THE FRACTAL DEBACLE

[Ventura]

You dudes take are taking this all way too seriously, IMO.

It's not that anyone is WANTING to get their nose bent out of joint, it's the fact that a) there was a huge lead-up to the launch, b) the launch happened, c) some people sold off their units in anticipation of getting the newer one, d) some of those people are unable to continue their musical pursuits - whether professionally or personally - without the unit, e) no definitive information has been released, and now cross border purchases are being questioned. ALL of this is growing increasingly worse with the hyperbole and speculation generated from the FAS site itself.

There's a definite element of hate-on potential here. And ya, not to be able to vocie ones VALID and SERIOUS concerns without being filtered and removed from the site is seriously ass-f*ckin-backwards. $2000+ is a lot of cake, and there are a LOT of people who require this piece of equipment to get their weekly bucks. Being left to hang dry was a result of making a decision - sell now for more to hedge the future costs, or keep and sell later and take a hit. There's no right or wrong as to what people CHOSE to do, but being held captive by a lack of information from a company who's only portal to information is a public forum moderated by a bunch of worshipping, GESTAPO mentality, drone bee minions is pretty pathetic and sad. This isn't an attack on Cliff, this is an attack on a piss poor product launch AND THEN even worse customer follow up; with mods who love rubbing salt into wounds. All the specualtion on the board is disgusting - I don't even bother signing in over there anymore. I'm done with it. It's sad.

Ya, I want one, but my GAWD if there was ever a time my own personal ethics were screaming a massive F*CK YOU AND YOUR PRODUCT, it's been with the whole Axe-II debacle. And their mods over there - guys, I'm not a violent man whatsoever, but I'm telling ya, sometimes I fantasize about being locked in a room with a couple of them and a power drill.

Just sayin'
V.

 

[Shark Diver]

I got to touch it the other day at TM...

 

[Ventura]

I got to touch it the other day at TM...

....what did it feel like

V.

 

[kasperjensen]

I got to touch it the other day at TM...

....what did it feel like

V.

So close to real Tolex that only the softest of hands can feel the difference.

There is a pun in there, I think.

 

[Shark Diver]

I got to touch it the other day at TM...

....what did it feel like

V.

It felt more realer of course.

It is cool that they addressed the wants of their customers - the headphone jack, usb, the control knobs, etc. and kept the price close to the original. It will sell well and find it's way into many racks/studios I'm sure.

 

[Ventura]

I got to touch it the other day at TM...

....what did it feel like

V.

It felt more realer of course.

It is cool that they addressed the wants of their customers - the headphone jack, usb, the control knobs, etc. and kept the price close to the original. It will sell well and find it's way into many racks/studios I'm sure.

THIS right there was the reason for my immediate sell off and now, awaiting.

V.

 

[ttosh]

GESTAPO

 

[Ventura]

GESTAPO

Yes, yes... I used the word again.

Thank goodness Scotty and the lads don't mod over here. I'm expecting a PM any second though

V.

 

[Bronco]

GESTAPO

Yes, yes... I used the word again.

Thank goodness Scotty and the lads don't mod over here. I'm expecting a PM any second though

V.

Well they should stop acting like one then. No different than the KKK complaining about being labeled 'racist'. If you don't like it; then stop.

 

[ttosh]

GESTAPO

Yes, yes... I used the word again.

Thank goodness Scotty and the lads don't mod over here. I'm expecting a PM any second though

V.

Since the countdown IMHO they have gone from Gestapo directly to Stasi. I was thinking a negative thought while in a post over there yesterday and somehow Jay Mitchell grabbed the thought out of my head with some Fractal Psychic Ninja Cat stuff and now I have no idea what it was in regards to. He did not even PM me to tell me I could pick it back up after class, it is just gone.......

 

[steve_k]

They should have hired a PR firm to handle the transition and replacement. They forgot that it was the "little guys" that made the Axe FX what it is. Its not the handful of endorsers that use it, or may have used it once or might use it again in the future. I seriously doubt that anyone thought if it was good enough for Zappa, its good enough for me.

Quite frankly, I wouldn't pay the cost of shipping international if Fractal gave me one, as I don't take much interest in all the FX features and I much rather spend my time twisting one volume knob on a Marshall than fucking around with this digital toy box....but, that's just me. Others that like it, or like the wow factor associated with it and think it sounds just like your favorite tube amp, then have at it. Or for those that enjoy the tweaking, this would be the thing to have.

I don't have a dog in this hunt, but some people shouldn't be allowed to make business decisions. Fractal fucked up and should make an announcement of sorts to their following.

Steve

 

[Ventura]

100% completely concur. I'm not over there trying to shit disturb, but ALL of this is EXACTLY what I started forewarning about a couple nights prior to the big launch (during the countdown). And it's grown increasngly worse, maniacal almost. And trying to get any info from their site is a hit and miss game of being 'censored' for being too direct or too accusatory.

Whatever. But ya, business-wise, epic facepalm.

So it goes Stevie... Twist them knobs

V.

 

[King Crimson]

...guys, I'm not a violent man whatsoever, but I'm telling ya, sometimes I fantasize about being locked in a room with a couple of them and a power drill.

Just sayin'
V.

Woof, woof!

 

[steve_k]

...guys, I'm not a violent man whatsoever, but I'm telling ya, sometimes I fantasize about being locked in a room with a couple of them and a power drill.

Just sayin'
V.

Woof, woof!

A bad attitude and power tools rocks..........

 

[jlbaxe]

I only pop in over there long enough to check for the latest update version and search for some sys patches. Other than that I cant stand visiting that site, just not a Rig-Talk atmosphere over there in the least. Over here I have had many conversations in Pm's with people I would be friends with in person, not over there. I can only think of a few people I have met in person that rubbed me the wrong way. One was an Air Force ranked officer who walked in his house and told his wife (FBI agent) to "shut up, your stupid and do not know what you are talking about" while I was working for them, before I was even able to introduce myself to him. I finished and walked out, never to take on anymore work from them. a couple more that I can remember, and I feel that 90% of the people over at fractal would be like the Air Force guy The other 10% I would get along with over there are from here

 

[TTripp]

Jeebus, really? Now people are bitching because they sold their Axe-Fx's early to cut their loss, but can't buy a II yet? And this is somehow SOMEBODY ELSE'S fuckin' fault? Gimme a break.

 

[Spaceboy]

It seems like Fractal Audio are doing good business and the majority of users are pleased, even others who are trading Ultras for IIs. I still don't get why anybody should be mad, or how this release was handled badly. I mean, the forum might be a little stupid, I really don't know, I lurk around and have posted less than 10 times. Yeah, I'm not really apart of any of this, and I don't really have anything to contribute... lol... but I'm sure excited about preordering the Axe FX II through our fellow Rig-Talkers at Tone Merchants! I never had the Ultra and wanted it for years, and the new model was announced right as I came into some money. Great timing!



I've got to get some more dough for an MFC-101 now, and research FRFR monitors, since I want to go all DI.

 

[mortega76]

i commented on a FRACTAL fb post about how i was upset.they deleted my post.

,,i, SCREW'EM

They are notorious for deleting and censoring posts/threads... especially on the FAS forum...

 

[daveg62]

Yeah, people get too wrapped up in this if you ask me. I sold off my axe-fx and moved on to something different. Even though I didn't agree with the way the announcement was handled and the forum over there is kind of stupid, it wasn't he reason why I wanted to get rid of it. It's a piece af gear, and a damn good one. Just wasn't what I want anymore. Got tired of all the tweaking and searching for my sound. There's tons of great sounds in there, and i found out too many for me to make a decision, I was always tweaking. I think it's easier to buy a great amp and stick with it. So the axe-fx isn't for everyone. I found out it's not for me, at least right now. Copping an attitude over a piece of gear is kind of pointless. If you like it use it, if not move on to something else.

 

[JMP2203]

Got tired of all the tweaking and searching for my sound. There's tons of great sounds in there, and i found out too many for me to make a decision, I was always tweaking. I think it's easier to buy a great amp and stick with it.

thats a good point. if the axe where a plug and play modeler with just a few but great models i will be interested just for fun/play at night/etc. but it have 180 pages manual!!!