air...

Not with bass, though. Try a 100w bass amp, tube or solid state, at a live show doing rock or metal and have either an absolute shit PA or none at all. That 100w is gonna be like you might as well be playing unplugged.

 

[Matt-Steele]

Yeah all this stuff is fucking fascinating. So much so that I'm considering getting a master's degree in signal processing so I can so this kind of thing for a living...or at the very least incorporate business like these into my current profession.



Yeah probably what I was going to do. The 5150iii is a fucking beast of a head. I wouldn't mind having that feel all the time. I do see the flipside of it though, but could I just turn it off and use the 5150iii's juice and use the molded power amp?


I really see endless possibilities for Axe-FX, I've just looked at a few of the things that I've seen on YouTube from basement dwellers and even they've came up with some pretty cool stuff. Can't wait for Steve Vai's new album recorded with Axe-FX, and it's getting to the point where if you're a top shelf musician there's no reason not to incorporate it into your playing, which isn't to say that I'm calling myself a top shelf musician.

That being said, there's still something to playing behind a traditional half-stack...playing classic rock/metal should be played on a real amp, IMO. Because of this, I really feel using the power amp section of a real tube amp with Axe-FX is probably the best way to go. You not only get the awesomeness of Axe FX but also an actual rig too...it's expensive but really it's the best of both worlds. Also given the way Periphery II sounded the power section of a 5150 through Axe-FX sounds fucking great.

Bottom line is you really can't go wrong. You can use it as Periphery did on their album and use a real poweramp and disable the modeled poweramp within the unit. If you end up with a solid state power amp or need to go straight into the PA, you can! Just turn on the modeled poweramp section and possibly the cabinet emulation. you don't even have to use the Axe as an amp either, you could use it just for it's effects which are better than any device currently on the market. It's all up to you, but you can't really go wrong with it. It's why everyone is ending up with one in their rig.

Hey, it can always be seen as a great back up if your tube amp fails while you're on stage too.