This Fractal VP4 vs Strymon etc

fiftyshadesofslay said:
So how are you all finding the VP4 against the big hitters?

After famously becoming sick of modellers I’ve moved on all my modelling gear and going full on with my amps and pedal setup.

Kind of torn between getting some choice pedals like a Strymon timeline and Big Sky (again) vs the VP4.

Anybody compared them? Pedals will be easier to operate and I’ll have a bunch more switches, but the Fractal looks more flexible and possibly better value for money? I reckon a used trifecta will run about the same as a new VP4. Extremely wary about the programming aspect though.

What do we reckon?
Click to expand...

I'm dead set on the VP4. I want a stereo pedalboard running into two amps. FM3 amps sum to mono so that is out of the equation and the FM9 is too big and too much cash for me. Settled on two Tonex Ones running Amalgam's recent Twin capture or their JC-120 capture. Keeping the HX Stomp to run before the VP4. Programming doesn't worry me as I've had the AFX Ultra, AFXII, and FM3 and programming via AxeEdit is fine with me.

If I bought a second Timeline (£250), Big Sky (£300) and Brig (£200) I'm running £750 plus extra for more cables for stereo I/O and power. £750 for a new VP4 covers all of that and I've got a block left over for modulation/whatever I choose. Two pedals will be replaced by the VP4 and these pedals will sell for around £300. From a financial POV, the VP4 wins. In terms of board real estate, the VP4 is under half the size of a Timeline-BigSky-Brig-one other pedal quartet.
 
It's hard for me to say that the VP4 sounds as good as my expensive digital pedals, but after a month with it I have to admit it. I wanted to say the 2290P, SDE-3000EVH and Eventide Micropitch sound better in isolation, but they don't. Once you get the levels, modulation and EQ matched they sound nearly identical. Levels (or Mix) is the big equalizer here... don't afraid to push an effect up above 0dB (or raise the mix if you're not running Kill Dry).

EDIT: I should add that programming the VP4 is MUCH easier than dealing with any of the 3 pedal's interfaces listed above. The 2290P and SDE-3000EVH look cool as hell, but programming is a nightmare.

EDIT2: The only pedal I haven't been able to replicate yet is the UAFX Golden. Not sure what it is about that pedal, but it truly sounds phenomenal. I don't understand the FAS reverb block enough yet to nail it (or if it's even possible).
 
Last edited:
Thanks so far! I’m going to pull the trigger on it. Unfortunately it’s been delayed into the UK but maybe there’ll be a chance to grab it early next week
 
SonVolt said:
It's hard for me to say that the VP4 sounds as good as my expensive digital pedals, but after a month with it I have to admit it. I wanted to say the 2290P, SDE-3000EVH and Eventide Micropitch sound better in isolation, but they don't. Once you get the levels, modulation and EQ matched they sound nearly identical. Levels (or Mix) is the big equalizer here... don't afraid to push an effect up above 0dB (or raise the mix if you're not running Kill Dry).

EDIT: I should add that programming the VP4 is MUCH easier than dealing with any of the 3 pedal's interfaces listed above. The 2290P and SDE-3000EVH look cool as hell, but programming is a nightmare.

EDIT2: The only pedal I haven't been able to replicate yet is the UAFX Golden. Not sure what it is about that pedal, but it truly sounds phenomenal. I don't understand the FAS reverb block enough yet to nail it (or if it's even possible).
Click to expand...

That's really sold the VP4 further for me. I've fallen in love with the Dimension chorus on the HX Stomp to the point where I'd love to grab that pedal. If the VP4 can come up with a Dimension C that's close to the original, then I will be a very happy person.
 
I’ve owned most of the big hitters from Strymon and Meris etc and I can comfortably say the VP4 is the best ambient pedal ever made, for my tastes. I don’t like running it into the front of amps or 4CM, but into the loop and/or in stereo setups, the mod/delay/verbs are god tier.

That said I still like messing with other brands and pedals. They all have their own unique vibes, strengths for particular effect types, control schemes, and make you think or play in a different manner. It’s not winner take all. Stack all the cool shit you can imo.
 
@fiftyshadesofslay did you get one in the end?

I've been too-ing and fro-ing. I don't have any queries about the algorithmic or signal-path quality. It is Fractal. It will be doper than the pope.

Where I'm unsure is programming and ease of use. Lately when going to practice, I've not even been taking a pedalboard. I threw a few Boss stompo's in a bag, with my wah and volume pedal, and hooked it all up at the practice.

I don't have the pedalboard I want, and I don't even think I have the pedals I want. I don't know what I want! But the VP4 really could solve a lot of issues for me.

@Someoldqueenorother did you get one yet?

PS: Britbongers UNITE!
 
Screenshot 2025-02-10 at 12.34.51 PM.png


Hope you saw this post. Looks like more interesting stuff to come.
 
Orvillain said:
@fiftyshadesofslay did you get one in the end?

I've been too-ing and fro-ing. I don't have any queries about the algorithmic or signal-path quality. It is Fractal. It will be doper than the pope.

Where I'm unsure is programming and ease of use. Lately when going to practice, I've not even been taking a pedalboard. I threw a few Boss stompo's in a bag, with my wah and volume pedal, and hooked it all up at the practice.

I don't have the pedalboard I want, and I don't even think I have the pedals I want. I don't know what I want! But the VP4 really could solve a lot of issues for me.

@Someoldqueenorother did you get one yet?

PS: Britbongers UNITE!
Click to expand...
I didn’t unfortunately, for some reason I didn’t even get picked out from the waitlist so I’ve sort of given up at the moment.

Currently running a lowly HX effects with my amp and it’s serving me well so far.

VP4 is still on the radar but 4 effects only and it being more than a used Helix is throwing a little ice on it.
 
SillyOctpuss said:
I put off getting one so I could divert my funds to a new les paul. The price going up 10% between the launch and now stung a little bit too. It's about £200 more in the UK vs the US now.
Click to expand...
Yeah that's putting me off a bit too.

fiftyshadesofslay said:
I didn’t unfortunately, for some reason I didn’t even get picked out from the waitlist so I’ve sort of given up at the moment.

Currently running a lowly HX effects with my amp and it’s serving me well so far.

VP4 is still on the radar but 4 effects only and it being more than a used Helix is throwing a little ice on it.
Click to expand...
I've got some great pedals here, and I'm wondering if I need the VP4, or if I should expand my pedal collection again.

I tell you what, at the moment I'm in a knuckleheaded tap-dance-the-night-away mood. I've sacked off the GigRig G3 for now, and I've just basically been using the Boss DM101, DD8, and RV5, along with my 535Q wah and Lehle volume pedal... and honestly.... I can get a lot done just with this combo.

I almost spaffed on a Source Audio Nemesis ADT last night, but then managed to hold off.
 
Orvillain said:
I tell you what, at the moment I'm in a knuckleheaded tap-dance-the-night-away mood. I've sacked off the GigRig G3 for now, and I've just basically been using the Boss DM101, DD8, and RV5, along with my 535Q wah and Lehle volume pedal... and honestly.... I can get a lot done just with this combo.
Click to expand...

I'm in a similar place at the minute. I'm running a Budda wah, fuzz face, ep booster, DD7 with expression pedal and deep blue delay. They cover a lot of ground with the different modes on the jvm.
 
1739281971170.png


This could be a good thing...

Still fairly knuckleheaded, with a few potential cool things.

- MC6 Pro: bottom three switches would switch the channels on my amp via the relay outputs. Top three switches recall my three favourite presets on the VP4. A momentary switch plugged into one of the omniports to tap the internal midi clock tempo, which would feed the VP4.
- VP4 largely manual. Although I know there are footswitch combinations to jump between stomps, scenes, and presets.
- Got my wah and my volume on there.
- Ditto looper and the two Walrus Audio pedals for some experimental ambient jam wig out stuff.

VP4 would be something like:
1 - drive/compression/modulation
2 - reverse delay/analog delay
3 - digital delay quarter/digital delay dotted eighth
4 - mild/deep/huge soundscape reverb combinations
 
Orvillain said:
View attachment 38721

This could be a good thing...

Still fairly knuckleheaded, with a few potential cool things.

- MC6 Pro: bottom three switches would switch the channels on my amp via the relay outputs. Top three switches recall my three favourite presets on the VP4. A momentary switch plugged into one of the omniports to tap the internal midi clock tempo, which would feed the VP4.
- VP4 largely manual. Although I know there are footswitch combinations to jump between stomps, scenes, and presets.
- Got my wah and my volume on there.
- Ditto looper and the two Walrus Audio pedals for some experimental ambient jam wig out stuff.

VP4 would be something like:
1 - drive/compression/modulation
2 - reverse delay/analog delay
3 - digital delay quarter/digital delay dotted eighth
4 - mild/deep/huge soundscape reverb combinations
Click to expand...
Can't speak on the compression (though I have heard things :love) but the rest is :chef provided you can get by with the 4 blocks and the cost. I have it running in the loop of the mutliwatt and it's glorious \m/
 
Orvillain said:
View attachment 38721

This could be a good thing...

Still fairly knuckleheaded, with a few potential cool things.

- MC6 Pro: bottom three switches would switch the channels on my amp via the relay outputs. Top three switches recall my three favourite presets on the VP4. A momentary switch plugged into one of the omniports to tap the internal midi clock tempo, which would feed the VP4.
- VP4 largely manual. Although I know there are footswitch combinations to jump between stomps, scenes, and presets.
- Got my wah and my volume on there.
- Ditto looper and the two Walrus Audio pedals for some experimental ambient jam wig out stuff.

VP4 would be something like:
1 - drive/compression/modulation
2 - reverse delay/analog delay
3 - digital delay quarter/digital delay dotted eighth
4 - mild/deep/huge soundscape reverb combinations
Click to expand...

Those walrus pedals look really cool.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

laxu
NPD: Source Audio Collider
2
Replies
39
Views
5K
SillyOctpuss
SillyOctpuss
laxu
Revisiting the Strymon Iridium (vs Axe-Fx 3)
2 3
Replies
40
Views
8K
KingsXJJ
KingsXJJ
B
The ultimate bedroom guitar rig?
2 3
Replies
46
Views
4K
Fireproof
Fireproof
Back
Top