No Axe FX and no amp...what are my options in the interim while I wait for the Axe FX III?

Jonathanthomas83

So, yesterday I sold my beloved Axe FX and no I have nothing to play on. 

I could play acoustic for the next few months, but that'll be boring. Are there any good plugins about that I could use? Or should I invest in Helix Native or a Katana (what are the resale prices of those these days, do they hold their value? I assume no given that Boss release a new iteration of the Katana every three to four weeks)? Bit steep for something I'll not use past May/June.

And yes, I know this is bad planning, but it's more about minimising the damage that the Axe FX III has on the value of my Axe FX II.

FreddieVanHalen

Scuffham is pretty cool. Or maybe if you still have a preamp type drive pedal you could just play that into a decent impulse response?

Maybe you’ll enjoy the simplicity so much you cancel your axefx3 order :-)

guitarfishbay

Software - Demo Native and Scufham S Gear. For high gain TSE X50 is decent. 

Hardware - AMT Preamp into an impulse is decent but not as flexible as a plugin.

Personally I’d also consider a used small combo, that way you could sell without losing too much when the III arrives 

crunchman

There is a free basic version of Amplitube that only has 3 or 4 amps.

The Joyo/Harley Benton knockoffs of the Sansamp character series can be had very cheaply.  I picked one up for around £20 second hand.

It isn't a bad idea to have a real amp around. I've got a 5W VHT Special 6 that hasn't been turned on for months that I've been thinking about selling.  I need to clear space.

vasselmeyer

Buy one of the Zoom Multistomps or a G3 second hand. £60 with decent effects and capable amp sims. They're no AxeFX of course, but can be made to sound acceptable through a PA or direct into a power amp.

simonk

Have you still got the two DXR’s? If so I’d pick up one of the Helix/LT’s that grace the classifieds and then sell it on when appropriate.

Luminous

Pop your headstock against a door...hey presto ...amplification

Roland

Would you like to borrow an AxeFX Ultra?

Jonathanthomas83

Thanks @FreddieVanHalen, @guitarfishbay and @crunchman I'll check out the S Gear, TSE and Amplitube stuff.

@simonk Thanks, probably a bit of an outlay I don't really want at the moment. 

@Roland that's incredibly kind of you, sir, thank you so much for the offer.

I've managed to bag a practice amp off my uncle for the time being, so that should keep me going until I get the new unit. That said, I'm intrigued to try a few demos of the VSTs. And part of me is kind of gutted I can't buy something new and shiny until later in the year, but it'd be daft to spend now knowing the new Fractal unit is coming soon!

sgosden

Get a katana, and we can all laugh with you when you realise THATS  the tone and flexibility you've been after all along :P 

Jonathanthomas83

sgosden said:

Get a katana, and we can all laugh with you when you realise THATS  the tone and flexibility you've been after all along :P 

I'll be honest, I like the Katana and I like the way it sounds. Tones included. But the Axe offers so much in terms of effects and presets and functionality that I like, I'd be seriously slimming down with a Katana...not a bad thing though...hmmm! ;-)

meltedbuzzbox

Sans amp fly rig. Brilliant little thing

mattdavis

Don’t know if you are an Apple user - if so, GarageBand (free with Macs) has some perfectly usable amp sims for practising and at least making a guitar-ish noise when you have no amp. There is an iPhone GarageBand as well. 
Obviously will need some sort of interface but a used apogee jam should be inexpensive.