Fractal Audio Systems AM4 - Amp Modeler

[Orvillain]

I guess I'm going to be a bit of a dick .... but I don't really see why a customer should have to pay extra in order to get a 3-year warranty, when it is required by law that it be provided. To me it seems like excessive capitalisation on the circumstances around EU law.

Also.... I'm in the UK. We are not in the EU, and we left the EU consumer warranty framework when Brexit was completed. UK regulation law does not state that a 3 year warranty has to be provided. So why am I paying for something that I'm not obligated to pay for? It is just simply incorrect to claim that someone buying a unit in the UK has these unavoidable costs. They are legally and lawfully not required for us.

The UK actually has a fault responsibility system, and we can claim for faults up to 6 years after purchase in England & Wales. 5 years in Scotland. So when you wonder why Andertons and Gear4Music and the like aren't stocking Fractal... maybe someone did the numbers and decided that status quo was preferrable?

Now .... from a UKer perspective, it doesn't really improve my life having a G66 3 year warranty. The moment my unit breaks - my mini-jack midi sockets for example - and I have to ship my unit over to Germany, pay export duties and import duties when the fixed unit arrives back, and be without a critical part of my live rig or studio setup... fundamentally, the 3 year warranty has done next to the square root of fuck all for me. All I've done is pay more money out of my pocket and gotten inconvenience in exchange.

• Ship to Germany
• Downtime on critical gear
• Export paperwork
• Import VAT/duties on return unless everything is perfectly documented
• Stress, delays, uncertainty

In practical terms, there's no difference between me buying something directly from Fractal, and buying from G66. Except I can't do that, because Fractal block the sale - to protect their agreements with G66.

Maybe I'm having a grumpy morning, but I'd rather see Fractal reduce their reliance on G66 in the EU; even if it means paying the same prices.

All of this may very well factor into someone's decision to go with Fractal or another company; and we all know that tonally, the gap has massively narrowed in the past 4 or 5 years or so.

Right... there you go. There's my miserable dickhead post. I'll get back in my box now.

 

[iaresee]

I guess I'm going to be a bit of a dick .... but I don't really see why a customer should have to pay extra in order to get a 3-year warranty, when it is required by law that it be provided. To me it seems like excessive capitalisation on the circumstances around EU law.

Also.... I'm in the UK. We are not in the EU, and we left the EU consumer warranty framework when Brexit was completed. UK regulation law does not state that a 3 year warranty has to be provided. So why am I paying for something that I'm not obligated to pay for? It is just simply incorrect to claim that someone buying a unit in the UK has these unavoidable costs. They are legally and lawfully not required for us.

The UK actually has a fault responsibility system, and we can claim for faults up to 6 years after purchase in England & Wales. 5 years in Scotland. So when you wonder why Andertons and Gear4Music and the like aren't stocking Fractal... maybe someone did the numbers and decided that status quo was preferrable?

Now .... from a UKer perspective, it doesn't really improve my life having a G66 3 year warranty. The moment my unit breaks - my mini-jack midi sockets for example - and I have to ship my unit over to Germany, pay export duties and import duties when the fixed unit arrives back, and be without a critical part of my live rig or studio setup... fundamentally, the 3 year warranty has done next to the square root of fuck all for me. All I've done is pay more money out of my pocket and gotten inconvenience in exchange.

• Ship to Germany
• Downtime on critical gear
• Export paperwork
• Import VAT/duties on return unless everything is perfectly documented
• Stress, delays, uncertainty

In practical terms, there's no difference between me buying something directly from Fractal, and buying from G66. Except I can't do that, because Fractal block the sale - to protect their agreements with G66.

Maybe I'm having a grumpy morning, but I'd rather see Fractal reduce their reliance on G66 in the EU; even if it means paying the same prices.

All of this may very well factor into someone's decision to go with Fractal or another company; and we all know that tonally, the gap has massively narrowed in the past 4 or 5 years or so.

Right... there you go. There's my miserable dickhead post. I'll get back in my box now.

All of the reasons things cost you more
can be traced back to one group of people.

Politicians.

 

[2112]

@Orvillain G66 have a UK based branch to deal with purchase/service/miserable dickheads.

G66.eu Online Shop

Fractal Audio · Axe-Fx III · FM9 · FM3 · Foot Control · FC-12 & FC-6 · EV-1 & EV-2 Pedals · Red Sound · Elis.8 PRO/M · MF.10 PRO/M · Stage-Cab RK8

uk-shop.g66.eu

 

[bucephalus]

I guess I'm going to be a bit of a dick .... but I don't really see why a customer should have to pay extra in order to get a 3-year warranty, when it is required by law that it be provided. To me it seems like excessive capitalisation on the circumstances around EU law.

Also.... I'm in the UK. We are not in the EU, and we left the EU consumer warranty framework when Brexit was completed. UK regulation law does not state that a 3 year warranty has to be provided. So why am I paying for something that I'm not obligated to pay for? It is just simply incorrect to claim that someone buying a unit in the UK has these unavoidable costs. They are legally and lawfully not required for us.

The UK actually has a fault responsibility system, and we can claim for faults up to 6 years after purchase in England & Wales. 5 years in Scotland. So when you wonder why Andertons and Gear4Music and the like aren't stocking Fractal... maybe someone did the numbers and decided that status quo was preferrable?

Now .... from a UKer perspective, it doesn't really improve my life having a G66 3 year warranty. The moment my unit breaks - my mini-jack midi sockets for example - and I have to ship my unit over to Germany, pay export duties and import duties when the fixed unit arrives back, and be without a critical part of my live rig or studio setup... fundamentally, the 3 year warranty has done next to the square root of fuck all for me. All I've done is pay more money out of my pocket and gotten inconvenience in exchange.

• Ship to Germany
• Downtime on critical gear
• Export paperwork
• Import VAT/duties on return unless everything is perfectly documented
• Stress, delays, uncertainty

In practical terms, there's no difference between me buying something directly from Fractal, and buying from G66. Except I can't do that, because Fractal block the sale - to protect their agreements with G66.

Maybe I'm having a grumpy morning, but I'd rather see Fractal reduce their reliance on G66 in the EU; even if it means paying the same prices.

All of this may very well factor into someone's decision to go with Fractal or another company; and we all know that tonally, the gap has massively narrowed in the past 4 or 5 years or so.

Right... there you go. There's my miserable dickhead post. I'll get back in my box now.

A lot of sense spoken though.

 

[Ed DeGenaro]

I guess I'm going to be a bit of a dick .... but I don't really see why a customer should have to pay extra in order to get a 3-year warranty, when it is required by law that it be provided. To me it seems like excessive capitalisation on the circumstances around EU law.

Also.... I'm in the UK. We are not in the EU, and we left the EU consumer warranty framework when Brexit was completed. UK regulation law does not state that a 3 year warranty has to be provided. So why am I paying for something that I'm not obligated to pay for? It is just simply incorrect to claim that someone buying a unit in the UK has these unavoidable costs. They are legally and lawfully not required for us.

The UK actually has a fault responsibility system, and we can claim for faults up to 6 years after purchase in England & Wales. 5 years in Scotland. So when you wonder why Andertons and Gear4Music and the like aren't stocking Fractal... maybe someone did the numbers and decided that status quo was preferrable?

Now .... from a UKer perspective, it doesn't really improve my life having a G66 3 year warranty. The moment my unit breaks - my mini-jack midi sockets for example - and I have to ship my unit over to Germany, pay export duties and import duties when the fixed unit arrives back, and be without a critical part of my live rig or studio setup... fundamentally, the 3 year warranty has done next to the square root of fuck all for me. All I've done is pay more money out of my pocket and gotten inconvenience in exchange.

• Ship to Germany
• Downtime on critical gear
• Export paperwork
• Import VAT/duties on return unless everything is perfectly documented
• Stress, delays, uncertainty

In practical terms, there's no difference between me buying something directly from Fractal, and buying from G66. Except I can't do that, because Fractal block the sale - to protect their agreements with G66.

Maybe I'm having a grumpy morning, but I'd rather see Fractal reduce their reliance on G66 in the EU; even if it means paying the same prices.

All of this may very well factor into someone's decision to go with Fractal or another company; and we all know that tonally, the gap has massively narrowed in the past 4 or 5 years or so.

Right... there you go. There's my miserable dickhead post. I'll get back in my box now.

Agreed on that. But the alternative is shipping to the US which is what I had to deal with while in Asia.
So yes local warranty is great.
UK ain’t local fo sho.

 

[Orvillain]

All of the reasons things cost you more
can be traced back to one group of people.

Politicians.

Aye, no lies detected!

 

[Orvillain]

@Orvillain G66 have a UK based branch to deal with purchase/service/miserable dickheads.

G66.eu Online Shop

Fractal Audio · Axe-Fx III · FM9 · FM3 · Foot Control · FC-12 & FC-6 · EV-1 & EV-2 Pedals · Red Sound · Elis.8 PRO/M · MF.10 PRO/M · Stage-Cab RK8

uk-shop.g66.eu

haha! Yes, indeed! Suhk is a good guy.

 

[2112]

haha! Yes, indeed! Suhk is a good guy.

Yep he's one of the good ones.

 

[TheTrueZoltan!]

G66 has already started shipping, one day earlier than expected. My AM4 is on its way!

 

[GTR37]

G66 has already started shipping, one day earlier than expected. My AM4 is on its way!

Enjoy it awesome , just sold my FM9 this morning because I was so pleased w the AM4

 

[AlbertA]

I made an AM4 Preset to get in the neighborhood of Andy Timmons tones inspired by the visit to TPS (That pedal show).

I'm using the Mesa Lonestar model in the AM4, with its matching default cab selection and my Faux Halo Delay block as the base tone.

Then four scenes
1. Cleanish - An RC Booster -> Compressor -> Lonestar -> Faux Halo
2. Blues Driver-ish - Gauss Drive -> Lonestar -> Faux Halo
3. Neck Lead - BB Pre AT -> Compressor -> Lonestar -> Faux Halo
4. Bridge Humbucker Lead - JHS'ish using the Angry Chuck -> Lonestar -> Faux Halo

 

[BROCKSTAR]

 

[ZenrigsMan]

Hey folks - Sukh here! (G66 UK and ZenRigs). I’ve only just joined so excuse the lack of input so far.

Some quick ones though - as we’re about to go heads down prepping for the first lot of AM4 orders, and I’m desperately in need of a kip.

1. I’ve worked for G66 for a little over 3 years now and can hand-on-heart say they are the nicest and most honest folks I’ve ever worked with. I’m constantly surprised at the lengths they go to in taking care of both their employees and, more importantly, their customers - even when there’s no obligation on their part to do so.

2. They are very careful with pricing - there’s a lot of speculation here - but the pricing is not random or inflated. There are various costs involved in getting product into the UK and then putting together the infrastructure to sell, support, store, market, manage warranty, multi-language translations, multi country servicing etc etc. The business has to run, and prices need to be able to support that business as a distributor.

3. We have a UK service centre (and sales) - there’s no shenanigans involved for UK warranty and servicing.

I’m sorry I never knew about this place before - it looks really well organised and full of great contributors. Looking forward to getting involved.

Cheers!
Sukh

 

[ZenrigsMan]

@Orvillain G66 have a UK based branch to deal with purchase/service/miserable dickheads.

G66.eu Online Shop

Fractal Audio · Axe-Fx III · FM9 · FM3 · Foot Control · FC-12 & FC-6 · EV-1 & EV-2 Pedals · Red Sound · Elis.8 PRO/M · MF.10 PRO/M · Stage-Cab RK8

uk-shop.g66.eu

I’ve been fortunate to find a distinct lack of miserable dickheads here - our customers are all pretty awesome

 

[Dez]

I’ve been fortunate to find a distinct lack of miserable dickheads here - our customers are all pretty awesome

Some of us are dickheads () and some of us are miserable, there are one or two that are both

 

[dean701]

Some of us are dickheads () and some of us are miserable, there are one or two that are both

Present and accounted for.

 

[Gtrsolo]

Enjoy it awesome , just sold my FM9 this morning because I was so pleased w the AM4

I’m thinking of buying a AM4 and doing the same. Had an FM3 but not enough switches or power. Now have an FM9 and I’m finding I’m using really simple presets. Usually just one or two presets for a cover gig and no crazy multi tap delays.
The only thing I’d miss is the pitch block for going down half step… so hard to decide.

 

[GTR37]

I’m thinking of buying a AM4 and doing the same. Had an FM3 but not enough switches or power. Now have an FM9 and I’m finding I’m using really simple presets. Usually just one or two presets for a cover gig and no crazy multi tap delays.
The only thing I’d miss is the pitch block for going down half step… so hard to decide.

That was exactly it for me
I had presets that I never used half the stuff
It was mostly Amp/ Cab / Delay / wah never used reverb live , once I pulled up the same JVM amp and cab combo , w a wah and Dual Delay , I was home .
I also love the new editor
I can honestly say AM4 is my favourite piece of gear I have bought in a long time

 

[GTR37]

I made an AM4 Preset to get in the neighborhood of Andy Timmons tones inspired by the visit to TPS (That pedal show).

I'm using the Mesa Lonestar model in the AM4, with its matching default cab selection and my Faux Halo Delay block as the base tone.

Then four scenes
1. Cleanish - An RC Booster -> Compressor -> Lonestar -> Faux Halo
2. Blues Driver-ish - Gauss Drive -> Lonestar -> Faux Halo
3. Neck Lead - BB Pre AT -> Compressor -> Lonestar -> Faux Halo
4. Bridge Humbucker Lead - JHS'ish using the Angry Chuck -> Lonestar -> Faux Halo

Thanks so much for posting this one it’s sounds great

 

[Ed DeGenaro]

I made an AM4 Preset to get in the neighborhood of Andy Timmons tones inspired by the visit to TPS (That pedal show).

I'm using the Mesa Lonestar model in the AM4, with its matching default cab selection and my Faux Halo Delay block as the base tone.

Then four scenes
1. Cleanish - An RC Booster -> Compressor -> Lonestar -> Faux Halo
2. Blues Driver-ish - Gauss Drive -> Lonestar -> Faux Halo
3. Neck Lead - BB Pre AT -> Compressor -> Lonestar -> Faux Halo
4. Bridge Humbucker Lead - JHS'ish using the Angry Chuck -> Lonestar -> Faux Halo

Nice what gitfiddle you use for the clips