James,
That's a great review!  Why not post us some sound files?

I've been eye balling that Tubemeister 5w head Jim. It has the Red Box and power soak as well. I've just got to figure out what I'm going to sell to fund that. 😊

I bought the original Axe-fx when it came out. The idea was to not buy anything else and all these years later I haven't bought any extra pedals. I bought the old Yamaha MFC10 midi foot controller to operate it in a simplistic fashion.

The Axe-fx is the best I've used. The ultra, II and II XL are a massive step up. Most of the old criticism was by people who never played it and were never going to pay the high price for it anyway. Tedious.

Try it, buy it, like it or not.

Does the bedroom player need it and is it X amount better than the ones aimed at the hobbyist? Well, you can still get great sounds out of any of them but this is a step up. I'd be happy to use a cheaper one (I have done) but I'm glad I have it.

Although it shouldn't matter if johnny famous player uses it, there was definitely a shift when x,y and z started using it, mainly for the effects, which are fantastic.

I'd buy the new version in a heartbeat if anyone could lend me a few grand.

cclarry

clintmartin
Here's a great budget solution...I sold my HD500 and DT50 and bought a Zoom G5, Zoom MS-70CDR, Two Alto TS112A's and finally a Logidy Epsi with Ownhammer Studio Mix (Modern) IRs.  I paid $922 total and I couldn't be happier with the tones. I was really wanting a Axefx or Kemper, but just didn't want to invest that much cash at the moment.

The G5 is the BOMB....that thing has some awesome sounds....

You should hear it with the Ownhammer IRs. I think the Redwirez IRs are great too. They (Redwirez) require more work, but you have a lot more options for mic placement. Good times for us guitar players. A bunch of the Axefx guys are using these OH studio series IRs also...FWIW.

I use the OH stuff and Redwirez.

I'm getting brilliant results by running either my VOX or HIWATT full pelt into the LOAD setting on my THD Hotplate, and then line out into SONAR with RedWirez Cab sims. So much better than a soft-sim.

strikinglyhandsome1
The Axe-fx is the best I've used. The ultra, II and II XL are a massive step up. Most of the old criticism was by people who never played it and were never going to pay the high price for it anyway. Tedious.

Agree 100%. There are still critics who have never played an Axe-FX and plenty of people who will suggest that solution X or Y is just as good at a fraction of the cost.  While you can get decent results with other tools, the Axe-FX II is really ahead of the class.  Haven't tried the Kemper, but I've heard very good things about that as well.
 
Gotta love the Axe-FX II with the latest Ownhammer offerings. Great amp tones through great IRs.
 
Great first review from the OP! Hope the honeymoon phase lasts as long for you as it has for me.

I've got to clear some items off my plate and then perhaps I can get some sound files!
 
I'd really like to use the tone matching on my 1964 Super Reverb. :) The process intrigues me but I don't have the time (yet).