DNWTB: Axe Fx Ultras.

[Motorpud]

DNWTB: Axe Fx Ultras.

Brad

 

[ejecta]

This was posted in another forum. I think they are very wise words and definitely some major reasons I'm hanging on to my Axe until after I get a II play the two side by side.

A few cautions before you all get over-excited and try to dump your Ultras and Standards today:

1). Demand: There could be absolutely HUGE demand for Axe-II, way bigger than Cliff's wildest dreams. We just don't know yet. On top of that you have those buttheads who buy and re-sell for profit, forcing Fractal out of stock. It's possible you won't be able to get your hands on Axe-II for a long, long, LONG time.

2). New unproven hardware: Often a new device comes out that looks awesome on paper, works great when new and then gets plagued by a recurring hardware problem of some type. If one chip or component has a high failure rate a few months into use, it could be chaos. Massive RMAs, long delays in new production to resolve. I hope not, but this happens sometimes. Anyone remember the XBox 360 overheat issues? Or the various Apple battery issues?

3). New unproven software algorthytms: This is less likely an issue, because Cliff knows what he's doing, but since the software is all new, there must be more potential for bugs and sub-optimal code. What happens if early Axe-II adopters start posting about flaws? Or they do A/B testing against the Ultra and start posting stuff to the effect that the Ultra still sounds better for some reason? If there are lots of improvements to make there will be a steady stream of tone-changing firmware updates that require you to edit all your live presets over and over. It will be like beta testing for the first 6 to 12 months. Are you sure you really want that? Fun, but not for everyone.

I think it might be wise to hang onto your vintage Axe a while longer, even if you are planning to buy Axe-II asap.

 

[Rogue]

This was posted in another forum. I think they are very wise words and definitely some major reasons I'm hanging on to my Axe until after I get a II play the two side by side.

A few cautions before you all get over-excited and try to dump your Ultras and Standards today:

1). Demand: There could be absolutely HUGE demand for Axe-II, way bigger than Cliff's wildest dreams. We just don't know yet. On top of that you have those buttheads who buy and re-sell for profit, forcing Fractal out of stock. It's possible you won't be able to get your hands on Axe-II for a long, long, LONG time.

2). New unproven hardware: Often a new device comes out that looks awesome on paper, works great when new and then gets plagued by a recurring hardware problem of some type. If one chip or component has a high failure rate a few months into use, it could be chaos. Massive RMAs, long delays in new production to resolve. I hope not, but this happens sometimes. Anyone remember the XBox 360 overheat issues? Or the various Apple battery issues?

3). New unproven software algorthytms: This is less likely an issue, because Cliff knows what he's doing, but since the software is all new, there must be more potential for bugs and sub-optimal code. What happens if early Axe-II adopters start posting about flaws? Or they do A/B testing against the Ultra and start posting stuff to the effect that the Ultra still sounds better for some reason? If there are lots of improvements to make there will be a steady stream of tone-changing firmware updates that require you to edit all your live presets over and over. It will be like beta testing for the first 6 to 12 months. Are you sure you really want that? Fun, but not for everyone.

I think it might be wise to hang onto your vintage Axe a while longer, even if you are planning to buy Axe-II asap.

That sounds reasonable. But we aren't talking about reasonable, we are talking about the AxeFX.

 

[hellaboogie]

This was posted in another forum. I think they are very wise words and definitely some major reasons I'm hanging on to my Axe until after I get a II play the two side by side.

A few cautions before you all get over-excited and try to dump your Ultras and Standards today:

1). Demand: There could be absolutely HUGE demand for Axe-II, way bigger than Cliff's wildest dreams. We just don't know yet. On top of that you have those buttheads who buy and re-sell for profit, forcing Fractal out of stock. It's possible you won't be able to get your hands on Axe-II for a long, long, LONG time.

2). New unproven hardware: Often a new device comes out that looks awesome on paper, works great when new and then gets plagued by a recurring hardware problem of some type. If one chip or component has a high failure rate a few months into use, it could be chaos. Massive RMAs, long delays in new production to resolve. I hope not, but this happens sometimes. Anyone remember the XBox 360 overheat issues? Or the various Apple battery issues?

3). New unproven software algorthytms: This is less likely an issue, because Cliff knows what he's doing, but since the software is all new, there must be more potential for bugs and sub-optimal code. What happens if early Axe-II adopters start posting about flaws? Or they do A/B testing against the Ultra and start posting stuff to the effect that the Ultra still sounds better for some reason? If there are lots of improvements to make there will be a steady stream of tone-changing firmware updates that require you to edit all your live presets over and over. It will be like beta testing for the first 6 to 12 months. Are you sure you really want that? Fun, but not for everyone.

I think it might be wise to hang onto your vintage Axe a while longer, even if you are planning to buy Axe-II asap.

it still sounds as good as it did yesterday

 

[kasperjensen]

This was posted in another forum. I think they are very wise words and definitely some major reasons I'm hanging on to my Axe until after I get a II play the two side by side.

A few cautions before you all get over-excited and try to dump your Ultras and Standards today:

1). Demand: There could be absolutely HUGE demand for Axe-II, way bigger than Cliff's wildest dreams. We just don't know yet. On top of that you have those buttheads who buy and re-sell for profit, forcing Fractal out of stock. It's possible you won't be able to get your hands on Axe-II for a long, long, LONG time.

2). New unproven hardware: Often a new device comes out that looks awesome on paper, works great when new and then gets plagued by a recurring hardware problem of some type. If one chip or component has a high failure rate a few months into use, it could be chaos. Massive RMAs, long delays in new production to resolve. I hope not, but this happens sometimes. Anyone remember the XBox 360 overheat issues? Or the various Apple battery issues?

3). New unproven software algorthytms: This is less likely an issue, because Cliff knows what he's doing, but since the software is all new, there must be more potential for bugs and sub-optimal code. What happens if early Axe-II adopters start posting about flaws? Or they do A/B testing against the Ultra and start posting stuff to the effect that the Ultra still sounds better for some reason? If there are lots of improvements to make there will be a steady stream of tone-changing firmware updates that require you to edit all your live presets over and over. It will be like beta testing for the first 6 to 12 months. Are you sure you really want that? Fun, but not for everyone.

I think it might be wise to hang onto your vintage Axe a while longer, even if you are planning to buy Axe-II asap.

it still sounds as good as it did yesterday

You are obviously crazy. It now sounds like 80s technology.

 

[Rogue]

You are obviously crazy. It now sounds like 80s technology.

No, but it can be made to sound like 80s tech...at least that's what I hear.

 

[ejecta]

This was posted in another forum. I think they are very wise words and definitely some major reasons I'm hanging on to my Axe until after I get a II play the two side by side.

A few cautions before you all get over-excited and try to dump your Ultras and Standards today:

1). Demand: There could be absolutely HUGE demand for Axe-II, way bigger than Cliff's wildest dreams. We just don't know yet. On top of that you have those buttheads who buy and re-sell for profit, forcing Fractal out of stock. It's possible you won't be able to get your hands on Axe-II for a long, long, LONG time.

2). New unproven hardware: Often a new device comes out that looks awesome on paper, works great when new and then gets plagued by a recurring hardware problem of some type. If one chip or component has a high failure rate a few months into use, it could be chaos. Massive RMAs, long delays in new production to resolve. I hope not, but this happens sometimes. Anyone remember the XBox 360 overheat issues? Or the various Apple battery issues?

3). New unproven software algorthytms: This is less likely an issue, because Cliff knows what he's doing, but since the software is all new, there must be more potential for bugs and sub-optimal code. What happens if early Axe-II adopters start posting about flaws? Or they do A/B testing against the Ultra and start posting stuff to the effect that the Ultra still sounds better for some reason? If there are lots of improvements to make there will be a steady stream of tone-changing firmware updates that require you to edit all your live presets over and over. It will be like beta testing for the first 6 to 12 months. Are you sure you really want that? Fun, but not for everyone.

I think it might be wise to hang onto your vintage Axe a while longer, even if you are planning to buy Axe-II asap.

That sounds reasonable. But we aren't talking about reasonable, we are talking about the AxeFX.

There are reasonable Axe users..... that gets clouded over by the loud and over zealous minority.

 

[Tonelover]

Dang, it's a bloodbath out there. Head for the hills!

I did think that it was very nice of those eleven people to offer you theirs today though.

 

[thiswaythatway]

mine is still good for another few years..holding on to it...

And you'll be missing out on the whole next level of realism.

 

[thiswaythatway]

Sell Mortimer Sell....

Classic.

 

[rokker]

When the new CCV ordering started just over a month ago I wanted in and decided to sell my ultra for $1900!
Looks like the best move i've made in a while....out of the ultra into a CCV.
Glad I didn't wait...might pickup a standard sometime if they really drop.
There's a bear market going on Fractal stuff, haven't seen such a sell off in guitar gear ever before.

 

[daveg62]

I think this will be interesting to see how this pans out. People are panicking today and think their standard's and ultra's aren't going to be worth anything. First of all, getting your hands on a II might be harder and take quite a bit longer than you think. And will it really sound that much better? Fractal has released v11 firmware for the standard and ultra just this morning, and although I haven't tried it yet, I bet it is amazing. I for one think that selling your ultra or standard right now would be foolish, unless of course you plan on going without for awhile. Sure, the release of Axe-fx II will make the others a bit less valuable, but i think it will take more time than people think. The fractal products are very unique, there really isn't much competition or options in the market. So you have the best with II, second best with Ultra, and third best with the Standard. Prices will follow accordingly if you ask me. I would guess $300-$500 difference between them. So $2200 for a II, $1500-1700 Ultra, $1200-1400 Standard. If you think they're going to get much cheaper, you might be right. Or you might not
What are your other options???

BTW, look on ebay. I don't see them selling for much cheaper than they normally would. Not yet anyway.

 

[rokker]

There's like 30 for sale on the fractal forum and 18 on evil bay.
You can sense the sellers really want to move them too as their posts are real descriptive and they are offering to help train new axe users.
It's going to be a tough sell.. don't see any standards but the ultras are in the $1600 ish range and will fall due to the demand involved.

 

[kasperjensen]

You are obviously crazy. It now sounds like 80s technology.

No, but it can be made to sound like 80s tech...at least that's what I hear.

Isn't that what it excels at?

 

[Motorpud]

It might be wise to hang onto your vintage Axe

Vintage?!? WTF.....

 

[daveg62]

There's like 30 for sale on the fractal forum and 18 on evil bay.
You can sense the sellers really want to move them too as their posts are real descriptive and they are offering to help train new axe users.
It's going to be a tough sell.. don't see any standards but the ultras are in the $1600 ish range and will fall due to the demand involved.

And that is why prices will not fall dramatically. The demand will still be there, and people will realize after today that if they sell now they might have to wait months before getting a replacement. And like I said, the new firmware is supposed to be very good.... I'll be keeping my Standard (third best guitar processor on the market)

 

[Rogue]

Isn't that what it excels at?

It excels at everything, and now even betterer.

 

[daveg62]

I predict:
Standards $775-925
Ultras $1250-1400

Maybe if the II's were plentiful, but that has yet to be seen. Fractal has always had a hard time keeping up with demand. I really don't think it will be any different.

 

[kasperjensen]

Isn't that what it excels at?

It excels at everything, and now even betterer.

I forgot.

It's even more exactly the same now.

 

[Rushtallica]

There's like 30 for sale on the fractal forum and 18 on evil bay.
You can sense the sellers really want to move them too as their posts are real descriptive and they are offering to help train new axe users.
It's going to be a tough sell.. don't see any standards but the ultras are in the $1600 ish range and will fall due to the demand involved.

And that is why prices will not fall dramatically. The demand will still be there, and people will realize after today that if they sell now they might have to wait months before getting a replacement. And like I said, the new firmware is supposed to be very good.... I'll be keeping my Standard (third best guitar processor on the market)

I partly agree, but the demand for the axe fx right now seems to be for selling rather than buying. I think some will become frustrated and sell pretty low just because of the glut out of the gate, but I think it'll stabilize after a while and that the units will still fetch a fair amount more than what many are hoping to be able to get used ones for.