Fractal Audio Axe FX III | Review

With more than 260 amps, 2,200 cabinets and 220 effects, the Axe-FX III from Fractal Audio can provide the exact sound of almost any rig you can imagine or come very close to it. Could this be the most powerful amp and effects modelling product available today? Tom Quayle has the answers.
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[@rkatz0]

I find it quite difficult to concentrate on the device, due to the excellent playing! Thank you much!

[@moonstonekings2230]

😄

[@musicfriend2051]

@@moonstonekings2230 Don’t overrate more him because he’s already overrated I ever seem

[@mumblegrunt]

That "emerald ocean" preset sounds amazing. Awesome playing too mate.

[@chrisvantassel8867]

Nice playing Tom. I am thinking about an Axe 3 so good to hear different styles through it

[@guitar66shred]

I love this unit. I just purchased and started using it for my guitar insights videos on my youtube channel. I have no complaints!

[@joelmccreight]

Axe FX III Sounds so great. Great demo Tom

[@thieaoumus8372]

Wonderful review; thanks for the front panel Demo !

[@HansAaraas]

What a fantastic review by Tom. Love the III.

[@GuitarInteractive]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@stepitupandgo67]

I just got mine yesterday..with the fc 12 and an ev-1 I picked up used at the local music store...already totally blown away....the attention to detail is just on another level...it just seems to do what you wanted it to do anyway...ease of use is high, power is off the charts,...the fact that it's an 8 in 8 out audio interface, it really is worth the money...if you have it, spend it...cash out the 401k dudes...ya aint gonna live forever!!!

[@Swampster70]

Great playing and a great review.

[@dudefrombarrie]

I am a tube amp player and I cant wrap my head around this...If I had this unit, do I need to run it through a powered amp or directly into a cab. Does it have its own power source? help..

[@Marc9889]

Great video! Are you running directly into your computer as the video is being captured and monitoring with the Marshall cabs?

[@charlief.]

Dude, great playing!

[@hiroshimablast3341]

Great review of this diamond!

[@simonashworth9263]

Can I ask a quick question . if you want to use this in a Studio or alone with a CAB set up what extra equipment do you need. I have my set up with ProTools using an old Eleven Rig and I was curious f I can easily plug it into this system . My monitors are currently going into the Eleven Rack

[@98Vols]

Sorry, this is new to me. If I bought this what is the preferred way to use speakers? Cabinets? Monitors? Trying to get an idea if I want to try one.

[@stepitupandgo67]

great playing!!

[@jimelshaw2665]

Awesome video and a great review. I have to ask, what kind of stand are you using to support the AFX? I’ve been looking for something like that for mine. TIA

[@gregoc9597]

Man that is some monster playing at the start.

[@FlorenciaE]

This thing sounds amazing onstage 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@nycyabber7103]

I know you hear this all the time but you're an amazing player dude

[@davidcox5227]

Great playing 👏

[@icarusi]

Wonder if they'll send these out pre-programmed with settings for the jukebox musicals? If so it'll be interesting to know how the pit guitarists find them. Can't see any current amp/speaker recommendations on the Fractal website. They used to feature Matrix Amplification kit.

[@tannerboil6765]

Do these units have Amps and Preamps like the Helix does? Or is it just labeled "Amp"?

[@anthonymarocco955]

Awesome Link To The Stand? Thanks!

[@awdslide123]

That run at :54 - :58 is super tasty tom!!

[@faithhopelove6945]

Is there a pure Software Version avaiable? without the Hardware? Wonderful Playing andd great Sound Possibilities.

[@MrBinsique]

Merci!!! Les sons sont magnifiques! Ce sont des presets d'origine?

[@modeeeeee]

Hi, what does military-grade dsp mean? Ty

[@markcarleton6647]

Amazing playing! What kind of guitar is that?

[@afterstars]

This dude could make a Line 6 Pod 2.0 sound incredible.

[@Dimanchy_Boss]

Oh yeah, man, you play just amazing!

[@ayoluca1]

Whats the brand of his shoes ?

[@joeyoleary007]

Great review. that riff or scale you played at 19:20, what was that? and if i wanted to start learning more about that style where would i start?

[@fuwafuwadance]

i try to learn it from amberdawn by yngwie malmsteen

[@beesknees6970]

Damn... forget the fractal I want to take lessons from you. WTF. Killer licks. Damn awesome.

[@ansilatoms]

It may be a great FX unit, but all the virtuosity camouflages just the essential sound. ANY effect played this way sounds amazing.

[@andyv4926]

nonsense

[@stepitupandgo67]

having a great tone doesn't hurt his viruosic playing!!! it actually helps it...he'd be shredding through a solid state crate amp too,...and you'd hear his fingers, but the tones are great

[@coosvandorsten]

Hi Very nice review. May I ask what your signal path is? I see 2 4 x 12 speaker cabinets thats why.

[@boboplex]

I have same question. Sounds super. Would like a breakdown on amp and cabs after AXEFX III..Thanks

[@mayhemlawrence4072]

I have a question, if you wanted to set a simple home studio rig would an active frfr speaker work well for something like this ?

[@elliotfletcher8842]

Yup! Check out the Mission Gemini, Line 6 Power Cab, Friedman.

[@psyguitarguy]

Amazing musician.

[@GibsonFender]

Fantastic if you get on with it

[@robertj1303]

Great breakdown Tom, thanks. I am entering with the FM3 when it arrives mainly just for recording. I dont do live gigs and if I do I just grab my Boss Katana as I wouldnt want to take this value piece of kit to the places I play at.

[@muskydum]

Is it good for beginners

[@paulhanley4130]

Are you playing through the Marshall cabs Or is it for looks? I gotta figure out if I’m gonna get the right tone through a cab

[@mKreifeldt]

If you find out let us know. I’m sure the cabs are a prop they are not miked and not a mention of how they captured the “live” sound. Everyone knows getting these things to sound like a live amp in the room is impossible so many people wish it could...and the company knows they are loosing a lot of potential customers because of that. So in promoting them they pull sneaky tricks like putting cabs in the video to make you you’ll get the same sound “live”...but wait you love the tone buts coming from your iPhone speaker!!!! Right ?Now you aspire to get a “live” tone that sounds like the recording!!!! So this a psychological isometric situation You have to put your mind in the frame of being in the studio listening to a monitor of your your miked real amp run through an entire studio to enjoy these modelers.

[@kcussrebutuemos4815]

@@mKreifeldt I think your right as far as props and I love my tube amps and just a few real pedals but I do have the powered Kemper and the helix. But this Axe FX and the helix for the money should come with power too imo. My point is I put my stuff thru a 1x12 regular guitar cabinet. Add a pedal like distortion, overdrive and or fuzz to add feel and sound. But tbh I would love this. The screen’s better than the Kemper but I think the Kemper probably beats it in sound. Not sure unless I actually could use thevAXE FX in person.

[@JiTiAr35]

do Mooer GE300 please.

[@terrypussypower]

I’m getting two of these for Christmas!!

[@anthonysclafani3963]

Does the Axe 3 have an actual effects loop for pedals?

[@gr8guitarplayer]

Just download the manual. I did and skimmed it, and yes it has 4 I/O loops, with both I/O of 2 thru 4 being stereo. You can use those I/O's as send/return loops for any type outboard gear, and place them on the grid as blocks in your signal path, running them however you want, series/parallel, in whatever order you want. You can also use those loops as a completely separate rig for another instrument, basically allowing you to have 2 guitarists, etc. both using the Axe Fx 3 at the same time, with their own individual effects, cabs, amp models, etc. This thing is easily worth the money.

[@JoeSage55]

Which do like more, the Line 6 Spider Mk II or the Axe Fx III ?

[@jesus4pincho]

The axe hahaha

[@nahnotsomuch2292]

That's a bit like comparing a real Ferrari to an actual Matchbox car.

[@karimpardayev]

Buy boss katana 50

[@fuzzyechoes]

an axe through the spider

[@jonathanwelch809]

Amazing guitarist

[@randho5150]

Where'd you get the stand for it?

[@sjohnson4985]

That's exactly why I'm reading the comments! Did you ever find out?

[@Photographiecp]

Looks like a tilted note stand. Maybe you’ll find something from k&m

[@carlosmink]

Could you specify the STAND where the modeler is on?

[@rigglydiggly666]

I may be wrong, but it almost looks like it's just a music stand

[@thehavelhoff]

Anyone know what ibanez that is?

[@HunterRouth]

Tom Quayle Signature Model.

[@sicmonic]

I am having a lot of trouble justifying the price of this. You can purchase the AXE FX ll mark two, which is very similar in sound, the FX8, AND the MC 101 foot controller all for the same price as the lll. And they keep raising the price every other month…

[@MrMarcburger]

I do agree that it sounds absolutely brilliant, but I will still be able to use my AC30 in 20 years from today.

[@Spidouz]

You will still be able to use your Axe FX 20 years from now, the same way we can still use some ‘80s rack effects (2290, SDD-3000, Lexicon PCM 42/81, and other Digitech). Some of them are still sounding REALLY good. And yes, some were crap, mainly when we look at distortion and amp modeling. And it makes no doubt that distortion and amp modeling will still evolve and becomes even closer to a real amp; the difference is getting smaller and smaller by the day, to the point on a record, it doesn’t even matter anymore. Don’t doubt, I love tube amps, and have Two-Rock amp myself that I will still play 20, 30 or 40 years from now (if I’m still there by then). But what I mean is that current digital effects gain maturity and they will last and could be useable 20 years from now. And even if there will be an Axe FX 4, 5, 6 and more by then, the curent Axe FX 3 with the last supported firmware will still be usable by then. Maybe it won’t get all fancy new amps only available in Axe FX 6, 7 or 8, but it will work for what it works today, which is already awesome.

[@SeanMichaelWesley]

@@Spidouz I agree! I’ll be playing my Axe FX 3 for many years to come!

[@fndrn8]

no smoke on the water jk. dang! these digi amps are getting good

[@HBSuccess]

VS. Helix rack? Any pro/con?

[@Fallingoverbackwards]

You can pick up a brand new axe fx iii for 1995 (on sale). Plus an axe ii is still more powerful then helix and you can get used for 1200 00. Helix for easy to program(use software editor and wont matter) axe for pure magical sounds

[@stepitupandgo67]

@@Fallingoverbackwards I had the helix floor unit...this one crushes it on many levels...pretty sure the helix rack is almost the same unit in a rack format. The helix is great, a very powerful unit, second only to the fractal stuff...but yeah I think for basic tone even the axe fx 2 out does the helix...the axe fx3 is far beyond...

[@bigdogpretty]

I currently own and adore a Helix LT, it suits my needs beautifully. From pristine cleans, to raucous distortion, to ethereal pads. I havent gotten my hands on an Axe 3 yet, but a guy from the Facebook fan group is going to let me A/B a Axe 3 vs my Helix. All I can say is; if it truly is that much better than a Helix...I'd be in tonal heaven.

[@kcussrebutuemos4815]

@@bigdogpretty let us know if possible what you decided. Please? Thx.

[@realcharlesmhall]

It's just fantastic how many times he says fantastic

[@hypersonicmonkeybrains3418]

i predict the AXE FX IV will have a power amp built in.

[@MrMarcburger]

bit like a powered Kemper..

[@eduardoprieto5267]

Super playing very cool tones at the end. The only way I'll get my hands on one is if I win the lottery or if a millionaire adopts me lol.

[@kalvinhill5308]

you are a great guitarist

[@adrs2]

One guy have bought kemper and hates this video...

[@caseygray6028]

Count how many times he says "Fantastic"

[@TheMrCull]

I think it sounds better than the actual amps

[@terrancefields4414]

It is a beautiful device. I like the clean sounds. Distortion sounds are getting boring.

[@chriscarter2]

Yo is it sitting on a music stand?!?

[@tracezachdaniels4264]

SO SHWEEEETTT...much love Tee with LIONS NAMED LEO.[the music worldwide}

[@jacksoncroyce6063]

Guthrie Govan uses this

[@tel5690]

Awesome playing..and beautiful Unit... sorry way to expensive... Sounds good though..

[@robertj1303]

If you collect pedals one at a time and get one of each modulation and drive wise you will spend more. I have spent $5000 on pedal board over 5 years. Now getting the FM3 which has all these sounds, but not the connectivity. So its not expensive it just may be not affordable.

[@robertj1303]

I now have an Axe Fx III given the price change

[@karimpardayev]

Maybe because you don't need one

[@stepitupandgo67]

@@robertj1303 I"m glad I waited too...never good to buy the new tech the minute it comes out...

[@lfscrazy]

Seriously. Could I selll my '69 Plexi 50W, '62 Tremolux and Mesa Quad? I am a straight in guy, no effects, 1 guitar, 1 cable and 4 greenbacks. Are these things really that good that I wouldn't miss my beloved valve amps?

[@Gramasz]

Air moving maybe but that's it...

[@lfscrazy]

@@Gramasz Well, I would plug the axefx into a poweramp and a cab. Do you think it can match the feel and organic nature of a plexi?

[@jklmopqtstuvwxyz5349]

@@lfscrazy idk I find myself going back to tube amps and real pedals. I have the Kemper and helix. They just don’t feel or sound as good. Need help with sound and feel from real pedals like overdrive or distortion and this should come with power as should the helix just for the price alone. The Yamaha 100hd double modeler at $800 sounds and feels great. Overlooked because I think it was too simple. Plug in and play. Yamaha owns line6 now btw. I guess you need to try and see. Don’t get rid of your favorite amp and favorite pedals if possible. Try and keep both.

[@lfscrazy]

@@jklmopqtstuvwxyz5349 Thanks for your reply. I recently bought a Spark. I am very impressed. It feels spot on, just like a cranked valve amp. It sounds pretty good too, some models are better than others but it can't match a valve amp for heavier stuff in particular, it starts getting a bit mushy. It's brilliant for the price though. I know it's probably not as 'good' as something like the Yamaha or AxeFx but I have seen the future. One day modellers will match a valve amp for tone but that day isn't today! Maybe 10 years?

[@MrMarcburger]

your amps will still serve you in 20 years. Axe FX will be obsolete by then.

[@anderssvensson3894]

Chuggia Chuggia Chuggia Galore !

[@notalkguitarampplug-insrev784]

Have Kemper and AxeFxIII. Kemper is still the best. Really. You can order both and return the one you like less. Your opinion is the most important :)

[@Fallingoverbackwards]

It so isnt that black and white. Kemper is good for modeling existing gear and sounding like an amp in the room. Does not remotely hold up to axe fx in effects and the amp in a studio sound. 2 different monsters entirely

[@afterthefox7]

Just can't stay away from that distortion. uhuhuh

[@badhabit8824]

Can't get out of the first minute of the video because of my constant rewinding

[@rthavi4166]

I think this guy could play through a speaker made from a tin can and it would sound good

[@sKarredtoon]

Bill Burr or Burr Brown 🤣🤣🤣 Bill Burr is the comedian the latter the converters.

[@scottfisher3948]

you do most of that with a decent laptop and software for a lot less money.

[@vco1-706]

RIP your squashed input lead.

[@maximusaugustus6823]

Too expensive for a hobby playing at home stuff, it is for if you make "good" money with it on stage

[@justfire123]

Check their new FM3 from FA... it's a stomp box version (obviously tuned down) of the AFX3. Sad part is there is a huge waitlist

[@fireball676]

I had to get myself drunk to order it.. but I’m excited to get it. I had a big tax return this year and I never spend it and hoard money.. so I figured this would be the year I get the top of the line piece of kit that could replace anything else I could potentially buy. In the end between pedals and amps, this is actually the cheaper option depending on how crazy you want a rig to be.

[@aimanhassan4004]

Exactly! But damn if ive got the money i blow on it without a doubt

[@kcussrebutuemos4815]

C’mon we all buy lots of gear and the majority of guitarists are home players. We’re not all famous and we all don’t gig. Lots of us have had to go to school and work and then work a boring job. Btw if you were a famous guitarist and lost your fame would you stop playing and stop buying gear? I doubt it. You should play for you and of course it’s fun to jam with friends or play for family but at 7 I fell in love with guitar for me.

[@oakworm5526]

not bad, but with gain it kinda sounds like shit

[@gr8guitarplayer]

Just like when Microsoft would release new versions of their software, like MS Office, I like to buy books to learn how to use products like this, so I can get as much out of it as possible. But they would take so much time explaining this or that change, and where this or that function was moved to, or how it behaves differently from older versions, etc. And I thought, "Did every single person who bought this software begin using DOS?" Of course not! My first MS Office was 2010, so I couldn't care less about how 2007 or even 2003 worked, and how 2010 compares to those older versions. Same thing with these reviews. I'm sure lots of people buying, or even considering an AXE FX-3, are not upgrading. So I wish one of these reviews would simply talk about only this version!! It would makes things a lot simpler, and take less time. Or just break the review into 2 parts: the first one comparing the old features to the new, but then STOP talking about the old versions!! I don't want to watch 30 minutes of talking about this one compared to the old one. I just want to know all the cool things IT can do. And I seriously doubt I'm alone.

[@sacredgeometry]

Just read the manual then. Its available online

[@Xx_Ultimate_Noscoper_xX]

@@sacredgeometry A manual isn't a review. If people want to learn more about fx II, they can read FX II's manual, or watch a review about FX II.

[@MrWolf5150]

Ooh its "fantastic" Yes its "fantastic" The effects are "fantastic"..... guy needs a thesaurus

[@Biffinnbridge]

He’s got his Mom’s sneakers on! That’s not very metal ffs

[@danielerupalti2748]

Kemper is still the best, sounds way better without tweaking ours! This guy plays amazing!

[@nahnotsomuch2292]

With the III, the tonal difference is so minimal, that with all the other things that the Fractal can do, it buries the Kemper.

[@Fallingoverbackwards]

Yeah I have to say this is just not accurate. Get a kemper to model an existing amp and to get the amp in the room sound. But then axe leaves it in a dust trail moving to high end effects and amps that dont exist.

[@go4384]

Sounds bad to me straight away