I'm Just Curious..., How Many Here Own a Fractal, and Who Doesn't?

Which one(s) do you own?

  • Total voters
    206
In terms of the "modern" modellers, over the last 12 years or so, I've owned:

2 Axe FX II's
2 Axe FX III's (3 months apart lol)
4 Helix Floors (my initial one, a backup, a new unit, then a replacement for that one)
4 Kempers in various guises
1 QC
1 Boss GT1000

I use my Axe FX III most days. I've use my Helix constantly since 2016. The Kemper always pissed me off in so so so many ways. The QC was 'meh' and the Boss GT1000 was uberfail.

I am also one of those "Axe FX and Helix, and the rest need to catch up" kinda guys.
 
jellodog said:
The thing is, I just don't think a revision of the FM9 is going to happen anytime soon. But even if a revision was released, the existing version would still be excellent for years to come. Resale value is also good, should you wish to trade up at a later date, because you bought the existing FM9 today.

But if that's what you genuinely believe and that FM9 Mark II is what you're holding out for; then I don't think there's anything else I can tell you that will change your mind today other than what I've already said above. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Click to expand...

It’s the only unit with small scribble strip screens, you really think they’re going to leave it that way for long? If they do, I guess I’ll be keeping my money in my pocket a little longer.

I want one, but not yet. I was just waiting for the instant switching and spring reverb until I realized it has the small scribble strip screens still.

Bored Cabin Fever GIF


D
 
Orvillain said:
In terms of the "modern" modellers, over the last 12 years or so, I've owned:

2 Axe FX II's
2 Axe FX III's (3 months apart lol)
4 Helix Floors (my initial one, a backup, a new unit, then a replacement for that one)
4 Kempers in various guises
1 QC
1 Boss GT1000

I use my Axe FX III most days. I've use my Helix constantly since 2016. The Kemper always pissed me off in so so so many ways. The QC was 'meh' and the Boss GT1000 was uberfail.

I am also one of those "Axe FX and Helix, and the rest need to catch up" kinda guys.
Click to expand...
That's a lot of dough... May I ask how you made it to 4 Helix Floors, any one of those go belly-up on you?

Besides that, seems to me Line 6 and Fractal are the ones getting both amps and effects right, maybe that's what separates them from the rest of the bunch.
 
dk_ace said:
It’s the only unit with small scribble strip screens, you really think they’re going to leave it that way for long?
Click to expand...

Ah yes, scribble strips. Good point.

I was only thinking about the tones and processing power. So in terms of a "upgrade" that didn't really register in my mind, but I can see why it would for others.
 
dronerstone said:
That's a lot of dough... May I ask how you made it to 4 Helix Floors, any one of those go belly-up on you?
Click to expand...
My first one, the mic preamp died on me. Line6 kindly sent me a replacement. I sold that at one point, and bought a new Helix Floor about 6 months later when we came to record our album Wires/Dream\Wires in 2021. Then that one got absolutely bollocked by a Seymour Duncan poweramp falling on it and taking out the screen completely. Got a replacement for that, and got rid of the Seymour Duncan!!
 
dk_ace said:
It’s the only unit with small scribble strip screens, you really think they’re going to leave it that way for long? If they do, I guess I’ll be keeping my money in my pocket a little longer.

I want one, but not yet. I was just waiting for the instant switching and spring reverb until I realized it has the small scribble strip screens still.

Bored Cabin Fever GIF


D
Click to expand...
YEAAAA
Crazy Ex Girlfriend Yes GIF
 
Axe-FX III Mark II and FC12 here.

My Roland Quad Capture interface had died and I was looking for a replacement. I played through Amplitube then Kazrog for years before that, since we were always in apartments and moved really really really often. Kazrog models actually had a good feel, but weird frequency response, so even there I was always fighting my tone.

I had gone back and forth with software modelers, but I do know tube amps from friends, band mates, and the guitar store I used to work, and I was in perpetual seeking of the tones I knew were possible, with the right touch response and the right frequency response, texture, grain, and mojo.

In my research I started lurking the Fractal forum and kept reading testimonials from those who wrote the models were indistinguishable from their own tube amps. I was sold from the onslaught of those posts I found, but still never comfortable spending that much money.

Even though we've been perpetually broke, my angel wife actually argued with me to buy the Axe-FX III and the FC12. She just wanted me at least to have tone I didn't have to fight with. The arguing actually got really heated, and she finally convinced me to do it. It's the best purchase I've ever made.
 
Boudoir Guitar said:
As the man formerly known as Watt McCo, I am fully aware! But I do think the “seasoned” gear Wh*res that have settled into comfort in checking the forums a few times a week rather than a few times a minute at this stage in their lives are in a different league. At this moment. :beer :beer
Click to expand...
How did I not know! I will now be reading your posts through a completely different filter :ROFLMAO:

Back on topic, I haven't had the opportunity to try Fractal yet. I have no hang up other than lack of disposable income!
 
dbagchee said:
How did I not know! I will now be reading your posts through a completely different filter :ROFLMAO:

Back on topic, I haven't had the opportunity to try Fractal yet. I have no hang up other than lack of disposable income!
Click to expand...
The membership fee of the Mesa Mafioso can do that to your disposable income!! (and a better place than fractal to spend it). :beer :beer
 
dk_ace said:
until I realized it has the small scribble strip screens still.
Click to expand...

I feel the same way about the tiny scribble strips. I have owned Helix floor twice and both times I hated them. The LT with it's colored virtual scribbles is actually better for me. I can actually read them. Plus I have never once ( other than experimenting here and there) used an fx loop on an HX product other than to run 4cm. I tried some OD's and my favorite phaser, but the Helix does it just as good natively so why bother?
 
Bob Zaod said:
I feel the same way about the tiny scribble strips. I have owned Helix floor twice and both times I hated them. The LT with it's colored virtual scribbles is actually better for me. I can actually read them. Plus I have never once ( other than experimenting here and there) used an fx loop on an HX product other than to run 4cm. I tried some OD's and my favorite phaser, but the Helix does it just as good natively so why bother?
Click to expand...
There's some pedals that I'd definitely pop in the loop if I wanted to make use of them, e.g. the EHX Micro Synth, Superego (the glissando is top-notch), Dandy Horse (Echo Flanger clone). Of course, those could probably be "approximated" with effects in the Helix just as well.
 
OG AxeFX III/FM9.

I’ve told my Fractal story many times before, but I knew I wanted one when I heard the very first clips that were posted on a very basic Fractal page shortly after Cliff came to HRI and brought up the AxeFX. I can’t remember if he was still developing it or he just started selling it, but it was EARLY on. It was an edge of breakup clip I heard and I knew right then that I wanted one, even though I was only playing metal at the time.

For various reasons, mostly immaturity and refusing to grow up, I was broke for a long time and a Fractal unit was unobtanium for me. I had a quality rig(s) during that time, but it was never a situation where I could sell any of it to buy a Fractal for more various reasons. Every grocery list, birthday/Christmas wish list had “AxeFX” written on it for about a decade. I kept up with the development the whole time, vicariously.

Then I finally got into the position I’m in now at work, I got my first Christmas bonus where I was only expecting about $900 and I literally cried when I saw that the bonus I got would buy me an AxeFX. It wasn’t just a piece of gear at that point, but a marker of my efforts in getting my shit together and I got to celebrate by purchasing it.

Easily the best purchase I have ever made. While I knew what it was capable of on a sonic level, I did not expect it to pull me into different musical directions as a result of being able to get those different tones. It was like getting ALL the paint colors and ALL the brushes while at the same time they’re saying “Hey, don’t just paint what you see, paint the abstract stuff, too! Look at these other painting styles and do those, too!” No piece of gear has ever done that for me.
 
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