Product: Crate AXBX1 Axe Box
Price Paid: US $59
Submitted
06/01/2006
at
11:39pm
by
Sean V.
Ease of Use
:
10
Pretty simple out of the box. I use this soley for its headphones feature for those late nights when the wife and kids are asleep and I have the urge to play my guitar (an '83 G&L SC-2). You can use this thru an effects loop, but my amp doesn't have one, so I never use it.
Things are clearly delineated on the AxeBox.
On the back panel, the inputs from left to right are:
- 9V DC jack
- Headphones input
- "To Amp Effect Loop"
- "From Amp Effect Loop" (if you're plugging in a guitar straight into the AxeBox, this is where you plug into)
On the front panel, you have:
- CD level dial
- Tuner on or off switch (tuner window is above this)
- Toggle to choose amp or headphones
- Headphone level dial
Adding the tuner to this was a really great touch it's super simple to use and really handy.
Sound Quality
:
9
The sound quality is actually quite good with the AxeBox. I heard nuances from each of my guitar's pickup settings that I never heard thru my Fender Super Champ. I think this can be attributed to the fact that I'm hearing the guitar thru headphones. Also, there is no buzz or hissing when plugged straight into this product.
If I were to go electric guitar shopping, bringing the AxeBox with me to compare guitars might prove to be a useful tool since the guitar's pure tone comes thru quite clearly. Pretty cool gadget, really!
The only thing about this product is that you defninitely need to use studio-quality headphones. You can't really crank this thing to 10 because, you start getting some breakup (not quite distortion-like breakup), which thru headphones can be quite harsh on the ears. I currently use Sony earbuds because of their portability, and while they do an adequate job, I would imagine higher quality headphones (not earbuds) would be a great match for the AxeBox.
Reliability
:
9
So far so good. I only use it in the house, so I'm not all that worried about it (unless my three year old son starts tinkering with it!). It came with a DC adapter, but I've only used it with batteries so far and it's been just fine and the batteries have lasted for quite a while now.
Customer Support
:
10
I called Crate customer support before I bought the AxeBox to make sure that I could plug my guitar straight thru it and use headphone, since none of the descriptions online stated this. The woman was very courteous and informed me that indeed, I could plug straight into it. What a relief!
Overall Rating
:
9
Overall, this is a pretty great product. If I had to do it over again, I may have gone with one of those C-tech Pocket Rockit products, since those are super-portable (you plug it straight ONTO your guitar and run headphones from it). But then again, I didn't read the greatest of reviews for those.
I can honestly say that the AxeBox, while not as portable as the Pocket Rockit -- it's more like using a stompbox, which is perfectly fine -- it does the job that I want it to and does it quite well. So in summary, I give the AxeBox my stamp of approval!
Product: Crate AXBX1 Axe Box
Price Paid: US $79.00
Submitted
03/08/2006
at
03:46am
by
Mac86
Ease of Use
:
10
This piece of equipment is not about changing the sound but giving you more options of what to do with it. Manual is short and to the point. Thats all that is needed for this. This unit has essentially three functions -
1 - Bypass the amps main speaker and route the signal directly to headphones !!!!!I can now sit on the couch with my Strat doing my best Hendrix imitation while the wifey watches the tube and everyones happy!!!
2 - Allow the input of a cd sigal to the amp with a seperate volume control for cd volume!!!! Makes it really easy to play along with any musician you've got on disc.
3 - Built in tuner which works great. ( This unit sells for less than some inline tuners on the market) Only flaw of the entire unit is that the tuner works of a battery rather than 110v which this unit requires anyway???? Crate - What the he** were you thinking???
Sound Quality
:
No Opinion
The sound is very good with this, but since one of it's main functions is to bypass the main speaker and go to headphones....the headphones become a critical component. I have several pair and still have not found the perfect set for tonal range and not breaking up when the mood to really rock strikes! Playing through this using a Crate RFX 65 amp a Fender fat Strat, and a '66 Hofner Committee archtop. I play mostly blues - vintage rock type music.
Reliability
:
No Opinion
Have had it for two months now and have no problems whatsoever.
Customer Support
:
No Opinion
Not needed so I don't know.
Overall Rating
:
No Opinion
Primarily purchased this for the headphone option. I now use it as much for the ability to play along with my favorite tunes as anything else. I would use the tuner function a lot I am sure, except for the fact that my Crate amp already has one built in. It is simple, very effective, and promotes marital harmony. Makes sure th get the right cables and headphone when you buy it so you don't get home and find you have to wait for them to come or make another trip to the store. It will either work in the effects loop on your amp or through the line jack on the amp. Great product!
