Kids these days just starting out have no idea how lucky they are to have access to so much great sounding equipment. Nice job Fender. This unit sounds really good.
I don't think that a lot of kids would be able to cough up $1700 for this (that's the leaked price I saw online). It's dearer than Quad Cortex. Nevertheless, there are so many good units these days for a fraction of the cost - Headrush, Mooer, Valeton - you name it...
@@kubakowalski2361 I believe this is just the beginning for Fender. I wouldn't be surprised if they released an entry level unit soon, with less features but same audio quality. Still, there are tons of options of good multi-effects units available nowadays. This particular one may not fit in your pocket (or a kid's pocket), but there are several that could fit.
I started out with the Zoom 1010 (through a Peavey Bandit). Then I remember how revolutionary the first original Pod was "Damn this sounds like the real thing" was my first thought upon trying it out...and when the first Axe-FX came out, I couldn't believe how good gear had gotten - really felt like the absolute peak. And that was over 15 years ago.
Kids can already get a helix stomp/LT for 4-900 bucks. This isn't really even a competition, frankly. Sounded fine, but $1700 this late in the game is just...weird if you ask me.
It's like an amalgamation of all the other modellers: Touch screen of the Headrush, Scribble scripts and aesthetic of the Helix, Footswitch style and form factor of the Quad Cortex
I was scrolling through the amp models..... no Soldano, no Mesa markIV not all IIC models only 2, no Engl, only one Friedman model.... yeah its nice but i would just pay 300 more to have the FM9
@@MusicheadRick I wouldn't look too hard into that part. Not sure about the other modelers, but line 6 has added dozens of amps, cabs, and effects over the years. This product also isn't out yet, so there may be more available upon release
@@Capitan_ChaosI have the second version of the little g-dec combo. It's super simple but you can get some great tones from it. I also have an Orange Micro Dark running through a Vox 1x10 cab and it sounds so good!
Neural DSP knows this thing is getting attention today. I just got an email from them saying they dropped the MSRP of the Quad Cortex 😂. More competition is great for us consumers
If Ola's initial screwing around with the navigation and options was anywhere close to real-time, it really looks to me like Fender has now taken the crown for ease of / intuitive GUI navigation for these kinds of modelers. That screen is GIGANTIC and the unit itself is a very interesting large, angled triangle. Honestly, just from this quick Ola first look, color me pretty damm impressed. And unit and the FRFR actually sounds incredibly BRUTAL....All I can say at this moment is: WHOA....
So what? Every industry copies stuff that works from each other, within the limits of IP laws. In this case, to my eyes from the videos I've seen, Fender may have improved on what others like Headrush may have done before. This is the very nature of business and we the consumers ultimately benefit.@@joelanderson6777
I assumed it would have good cleans, but the gain tones also sound great. Nice job Fender. It really is an amazing time to be a musician. Back in the 90's we would have killed for tone like this without needing to lug giant stacks of amps around hahaha.
Anyone else notice that the jump from preset to preset doesn't glitch? As in the only difference is the intensity of the volume of the setting!!! That's incredible!!!!
An astute observation, indeed! I wonder if it would be more noticeable in a cleaner setting? I didn't notice the jumping and lack of glitching until you mentioned it, and even then didn't hear any glitching.
Hey Ola, I just received my solar 2.7 C in left handed here in Townsville Australia as most know it sucks trying to get a left handed guitar in anything decent and I can honestly say the guitar is great and pickups sound mean as,tuners are great and holds tune very well,guitar was setup perfectly no adjustments have needed to be done at all, great guitar and great job to the Luthiers fret ends are filed perfectly cheers ola
I’m a lefty myself and I feel your pain lol. To this day whenever I go into a guitar shop I’ll be lucky if they have a dusty lefty in the back somewhere 😂. Not sure how old you are but I’m 49 and began playing at 14. Back then I literally had to learn on a right handed guitar string upside down for the first 2.5 years I played lol. Got myself the Solar T1.6D with Evertune bridge and love the guitar I’m just struggling to get comfortable using the Evertune lol. Broken several strings already just trying to get it into “zone 3” and almost regretted getting an Evertune bridge. But I’m keeping the faith because once I do get it down I know I’ll love it. Enjoy your lefty Solar my left handed brother!
@LifeHawkeye I just bought a guitar that has an evertune on it, and I watched videos from Ola, and I was able to set the guitar up in just mere minutes, moments really. I'm talking about from Zone 2, right into Zone 3 just barely, to where you can bend your notes. Also, setting up the action is very, very, very easy. Everything is done with that little guitar looking hex key. It really simply is super simple and effective. I love mine!
@@LifeHawkeye yeah I stayed away from the evertune just coz I change tune or would like to change tune every so often. Yeah been doing it for a while I'm 39 and when I first played flipped it upside down thankfully now we have a little bit of choice (maybe not colours) but at the end of the day it's the same guitar quality just not the colour you like better then not having it at all. I went in a fender streak for a while but now I'm selling a few just to try not have so many on the same guitar so currently I'm keeping the Strat shape guitars so I kept a parts caster Samick which was the first left handed guitar I had and changed everything stripped it back to body and put hipshot trem fender Strat neck hs locking tuners and double dimbuckers(drop C) they come alive, Jackson pro with Floyd Rose and SD blackouts,player Strat with tex MEX, squire classic jazzmaster rerouted for emg Jim root pu and drilled out the tuners to fit locking 10mm, a gretch with broadtron and this 7 string solar I think that has me covered for a while 🤞
what amazes ME at this point in time is; The amount of legal exchanges there has to be between companies to apply copyright rights to incorporate the software for the gigitons of mods
I'm a Quad Cortex owner and I love it, but Fender has really taken the design and UI to the next level. This looks slick AF, I really love the graphical elements. I wonder if the grid as as much routing flexibility as the QC, but I'm really impressed with this. Nice job, Fender.
The initial Mustang GT was horrible, and a downgrade from the Mustang v2. The GTX was much better, but no one gave it a chance. It didn't help that Katana was wiping up the market at a better price point by the time the GTX came out...
It's a highend product, so definitely way over my budget, but it's always nice to see more competition in the market to push innovation foward. Hope more affordable options show up
HX Stomp is affordable now and basically does all of the same stuff, it just doesn’t have a great UI and limited on presets. But it’s small form factor and probably all that most people really need
I believe it’s also the most expensive, and obviously has built on the successful features of the ones that came before. Every few years there’s likely to be better ones as faster chips and more development comes along. So it really comes down to how much you can spend and when you need to buy.
Seems like Fender didn't rush things and took the time to deliver a really GOOD, well thought out product. It won't replace my Fractal or my collection of real amps, but I think it'll do well. Good job, Fender!
*waited and took what they liked from different innovators. Theres nothing really new here, it just appears to be done really well, which is where many others fall short.
$1700 is steep for Fender to step into this space of leading competitors. Especially with grid point IR, no ex pedal, and all the ‘coming soon’ gambles we’ve seen in the video. Sharp looking, durable unit with good possibilities. The FRFR speaker is reasonably priced and looks great.
I own a helix so no dog in the fight but no way will fender skimp on the updates...at least not on the beginning so all those coming soon features will likely come.
..there goes Fender dropping a viable competitor in the modelling space without hyping it 1+ years in advance. Nice review. Seems like it'll be a good product. Would have been great if it would have done profiling too.
I agree and exactly why I sold my Fractal FM9. Amazing tones but horrendous UI. The editor on the PC is good but for nearly $2k I need a good on unit UI.
I think this is the only channel that has made the higher gain sounds sound amazing. I was beginning to think this product was very good at fender amp modelling and nothing else!
@@harshgarrett I don't think that was the point. The Tone Master Pro videos around have mostly not really dialed in a metal tone. Since you can go in and throw a Boss DS-1 or ProCo Rat in front of a Dual Rectifier or JCM800 you can achieve a huge metal tone with this using the right settings but a lot of videos have not done that.
I member when I got my first amp. It was a Peavey Special 130 , and it was pretty cool for 1985 . Then I bought a distortion pedal , flanger , chorus over the next yr and I thought I was THE MAN ....LOL . I bought my first modeling board ( line 6 pro xt live ) when they came out and I thought it was genius. Now , with all the new apps / tech / learning tools I am kinda resentful that kids can get such a pro sound with no real experience with tinkering with actual components . And don't get me started on learning / lessons from back when I only had cassettes or vinyl .....
Every now and then Fender will pop up with some very good peripherals. Even their pedal PSU is great. They’ve definitely been developing their DSP as well.
Great demo! Seems like a great piece of kit here. Solid construction, great I/O options, quality sound processing, Solid UI design. I would have liked to hear some demos of the different modulation and delay and reverb FX though.
It is so funny how things change: In the 80s when I started playing guitar, everyone was "you need a tube amp man!!!" and I was like "NOOOO, I want a multi-effect pedalboard on a solid state power amp...with all the lights and the effects and the options...". Fast forward to 2023 and everyone goes " You need this modeller with 300 amps, 300 IRs and 300 effects/mics/cabs!!" and I'm like "NOOO, I really wanna try a high power fender twin in full blast..." Man....things DO change :) In the meantime I settled with a 90s Dream Theater rack: Full on tubes but also full blast of lights , toggles and tones....Still use only one tone :)
Once again Ola has fun with a new review and that's what make your video the best on RU-vid, I can find out all the tech shit if I want it, but s guy unboxing shit and having fun as a guitar player....now that's a review! What a treasure Ola is to us regular guys!
Wow this looks pretty impressive! What I would love to see would be a comparison between this thing through the FRFR cab compard to an EVH head through a real cabinet and what your thoughts on that are. For me the appeal of this product is as a potential live gigging solution that's lighter weight easy to transport but still give the tone and feel of playing through a real amp and cab on stage.
I'm impressed with this. The fact that you can select different cabs and instantly hear the difference and add effects, EQ, and have access to a many really popular amp options out of the box is really sweet. It sounds good. I can see running this out to a power amp and then to a 4x12 cab and it being your only "amp". It's a bonus that you can see the amp and spin the knobs. You can sort of get that feel of dialing in an amp head.
The fact that i got an email this morning from Neural saying they decreased their MSRP to 1699 just liked the Fender because of “Covid supply chain normalization “ is hilarious. Like no… ur competition just wooped your ass price wise and you had to stay competitive
It's from Eddy Murphy movie that goes in Tibete! That scene is inside a monastery, and he grabs a wooden wheel and says that, and it's hillarious! Cheers!!
Digital modeling has come a long way since line 6 introduced the first one. Watching on my monitor with a 7.1 surround is incredible. The tones are to die for. For some reason it never sounds quite as good as that at home. Like you said the workflow is key. Really liking this, wondering if you can plug into a regular amplifier in the effects loop or something? Wow I wonder where we'll be in 5 or 10 years? 🤘
@@ruffestneckaroundyeah I know I was just commenting I'm just wondering how it would sound if it would sound as good as the rig I'm listening to through 7.1 surround or if it would be a little less. These things always sound not quite as good at home! Obviously I would try it 4 cable method or front of amp or a efx loop. I just know it won't sound like it does when I hear it on RU-vid even with the same settings?
I’ve tested yesterday that unit plugged in to a Bose FrFr unit and man … in less than 5 minutes I was pretty impressed with it. Super-easy to manage and freaking good clean and Metal tones. Is the first time since I bought my FXIII that I’m thinking that it’s time for a gear change …
What do you mean “no way”? Fender knows a thing or two about what an amp sounds like and what exactly is “better” or “as good”? I’ve watched so many shootouts in the last 5 years since I picked up the Axe FX III, that one thing I’ve learned is that there is no universally best modeler. They all have strengths and weaknesses. And the musician strengths and weaknesses play a huge part in the symbiotic relationship. Fender just raised the bar in a big way. When it’s completely unlocked, it may just blow everything else off the map. I hope it does! Helix, Axe FX, and Neural have been a bit stagnant with either old hardware, old software or unfulfilled promises. I have no brand loyalty. I want it all, from all of them, for me!
@@70mcnevin DON'T BELIEVE YOU. You do not just PICK UP a nearly $3k AxFXIII (w/foot controller.) Also, this Fender toy sounds NOTHING like a Fractal. I bought a FM9. Not even close. The UI is better but not the tones. Very different animal. "Symbiotic relationsip." Son, what in the h*ll are you talking about? Bottom line, this Fender modeler is a toy. In many patches it sounds like an 80's zoom pedal- for real. The UI is slick and it has decent I/O. That is about it. It does not hold a candle to any current Fractal product. I do hope however that Fractal learns and updates their aging UI. Not everyone wants to have to use a PC to do any real editing. Trying to do so on the unit was a nightmare so I sold my FM9.
Ola is the only dude I trust because he actually plays metal. Any amp can deliver a clean or crunch channel. It’s the heavy metal tones and hi gain tones that are hard to replicate
Interestingly, in the world of free amp sims / VSTs, I found it to be the opposite: the high gain sims are decent, but the lower gain sims always seem to be missing something.
Sounds great! I have learned from experience that if I bought one of these, no one would see me for two years while I sit and spin knobs and swim through endless menus! …LOL… ❤ from 🇨🇦 eh! :)
At 1800 Euro (also seen 2400 dollars...) they are relying solely on the brand name. Correct me if I'm wrong but that puts it above all the competitors? And 8 times more than the entry level modellers.
The price on this toy will drop like a rock after a few months. I can see 30% off on used shelf at Guitar Center. The UI is good- hopefully FRACTAL is taking notes.
@@trevor4533 Exactly. It cost fender about $175 to make this toy in China...that includes shipping! The price is a joke. If it was under $500, then it woudl be a solid "Maybe" from me as a fizzy back up unit. FM3 is far better and cheaper.
Wow. Was not expecting this from fender. This modeler is genius, the footswitches used as knobs? That's so cool. The modeler looks so clean and not full of buttons. I still love my headrush though. Gotta have an expression pedal built in.
If the line6/yamaha HELIX II gets closer to kemper/NDSP with the sounds/tonality, for me it will definitely be the leading modeller (again). I had them all. The Helix still leads the game when it comes to built quality, UX and overall usability. The volume/wah pedal, the (programmable) in/outs, the routing options, the sound interface quality, the HX edit software together with Helix Native etc...the Helix is just the king of it all. It´s "just" 😂 the sound that has to become better. In every other department, line6 really changed and leads the market with the helix.
Just about bought an FM3 today. Now nope. 10 footswitches, color touchscreen, no lag switching, mic input, multi-amps, stereo loops. Leon Todd had 14 blocks loaded on his demo. So plenty of power. Im in.
The pedalboard is expensive at $1700, but that 1000w 12" monitor is not bad at $550. Seems like a good portable setup for when you don't want to lug around a 4x12 and tubehead. I could see myself using that monitor for sure.
$1700 retail. From what I can tell from Ola and Taylor Danley's first impressions, this is a remarkable unit. I owned a Fender Mustang 15W practice amp back in 2012 and it had killer tone even without a mid scoop. Knowing Fender, they'll probably release a cheaper unit with the same features, just less of them, but the sound quality is what we really care about.
So I bought the Headrush Gigboard awhile back and like it, however this Fender unit looks like a better interface. I love the fact that it shows the amp and knobs on screen and allows the buttons to change the settings as well. Overall, it looks like a solid piece of equipment and would be something I would love to try out. Glad that Fender finally has seen the light and came out with this. Hopefully, they can nail the software because that is the key to success for this unit.
That's what interests me, the dials and seeing the amp. recreates the "feel" of adjusting the knobs on an actual amp in real time. I can basically run this to a power amp and then out to a 4x12 cab of my choice and have access to all 3 5150 6L6 channels, a Dual Rectifier, JCM800 and 1959 Plexi Super Lead and have nearly any tone for any metal over the last 40 years. Throw a ProCo Rat or Boss DS-1 in front which are both available in the effects and dial in a bit of EQ and the possibilities...
The Hole Master Pro preset you made should be put in to a pack called the "plug" set :) With various orifices being cited on each one. It would sell like ball cakes!
Would love to hear this A/B against the Headrush and Quad Cortex modelers with that same riff from 6:13. That sure looked like a ton of pedals, would be worth mentioning how many are included vs those other modelers as well. Standing by for that impulse response/app business.
This. They have Line6’s vast FX game to compete with, and I’m really curious how much DSP this has packed in. That was a lot of varied signal chaining. I wanna see what it can handle.
Nice! I'm actually considering this as a future option (money permitting, of course). Now all that remains to be seen is, if it's gonna be competitively priced...
That's a really awesome display screen for a digital modular. It sounds great from the other side aswell! The quad cortex has some competition. If neural had there own FRFR that comes with the QC then it will be a game changer.
It’s both odd & brilliant that Fender would go this route. The brand isn’t exactly a beacon of digital technology but, to survive, I suppose they would have to keep up…. So, yeah.
From someone who has never used a modeler, this one seems like the easiest to get into. Looks like they spent quality time into making it logical and easy to use. I imagine the app is going to really make this shine. Just hearing how it sounds (from a video) combined with the elegant workflow and physical controls makes me want to get this. I'm sure it will be cheap to get... 😭
