Fractal Audio Systems AM4 - Amp Modeler

[timbuck3]

I've been out of the modelling scene for a while, however the AM4 is looking extremely appealing to me.

Even given my current horrible shipping/repair situation with FedEx and my VP4 (busted midi jack, have spent $250 so far trying to get it shipped to Fractal, FedEx/customs has dragged on for a month and a half now), which has kind of put me off buying Fractal, unfortunately, I'm really being pulled towards the AM4. Would be great for recording, home practice + backup at gigs.

Fractal has really knocked it out of the park with both the VP4 and AM4, in my opinion.

Geez if that was line 6 they would have just likely replaced it for you(the whole unit)

 

[ChordInversion]

I get why people in Europe want it cheaper and want local warranty coverage. I also get why for a small company, that may be far easier said than done. And they never seem to have a problem selling what they make.

 

[- ★ - BROCKSTAR - ★ -]

Geez if that was line 6 they would have just likely replaced it for you(the whole unit)

To be fair line 6 deals with different countries everywhere and sale line 6 stuff to dealers etc. Fractal only has themselves and G66.

 

[Lysander]

To be fair line 6 deals with different countries everywhere and sale line 6 stuff to dealers etc. Fractal only has themselves and G66.

Line 6 definitely benefits from YGG's distribution network, yes, but there're plenty of smaller companies managing to sell (and return!) products internationally without being locked to a single distributor. And in both directions, too - see f.ex. IK Multimedia with ToneX, which ship from Italy.

Maybe it's related to Fractal's decision to sell direct only, idk. For US customers specially, it has a lot of benefits.

 

[TSJMajesty]

To be fair line 6 deals with different countries everywhere and sale line 6 stuff to dealers etc. Fractal only has themselves and G66.

To really be fair, I didn't see in his post where the unit was even in Fractal's hands yet. I don't know any company that will do anything until they have the unit.

 

[Chocol8]

But, there're a lot of resellers in Europe providing fantastic service without a +20% upcharge.

What makes you think that? Retail gross margins are typically much higher than 20%. You are only seeing a retail price difference because in the US we are effectively buying Fractal gear at wholesale direct from the company, whereas in Europe, G66 has to buy it from Fractal, handle the shipping and importing, and then be the retailer.

I am looking at the financials of another company, and the markups are much higher. Importer/distribution selling to retailers for 35-40% more than what they are paying the US supplier. The retailers are then marking it up another 40%. Both the importer and the retailers are making single digit pre-tax profit margins, so no one is getting fat and greedy except maybe those collecting the VAT.

 

[Lysander]

What makes you think that? Retail gross margins are typically much higher than 20%. You are only seeing a retail price difference because in the US we are effectively buying Fractal gear at wholesale direct from the company, whereas in Europe, G66 has to buy it from Fractal, handle the shipping and importing, and then be the retailer.

It doesn't take much, you just compare US prices vs. European. Take Line 6, for example: a brand new Helix Stadium XL is US$2200 from Sweetwater, and €2300 from Thomann - which implies an exchange rate of 0.95, when it currently sits at ~0.89, meaning a ~7% markup. Boss GT-1000 is vs $1000 vs €930. Headrush Prime is $1000 vs €943. A Strymon Flint V2 is $350 vs €370. And Thomann's service is top-notch too, even when they don't write you a personalized letter with every purchase.

As mentioned, it works the other way around too: Quad Cortex is €1590 in Europe vs $1800 in the US, which means a 1% markup for US buyers. Kemper MKII is $1980 vs €1800. Tonex Pedal is $330 vs €320.

Now, i *KNOW* there's a lot more going into this equation, like VATs and the-thing-that-cannot-be-named (thanks Donald!), but it's still very hard to find consumer products marked up so high outside G66. And this goes beyond guitar gear too; i buy tech all the time, and rarely, if ever, have to pay differences over 10%.

 

[Chocol8]

You missed the part where with other things you are comparing US retail to European retail, but with Fractal, you are effectively comparing US wholesale to European retail because of the way they sell direct. If we had to buy Fractal gear from Sweetwater or Guitar Center, we would be paying more, and the prices would be more comparable.

 

[Lysander]

You missed the part where with other things you are comparing US retail to European retail, but with Fractal, you are effectively comparing US wholesale to European retail because of the way they sell direct.

I understand - i mentioned this above...

Maybe it's related to Fractal's decision to sell direct only, idk. For US customers specially, it has a lot of benefits.

...but the thing is, as consumers, we shouldn't give a flying fuck It's not like Fractal is the only small-ish US operation selling guitar gear worldwide.

 

[banned]

Geez if that was line 6 they would have just likely replaced it for you(the whole unit)

Oh, just shush

 

[Frodebro]

Hence why you stay away from that toxic place , I myself never even browse anything there

The atmosphere is not unlike being trapped in an elevator all night with Roger Waters and Dave Mustaine.

 

[Lysander]

The atmosphere is not unlike being trapped in an elevator all night with Roger Waters and Dave Mustaine.

 

[GTR37]

Question for the guys that have received one
How are you setting up your footswitches ?
I will be honest I am not a huge fan of hitting 2 switch combo , what is working for you ?

When you first turn on the unit does it default to preset mode? And if you hit say preset 3 does that automatically load Scene1 or whatever the Default scene selected is ?

 

[Richard_G]

You are only seeing a retail price difference because in the US we are effectively buying Fractal gear at wholesale direct from the company, whereas in Europe, G66 has to buy it from Fractal, handle the shipping and importing, and then be the retailer.

Do you believe G66 have to pay Fractal the excact same price as any random US consumer do?

 

[Frodebro]

Do you believe G66 have to pay Fractal the excact same price as any random US consumer do?

Probably not the exact same price, but likely closer to the factory direct price than most would realize. A more realistic question would be, what would the price of an Axe 3 be if Sweetwater were distributing them? Probably right in the ballpark of G66 prices.

 

[laxu]

There's no choice.

The government requires the length and transferability of the warranty as far as I'm aware, both of which aren't standard from Fractal.

So you are getting charged for that in order to be compliant.

That necessitates an additional cost.

If G66 offers a 3 year warranty, then that's longer than the EU standard 2 years.

 

[metallica86]

Ordering was easy and the fact that it’s FedEx and not UPS in Canada makes me happy. , also the fact that I could use pay pal was great as well , I don’t recall that option when I ordered my FM9

Is it less expensive for canadian if we use psypal instead credit card?

 

[Chocol8]

Do you believe G66 have to pay Fractal the excact same price as any random US consumer do?

No, I would expect an even larger markup if they had to pay the same price.

 

[SillyOctpuss]

Has anyone used their AM4 as an effects only device into the front of an amp yet?

 

[GTR37]

Is it less expensive for canadian if we use psypal instead credit card?

No the problem is the exchange
It was $1211 w taxes and shipping .