"Everyone using 'x' tool sounds the same". Another knowledge nugget dropped by Fricker

[LP59]

I don't disagree - but yet, the statement IMO was bit too generalized because every decent MFX unit is delivering almost outstanding quality and diversity at bargain prices.
I for one defenitely don't need all that stuff (neither the amount of amps, FX and/or their quality) for my daily needs.

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And fwiw, if I was to spend some decent money and wanted to sound "not the same", these days I'd rather buy a Macbook Air, a decent interface and a MIDI controller. That would actually give me the most amazing portfolio of amps and FX ever. Add to this instant guitar-to-MIDI stuff, if I felt like doing so.
In fact, it's something I'm seriously considering, should I ever want to go for something truly advanced, the only real issue being that I just love to have a single floorboard suiting all my needs, something absolutely impossible with a computer based setup (I know, there's some adventurous folks slapping a Mac Mini onto boards and remote controlling them via iPads - but that's nothing I ever wanted to do).
I will defenitely give that another thought next year. One day I'll have to buy a new Macbook anyway, so I could just do that earlier and use the current one as a live machine. Soundwise, it'd likely mop the floor with any of the current all-in-one modeling offers. NAM captures, Tonex captures, the wildest dirt FX (the Eventide CrushStation alone is worth considering that route), incredible delays and reverbs, etc. There'd also be close to no limitations regarding FX amounts. I can run at least 3 fully stuffed HX Native instances on a single core. That'd make 12 on 4 threads.
And once the initial setup would be done, it'd also be a dream to control as anything would be possible, such as a tablet running TouchOSC wirelessly connected to your rig. Add some quick access MIDI knob encoders and bob's your uncle.

It would mop the floor for amp simulation and effects. The weak point is the foot controller. Using midi, it would be difficult to match the useful interactive footswitch features often found in floor modelers or dedicated foot controllers (scribble strips, color encoding, syncing when loading presets, etc.)

 

[Sascha Franck]

The weak point is the foot controller. Using midi, it would be difficult to match the useful interactive footswitch features often found in floor modelers or dedicated foot controllers (scribble strips, color encoding, syncing when loading presets, etc.)

Sure. But I usually don't need much of that, if anything at all. All over the years (or rather decades), my footswitch layout stayed very, very similar, regardless of the used devices. Sure, it varied because it took different steps for one setup to do the same things as another setup, but in general things are pretty consistent.

 

[Frodebro]

For most young musicians, $2500 is out of reach, especially when you add the other gear you need to go with it.

A lot of things are out of reach for younger people, that’s just life. It’s incentive to better yourself and improve your financial situation so that you can afford nicer things. Entitlement doesn’t pay the bills.

 

[paisleywookiee]

A lot of things are out of reach for younger people, that’s just life. It’s incentive to better yourself and improve your financial situation so that you can afford nicer things. Entitlement doesn’t pay the bills.

I was 18 when I bought my Crate half stack. That would be $2600 in today's farthings. I'd tell a youth of today to get one of:

1. BOSS Katana
2. POD Go and a Fender FR12
3. DSL20 or Orange Super Crush, and a couple BOSS pedals

Any of that is WAY cheaper, more flexible, and sounds better.

 

[Chocol8]

A lot of things are out of reach for younger people, that’s just life. It’s incentive to better yourself and improve your financial situation so that you can afford nicer things. Entitlement doesn’t pay the bills.

It has nothing to do with entitlement. It is simply not a bargain when there are a lot of very capable alternatives that are far more affordable.

$2500 for a modeler, plus the cost of an FRFR or at a minimum and in ear system, plus guitar etc. is fine for those of us with full time jobs and advanced in our careers where we are making far more than the typical teen or 20 something, but it is no bargain.

Tonex One is a bargain, Pod Express is a bargain, Nux AA is a bargain, Katana is a bargain (especially since you don't need the FRFR). There are many more options for 1/5th the cost that can still deliver much better than "good enough" tones. The extra capabilities of the Fractal are luxuries, not a bargain to most people.

 

[Chocol8]

Just did some math with an inflation calculator...

My entire rig in 1990 including Fender Strat (MIJ) SF Twin Reverb, Vox Wah (stack of dimes), and grey circuit DOD 250, cost me a bit under $700, or $1700 in inflation adjusted dollars. Not the most expensive stuff at the time but definitely not cheap gear for the day and that was close to 5 weeks worth of take home income at a summer job for a HS kid. I could not have afforded double that, and it would not have made me a better player had I been able to.

 

[Frodebro]

It has nothing to do with entitlement. It is simply not a bargain when there are a lot of very capable alternatives that are far more affordable.

$2500 for a modeler, plus the cost of an FRFR or at a minimum and in ear system, plus guitar etc. is fine for those of us with full time jobs and advanced in our careers where we are making far more than the typical teen or 20 something, but it is no bargain.

Tonex One is a bargain, Pod Express is a bargain, Nux AA is a bargain, Katana is a bargain (especially since you don't need the FRFR). There are many more options for 1/5th the cost that can still deliver much better than "good enough" tones. The extra capabilities of the Fractal are luxuries, not a bargain to most people.

What is and is not a bargain is purely subjective. For many people, the Axe FX is an incredible bargain.

 

[Frodebro]

I was 18 when I bought my Crate half stack. That would be $2600 in today's farthings. I'd tell a youth of today to get one of:

1. BOSS Katana
2. POD Go and a Fender FR12
3. DSL20 or Orange Super Crush, and a couple BOSS pedals

Any of that is WAY cheaper, more flexible, and sounds better.

I had a Road half stack when I was eighteen, but I bought it used and it wasn’t terribly expensive.

 

[James Freeman]

Real cabs + real mics = real and unique tone.
Simple as that.

 

[Frodebro]

Real cabs + real mics = real and unique tone.
Simple as that.

I think you can get way more unique tones in the digital realm, including (but not limited to) things that would blow up a real amp.

 

[DrewJD82]

View attachment 52425

Shit, I’ve been pretending to be a decent guitar player for a long ass time…..when this supposed to catch up?!?!?!

 

[DrewJD82]

I think you can get way more unique tones in the digital realm, including (but not limited to) things that would blow up a real amp.

I know I can run a digital fuzz face into a digital uni-vibe and actually get a usable sound! AND the other way around!

And I tweaked so much shit without knowing what I was doing when I rolled my own Jose Plexi I’d be pretty surprised if a real version of it could be made and actually plugged in.

 

[Chocol8]

And I tweaked so much shit without knowing what I was doing when I rolled my own Jose Plexi I’d be pretty surprised if a real version of it could be made and actually plugged in.

With an electrical engineering education, a bunch of parts, and a shit ton of trial and error, I bet you could get pretty close!

 

[Dimiguitar]

I think you could make 5 people play through the same Kemper profile and they would likely sound quite different from each other, the more nuanced the playing is, considering how technique plays into tone and such.

It's been more than once that I assumed people were playing into different amps altogether. But it was the same stuff. The player changed, the gear did not.

 

[Dimiguitar]

I think you can get way more unique tones in the digital realm, including (but not limited to) things that would blow up a real amp.

I wouldn't even know how to do certain things with a real amp that is achievable with my fractal with ease.