THE FRACTAL DEBACLE

[threadkiller]

The smart move for anybody thinking straight would have been to sell whatever you had when the countdown started. That was all the warning anybody should have needed.

From day fuckin' one we've been saying the old units would take a huge hit in value when the new one was released. The respsonse was always, and quite correctly, "That's the nature of the digital realm, you buy a new PC, cell, PDA, blah blah every few years and don't complain about it, it's not a problem and we accept that". Except when it finally happened all of those same people went batshit with butthurt. Make up your minds already. (And guess what, 5 years from now you'll be applying the Prep H AGAIN when the III is released).

Win. This thread should end with the post above. I still have an Ultra and now that I'm seeing clearly again, I have to agree with every word here. Looking back I see that big fucking count down and now I feel stupid for not admitting what it meant.

Or, the other option, if you are happy with your sound from your Ultra or standard, just keep it. I know this kind of thinking is sacrilege around here. You only loose money if you sell. If you are happy with you sound, and from all the talk people were overall very happy, why do you have to get an Axe II?

 

[Bob Savage]

Or, the other option, if you are happy with your sound from your Ultra or standard, just keep it. I know this kind of thinking is sacrilege around here. You only loose money if you sell. If you are happy with you sound, and from all the talk people were overall very happy, why do you have to get an Axe II?

Exactly. Obsolesence is defined by purpose and context. If it still works for you then it's not obsolete. Sure, the II is probably going to kick some major butt because we have to assume it's going to be "better" than the original, but the mass exodus because of the upcoming II is just silly in my opinion.

 

[Rogue]

Or, the other option, if you are happy with your sound from your Ultra or standard, just keep it. I know this kind of thinking is sacrilege around here. You only loose money if you sell. If you are happy with you sound, and from all the talk people were overall very happy, why do you have to get an Axe II?

Because it's the only way to make real amps obsoleter......

There's not an amp on earth I'd take in trade against the Axe-FX.

Well, if it was worth more than the Axe-FX I would... and then sell it, buy another Axe-FX and pocket the difference.

The days of any specific tube amp being the 'holy grail' is becoming obsolete (or about to).

Time to reassess reality.

----Scott Peterson

The reality is, the AxeFX keeps keeping more realer and more betterer, and when people start comparing the old AxeFX to the new realer stuff, they'll realize how much more realer and more betterer it is. So if you want more realer, more betterer, and make real amps more obsoleter, you'll have to buy the AxeFXII. If not, you're just stuck with tones that aren't as real, aren't as better, and don't make real amps as obsolete.

 

[Shiny_Surface]

If you are happy with you sound, and from all the talk people were overall very happy, why do you have to get an Axe II?

That's one of the interesting aspects of being on gear forums and the "pressure" to buy/sell all the time, tube amps or digital devices.

How good something sounds is almost inconsequential if you look at all the gear shenanigans in an aggregate sense.

Some people are driven by the commerce of it all, the buying/selling and getting the latest/greatest/whatever is popular and trendy at the moment.

It's a virtual version of keeping up with the Joneses, no doubt spurred on in part by the many commercial interests camped out on here.

They aren't going to tell you to stop, people have to be disciplined enough to see it for what it is and make their own choices on their own terms based on their needs, not merely born from the motive of conspicuous consumption in and of itself. Just imo.

 

[ejecta]

If you are happy with you sound, and from all the talk people were overall very happy, why do you have to get an Axe II?

That's one of the interesting aspects of being on gear forums and the "pressure" to buy/sell all the time, tube amps or digital devices.

How good something sounds is almost inconsequential if you look at all the gear shenanigans in an aggregate sense.

Some people are driven by the commerce of it all, the buying/selling and getting the latest/greatest/whatever is popular and trendy at the moment.

It's a virtual version of keeping up with the Joneses, no doubt spurred on in part by the many commercial interests camped out on here.

They aren't going to tell you to stop, people have to be disciplined enough to see it for what it is and make their own choices on their own terms based on their needs, not merely born from the motive of conspicuous consumption in and of itself. Just imo.

Excellent post! I agree 100%

Funny how some are pointing fingers at people for upgrading their digital units when I've seen so many people on various forums "upgrade" to the amp de jure.

 

[Shark Diver]

There's not an amp on earth I'd take in trade against the Axe-FX.

Well, if it was worth more than the Axe-FX I would... and then sell it, buy another Axe-FX and pocket the difference.

The days of any specific tube amp being the 'holy grail' is becoming obsolete (or about to).

Time to reassess reality.
----Scott Peterson

I get along with Scott fine, but it's statements like this that get people going. It's cool if the Axe is his personal preference, but to say I need to "reassess reality" if it's not mine is just a new level of ignorance. Without knowing my likes, dislikes, needs etc. how could anyone make such a statement? I always wonder who the zealots are trying to convince, me or themselves?

The mark has been set - tubes. So, every time the new version or unit comes out and it's tone is "better", there is only one thing it can be better towards - sounding like a tube amp. If it sounded like a tube amp then it would not have to keep getting better towards that end.

That being said, if just one person liked the Axe for making music then it is a viable tool. If Fractal told people that there was no new model coming out while selling the old model, I think that's wrong. If they said you'll have to wait and see, then anyone upset with Fractal should really "reassess (their) reality".

 

[srinivassa]

You know, my first TV was a Sanyo! Thanks Japan!

 

[Badronald]

I know I shouldn't even bother but.......if something is trying to copy something how can it ever be "better" that the object is is trying to copy?

I know it's a tool, but there are so many tools saying it's "better" than the original tool.

People are silly consumers.

 

[Rogue]

I know I shouldn't even bother but.......if something is trying to copy something how can it ever be "better" that the object is is trying to copy?

It requires a mindfuck.

 

[gtr31]

there is no better obviously .
there is less noise ,more flexiability perhaps .easier to get a good sound through a house pa with a crappy soundguy. but not "better" than the real thing

 

[polaris20]

There's not an amp on earth I'd take in trade against the Axe-FX.

Well, if it was worth more than the Axe-FX I would... and then sell it, buy another Axe-FX and pocket the difference.

The days of any specific tube amp being the 'holy grail' is becoming obsolete (or about to).

Time to reassess reality.
----Scott Peterson

I get along with Scott fine, but it's statements like this that get people going. It's cool if the Axe is his personal preference, but to say I need to "reassess reality" if it's not mine is just a new level of ignorance. Without knowing my likes, dislikes, needs etc. how could anyone make such a statement? I always wonder who the zealots are trying to convince, me or themselves?

The mark has been set - tubes. So, every time the new version or unit comes out and it's tone is "better", there is only one thing it can be better towards - sounding like a tube amp. If it sounded like a tube amp then it would not have to keep getting better towards that end.

That being said, if just one person liked the Axe for making music then it is a viable tool. If Fractal told people that there was no new model coming out while selling the old model, I think that's wrong. If they said you'll have to wait and see, then anyone upset with Fractal should really "reassess (their) reality".

I'm not sure how something that's trying to sound like a tube amp is better than a tube amp. Sure, there are shitty tube amps that even a POD probably sounds better than, but unless Cliff starts creating new tones from scratch that aren't trying to model anything, I just don't get how something will ever be more tubey than a good tube amp.

 

[Rogue]

I'm not sure how something that's trying to sound like a tube amp is better than a tube amp. Sure, there are shitty tube amps that even a POD probably sounds better than, but unless Cliff starts creating new tones from scratch that aren't trying to model anything, I just don't get how something will ever be more tubey than a good tube amp.

It doesn't require logic. It just requires faith.

 

[Bronco]

There's not an amp on earth I'd take in trade against the Axe-FX.

Well, if it was worth more than the Axe-FX I would... and then sell it, buy another Axe-FX and pocket the difference.

The days of any specific tube amp being the 'holy grail' is becoming obsolete (or about to).

Time to reassess reality.
----Scott Peterson

I get along with Scott fine, but it's statements like this that get people going. It's cool if the Axe is his personal preference, but to say I need to "reassess reality" if it's not mine is just a new level of ignorance. Without knowing my likes, dislikes, needs etc. how could anyone make such a statement? I always wonder who the zealots are trying to convince, me or themselves?

The mark has been set - tubes. So, every time the new version or unit comes out and it's tone is "better", there is only one thing it can be better towards - sounding like a tube amp. If it sounded like a tube amp then it would not have to keep getting better towards that end.

That being said, if just one person liked the Axe for making music then it is a viable tool. If Fractal told people that there was no new model coming out while selling the old model, I think that's wrong. If they said you'll have to wait and see, then anyone upset with Fractal should really "reassess (their) reality".

Totally agree...great post.

 

[Ventura]

My big glass powered rigs are bravado and braun. Period. And they slay.

But for making music, creatively and uncompromisingly, the Axe is my holy grail. The new Axe-II..?? Headphones, USB and VVT...?? HELL YEAH!!!!

They're 2 different things, but there growing nearer and nearer, the lines will blur if they haven't already.

Peace,
V.

 

[kasperjensen]

I for one have put myself on the waiting list.

Has anyone got an idea of how big that list is?

 

[threadkiller]

there is no better obviously .
there is less noise ,more flexiability perhaps .easier to get a good sound through a house pa with a crappy soundguy. but not "better" than the real thing

^this is why I will eventually get one, probably an ultra

 

[jlbaxe]

I know I shouldn't even bother but.......if something is trying to copy something how can it ever be "better" that the object is is trying to copy?

I know it's a tool, but there are so many tools saying it's "better" than the original tool.

People are silly consumers.

 

[ttosh]

I know I shouldn't even bother but.......if something is trying to copy something how can it ever be "better" that the object is is trying to copy?

I know it's a tool, but there are so many tools saying it's "better" than the original tool.

People are silly consumers.

 

[Ventura]

Poindexter is a very good description of sorts. Never thought of that one, but ya, definitely a good term to use. I may have to lob that one around over there and see how it gets digested

V.

Probably as well as your Nazi comment

As a point of clarification, it was the term 'Gestapo' that was referenced... And yes, that didn't go over quite the way I was expecting it to. There are a lot of very sensitive men over on that site.

Whatever.

V.

 

[Bronco]

Poindexter is a very good description of sorts. Never thought of that one, but ya, definitely a good term to use. I may have to lob that one around over there and see how it gets digested

V.

Probably as well as your Nazi comment

As a point of clarification, it was the term 'Gestapo' that was referenced... And yes, that didn't go over quite the way I was expecting it to. There are a lot of very sensitive men over on that site.

Whatever.

V.

This was the funniest part! They didn't like being compared to a Gestapo...so...they proceeded to act like a Gestapo when they banned you for no reason whatsoever. I hope you thanked them for proving your point!