What's preventing you from getting a Helix Stadium (if you really want to buy it eventually)?

[timbuck3]

The AM is great, I own one, but it has serious limitations. Like not having a true space echo, being limited if I happen to use a phaser, flanger, reverb, and delay simultaneously…etc.

The sheer number of Helix units sold tells us a lot about how people view their needs. Most weren’t maxing that thing out. Same for the FM9.

I think many just want it all… just in case they need it… when many can likely be ok with a 500$ mg50/ vp200 unit or gx10

 

[timbuck3]

I mean it with love. Never change.

 

[AlbertA]

Yea I remember qc fans spouting the mantra… buy it for what it is today not for what’s promised and it justified their purchase but for some reason when the opposite seems true about the stadium the fans are not applying that to this unit.. which is crazy

You are not wrong with that point.

The 15% MF coupon was enough of a buffer for me to take a gamble in case I do want to sell it.

 

[Emperoff]

Very expensive for a ton of stuff I won't use. I don't need 12 super cramped footswitches and the size and weight that comes with the form factor.

Now, an HX Stadium Stomp... Then we'd be talking.

 

[James Freeman]

Too much gear, too little time.

 

[EOengineer]

You are not wrong with that point.

The giant, gaping difference in that logic is that L6 has a proven track record of delivery and NDSP doesn’t. L6 proved it a workable model they could execute on. NDSP seems to maybe be ramping up but they’ve largely been a shitshow.

 

[laxu]

For players who are just running one guitar path - with typical comp/od, amp/cab, delay/reverb - it's hard to imagine going with anything other than an AM4 right now. Corollary: it's hard for me to fathom why people buy these massively complex flagship mfx/modelers if they're not running parallel paths to process vocals, etc.

I think a lot of people want "more than I need, works for all situations" type devices. Devices ready for whatever you might ever want to throw at them.

The AM4 has its share of limitations:

• It's not suited for 4CM with real amps because there's no assignable position fx loop like on the VP4. It's at its best as a post-fx tool in that scenario.
• No pitch shifter or multitap delays.
• 4 blocks can be either just enough, or one block short. E.g your song needs Wah+Drive+Amp+Delay+Reverb. You need to work around that by having a separate wah pedal, an extra preset, or working with the Amp block boost/channels to avoid having a Drive. Separate preset complicates things because there's no global blocks to keep your Amp consistent between presets.

It has taken me quite a bit of time to come to that "these are the effects I actually us and everything else is unnecessary" point to be confident in feeling an AM4 or VP4 is enough.

Yet if Fractal came out with a FM4 in the AM4 form factor and UI...I'd probably be interested simply because it has less limitations.

I felt the Hotone Ampero 2 Stomp made just about the perfect compromise between DSP capability, functionality and form factor. But it was no Fractal (or Strymon) for sounds so it didn't stick.

 

[holoholo]

Other:

 

[PorcinePicker]

It has taken me quite a bit of time to come to that "these are the effects I actually us and everything else is unnecessary" point to be confident in feeling an AM4 or VP4 is enough.

Fractal seems to be all about filling niche market spots right now. I don't and will never need AM4, VP4 or ICON. That's okay...apparently other people do.

Maybe the best thing Line6 ever did was to toss the HX Stomp out there. It's a true Swiss army knife, and useful to nearly everybody.

 

[JiveTurkey]

I will be grabbing an unnecessary Stadium Stomp when the time comes.

 

[AlbertA]

I will be grabbing an unnecessary Stadium Stomp when the time comes.

what about a Stadium Rotary JT Special signature edition?

 

[metropolis_4]

I’ll be interested to see what the Stomp version looks like when it comes out, but right now I have zero interest in big all-in-one modelers. I hate being confined to what’s in the box. And with a device that big adding anything outside of it becomes a big logistical headache and defeats the whole purpose.

With that in mind, I already know I won’t be happy with the modulation, compressors, wahs, or spring reverb in the unit compared to my pedals, so I’d be starting off with a compromise.

I don’t need lots of amps. I’m a one amp kind of guy. I could happily play the rest of my life with nothing but an AC30.

Most of the other features are things I don’t care about and will never use.

 

[JiveTurkey]

what about a Stadium Rotary JT Special signature edition?

Fix the Rotary first and we have a deal!

 

[RiffDuck]

Just watched a recent video by that Nathan guy (he's here but his name isn't showing up with @) comparing the Agoura 5153 and the Legacy 5153, and I just didn't hear enough of a difference between the two to justify the price. Both sound amazing, but I'd like to wait until there's a little more of a gap between the two.

I am however very much looking forward to an Agoura Stomp. That's a little more within my "no need to explain" purchasing budget

 

[Richard_G]

Fractal seems to be all about filling niche market spots right now. I don't and will never need AM4, VP4 or ICON. That's okay...apparently other people do.

Yeah. Those are actually the three Fractal products I currently own. To each his own, I guess.

Maybe the best thing Line6 ever did was to toss the HX Stomp out there. It's a true Swiss army knife, and useful to nearly everybody.

I sold my HX Stomp partly to fund my AM4. The HX Stomp is a great little unit, but I always seem to prefer Fractal for both amp modeling and effects.

I’ll be interested to see what the Stomp version looks like when it comes out

I agree! A Stadium Stomp done right could be very interesting!

 

[RiffDuck]

I sold my HX Stomp partly to fund my AM4

How do you like the AM4? Is it enough for you, signal chain wise? That's my only concern with it

 

[Elf]

Not enough improvement over amp modeling for that kind of cash, when their capture implementation is here I’ll reconsider.

 

[ian_dissonance]

Just watched a recent video by that Nathan guy (he's here but his name isn't showing up with @) comparing the Agoura 5153 and the Legacy 5153, and I just didn't hear enough of a difference between the two to justify the price. Both sound amazing, but I'd like to wait until there's a little more of a gap between the two.

I am however very much looking forward to an Agoura Stomp. That's a little more within my "no need to explain" purchasing budget

That’s because the old model was also really good. Amp modeling will be moving in inches not yards from here on out.

 

[mikah912]

That’s because the old model was also really good. Amp modeling will be moving in inches not yards from here on out.

EXACTLY. It's going to be the same with every "successor" unit of the top brands. You will not hear a night/day difference anymore.

 

[RiffDuck]

EXACTLY. It's going to be the same with every "successor" unit of the top brands. You will not hear a night/day difference anymore.

If there's no new gear to chase then I'll be forced to actually practice and that's just not a life I want to live