LA Amp Show '11 - Fractal Audio Axe-FX II Demoed by Dweezil Zappa

[carbon45100]

Lol. I wouldn't Cal Dwezzil one dimensional. The guy was taught by every guitar player that made a impact on modern music. He's a beast.

[MrUltraworld]

Frank would have gone nuts over this. Adrian Belew is all over it as well.I didn't care for it. I know it's very sophisticated, but $2600.00 + $750 for the controller and lord knows what for those expression pedals? Too rich for my blood. It just took away the feel of my rig. Maybe it's too perfect?

[immortalsoloist]

I know one thing for a fact my Axe Fx Ultra kills the new Line 6 Pod HD. As for the II it's on another level. Do yourself a favor and actually go out there and test it out.

[TriviumCrusader17]

Ugh they never has versatile guitar players demoing these things. 90% of the time it's just the same old jazzy/bluesy style or like corny neoclassical shit. I want to see a guitar player show me that this thing is for everyone (which it is) in a demo. Most guitar players cling to the style they love and never explore elsewhere. Good guitar players learn everything they can and APPLY it to the style they love. Such a versatile amp with next to no versatile players showing it off.

[spicyMcHAGGIS9green]

@TriviumCrusader17 Dude, that's Frank Zappa's son. LMAO!!!! You can't be that stupid, right?

[RTL44]

@spicyMcHAGGIS9green

I was thinking the same thing! Just take a look at TriviumCrusader's channel and you will affirm that he is indeed that stupid.

[dethwaffles]

Were one of the licks towards the end Selkies by Between The Buried And Me?

[MrSamus101]

Sounds no better than the new Line6 hd pro thats a third of the cost................

[bufon63]

Sounds identical to the Ultra to my ear. Certainly no revelation.

[ZeppelinRules]

How many of you guitarists out there are listening to this video on your computer with speakers that probably cost under $40 and were made in China? Would you dream of playing an amp through speakers that cheap? How do you expect to get an accurate representation of how it really sounds based on a compressed to shit Youtube video?

[virgult]

@ZeppelinRules Yamaha monitors on professional stands here.

[ravenslaves]

@ZeppelinRules One sign of a good engineer, is that at one point of the mix they do listen back through crappy speakers. The point is to get the best mix that still sounds great, with the worst equipment. Once that's done, you know you have something that'll sound good on anything it's played on.

[Ghop7577]

Sounds artificial.

[vigierandprsrule]

anywone else notice the backwards treble pickup?

[CusterFlux]

Look at what having Pamela Des Barres for a nanny does to a man!

( lucky bastard ;)

[cheh123]

How many of you are listening to this video on an ANALOG computer? How many of you get your music on vinyl vs. download or CD? Idiots.

[FreaqyFrequency]

The sooner you all get over the word "digital", the better off you'll be.

In fact, before another comment gets posted with that qualifier on the tone, let's put a blindfold on you, and put you in a room with a Mesa Lonestar going through a guitar cab, and an Axe II "Texas Star" model dialed exactly the same going through the same guitar cab, with an A/B switch setup. Let's see how "horrible" it sounds then. If you can tell which is which ten times out of ten, then you can go home proudly.

[WholisticPlanetary]

I think the unit and the playing is killer. I've had the ultra and it was alright - I went for the Axe-II due to the USB and headphone jack. Anyone dissin' the tones coming from this video nedes to also realize Dweezil's not using his regular rig or presets. He's just in there doing a demo - and it's a fine demo to my ears. Sure, the debate about the tube vs digital tone will go on intinitum. Overall, the Axe-II is an incredible piece of engineering and a pretty big step for recording.

[Socioistic]

Call me old fashioned, but I would much rather have an actual rig with actual analog pedals, and amps, not digital boxes that emulate the real thing.

[SeanAsheOfficial]

@Socioistic I get the Axe FX II tomorrow, and I already have a Mesa Boogie Mark V? Which one would I rather have if given the choice? The Axe FX. It doesn't weigh 50+ pounds, the axe fx has something like 300 channels? 70 amps. it's insane haha

[tweekin001]

@Socioistic What if you get the same result in a smaller package, old fashioned?

[FreeOnGuitars]

@Socioistic You're old fashioned.

[Socioistic]

@FreeOnGuitars

What an observation.

[awesomejohnnet]

Let talk real. 3K is a lot of $, but you do away with carrying anything except one ab AXE FX to a gig. All said and done the axeFX dosnt sound bad. some good sounds in there. All you need is 3 good sounds to have a career if you know how to play. Dweezil is a fine player for sure, But I think the Axe FX is still "not perfected" ... its on the right track, but they need some "WORKING MAN MUSUCİANS" to get that box "simple on the fly in reel time" and some usable solid tones, fuck space noise.

[BenSTBarker]

Dweezil is excellent, I'd love to be able to go to Dweezilla next year.

Zappagen

[holleyab]

wow, that "clean with fuzz pedal" sound sure is versatile lol

[jwandhistools]

$3000 for a bunch of useless noises. What a deal!

[Rajhoul]

the beginning sounds like treacherous cretins

[charvelguy]

Love to try one. It sounds almost limitless and the quality of the models are top notch. I'm sure there are aspects of this demo that would not appeal to a purist, but it certainly sounds like you can dial AND model any amp/cab sound. I want a '63 Vibrolux with the phase inverter slightly hotter sounding than the preamp tubes - which should be 7025's + Oxford speakers. If we can dial that to a tee, I'll buy it.

[ThieleM]

What an amazing player Dweezil is.

He should do all of PG's demos

[HKM67]

Not a single good sound in this demo... great playing but no clue how to demo a product. Mr. Zappa please practice at home and not while demoing something...

[Raziel236]

I dont usually like SG's, but this ones smexy!

[MrThetopnut]

would be nice if you would know what the corresponding efects are....very nice playing...not a good demo...

[RowenCx4]

what's with the US Army New Balance I wonder.

[paulsdino]

The axe fx has a lot going for it but those gain sounds were extremely digital sounding . I know the axe fx can do a lot better than that .

[mongoose979]

speaking of Dweezil, anyone have any tab for his song 'Before I get Old' ?

[FlavioCastro81]

I want my 11 minutes and 35 seconds back...

[CantDoThatOnStage]

Great device, wrong demonstrator

[TCDauria]

special edition sneakers

[ahvaimusicom]

oh my word, that clean demo is so annoying.

[Vercingetorix]

I don't know what I was more disappointed with, the tone Dweezil was getting or his playing. Or both!!!

Surely there must be someone who can get a good tone out of this thing without making it sound too bloody digital especially evident at 3:20. I mean the modelling on this thing is supposed the best evar. Why can't I hear it!?!

[ahvaimusicom]

@Vercingetorix Broderick, Periphery. Lifeson, Loomis, they all would do epic

[Vercingetorix]

@ahvaimusicom Good call, I would have to agree with that :) Two of those guys are my favourite players!

[mongoose979]

@Vercingetorix : personally i love dweezil but i know his style's not for everyone. The guy at channel SamHillBand does some nice AXE demos if you're interested in a different take.

[tony93666]

*yawn* I'll keep my GSP1101

[MickBull094]

epic

[sixstringfretter]

So, that's what getting "elastic" means, huh? Well, I for one loved it. I hear alot of his father in those notes, and the Fractal is just friggin' cool. Nice SG too, btw. What's with the giant key ring scratching it up?

[FuneralFragz]

"hey man, Im really high and heres Dweezil, hes gonna wank for 10 minutes."

LMAO!

Good review. Thanks for visiting the Fractal guys again.

[Jaymze9370]

8 MONTHS ON AND AND I'M STILL WAITING FOR MY AXE FX II.....THIS IS KILLING ME!!!!!!

[jjmoreno]

Interviewer looks like some hipster type of couch surfing guy you want outta your place!

[DuralastTurbo]

As usual, digital distortion still sux =( TUBEZ DOOD! =D

[willievega]

Yea, digital!

[hawg427]

I wish I had a nice 59 LP just for retirement. LOL I would still play it though. Never played one that old but I heard they don't stay in tune well. The oldest LP I've ever played was a 76 LP in my Jr. year of High School. It was selling for 850.00 new. I couldn't get my parents to give me a loan. LOL

[vigierandprsrule]

if only frank zappa had one of these

[TheMACcar]

That looks like a lot of fun.

[commercialking]

does anyone know how long the waiting list is for an Axe FX 2?

[DMSProduktions]

Dweezil channels Dad!

[maezarr]

5. New TX STAR LEAD model, here with a BB PRE. Some nice emphasis on how it cleans up.

[maezarr]

3. Previously, Dweezil used two real dynaflangers in his rig. We took the chance to dial these in on the Axe-Fx II and he felt we really nailed it. He shows how the amp cleans up with the vol control, then demonstrates a pedal which creates detune before engaging a classic type whammy.

4. Triggered Phrases. You can pretty much figure this one out. An expression pedal controls a filter, simulating a variable PEQ pedal we replaced using the Axe-Fx II.

[maezarr]

Here are some insider notes for the video.

1. Expression pedals control delay feedback and time. Two amps are crossfaded with a mixer, also showing how they react differently to a fuzz face we created in A/B testing with a 1967 original.

2. Here, the mixer changes between Cameron Med and Cameron High. The different character of these amps is showcased.

[hsuchieh1007]

the slide pedal doesn't sound like slide guitar at all

[maezarr]

@hsuchieh1007 - It is not intended to. Dweezil's idea was really to have a whammy which began as a detuner and then went 100% wet. No room for this in the titles. I think detuner-glide might have been a better name for the segment.

[spedaontherocks]

Awful! Scale noddling. Sounds like a pod.

[scottleeper]

@spedaontherocks noddling? i think you mean noodling.

[OzziePete1]

Great concept however, the time it must take to get up to speed with all the variables must be a lifetime! And costly I hear too.

[geogreg27]

Brilliant footage. I like the sounds and nice playing.

[coreymineard]

Dweezil is great, and what's his nuts is stoned.

[GuitarAnus8]

So it's cool, but I don't think it's $2,500 cool

[guysapire]

@GuitarAnus8 if you are going to buy this instead of a couple of big tube amps, effects and cabinets. its kinda cheap.

[ArielsSmartyPants]

I hope someone comes out with some tastefully done music using this with sparse judgement, otherwise it's a super expensive sound effect generator.

[hawg427]

Call me picky but I wouldn't play an expensive SG with a set of keys dandling off my belt.

[StratsRgreat]

@hawg427 I agree....but then I dont have $millions like Deezil. And doesnt Fender do that on purpose with their relics and closet classics...? I dont get that either....but whatever works for someone else...

[bmwm3cs]

@hawg427 seriously....

[zachjal]

@hawg427 he has so much money and guitars they are just tools for him.

[Calymos]

@hawg427

he's dweezil, man. 

[badyearXY]

@hawg427 if you're as rich as dweezil, you can replace it easily.

[TheBANDEMIC]

i want one so bad! how much! =[

[marc0d0n]

7:55 How to cheat with guitar solos.

[okamasphere]

is this coming out of a monitor? Sounds like crap to be honest.

[Metallimeister]

@okamasphere It's as digital as it gets. It doesn't seem to respond like tubes do. Still all the effects would be good for someone who uses effects all in one unit.

[GuitarBlues3]

7:55 That's awesome!

[ZepIV]

So "Texas Star" is replicating what amp? The only thing that comes to mind for me is the Mesa Lone Star? Killer unit btw, if I can ever afford one I'd love to get one!

[WuTangBoneThugs]

I checked out this video just because of the sg in the screenshot. the fact that its dweezil zappa AND axe fx 2 is just a plus