[Christopher]

Originally Posted by jacksonplayer

I'm also on the list for one of these, but rather far down, so it'll be awhile before I get mine.

Christopher, I've read your review on some of the other boards where the Axe-FX has come up, and I'll be curious to read your comparison of the modeling with the Vetta.

I ditched my PODxt (basically half a Vetta for direct recording purposes) because of the scratchiness and terrible-sounding palm mutes and am currently using a Zoom G9.2tt, which sounds like a somewhat better PODxt. I'm not expecting perfection, but the clips I've heard seem like a different world from other modelers.

From where I'm coming from the modeling kills the Vetta. The first thing is the feel. It really is that much better. After playing for a few minutes with it I started seeing gaping holes in my technique that I hadn't noticed. I blame it on the solid state feel of the Vetta. My picking technique was especially shitty.

It honestly took me a few months of pretty heavy tweaking on a daily basis to get my Vetta tones to sound like I wanted them. Even then it was somewhat lacking. I got it to sound pretty good (IMO) but just not 100% of the quality I've had with tube rigs.

With less than 8 hours on the Axe Fx the models are already beyond what I got my Vetta to do after a couple of years of tweaking. In fact, all I had to do was use the factory presets and edit the amps themselves to taste.

The biggest factor to me is the Mesa Mark models. The IIC+ on the Vetta was horrid. I tweaked and tweaked and I could never get it to do the tone I wanted. There are several Mark / Triaxis settings in the Axe Fx and they're WAY better than the Vetta's.

The lead tones are what are really spanking me right now. I got good clean tones from my Vetta and really good heavy, tight rhythm tones but my lead tones were always thin and "digital" sounded. The best description of the lead tones available in the Axe Fx are "chewy". I have to agree. I might have to do with the improved feel or it might just be the power amp sims.

I can't wait to get more time to tweak. I've got some sessions this week and I'm hoping to use it for them.

Originally Posted by Chris

Aah right on. Interesting business tactic.

The clips on the website sound fantastic.

The thing you have to remember is the company is made up of two people. There's Cliff, the guy that designed and it building them and Danielle, his fiance, who does all the email and customer service / billing thing.

The fact that I've had several conversations daily with Cliff over the last couple of weeks is HUGE to me. I've seen great customer service before but nothing like this.

[HighGain510]

Right on Chris! I noticed that I SEEMED to have worse technique through the Vetta II last night... and today I was back into sloppy mode and seemed to sound BETTER! Guess I'll be safe if I'm always playing through my Vetta, but damn if I go back into tube amps I'm screwed! Clips soon? I want to hear some clips that aren't from the company itself!

[Christopher]

Originally Posted by HighGain510

Right on Chris! I noticed that I SEEMED to have worse technique through the Vetta II last night... and today I was back into sloppy mode and seemed to sound BETTER! Guess I'll be safe if I'm always playing through my Vetta, but damn if I go back into tube amps I'm screwed! Clips soon? I want to hear some clips that aren't from the company itself!

I find me getting super heavy handed when running the Vetta. I went to do some lead work on the Axe Fx and it sounded like I was a total noob.

The impressive thing about the Axe Fx is that even with a compressor before the amp the dynamics and feel are killer.

[HighGain510]

Very cool, wish I could hear one in person. Sounds like a killer preamp!

[Christopher]

Just as an FYI Cliff posted this over at the Axe Fx forum, it's a list of the amp models and what they're based on.

TUBE PRE: Generic Tube Preamp
JAZZ: Roland JC120
BROWNFACE: Fender Vibroverb
BLUES: Fender Bassman
TWEED: Fender Deluxe
BLACKFACE: Fender Twin
CLASS A: Vox AC30
TOP BOOST: Vox AC30TB
PLEXI: Marshall '1959'
BRIT 800: Marshall JCM800
BRIT 900: Marshall JCM900
BROWN: Eddie's Modded Marshall
BOUTIQUE 1: Matchless Chieftain
BOUTIQUE 2: Matchless Chieftain w/ Booster
HIPOWER 1: Hiwatt 'Normal' Channel
HIPOWER 2: Hiwatt 'Brillilant' Channel
USA CLEAN: MKIV and Triaxis Clean
USA RHY1: MKIV Crunch
USA RHY2: Triaxis LD1 Green
USA LEAD 1: MKIV Lead
USA LEAD 2: Triaxis LD2 Yellow
RECTO 1: Mesa Dual Rectifier (version 1)
RECTO 2: Mesa Dual Rectifier (version 2)
SOLO 100: Soldano SLO100
SPEC. OD 1: Dumble Overdrive Special Clean
SPEC. OD 2: Dumble Overdrive Special Lead
EURO 1: Bogner Ecstasy w/ Gain Boost Off and Structure Off
EURO 2: Bogner Ecstasy w/ Gain Boost On and Structure On
UK GC30: Laney GC30V
BUTTERY: Loosely based on a Budda Twinmaster
METAL: FAS Custom Model
BIG HAIR: FAS Custom Model
HELLBEAST: FAS Custom Model
SUPERTWEED: FAS Custom Model
FUSION: FAS Custom Model
FAS CLEAN: FAS Custom Model
FAS CRUNCH: FAS Custom Model
FAS LEAD 1: FAS Custom Model
FAS LEAD 2: FAS Custom Model
FAS MODERN: FAS Custom Model
JR BLUES: Fender Blues Jr.
BRIT PRE: Marshall JMP-1

[jacksonplayer]

Originally Posted by HighGain510

Clips soon? I want to hear some clips that aren't from the company itself!

I also want to hear some clips from Christopher, but you can hear some killer non-company clips by a guy named "riffy" over at http://www.setbb.com/axefx/

In fact, riffy's clips are so good that I think Cliff from Fractal Audio was going to use them on the company site, if he hasn't already.

[Christopher]

Originally Posted by jacksonplayer

I also want to hear some clips from Christopher, but you can hear some killer non-company clips by a guy named "riffy" over at http://www.setbb.com/axefx/

In fact, riffy's clips are so good that I think Cliff from Fractal Audio was going to use them on the company site, if he hasn't already.

Yep, honestly Riffy has a lot to do with my buying my unit. My schedule is super crazy the next couple of weeks but I do hope to post some clips soon.

[Rick]

Can't wait to hear the clips, Chris!