Boss ES-8 or dump the pedals and get a Fractal FX-8?

[dfrattaroli]

I know it's apples an oranges. But I've got a board based around a Timeline and Mobius. There are 2-3 other pedals. I'd love to have the ES-8 because of it's flexibility. It would probably push me towards buying a couple of other pedals for the board.

Then I got to thinking that if I sold the Strymons and used the ES-8 money for FX-8, I'd have the lion's share of the cost there. The thing that stops me is that for $50 more I could have the AX-8 as a direct solution and possibly, effects for my amp. From what I've read though the AX-8 is "not intended" as an effects controller and may not be as quiet in that role as the FX-8.

My gut tells me, get the ES-8 and keep the pedals. I think I'm "confusing" myself with the Fractal units because it's really the AX-8 I want which fills a different purpose for me. Just wondering what some of you might do?

Thanks.
Dave

 

[sgill72]

Don't sell the Line 6 Helix short either.

I've had the FX-8 and the Helix's interface is light years better than the Fractal.

 

[JerEvil]

Don't sell the Line 6 Helix short either.

I've had the FX-8 and the Helix's interface is light years better than the Fractal.

But are the FX light years better? I am going back and forth between FX8 and all my pedals...

 

[dfrattaroli]

Don't sell the Line 6 Helix short either.

I've had the FX-8 and the Helix's interface is light years better than the Fractal.

But are the FX light years better? I am going back and forth between FX8 and all my pedals...

I assume the effects in the Fractal are great. I'm thinking I'll probably end up with the ES-8 on a board and maybe sell my Kemper down the line and get an AX-8. Again, 2 different animals but in the end I can't see myself with both an AX-8 and FX-8 even though the FX-8 is designed to be used with a real amp.

 

[crankyrayhanky]

FWIW, I had a slamin' pedal board with loops in a PXL...actually had that large board and a 2nd smaller board built.
I just nabbed the FX8 and it is the shiznit. No kidding. The ODs are actually super super impressive, which is a big deal for me.
Now I'm selling off my big board including a lot of pedals I really love. Too much weight, too many chances for something to go wrong there with all the patch cables. Not only does the FX8 sound equal or better, but it makes setup super easy and quick.
I'm hoping the new update gives a combo scene/pedal board setup. Right now it's one or the other. I liked the dual options on the Kemper.

 

[dfrattaroli]

FWIW, I had a slamin' pedal board with loops in a PXL...actually had that large board and a 2nd smaller board built.
I just nabbed the FX8 and it is the shiznit. No kidding. The ODs are actually super super impressive, which is a big deal for me.
Now I'm selling off my big board including a lot of pedals I really love. Too much weight, too many chances for something to go wrong there with all the patch cables. Not only does the FX8 sound equal or better, but it makes setup super easy and quick.
I'm hoping the new update gives a combo scene/pedal board setup. Right now it's one or the other. I liked the dual options on the Kemper.

I believe it. I think I'm going to do the ES-8 for now and possibly sell my Kemper down the line for the AX8. I'll at least have the Fractal effects for recording. Thing is, I love my Kemper. It sounds and feels great.

Hey Rez, anything at all you don't like about the ES-8?

 

[NewWorldMan]

I don't have an ES-8, but I do have a Gigrig G2. I use it to control my Eventide and Strymon pedals, and I have a handful of old analog stomp boxes I use with it. I bought an FX8 hoping it could replace it all for less hassle and save on some $$ selling pedals, but it didn't cut it for me.

I didn't like how the ODs reacted with my dirty channels as much as stand alone pedals. Noise was a small factor, and I refuse to buy Humbuster cables for it. For that kind of money, I feel like I shouldn't have to spend extra money to buy special cables to keep an FX unit quiet.

The delays are great in the FX8, most of the modulation was on point as well. The reverb is more limiting vs the Big Sky, but most things are. The noise gate/noise suppressor isn't as good as stand alone units either.

The FX8 had a lot of upside and versatility, and it's much easier to program than it appears at first glance. However, I had it and my G2 + pedals and could have kept either. I chose to keep my switcher and pedals. I've considered giving it a go as part of a smaller grab and go setup, but if I could only keep one, I'd stick with my pedals.

 

[thiswaythatway]

Don't sell the Line 6 Helix short either.

I've had the FX-8 and the Helix's interface is light years better than the Fractal.

Can the Helix do 4CM without robbing tone and adding noise? I've only watched videos of the Helix against the Kemper as far as amp tones and the Kemper wiped the floor with it, but curious about it as an FX Processor.

 

[LP Freak]

I don't have an ES-8, but I do have a Gigrig G2. I use it to control my Eventide and Strymon pedals, and I have a handful of old analog stomp boxes I use with it. I bought an FX8 hoping it could replace it all for less hassle and save on some $$ selling pedals, but it didn't cut it for me.

I didn't like how the ODs reacted with my dirty channels as much as stand alone pedals. Noise was a small factor, and I refuse to buy Humbuster cables for it. For that kind of money, I feel like I shouldn't have to spend extra money to buy special cables to keep an FX unit quiet.

The delays are great in the FX8, most of the modulation was on point as well. The reverb is more limiting vs the Big Sky, but most things are. The noise gate/noise suppressor isn't as good as stand alone units either.

The FX8 had a lot of upside and versatility, and it's much easier to program than it appears at first glance. However, I had it and my G2 + pedals and could have kept either. I chose to keep my switcher and pedals. I've considered giving it a go as part of a smaller grab and go setup, but if I could only keep one, I'd stick with my pedals.

I just made the humbuster cables myself for a fraction of the price. They even show you how in the manual.

 

[JTyson]

My bass player (who also plays guitar) is building a massive pedalboard around an ES8 coupled with a Voodoo hex. I was pretty impressed with the ES8, seems like its really well laid out. He's running it into a Divided by 13 head and it is absolutely stunning sounding.
That Strymon Big Sky is fantastic

 

[NewWorldMan]

That's interesting. My bandmate just picked up an ES-8, curious to see how it works out for him. The G2 lets you set up any button in "stompbox" mode so you can toggle an effect on/off like a stompbox. You can add those stompbox mode buttons to any preset, then it switches them off when you go to another preset.

 

[chumbucket]

Don't sell the Line 6 Helix short either.

I've had the FX-8 and the Helix's interface is light years better than the Fractal.

I would say the exact opposite. The Helix is much more difficult to navigate and create a patch unless they have finally released their software editor? The FX-8 interface is very intuitive and I never once had to use the keypad on the unit itself. Plugged in with a USB cable and created new patches in seconds and I had no prior experience with their editor before.
The Helix on the other hand you were constantly bending over to tweak it, eventually I had to put it up on a table to work on editing. Shortly thereafter it was returned and I no longer had to hassle with it.
The FX-8 is a brilliant piece of gear to me at least.

 

[sgill72]

Don't sell the Line 6 Helix short either.

I've had the FX-8 and the Helix's interface is light years better than the Fractal.

But are the FX light years better? I am going back and forth between FX8 and all my pedals...

The interface. I believe the effects are on par with each other.

I would say the exact opposite. The Helix is much more difficult to navigate and create a patch unless they have finally released their software editor? The FX-8 interface is very intuitive and I never once had to use the keypad on the unit itself. Plugged in with a USB cable and created new patches in seconds and I had no prior experience with their editor before.
The Helix on the other hand you were constantly bending over to tweak it, eventually I had to put it up on a table to work on editing. Shortly thereafter it was returned and I no longer had to hassle with it.
The FX-8 is a brilliant piece of gear to me at least.

An editor is coming, but for the time being you will have to use the unit itself to set-up what it is your looking for. I just put it on my desk at home and tweaked.

As for the interfaces...the FX-8 wouldn't let you do nearly the switching options, routing on the footswitches themselves, etc. I found it incredibly clunky. It's so simple on the Helix to go from whatever preset your in...to 10 full instant access switches with the touch of one footswitch and back just as easily. All the amp models can also be used as just pre-amps to go with whatever amp you're using power section. The line out options are ridiculous on the Helix. I just found the interface less cumbersome than the FX-8.

Both units sounded really good...just depends on what your needs are and what options you'd like to have down the road.

 

[NaturalBornBoy]

I bought an FX8 hoping it could replace it all for less hassle and save on some $$ selling pedals, but it didn't cut it for me.

I didn't like how the ODs reacted with my dirty channels as much as stand alone pedals.

Man this is exactly what I didn't need to hear.

A big part of my sound is boosting a crunchy amp so if the dirt pedals on the FX8 don't sound good doing that, I can't use it.

What exactly about the way the ODs boosted your dirty tones did you not like?

 

[NaturalBornBoy]

I have yet to try a Helix but fwiw, programming and creating presets look super easy on all of the demo videos I've watched.

 

[NewWorldMan]

I bought an FX8 hoping it could replace it all for less hassle and save on some $$ selling pedals, but it didn't cut it for me.

I didn't like how the ODs reacted with my dirty channels as much as stand alone pedals.

Man this is exactly what I didn't need to hear.

A big part of my sound is boosting a crunchy amp so if the dirt pedals on the FX8 don't sound good doing that, I can't use it.

What exactly about the way the ODs boosted your dirty tones did you not like?

I loved the flexibility of dialing them in, but I didn't care for the actual sound and "feel" of the amp when using them boosting my dirty channel. It's the same reason I always hated using the Axe-FX. I didn't like how it felt to play it. It always had this artificial vibe that sat on top of my sound rather than blending with it.

Now that being said, YMMV. My buddy in the Prog band Shumaun uses an FX8 with his rig for lots of various stuff and couldn't be happier with it.

 

[Michi]

But are the FX light years better? I am going back and forth between FX8 and all my pedals...

Jer, are you thinking of using this with your KPA or amp+cab setup live? I'm just curious as to how much fx do you use with your band live, and if the KPA fx for example aren't cutting it in that use?

 

[NaturalBornBoy]

I bought an FX8 hoping it could replace it all for less hassle and save on some $$ selling pedals, but it didn't cut it for me.

I didn't like how the ODs reacted with my dirty channels as much as stand alone pedals.

Man this is exactly what I didn't need to hear.

A big part of my sound is boosting a crunchy amp so if the dirt pedals on the FX8 don't sound good doing that, I can't use it.

What exactly about the way the ODs boosted your dirty tones did you not like?

I loved the flexibility of dialing them in, but I didn't care for the actual sound and "feel" of the amp when using them boosting my dirty channel. It's the same reason I always hated using the Axe-FX. I didn't like how it felt to play it. It always had this artificial vibe that sat on top of my sound rather than blending with it.

Damn.

Do any other FX8 users feel this way about the ODs?

 

[LP Freak]

I bought an FX8 hoping it could replace it all for less hassle and save on some $$ selling pedals, but it didn't cut it for me.

I didn't like how the ODs reacted with my dirty channels as much as stand alone pedals.

Man this is exactly what I didn't need to hear.

A big part of my sound is boosting a crunchy amp so if the dirt pedals on the FX8 don't sound good doing that, I can't use it.

What exactly about the way the ODs boosted your dirty tones did you not like?

I loved the flexibility of dialing them in, but I didn't care for the actual sound and "feel" of the amp when using them boosting my dirty channel. It's the same reason I always hated using the Axe-FX. I didn't like how it felt to play it. It always had this artificial vibe that sat on top of my sound rather than blending with it.

Damn.

Do any other FX8 users feel this way about the ODs?

No, I feel the exact opposite. To me the drive pedals work really well. I'm sure results will vary from amp to amp.

 

[BYTOR]

Damn.

Do any other FX8 users feel this way about the ODs?

The vast majority of FX8 reviews I've seen have very very positive things to say about the drive models......

Just like with real pedals though, you'll have to try for yourself with your own amps.