Marshall SV20H 20w Plexi-style head — such a classy amplifier!

Why I returned to real guitar amplifiers after using Kemper and Axe FX

Two years of using digital amps lead me back to the real thing. The last year (2019) has been a massive overhaul for me, in terms of gear. I started the year with a Kemper Profiler and many of you will know that I have raved about that piece of kit for the best part of 18 months now. It’s a game changer. However, I missed the flexibility of real amps and pedals at my fingertips....

May 25, 2020
Fractal Axe FX II XL

One year later with the Fractal Axe FX II XL, was it a keeper?

In March 2017 I made the massive leap to a fully digital guitar rig. I can now document my year long journey from Axe FX newbie to massive digital convert. Big investment I had to sell a lot of my old analog gear, including my amp and pedals, to get back some of the money I spent on the Axe FX II XL. It was a huge make or break investment of time, money and loss; of things I’d come to cherish....

June 30, 2018
Fractal Audio Axe FX — Could this be the answer to the tone of my dreams?

Building my dream guitar rig. Fractal Axe FX II XL

Sometimes, you just need to accept the facts. [Disclaimer: this is an old article and explains my thoughts about the Fractal Axe FX II XL in 2017] So, after finally coming to a place where I could accept that I had most of the basic tones covered, why did I still want more? Why was I still missing my Mesa? Why did I suddenly feel the urge to buy a Plexi style amplifier?...

March 23, 2017