I think I'm finally going to do it

T

tommythelurker

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About ready to click the button (er pull the trigger!) on a Fractal FM3. Any last minute Go For It!/Don't Do It! ?šŸ˜±šŸ˜ØšŸ«£

Too short; want to read more:
Just recently learned of the FM3, much more palatable price than the Axe FX. Interested to see what it's all about but haven't had an opportunity to try without buying.

I've finally got all the tube amps I really want*, getting anything else would just be out of curiosity, running out of space, I'm not really a gear trader (only thing I've ever sold was a Digitech 2112). And I usually just want something easy and quiet to practice on without winding up the toobs (currently using a GK 250RL into a Marshall 4x12 for this).

So I figure all the Fractal amp model options will satisfy my curiosities and be a convenient option. I expect I'll use it with the Fryette PS-100 into the 4x12 cab. I just hope it's all it's cracked up to be, I'm still skeptical.

*My tube amps:
'83 Marshall JCM 800 2204
Ceriatone Plexi101 All Access
Mesa Mark V 90W
SLO "Clone"
Fender Blues Deville 4x10 for some Fendery tones
3 Marshall 50th Anniversary 1-watters (JTM-1, JMP-1, JCM-1)
Fryette PS-100 to tame things.
 
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Order one from MF use it for a couple days. Load a couple decent IR's up and see how you dig it. If you don't like it, return it and try something else.
 
I didn't care for it but you might love it.

I'm not gonna say yes or no just because it should be your decision alone, if you feel you need a push, you may not really (in your heart) want it.

Go with your heart ā¤
 
tommythelurker said:
About ready to click the button (er pull the trigger!) on a Fractal FM3. Any last minute Go For It!/Don't Do It! ?šŸ˜±šŸ˜ØšŸ«£

Too short; want to read more:
Just recently learned of the FM3, much more palatable price than the Axe FX. Interested to see what it's all about but haven't had an opportunity to try without buying.

I've finally got all the tube amps I really want*, getting anything else would just be out of curiosity, running out of space, I'm not really a gear trader (only thing I've ever sold was a Digitech 2112). And I usually just want something easy and quiet to practice on without winding up the toobs (currently using a GK 250RL into a Marshall 4x12 for this).

So I figure all the Fractal amp model options will satisfy my curiosities and be a convenient option. I expect I'll use it with the Fryette PS-100 into the 4x12 cab. I just hope it's all it's cracked up to be, I'm still skeptical.

*My tube amps:
'83 Marshall JCM 800 2204
Ceriatone Plexi101 All Access
Mesa Mark V 90W
SLO "Clone"
Fender Blues Deville 4x10 for some Fendery tones
3 Marshall 50th Anniversary 1-watters (JTM-1, JMP-1, JCM-1)
Fryette PS-100 to tame things.
Click to expand...
Go for it, the Fractal stuff is top notch. Along with a nice pair of studio monitors thatā€™s a fantastic rig that can do anything you can think of
 
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MF has 3 used FM3 listed:
Mark II Turbo on MF costs more that factory fresh new one from Fractal
Second one link doesn't work
Third one is broken.

I'd rather just get new from Fractal. Really don't think I need the added features of the rack version. Just into basic amp rig with a few effects.

Steve, what didn't you care for about it? How did you use it?
 
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Are you okay with connecting the FM3 to a computer to edit and create presets? It is much easier to do on a computer than the unit itself.
 
If you play tube amps you'll want to kill yourself tonewise -----------until you carry it to a gig because it doesn't weigh anything !! LOL
 
4406cuda said:
Are you okay with connecting the FM3 to a computer to edit and create presets? It is much easier to do on a computer than the unit itself.
Click to expand...
Not thrilled about it but I've got a laptop handy so I think it'll be OK. And when I get tired of that I still have the real amps :)
But you just reminded me I was going try downloading the software and see if I can explore it without the unit hooked up.
edit: No offline editing :(

Panhead5 said:
If you play tube amps you'll want to kill yourself tonewise -----------until you carry it to a gig because it doesn't weigh anything !! LOL
Click to expand...
I don't think I'd like it with a cab IR through monitors, but I was hoping (and have heard) that bypassing the IR and using a power amp and cab would work well.
 
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Itā€™s by far to me, the best thing Iā€™ve ever bought overall for playing guitar, call it whatever you want. I also can 100 percent guarentee no one on here or anywhere can tell itā€™s digital. I always offer to do blind test clips with it vs my amps and suddenly everyone disappears, weird :)
 
tommythelurker said:
I don't think I'd like it with a cab IR through monitors, but I was hoping (and have heard) that bypassing the IR and using a power amp and cab would work well.
Click to expand...
Definitely donā€™t bother then IMO/IME. If you are running power amps and cabs just use the great amps you have now. If you want to use the Fractal as a workstation with your computer that you can practice with, tinker around with, record and gig with incredibly easily itā€™s great. If you are expecting to use it as a preamp into some other power amp into a guitar cab you will be disappointed. It sounds and feels itā€™s best through full range monitors.
 
VESmedic said:
Itā€™s by far to me, the best thing Iā€™ve ever bought overall for playing guitar, call it whatever you want. I also can 100 percent guarentee no one on here or anywhere can tell itā€™s digital. I always offer to do blind test clips with it vs my amps and suddenly everyone disappears, weird :)
Click to expand...
The issue most guitar players have with it is that they are hearing the mic, not the speaker hitting their calf.

Iā€™m not using one now but I do dick around with amplitude and carry a Tonex as a backup. No comparison to the Fractal I had tho and that was a IIXL
 
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tallcoolone said:
The issue most guitar players have with it is that they are hearing the mic, not the speaker hitting their calf.

Iā€™m not using one now but I do dick around with amplitude and carry a Tonex as a backup. No comparison to the Fractal I had tho and that was a IIXL
Click to expand...
yes, the ongoing "amp in the room" vs "FOH / recorded" sound. Still pleased with my Helix kit, but just built my second computer rig for guitar using a refurbished Dell rugged extreme tablet; this is smaller and more portable than my first computer rig.

My fav guitar plugin is PolyChromeDSP - McRocklin Suite. It sounds great, easy to use, but the sound is basically "ready to record"; they call it "Production Ready Guitar Tones" which is accurate.

https://www.polychromedsp.com/mcrocklin-suite/

free trial version; and it's on sale for 40% off
 
tallcoolone said:
The issue most guitar players have with it is that they are hearing the mic, not the speaker hitting their calf.

Iā€™m not using one now but I do dick around with amplitude and carry a Tonex as a backup. No comparison to the Fractal I had tho and that was a IIXL
Click to expand...


But how is that any different than having your amp isolated away from you and using in ears or hearing nothing but your wedge in front of you? Thatā€™s absolutely the same thing, and more of a reality for people than one might think. Hell I played many, many gigs with my below the stage. Iā€™ve always itā€™s ironic that literally every single guitar players favorite tones are the sound of an actual microphone slammed up against the grill of a cab, yet many seem to think they also at the same time just gottaaaaaass have that in the room tone and the sound they want. Very strange to me.
 
VESmedic said:
I always offer to do blind test clips with it vs my amps and suddenly everyone disappears, weird :)
Click to expand...
giphy.gif
 
VESmedic said:
Itā€™s by far to me, the best thing Iā€™ve ever bought overall for playing guitar, call it whatever you want. I also can 100 percent guarentee no one on here or anywhere can tell itā€™s digital. I always offer to do blind test clips with it vs my amps and suddenly everyone disappears, weird :)
Click to expand...
I think it's been said over and over again, that modelers DO sound amazing recorded, and run direct through a PA. This has never been argued, afaik. So, if you record often and play out they are great to have in addition to your fav tube amps...easy to transport etc.
But, in the room (whether you're at home or on stage) they absolutely lack what a tube amp has, in feel and response. The only time it isn't an issue is when you run them through a tube power amp.
Go figure.

Btw, this is RIG talk not recording talk. If it were recording talk, people would actually give two shits about how an amp records. Most here realize that even though we chase recorded tones to a degree, we also know they are nearly impossible to duplicate live.
Most here care about how an amp sounds in the room or live next to us on stage.
 
VESmedic said:
But how is that any different than having your amp isolated away from you and using in ears or hearing nothing but your wedge in front of you?
Click to expand...
If you have no experience working with your monitored tone this is awkward and feels ā€˜disconnectedā€™
 
Racerxrated said:
I think it's been said over and over again, that modelers DO sound amazing recorded, and run direct through a PA. This has never been argued, afaik. So, if you record often and play out they are great to have in addition to your fav tube amps...easy to transport etc.
But, in the room (whether you're at home or on stage) they absolutely lack what a tube amp has, in feel and response. The only time it isn't an issue is when you run them through a tube power amp.
Go figure.

Btw, this is RIG talk not recording talk. If it were recording talk, people would actually give two shits about how an amp records. Most here realize that even though we chase recorded tones to a degree, we also know they are nearly impossible to duplicate live.
Most here care about how an amp sounds in the room or live next to us on stage.
Click to expand...



Last I checked, this is rig talk. Not amp at home talk, not ampin bedroom talk, not even amp on stage or in studio talk. It encompasses all of it. You use this line any chance you can, yet fail to realize playing out or recording has just as much to do with ā€œrig talkā€as playing at home does. I never even brought up recorded tones, I simply said itā€™s the best overrall product Iā€™ve ever bought for guitar. And I disagree for what itā€™s worth about comparing it to a tube amp when amplified, I think it sounds phenomenal amplified with a tube amp or a great solid state amp, Iā€™ve never personally had an issue with either/or when comparing to one of my tube heads.
 
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