This Fractal VP4 vs Strymon etc

[Stratzrus]

I've been considering getting a VP4 for my Rivera Suprema Jazz Recording. I won't need amp modeling since I only plan to use that amp for Jazz gigs where 85% of the time I'm playing with a clean Jazz tone and the remainder of the time the drive blocks in the VP4 should be more than sufficient.

I thought about just using my FM9 but it's bigger and heavier. Given the weight of the Rivera vs. the Fender FR-10, keeping the pedal light is a help.

I'm still undecided though. How many times will I use the Rivera for gigs vs. the FR-10 and FM9 rig since I'll only use the Rivera for the larger (and better paying) venues. Will I use the VP4 often enough to justify the expense?

I'm not going to jump on the VP4 now because I'm currently getting V3 Archangel preamps installed in my Fender FR-10 and FR-12 but I keep thinking about it.

If like JT I sell some gear to fund it the decision will be a lot easier.

 

[SillyOctpuss]

Yeah for real. I'm not sure I need both, but it was just a concept.

I think the main one I would want is the Fable, coz it does some really nice glitchy granular stuff that the Axe3/VP4 can't:

I've played quite a few walrus pedals and they've all sounded great. Can't go wrong really.

 

[Orvillain]

One question I have is ... should I keep my FC12...

 

[SillyOctpuss]

One question I have is ... should I keep my FC12...

Are you selling or keeping the axe fx?

 

[Orvillain]

Are you selling or keeping the axe fx?

keep. But primarily just for studio use. Don't think I'll ever gig or rehearse it. Not my favourite form factor.

 

[SillyOctpuss]

keep. But primarily just for studio use. Don't think I'll ever gig or rehearse it. Not my favourite form factor.

Can you trigger changes to the axe fx from your mc6? Is there anything the FC12 does that you can't do with anything else and might miss?

 

[GreatGreen]

Both the VP4 and the three flagship Strymons are going to sound great and they'll be about as flexible as you could possibly want. So what are the pros and cons, feature-wise?

Strymon flagship pros:
- can route Mobius effects before the preamp while the Timeline and Bigsky can be routed after the preamp and work in stereo (if VP4 is routed for pre and post effects, you can't run the VP4's time based effects in stereo)
- physical knobs right there for most-used parameters, editing on the fly requires no menu-diving
- analog dry through

VP4 flagship pros:
- more economical than the Strymons (about a third of the price)
- smaller footprint on your board
- one unit, meaning fewer audio and power cables to worry about failing
- Fractal's UI and effects ecosystem means unbeatable flexibility for creating sounds
- more stuff (VP4 has EQs and Drive/Distortion pedal emulation plus other effects the Strymons don't have)

 

[Orvillain]

Fractal sounds better too.

 

[paisleywookiee]

Fractal sounds better too.

Yeah, Mobius never even sounded as good as the pedals it was emulating, and the Timeline is long in the tooth.

 

[Richard_G]

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.

Yeah that's putting me off a bit too.

(...)

Perhaps an interesting data point:

As we speak, the price from Fractal directly (which I can't buy) for the VP4 is 699 USD, which is approximately 7850 NOK. And then I'd have to pay Norwegian VAT and some fees (plus transportation). The price from G66 is 780,67 EUR, which is approximately 9030 NOK. And then I'd have to pay Norwegian VAT and some fees (plus transportation). So comparable figures shows a 15 percent higher price for me buying from G66 tonight than if I could buy directly from Fractal.

The Axe-FX III Mark II Turbo is 2499.99 from Fractal and 2520.17 EUR from G66, which is approximately 28 060 NOK and 29 150 NOK respectively. So comparable figures shows a 3,9 percent higher price for me buying from G66 tonight than if I could buy directly from Fractal.

 

[Orvillain]

NOK isn't a real currency. That's an alien race from the Stargate SG-1 universe.

 

[SillyOctpuss]

Yeah, Mobius never even sounded as good as the pedals it was emulating, and the Timeline is long in the tooth.

I have a hard time with a lot of digital modulation pedals. I've never really heard much I really like. I'm hoping the Fractal changes that when I eventually get one.

 

[SillyOctpuss]

Perhaps an interesting data point:

As we speak, the price from Fractal directly (which I can't buy) for the VP4 is 699 USD, which is approximately 7850 NOK. And then I'd have to pay Norwegian VAT and some fees (plus transportation). The price from G66 is 780,67 EUR, which is approximately 9030 NOK. And then I'd have to pay Norwegian VAT and some fees (plus transportation). So comparable figures shows a 15 percent higher price for me buying from G66 tonight than if I could buy directly from Fractal.

The Axe-FX III Mark II Turbo is 2499.99 from Fractal and 2520.17 EUR from G66, which is approximately 28 060 NOK and 29 150 NOK respectively. So comparable figures shows a 3,9 percent higher price for me buying from G66 tonight than if I could buy directly from Fractal.

In the UK the VP4 currently costs £769, importing from the US and paying VAT and import duties would be approx £691.

Ax fx in the UK is £2499.99, importing again with Vat and duty is about £2469

 

[Richard_G]

In the UK the VP4 currently costs £769, importing from the US and paying VAT and import duties would be approx £691.

Ax fx in the UK is £2499.99, importing again with Vat and duty is about £2469

So for you, the VP4 price is 11.3 pct. higher buying from G66 than theoretically buying from Fractal.

And the Axe FX (III Mark II Turbo, I presume) price is 1.3 pct. higher buying from G66 than theoretically buying from Fractal.

Interesting differences...

 

[paisleywookiee]

I have a hard time with a lot of digital modulation pedals. I've never really heard much I really like. I'm hoping the Fractal changes that when I eventually get one.

If I were to go that route, I’d just use the VP4 for delay and reverb. Modulation I’d stick to Boss and MXR.

 

[SillyOctpuss]

If I were to go that route, I’d just use the VP4 for delay and reverb. Modulation I’d stick to Boss and MXR.

I want one primarily for delay and reverb, I prefer boss and MXR mods too. If the VP4 has some modulation I like then it's a bonus.

 

[paisleywookiee]

I want one primarily for delay and reverb, I prefer boss and MXR mods too. If the VP4 has some modulation I like then it's a bonus.

Exactly, me too.

 

[Orvillain]

Can you trigger changes to the axe fx from your mc6? Is there anything the FC12 does that you can't do with anything else and might miss?

BTW - Yes, you can do that. I don't think there is any functionality you lose. You just have to set it all up manually using program changes and control changes.

 

[deemic]

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?

 

[deemic]

I have the Axe FX III and the FM3. The sounds are great, the configurability without a laptop/PC is atrocious. For studio use, the Axe FX can't be beat.

Why Fractal has a hard on for touch screens is really bizarre. They would easily double or triple their sales by finally adding that ability to their processors/modelers and making these units accessible to the next generation of musicians that weren't around when the first Axe FX dropped.
The fact they didn't opt for that in this latest iteration is why I'm sticking with pedals for the forseable future.

So even with the Strymon being 13 years old now, they are still the better option for incorporation into a pedalboard rig IMO. And the parallel analog dry through signal ability that allows you to keep your core tone with the Strymon is the clincher.