Fairly priced? I think not!

[ozzynotwood]

What is the deal with the over priced foot controllers for modelling amps? I was considering getting a Vox Valvetronix amp and then I saw the price of the foot controller for it.....$1000AUD!!!! ($450US). Are they for real? I think its very unfair that guitar amp companies are making these amps that only accept their own foot controllers via their own connectors (eg, anything other than standard MIDI) and then charging like a wounded bull for the foot controller.

Also, I really dont beleive there is $1000 worth of components in a foot controller to justify the price. The behringer FCB1010 (the only good thing that behringer have ever made IMO) is only $300AUD and its built like a brick ****house.

And finally, who wants to spend $1000 on something thats going to sit on the floor, get stepped on, tripped over and have lead singers booze/sweat/vomit spill all over it?

Does anybody else have an opinion on this?

 

[75lespaul]

Re: Fairly priced? I think not!

At first I felt exactly the way you did...okay, I still do, LOL. A LOT of money for a foot controller.

I don't know how old you are, but I try to look at the big picture as well. I'm 42. In the early 80s I paid $800 for a Marshall JCM800 half stack. Fifty watts, no channel switching, pretty much one sound, no reverb, no effects, no tuner. Now well over 20 years later, I paid $800 for a brand new Valvetronix AD60VTX. This amp has a whole bunch of different amps in one package, distortion boxes, three different reverbs, lotsa effects, different power levels--hooaaa! An extra $400 for a pedal doesn't seem that outrageous anymore.

However, after saying that, I see NO reason why the pedal should cost nearly HALF of what the amp costs.

 

[75lespaul]

Re: Fairly priced? I think not!

Plus with the levels midi has reached, why not a midi jack for a pedal??? All the synth companies make their stuff universal, why not amps?

 

[Mincer]

Re: Fairly priced? I think not!

I agree with this- also, the Behringer does more that most midi pedals (Roland FC200, Ground Control) and is a lot less expensive. It is even more useful with the unofficial firmware.
If an amp requires a footcontroller, it should come with one.

 

[ozzynotwood]

Re: Fairly priced? I think not!

Valvetronix head $2200AUD
Valvetronix matching 2x12 cab $1300AUD
2nd Valvetronix matching 2x12 cab $1300AUD (a 4x12 wont fit in the car lol)
Valvetronix VC-12 foot controller $1000AUD

Total = $5800!!!!!

Vox AC30 Head $1200AUD +
Vox 2x12can $500AUD
Marshall Plexi head $2200AUD
Marshall 2x12 cab $850AUD
Leem Amp switcher $50

Total = $4800AUD

Its cheaper to get a genuine all tube setup these days!

 

[Zerberus]

Re: Fairly priced? I think not!

Valvetronix head $2200AUD
Valvetronix matching 2x12 cab $1300AUD
2nd Valvetronix matching 2x12 cab $1300AUD (a 4x12 wont fit in the car lol)
Valvetronix VC-12 foot controller $1000AUD

Total = $5800!!!!!

Vox AC30 Head $1200AUD +
Vox 2x12can $500AUD
Marshall Plexi head $2200AUD
Marshall 2x12 cab $850AUD
Leem Amp switcher $50

Total = $4800AUD

Its cheaper to get a genuine all tube setup these days!

IMO You´re decieving yourself if you compare the Valvetronix to only 2 heads w/ 2 2x12 cabinets....

1: there are a LOT more than 2 heads modelled in there
2. there are a lot of cabinet models in there as well IIRC...
3. I´m not too sure on the prices for the tube rigs, some of those look suspiciously like European Used prices, which are almost certainly cheaper that Aussie New ones

FWIW