If you can't afford an AXE FX, then what??

jacksontrader

jacksontrader

New member
I love the sound of my tube amp but in bars it's too loud to get it in it's sweet spot and we already have a stage sound level issue live. Who makers an easy to use good soounding floor pedal. I know it won't sound like my amp. I just want something that can cover a variety of sounds from good cleans to Jake era Ozzy to heavey enough dirt to do Pantera or something a little more modern. I've been looking around an so far what I'm seeing is the Fender Mustang Floor processor, the Zoom G5, Line 6 POD HD500 and the Digitech RP1000. I want to run it straight into the sound board for live music and want changing tones easy as well as Writing channels. Anybody have any of these that can give me some real impressions as apposed to the company rep stuff you get at their websites. Thank you for your assistance.
 
Re: If you can't afford an AXE FX, then what??

They sound good but it looks like it could get pretty pricy with a foot controller and expansion packs. I just want, at my feet easy and not too costly. It's only getting used when we play small bars/ indoor shows. Maybe some recording later for fun. Thank you.
 
Re: If you can't afford an AXE FX, then what??

Digitech GSP 1101 & impulses. Best modeller I ever had (have used POD HD 500, POD XT, Guitar Rig 4, Boss ME-50, POD HD 300).

Seriously: GSP slays them all.
 
Re: If you can't afford an AXE FX, then what??

Ive always liked the Valvetronix stuff so maybe the VOX floor thing. Most retailers should stock all the above (as in Line 6, VOX and Digitech) maybe just try them all out. Some seem to be better at some types of tones then others so it depends on what you are looking for.
 
Re: If you can't afford an AXE FX, then what??

James Rock said:
Ive always liked the Valvetronix stuff so maybe the VOX floor thing. Most retailers should stock all the above (as in Line 6, VOX and Digitech) maybe just try them all out. Some seem to be better at some types of tones then others so it depends on what you are looking for.
Click to expand...

I second the VOX Valvetronix ToneLab suggestion. They have a nice range of amp/cab emulation that's easy to dial in, good mix of fx, and they sound great. Also useful for headphone practice. The controls are easy to use on-the-fly, although you'd probably be using presets in a live setting. Valvetronix stuff has a pretty good direct-in tone which won't leave you wishing you had your amp along. Much warmer-sounding than the pure digital stuff, IMHO.

Take it from this insatiable gearsluut - Test ride a Tonelab with your own two ears before you buy anything else!

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Re: If you can't afford an AXE FX, then what??

Agileguy_101 said:
I'd look into the Digidesign 11 Rack.
Click to expand...

This, I believe, is the best (or probably at least equal) alternative. I disagree about Vox stuff. Their stuff sounds fake and it irritates my ears after a while. POD stuff is getting better, but doesn't come close to AxeFX or Eleven Rack. The things that Eleven Rack offers is a really good sound and feel of tube amps. The Eleven Rack sounds more convincing than any other modeler besides the AxeFX, but in some patches, I think sounds better than the AxeFX. There are a couple of drawbacks, but not really that bad.

One is that you have to get the software to work on your computer, but the software isn't always compatible, and there is a whole layer of idiots you have to sort through in tech support before you get through to someone who can actually help you with the product. Also, the Eleven Rack costs $900 if you buy it at a retail shop. You can get them new from online dealers for anywhere from $699-$899, so they're semi-affordable, but still more costly than other brands. However, since the POD HD is pretty pricey, I would pay the difference because the Eleven Rack sounds much better than the POD.

In a live situation, I find that the Eleven Rack and AxeFX seem to cut through and actually work relatively well. I have not seen any other processor work as well live. That being said, I have very little experience with those things live or even in a studio, and most of my knowledge is based on playing them at home or watching my professional musician friends use them.
 
Re: If you can't afford an AXE FX, then what??

Would an used Standard or an Ultra Axe-FX be in your budget?
 
Re: If you can't afford an AXE FX, then what??

I've been checking out Vox's stuff this morning. The price point is where I need it and it has the features I need. I'm the only guitar player in my band so I won't be using a bunch of effects at one time. My main need is being able to go from a clean channel to a dirt channel with the click of a button. Sadly enough I had a Digitech GSP21Pro, new in 1992, that I got rid of a short while back. It wasn't even an option for me, the tones were terrible in that thing. I'm really liking the sounds I'm hearing from videos on the Vox stuff. I'm looking at the Tonelab SE for used and the Tonelab EX for new. I want to thank Dr. Vegetable and 9unslin9er for pointing me in this direction. Thanks to everyone else for giving me ideas. I looked at the Eleven Rack also and liked it, it and other rack mount processors sounded good, but I'd have to buy a foot controller on top of buying the processor and I'm being a bit of a tighta--. I hate to spend to much on a processor that isn't going to see a lot of use and have a bunch of options that are never going to get used. I need a simple setup that gets the job done while sounding good. You guys rock.
 
Re: If you can't afford an AXE FX, then what??

LReese said:
Would an used Standard or an Ultra Axe-FX be in your budget?
Click to expand...

Most of the used AXE FX I've seen are still up around a grand, way out of my reach. My budget is roughly $300, I know it's not a lot to work with but it's all I've got.
 
Re: If you can't afford an AXE FX, then what??

jacksontrader said:
My budget is roughly $300, I know it's not a lot to work with but it's all I've got.
Click to expand...
Tough price point and impossible to hit if you're looking for stage volume in addition to your regular wedges.

If I couldn't swing an AxeFx, I'd take a serious look at the GSP.
 
Re: If you can't afford an AXE FX, then what??

I've got an HD500 and love it... it may be out of your price point... maybe a used HD400?! or if you can find a steal on an HD500.

I use mainly tube amps and pedals, but when I have to have controlled stage volume I don't hesitate to pick up my POD... People knock it, but they probably haven't spent a whole lot of time on it. I feel I have pretty discerning ears and it tricks me at times. Having the Line 6 software really helps me edit out my patches when I'm nailing everything down.

I also use it if I have a rather large set list, spanning many genre's... The way you can line up every song with it's own patch is awesome... Occasionally I'll go so far as to have "Verse" tone "Chorus" tone "Intro/Outro" Tone and "Solo" tone within a bank to give me some great control without tap dancing all over the place.
 
Re: If you can't afford an AXE FX, then what??

Talked about in another thread the band is going in ear monitors so all I'm concerned with is what it will sound like out front through the board.
 
Re: If you can't afford an AXE FX, then what??

I do have an old Digitech RP3 that I'm going to give a whirl, who knows. A band I used to play with for a while has their PA set up in their basement. I'm taking the little guy over and plugging it in and just see where I'm at. Screwed probably but it will make a great starting point.
 
Re: If you can't afford an AXE FX, then what??

I'd check out the mustang. I work at GC and I gotta say when any of us want to plug into an amp for quick second and get a good sound we always go for the 100w mustang. We have the floor pocessor, but I've never used it. I can only say that as far as digital amps go the best I've heard is the mustang, over the line 6 or the vox. The vox stuff sounds good, but the mustang really acts like a real amp and every guitar sounds the way it's supposed to, which doesn't always happen with digital stuff.
 
Re: If you can't afford an AXE FX, then what??

Pod HD 300

I use the 500, My impressions Here

See my comparison of the 300 vs 500 here

The 500 sounds great, but I could get all the same sounds I use from a 300

New in box for HD 300 for $300 shipped Here

Used.guitarcenter.com has HD 500 for $300, and HD 300 for $200
 
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