aflynt
Inspired
I received my FM3 Tuesday. It's replacing an HX Stomp which, other than a power amp and speaker cab, has been my entire live and studio rig for the last several months (switched away from Tube amps last Spring due to the factory that makes my favorite power tubes closing... and now being too lazy to lift them).
Dialing the FM3 was a bit touch and go at first, as I was having trouble finding something similar to the Litigator model which I'd been using in the Stomp, and the models just didn't sound right through my PS170 and 2x12 cab. Yesterday, I realized that I hadn't added any low/high cuts on the output block, and once I did that it put things way more in focus. Then I discovered the "Gain Enhancer" and holy ****. This thing should be on by default in the Dumble models. It makes the sounds alive.
I wound up using the ODS Ford Lead model with the "Blackface" tone stack to get things closer to my main tube amp (one I built, that's based around a Dumble Overdrive Special topology). I always use "Jazz" mode, and my amp has a "Low Plate" configuration on the first two triodes, so it's a bit clearer sounding than a straight up 102 (Ford) clone. Anyway... for S's and G's I A/B'd my HX Stomp against the FM3 today with the new settings and it wasn't even close... FM3 destroyed it sonically. The HX Stomp just sounded plastic and dead in comparison, where the FM3 was clear and responsive and 3D sounding...
As far as UI complexity goes, the Fractal is perfect for me. I find things are far better organized and much more comprehensive than the Line 6 stuff, which I think just feels dumbed down and awkward in contrast. The HX Stomp's modal popups (that happen seemingly at random when I accidentally touch one of the switches) drive me crazy. From what I gather that's not a popular opinion, so I'm guessing that the Line 6 stuff must be easier to grok and more intuitive for most people. I'm definitely not one of them.
-Aaron
Dialing the FM3 was a bit touch and go at first, as I was having trouble finding something similar to the Litigator model which I'd been using in the Stomp, and the models just didn't sound right through my PS170 and 2x12 cab. Yesterday, I realized that I hadn't added any low/high cuts on the output block, and once I did that it put things way more in focus. Then I discovered the "Gain Enhancer" and holy ****. This thing should be on by default in the Dumble models. It makes the sounds alive.
I wound up using the ODS Ford Lead model with the "Blackface" tone stack to get things closer to my main tube amp (one I built, that's based around a Dumble Overdrive Special topology). I always use "Jazz" mode, and my amp has a "Low Plate" configuration on the first two triodes, so it's a bit clearer sounding than a straight up 102 (Ford) clone. Anyway... for S's and G's I A/B'd my HX Stomp against the FM3 today with the new settings and it wasn't even close... FM3 destroyed it sonically. The HX Stomp just sounded plastic and dead in comparison, where the FM3 was clear and responsive and 3D sounding...
As far as UI complexity goes, the Fractal is perfect for me. I find things are far better organized and much more comprehensive than the Line 6 stuff, which I think just feels dumbed down and awkward in contrast. The HX Stomp's modal popups (that happen seemingly at random when I accidentally touch one of the switches) drive me crazy. From what I gather that's not a popular opinion, so I'm guessing that the Line 6 stuff must be easier to grok and more intuitive for most people. I'm definitely not one of them.
-Aaron