THE FRACTAL DEBACLE

[ejecta]

This is fucking retarded.

 

[petethorn]

it's just a computer, I mean SIGNAL PROCESSOR, that has been updated to a new one, the old one is worth less now. big deal. move on men.

ya know, you and I don't always agree on stuff, but on this, I'm in 100% agreement. I don't get what the fuss is over...?

I bought a new 8 core mac for my studio awhile ago, now not long after I bought it there's 12 core units out, doesn't mean my 8 core sucks, I'm still going to get years and years of use out of it, hell it's more than I really need!

I love the Axe FX, I have 2, and even when I get an Axe II I really doubt I'll switch the Axe Ultra that's in my main rig that I use just for FX, it sounds stellar, I dunno why I'd ever change it. It does everything I want it to and then some.

 

[DEWD]

This is fucking retarded.

Yep

 

[glip22]

This is fucking retarded.

Yep

 

[madrigal77]

I don't understand why the majority of those who have no dog in this fight have basically said:

Technology changes , big deal thats how it goes, stop bitching.

Or

Your axe 1 doesn't suck now , so just keep it.

The thing is all of you have missed the point entirely. I have not heard anyone complaining about anything other than not being told it was coming at all, and the repercussions of that fact.

in fact many have quoted posts at the fractal forum that could be called blatant lies stating otherwise. I was lied to in person. I asked if i should wait for axe 2 instead of buying an obsolete product. I was told that a new axe wouldn't be for a very long time less than a year ago. 11 months is not a very long Time in my book.

Ive read people comparing the situation to apple, motor vehicles and computers. Not one of them has admitted that apple, car manufacturers, and new computer tech, are ALL mentioned before the release date. Apple has press conferences, autos have coming soon ads and commercials, even all the new computer hardware if you know where to look. For example we already know a new tigersharc is on its way.

The singular point for me was that if the company had been honest about its intentions many customers could have avoided being screwed, particularly customers like me who bought days or weeks before the announcement. I just wanted the opportunity to choose to wait for the new tech or be satisfied with the old, either way I would have the option.

Im well aware that good business practice = unethical business practice.

Hmm, a tangent but that just brought Steinbeck to mind:

"It has always seemed strange to me... the things we admire in men, kindness and generosity, openness, honesty, understanding and feeling, are the concomitants of failure in our system. And those traits we detest, sharpness, greed, acquisitiveness, meanness, egotism and self-interest, are the traits of success. And while men admire the quality of the first they love the produce of the second."

Also the fact was that the correspondence between fractal and I about returning my unit, was downright short and nasty only, on their part. The tone changed only after they offered me an option and I accepted. It was as if they were hoping they could dissuade me with the 10 percent restocking fee that I had accepted as a loss and then were pissed it wasn't enough to make me go away. I could be totally wrong but it sure felt that way. They even forced my hand to ship them the unit overnight. After i waited 48 hours for a first response and then an additional 24 for an rma number. I was then told if the item didn't arrive the next day they would reject the return as the needed to erase my credit card info for security purposes. lame ass bs. If were currently working out a return together save my f'n cc number!

Not sure who was on the other end of each of my emails but someone at fractal IS a dick .


I am happy that I was able to return it and move on to the new tech. In that respect i was done a favor, which i do wholeheartedly appreciate. I did get the stock " your past the return dater, sorry" after all i was a few days past the return date.

In the end though I still feel a little bent over, I spent about $450 to test an axe for a little more than two weeks and sent a totally mint unit back to them, still had the f'n plastic on it. Its win win for fractal. Theyll sell it asap, and wind up having made full profit on an old piece of tech even after it is obsolete. Had they mentioned the release it would have personally saved me $500. Thanks fractal, I hope you enjoyed the lobster dinner and beer on the night of the release, it was on me...

Name one technology company that tells you many months in advance that they are releasing a new improved product to replace the old one that they are discontinuing the old product. They would lose a ton of sales and possibly go bankrupt trying to introduce the new product.
It is not how it works...Especially in this new technology era, where when something's new something gets discarded.

How many Ford Focus buyers are pissed that their last year's model doesn't back itself in to a parking spot automatically? Why didn't Ford tell me to wait until next year???!!!

Sure thing, apple, since everyone is throwing that out there it seems. Lets see iPad 2 is most popular right now.

Ipad 2 announcement was on march 2,2011
Ipad2 release date was on March 11' 2011

This example is only one weeks notice but everyone knew it was coming, the rumors surfaced 6 mo earlier.

Windows 7 announced June, 2009 and released october, 2009

Four months in advance.

Let also not forget about NAMM people, ALL or our music gear is announced ahead of time which lets you prepare, no fractal booth at NAMM.

Everyone knew Axe2 was coming too. It's been rumored for well over a year.

 

[madrigal77]

Oh, and:

 

[hawkeye17]

This Fractal business epic but just imagine how many pages this thread would be if it were titled "Yngwie Malmsteen Moves to Axe FX2 Dialed In By Mark Cameron"....THAT would epic. If it happened in reality I think the time space continuum would be shattered and kill us all......

 

[ttosh]

This Fractal business epic but just imagine how many pages this thread would be if it were titled "Yngwie Malmsteen Moves to Axe FX2 Dialed In By Mark Cameron"....THAT would epic. If it happened in reality I think the time space continuum would be shattered and kill us all......

Blasphemy!!!!

 

[Ventura]

FWIW, I'm playing my new Lemonburst for the first time since getting it (arrived yesterday) through the 20thA loaded with KT77s...

This is f*ckin' righteous!!!!

V.

 

[Digital Jams]

Not directed at anyone really, just random musings over this crap while blown away about people's total lack of knowledge over a basic business model...................

Man I thought the cameron drama queen clan were bad

Listen to me Smalls.........................your Ultra still sounds THE FUCKING same regardless of the new model. The same piece that you dig is still the same box so there is no problem there other than yourself.

2nd............if you worry about declining value of a hobby thingie you are in the wrong hobby and should not be spending your money on this stuff anyways. I have a pile of smartphones on my desk at work due to new and better coming out, that is progress. Modeling boxes is nothing new so you should be aware of the trend once something else comes out.

3rd.........unless you are on the board of directors at Fractual it is none of your business when new products are coming out. Try spending real man's money on a 2011 Mustang and 2 months later the Boss 302 comes out. Bill FUCKING Ford never called me about this!!!!!!!!! Fractual competes against other companies if you have not noticed.

4th..........you will sound EXACTLY the same with either box.

Forum cred costs money boys, shut up and pony up.

 

[tweed]

FWIW, I'm playing my new Lemonburst for the first time since getting it (arrived yesterday) through the 20thA loaded with KT77s...

This is f*ckin' righteous!!!!

V.

Clips or you're just at home eating domino's pizza watching wonder pets on tv.

 

[Digital Jams]

This is fucking retarded.

You think???

 

[Erock]

Not directed at anyone really, just random musings over this crap while blown away about people's total lack of knowledge over a basic business model...................

Man I thought the cameron drama queen clan were bad

Listen to me Smalls.........................your Ultra still sounds THE FUCKING same regardless of the new model. The same piece that you dig is still the same box so there is no problem there other than yourself.

2nd............if you worry about declining value of a hobby thingie you are in the wrong hobby and should not be spending your money on this stuff anyways. I have a pile of smartphones on my desk at work due to new and better coming out, that is progress. Modeling boxes is nothing new so you should be aware of the trend once something else comes out.

3rd.........unless you are on the board of directors at Fractual it is none of your business when new products are coming out. Try spending real man's money on a 2011 Mustang and 2 months later the Boss 302 comes out. Bill FUCKING Ford never called me about this!!!!!!!!! Fractual competes against other companies if you have not noticed.

4th..........you will sound EXACTLY the same with either box.

Forum cred costs money boys, shut up and pony up.

haha, too true DJ, too true. It's absolutely insane that a company was able to monopolize a segment of the tech market for 5 years, that's just ridiculous. Even more ridiculous, the only thing able to dethrone their product was another offering from the same company!

 

[duodecim]

who actually read this

Not me. I have a cynical European anti-drama suit on. When threads about the Axe-FX or Cameron appear, I just scan if there are any links to clips. Tone, not self-indulgent talk from one side or the other. Lots of rants and drama here the last months.

So far the noise-to-sound ratio for most of these hyped-up products has been abysmal.

 

[Nico]

FWIW, I'm playing my new Lemonburst for the first time since getting it (arrived yesterday) through the 20thA loaded with KT77s...

This is f*ckin' righteous!!!!

V.

wow it arrived already??? awesome!!!

to anyone who cares, I think V. acted perfectly well with regards to his axe sale... regarding the cliff issue, don't really know the guy or care...

 

[jcj]

This Fractal business epic but just imagine how many pages this thread would be if it were titled "Yngwie Malmsteen Moves to Axe FX2 Dialed In By Mark Cameron"....THAT would epic. If it happened in reality I think the time space continuum would be shattered and kill us all......

The funny thing is that you don't know just how close you are

 

[noob_pwn]

The axefx ultra has been the most important piece of gear i've ever owned and I LOVE it! Hell, I use a FRFR live setup and used it to record my band's debut album with it because I like it so much and it's a really damn good product and I'll continue to tour with it and nothing else.
It sucks that it's halved in resale but I got some awesome utility from this thing and it far exceeded expectation. I will upgrade when I can afford it but for now my ultra sure ain't broke and I'm definitely getting my $AUD3k worth.

You guys really need to chill out and stop being all butthurt about it, I'm probably almost definitely poorer than all of you but I can accept that I've lost resale and my unit has been superseded. Its still cutting edge as far as I'm concerned, it was better than anything out there last week and technically still is because the axe II isn't shipping yet

 

[jcj]

I've been sold for a long time....I upgrade maybe once a year (whenever I can talk somebody into doing it, or when I go to the LA amp show and Tom does it for me)

This is V 9.01 or 9.02...or something like that ....a little wet, but you get the idea

Sounds and feels REALLY good to me, and I have a pretty good frame of reference.....

Bottom line?

Don't let it be an either or......there's just no need

 

[TTripp]

"fucking retarded" is right. By definition, the people bitching and moaning on the forums own computers, and so MUST be aware of how quick the technology turns over. Fractal, Apple, nor anybody else owes you nothing but what you paid for. If you bought a Standard/Ultra and it was delivered, then their obligation is fulfilled. I'm an Ultra owner myself, and the only question I have to deal with regarding the II is if it's worth dropping another 2 grand on something I plug into less than a dozen times a year.

 

[threadkiller]

Listen to me Smalls.........................your Ultra still sounds THE FUCKING same regardless of the new model. The same piece that you dig is still the same box so there is no problem there other than yourself.

^this. I will be shopping for an ultra when the prices come down to what I'm willing to pay. If they don't get there, I won't get one. I don't give a shit when or if it ever happens. If the used prices don't come down enough, I'll just get an Axe II. It may take me a long time to save up for one. I'm very patient and have a good sounding rig which I will be keeping. If they come out with an Axe III the day after I buy mine, so what, I'm not going to sell it anyway. i.e. no loss to me.