Hello guys,
I’d like to share my experience so far and give a simple, honest review of the AM4.
In early November, I realized a long-held dream: buying a Music Man JP-13. It’s a beautiful guitar, and after that purchase, I had around $1,000 left to build the rest of my setup — FRFR GO speaker, expression pedal, cables, and a multi-effects unit.
The first thing that came to my mind was the FM3, but realistically, the budget wasn’t enough and I wasn’t ready to make such a big investment. After watching many videos showing how incredible captures could be in such a small form factor, I decided to go with the Nano Cortex.
I received it on November 18th, but my first impression wasn’t great. The sound didn’t match what I had heard in the demos. I then started spending money on paid captures advertised as “perfect amp tones,” but in reality, they didn’t meet my expectations. That’s when I realized something important: to get demo-level sounds, everything has to match — guitar, pickups, monitoring, and playing style. Using a different guitar alone can change everything.
At that point, I had to start learning how to use EQ properly just to make things sound decent.
On November 26th, I saw the first video about the AM4. My first reaction was: “No way… only four blocks? That’s not enough.”
But then I stopped and thought about it. I’m not a guitar hero. I’m someone who is still learning how to use effects properly. My previous rig was simple: a Marshall amp, an overdrive, an analog delay, and reverb from the amp. So why was I suddenly obsessed with having tons of blocks?
What I really wanted was the feeling of an amp in the room — something I could turn on, tweak the knobs, and just play, feeling connected to the sound.
After watching many videos and giving the Nano Cortex my best try, I decided to return it. On December 13th, I placed my order for the AM4. The waiting process was terrible, but when it finally arrived, everything clicked.
I honestly believe this is exactly what Fractal was aiming for: giving players like me the experience of turning on a pedal and simply playing guitar. I loved the Petrucci preset — and honestly, that alone was enough for me. After 7 days with the AM4, I feel completely good to go.
My conclusion is this:
The AM4 is perfect for someone on a tighter budget who doesn’t want to sacrifice the experience. It’s for players who want a great guitar and high-quality amp modeling without unnecessary complexity. With the money an FM3 would have cost, I was able to build my entire apartment setup — and play every day with a big smile.
Of course, I’d love to own an FM3 or even an FM9 someday. But the AM4 is an incredible entry point for players like me who are getting back into playing or coming from a simple rig.
So, if you’re coming from a traditional setup — an amp and two or three pedals — the AM4 will feel like home.
I’d like to share my experience so far and give a simple, honest review of the AM4.
In early November, I realized a long-held dream: buying a Music Man JP-13. It’s a beautiful guitar, and after that purchase, I had around $1,000 left to build the rest of my setup — FRFR GO speaker, expression pedal, cables, and a multi-effects unit.
The first thing that came to my mind was the FM3, but realistically, the budget wasn’t enough and I wasn’t ready to make such a big investment. After watching many videos showing how incredible captures could be in such a small form factor, I decided to go with the Nano Cortex.
I received it on November 18th, but my first impression wasn’t great. The sound didn’t match what I had heard in the demos. I then started spending money on paid captures advertised as “perfect amp tones,” but in reality, they didn’t meet my expectations. That’s when I realized something important: to get demo-level sounds, everything has to match — guitar, pickups, monitoring, and playing style. Using a different guitar alone can change everything.
At that point, I had to start learning how to use EQ properly just to make things sound decent.
On November 26th, I saw the first video about the AM4. My first reaction was: “No way… only four blocks? That’s not enough.”
But then I stopped and thought about it. I’m not a guitar hero. I’m someone who is still learning how to use effects properly. My previous rig was simple: a Marshall amp, an overdrive, an analog delay, and reverb from the amp. So why was I suddenly obsessed with having tons of blocks?
What I really wanted was the feeling of an amp in the room — something I could turn on, tweak the knobs, and just play, feeling connected to the sound.
After watching many videos and giving the Nano Cortex my best try, I decided to return it. On December 13th, I placed my order for the AM4. The waiting process was terrible, but when it finally arrived, everything clicked.
I honestly believe this is exactly what Fractal was aiming for: giving players like me the experience of turning on a pedal and simply playing guitar. I loved the Petrucci preset — and honestly, that alone was enough for me. After 7 days with the AM4, I feel completely good to go.
My conclusion is this:
The AM4 is perfect for someone on a tighter budget who doesn’t want to sacrifice the experience. It’s for players who want a great guitar and high-quality amp modeling without unnecessary complexity. With the money an FM3 would have cost, I was able to build my entire apartment setup — and play every day with a big smile.
Of course, I’d love to own an FM3 or even an FM9 someday. But the AM4 is an incredible entry point for players like me who are getting back into playing or coming from a simple rig.
So, if you’re coming from a traditional setup — an amp and two or three pedals — the AM4 will feel like home.
