Fryette Amplification PittBull Fifty/CL

(Originally written by Seb1822002/translated from Audiofanzine FR)

2-channel all-tube amplifier head
4 x 12AX7 WB preamp tubes
2 x EL34 power amp tubes
and 1 x 5U4GB rectifier tube
50 watts in Class AB and 33 watts in Class A mode

Rear panel: Depth, presence, level mix, send, effect level (low: -10dB / hi: 0dB), serial/parallel loop selector, return, effect on/off, footswitch, line out, line level, 2 speaker outputs, impedance selector (4, 8 or 16 Ohms), power amp mode (enhance, normal or auto), Class ABÂ /Â A selector.

Front panel: low / hi inputs, channel selectors, gain, hi / low gain switch, volume, boost, treble, edge, middle, shift, bass, two 6-band graphic EQs with +/-12dB, master volume, standby, power.

Footswitch: channel selection, boost, FX loop, EQ assignment (red or green), EQ.

UTILIZATION

Well-conceived architecture providing 2 identical channels with all sounds from clean to heavy distortion for a wide range of applications. Comprehensive connections and although it doesn't have a lot of sound-shaping settings, the ones it has are pretty effective. You'll need 5 minutes to get a nice tone and then discover all the functions each switch and control has to offer to get a good idea of its versatility.
The 2-sheet user's manual isn't necessary.

SOUNDS

I play metal, rock and blues and the amp is conceived for a big sound. The equalization is responsive and effective. It's the right tool for a fat tone.
I'm using the amp with an Engl 2x12" Horizontal V3 and a Schecter C-1 Blackjack guitar.
Clean sounds aren't the amp's nor my guitar's specialty. I find the clean sound ok but maybe a jazz player has a different opinion (how strange would it be to play jazz with a VHT?)
The crunch sounds are good, warm and punchy.
The distortion sounds are wonderful with a huge gain and a super-accurate EQ. You get exactly the tone you're looking for it doesn't matter if it's a big fat tone or a Pantera-like cutting tone.
This amp has a very warm and big sound for rock and metal. I tested it with active pickups but I changed back to my Seymours and I won't change them for a while. They sound much better, with more character... but that's a matter of taste!
The amp reacts pretty good to all nuances and to each attack with the pick.

OVERALL OPINION

I've been using it for 2 weeks and I'm still getting to know it but I already have a lot of fun playing this amp.
The price is quite high but you get a really good and well-finished amp. So the value for money is very good.
I owned previously an Engl Blackmore head which was also very good but had less settings and only one common EQ section. When I tried this head, I immediately fell under its spell.
I would buy it again without even trying mid-range amps along the way.

Head of all-tube amp 2 channels
4 x 12AX7 wb in prampli
2 x EL34 power
and 1 x 5u4gb grinder
50W Class AB and 33 year Class A

Rear face: Depth, presence, mix level, send, effect level (low 10db hi 0dB) slecteur loop series / parallle, return, effect (on stop), footswitch, line out , line level, 2 hp outputs selector April 8 or 16 ohm power amp mode (normal Enhance or auto) and selector class AB or A.

Front: between low or hi, slecteur channel, gain, switch hi or low gain, volume boost, treble, edge, middle, shift, bass, everything X 2 + 6 band graphic equa -12dB master volume and power by std

Footswitch: Slecteur channel, boost, loop effect equa assignment (red or green) and equa.

USE

The setup is pretty much think because we have two identical channels of sound clean up the big distortion so the possibilities are strained. The connection is very complte the rglages are not too many and very helpful especially for awesome sound. It should take 5 minutes to get a nice sound and then discover all the switches and rglages to understand what kind of sound you can have. The master is very progressive and can play reasonable volumes, apart example.
The manual sheet 2 is really not necessary.

SONORITS

I play metal, rock, blues, and it's DETAILEDREPORT for big sound. The equa is very sensitive and sharp which is rather useful for buggers.
I use it with a Schecter C-1 Blackjack.
For clean sound that's not really his dommaine nor that of the guitar so it is correct for me but I do not think for a jazzman (what idea to have a VHT for jazz at the same time! I need regular.)
The crunch is warm and punchy.
The distortion are beautiful, a gain standard and hyper equa accuracy of all to have the sound you want, fat big the edge of Pantera.
This is a Big Rock Amp / Metal but I find the warm sound, I tried the assets and finally I put my Seymours I'm not nearly to change. More pleasant, more personality after gots has not discussed!
It reacts well to touch ts and attacks mdiator.

NOTICE GLOBAL

I use it for 2 weeks and am still the discovery phase, but I rgale me play on this amp.
The price is quite lev but it's very good stuff with very cared finishes, and the price-quality ratio is very good.
I had a Engl Blackmore head that was very good but less rglages and especially that equa commune.Et when I try this head I t in love.
I would do the choice if c'tait again without buying lots of means amp meantime.

50 watt tube head, two-channel equalizer further activated via footswitch.

UTILIZATION

Configuration not necessarily simple (many available methods, a lot of refining its switches)

The manual is very clear and simple, and can quickly understand the various options available.

Easily excellent sound is obtained. Although there are many options, you always have a good sound, regardless of the setting!

SOUNDS

My style of music is a mix power pop / punk / hardcore / Stoner. In short, the large and well grained rock, but not metal. This amp is exactly what I want. Namely, a big sound distortion tube, with a huge dynamic, great sustain, short, potato madness. I once had a mesa-boogie correct, and this amp is much more precise, all the intricacies of the game stand out, and you can go from a big crunch AC / DC style rock with a huge distortion. The accuracies and transparency of this amp however forgive any mistakes and are much less flattering a mesa, which tends to smooth the sound and impose his character, whatever the instrument and play
There must be clearly treat his game, and the result is fantastic! I plugs in a Gibson SG Standard, an Epiphone Casino mounted with Seymour Duncan Phat Cat, and a Gibson Les Paul Standard, and following the guitar plugged, the result is radically different, but still fantastic. This amp literally respects and transcends the character of the guitar and playing the guitar!
I use little effect (MXR GT-OD, EHX toy boy, wah, whammy, and very timely, but can easily be adapted. Anyway it is such a shame to distort such a sound!

OVERALL OPINION

I use it for about 5 Years

I played before on JCM 900 and Mesa Rectifier, and easily outperforms both, even if the mesa is a great amp, but much more distinctive.

What I like most about this amp:
- The hot, gritty, ROck!
- The dynamics of bull!
- Amplitude settings in the rock record (the slight crunch to the enormous distortion), and their relevance whatever the register

- Extreme musicality of the beast

what I like least:
- Clear Sound: I use it very rarely, and fortunately, because this amp is clearly not made for that. Both Canau (with independent EQ) are clearly made to the distortion! but me it's fine with me

€ 1,300 bought secondhand, what I call an excellent quality / price ratio for an amp of this quality!

I would do this choice without any problem, and I will remain loyal to the brand ad vitam ...

I end up little more anecdotal but not that much: on the rear panel is inscribed the words "hanbuilt in the USA by rockers" => says it all!


Fantastic amp!!!

We have a 50 watt amp with 2 EL 34 cased, 4 12AX7 and a grinder 5U4G. I think power is ideal for routine use of an amplifier in most conditions (Club, rehearsals, more or less scenes)
The connection is complete and offers ultra lot of useful settings that I described below. The loop has an adjustable level and can be chosen in series or in parallel. Note an adjustable line out that I have ever used on the other hand.

The two channels are almost identical in their voicing (which is very broad cons on both channels). This principle is pretty awesome because it gives us the impression of having two heads.
Each channel offers:

-A high-performance 3-band equalizer, it should be noted however that the mids are a bit further back than what we usually encounter on the guitar amps.

Middle shift-a switch to cause a bump in the midrange

Edge-One swtith to better bring out the harmonics of the strings more acute. (A kind of presence)

Switch-a "boost" to get a little more bite (saturation & volume) a bit like a pedal Od ... footswith manageable.

-Volume and gain

A gain-switch stacking to manage the number of 12AX7 that are to be used in the process of saturation.

And for both channels:

A low or high input (a bit more shrill)

-Master volume that allows super efficient once the balance struck between the two channels have a single volume and general to regulate its volume.

A presence-fulfilling perfectly the role

Depth-A (severe presence, say ... to adjust the baffles are reasonable based on employees)

An EQ-6 bands to radically redefine the frequencies and push strongly Db ... footswitch, which gives us is a great fontion for solos (3rd channel adjustable)

-A switch for selecting a mode A or Class AB ... pretty cool because it allows the amplifier to speak at reasonable volume. Wholesale Class A mode is sent more watts in the power tubes. This has the effect of giving the impression that the amp is pushed further into a corner without pushing the volume. It also serves to reinforce the vintage character Bluesy & creamy. Ab mode propels us into a more modern & accurate, rather conducive to high saturations Hard / Metal.
-A switch lets you choose to use a grinder lamp (its a bit more compressed & round) and / or conventional silicon transistor. There are three modes: The transistor for both channels, the grinder for both channels and finally a method that links the two, ie the transistor channel 1 and channel 2 on the grinder (and all Everyone is happy) o)

The rugged footwitch is organized as follows:

Channel1 & 2 / BOOST / (Des) Activation of the FX loop) / Des) Activation of EQ

UTILIZATION

I realized in the above retailers that casually, the amp is full of small details that could scare the most daunting of you ... and yet it took me only a short time to understand and tame these functions are equally useful and subtle.
Simply put, I would say that CL is an amp Blues / Rock / hard and that we can stagger his power and aggressiveness that this research, and it will just through all these little options.

I come from Marshall, I had an SLX, a 2555 Sl, a plexi and 2203 of 1982 and the VHT me just seems to be an interesting development of all that I could enjoy before with the added bonus of flexibility served the musician and situations that arise.

Yet I have been discouraged by a little too complicated amps such as the grinding that I find it quite difficult to solve and too typed in a way that does not fit me.

This amp is an amp plug & play ... it connects and Rock n Roll!

SOUNDS

Perfectly suited to both modern rock classic ... blues, hardcore, metal ... no problemo, just turn the knobs are! It pushes the master ... to clean the brown sound ... you name it ... you love pedals too ... ... the VHT OCD, Fat Boost, Fuzz ... you can submit it s 'live with it perfectly! on the other hand to proscribe: Pedals emulation pod or amp simulators ... but I do not think any are interested in this amp addict to this kind of stuff.

For sound, voicing wide enough to equalize can therefore go through all the possible colors of clear ... the bold, clean lens to the big crunch to get the most demonic saturations without either falling into the Neo eh o)

I would glue the Les Paul ... but works well with most guitars, actually ...

OVERALL OPINION

I use it for two years and I believe he will do a hell of a long way with me. As stated above I have just come from Marshall and VHT seemed to be the most direct shortcut to access such sounds. I also had a Soldano was very cool but who asked me a lot of problems with connections (loops do not work with my pedals) and these problems boost scouring for drilling just enough for solos ... with all of that VHT is now part of my past.

I find that all features exude good taste. What is certain, Fryette is a musician in the service of musicians and develop the Classic for old backpacker clubs. There's just something I'm not a fan, it's aesthetics "lab" which should probably be the cause of preconceived biases about the brand in this case, amps cold and rights, which is absolutely false.

Another thing, I do not quite agree with the idea that circulates about the heads VHT ring only on the VHT cabinets. Alchemy speaker / head is a matter of taste and it is good to try. Me I use a Soldano in V30/G12T75 212 and a 412 Marshall Slash equipped with V30.

Reasonable value for money well if the gear was generally less expensive it would not displease me ...