Fryette Amplification Sig:X

Originally written by Stephen Sawall on rig-talk.com


I had sent in my Sig X to Fryette to get the latest official updates ….. it also got fresh power tubes (Sovtek KT88) , bias and V1 (Tung Sol) was replaced and the face plate was replaced with the Fryette logo. I got it back a few weeks ago. There was sound changes …. all for the better if you ask me.

How much is from the updates and how much from the new tubes ….. who knows ?

It seems the 3 way voice switches are more distinct sounding. It also seems the tone controls have a better range. I have run it thru a lot of sound shapes and gain ranges and so far I like everything. All three channels well do clean and crunch. The rhythm and lead channels well go into high gain.


UTILIZATION

I did notice the harmonics changed and it is warmer now. Still has the great dynamics and I think the feel is better.

Funk / country / rock / etc. sounds amazing with this amp.

This amp is kind of the best of both worlds. The options and control of a channel switcher .... yet the way it response to my guitar volume control, harmonics and the dynamics of a single channel amp. The bass still seems very focused. The balance of frequencies is working as I tune it in. I wish all amps had this kind of definition.

The amp responds very well to the guitar volume and different pickup selections. You can always tell what guitar is plugged in. It does not hide the sound of the guitar …. it enhances it.

All the switches are very useful to control the sound. You can really control the sound and feel. You can check out the manual and controls on the Fryette web site. Once you learn how the controls work and interact you well understand what useful tools these are.

The cleans seem bigger and more full. It has some of the best clean sounds of any amp. Strumming and appegioes all there.

The clean channel turned up to overdrive and everything else was more than I wanted. There are some great crunch sounds in the clean channel. The fullness and sounds of the amp was just great. I felt in complete control of the sound. I use the clean channel more like a non master volume amp most of the time. Using the guitar volume and pickup selector to get a wide range of tones.

SOUNDS

The vintage less gain English style crunch sounds from the rhythm channel are just amazing as are the modern heavy sounds from this channel and everything between.

The lead channel also does a lot of voices well. I have never felt like I need a pedal with this channel. It well do a wide variety of lead sounds. This channel can also get some very thick rhythm sounds.

I did a side by side with a several other modern amps in a wide range of tones and gain ranges. All the amps have their own taste .... and liked it better than any of them for the big modern sounds and everything else as far as that goes. It has way better dynamics and better tone control than any of these amps for my taste.


OVERALL OPINION

The way I could control the thickness of the bottom and blend in the the midrange was very impressive. Heading into heavy sounds on a lot of amps they do not cut well in the upper midrange and have poor dynamics. Dynamics are key in my playing. Between the heavy sounds on the rhythm and lead channels I found some of the best sounds I have found from any amp for these sounds for my taste. The tone, definition, articulation, control, dynamics and feel are all there.

Every channel has so much usable range. This amp does it all .... clean / edge of break up / crunch / heavy / leads / vintage and modern flavors.

Well blending preamp and power amp distortion the control of the sound was the best I have seen.

I do not know if this amp would work for everyone as well as it does for me? But this works for me.

The Fryette Sig:X is a 100W guitar amp head, powered by two KT-88 tubes, that features three channels, a footswitchable boost, a series/parallel variable footswitchable effects loop, line out, extra presence and depth knobs and can be run at 4, 8 and 16 ohms. Here are the three individual channels and control layouts for each.

Lead Channel:
Voice Switch, Gain 1, Gain 2, Boost, More/Less Gain Switch, Power Shift (100/40) Switch, Master Volume, Scoop Switch, Treble, Middle, Bass, Lead/Rhythm Presence

Rhythm Channel:
Voice Switch, Gain 1, Gain 2, Boost, More/Less Gain Switch, Power Shift (100/40) Switch, Master Volume, Scoop Switch, Treble, Middle, Bass, Lead/Rhythm Depth

Clean Channel:
Volume, Treble, Middle, Bass, Voice Switch, Boost Switch, Power Shift (100/40) Switch, Fat Switch, Presence, Depth


UTILIZATION



It is fairly easy to get a good rock and clean sound out of this amp with minimal tweaking. The manual is clear and gives you good sample control setting starting points. I bought the amp used and the manual was available for download at the Fryette user’s forum. Although it is easy to get very usable sounds right from the start, there are a vast array of tone shaping options on each channel so you can fine tune your sound, which might take awhile to dial in.

SOUNDS

This amp is a cover band guitarist dream! I have used it exclusively in a cover band that plays 60’s – 90’s rock, classic rock, modern rock, punk and blues. Everything from Aerosmith, Alice In Chains and Poison to REM, SRV, Red Hot Chili Peppers and ZZ Top.

I have used PRS, Suhr Modern’s (super strat style) and McNaught (Les Paul on steroids) guitars with this amp and it lets the characteristic of each guitar through. It doesn’t color each of them and make them sound the same.

My favorite sounds are the rock and 80’s rock sounds, which I think this amp excels at. It is possible to get a nice Plexi lower gain sound and then hit the footswitch boost for a JCM 800 tone on the rhythm channel. The lead channel can take you from JCM 800 territory and into “heavier” Mesa Mark 4 tones.

The clean tones are really nice, as well. I have been through a lot of amps and this is one of the best clean channels I have used. It really shines in a loud, live setting. In the past, I have had trouble with my clean channel being able to be heard through the band mix and this one has been great for that, due to the fact that there are very useful tone shaping options to choose from on this channel.

The one weak sound on this amp is getting it into super high gain territory i.e. that of bands like Pantera. It can get close on the lead channel, like I said before, Mesa Mark territory. I have been able to dial in a sound close to Metallica’s Master of Puppets and that might be heavy enough for some. An EQ in the loop might be able to solve this but I have not tried it.


OVERALL OPINION

Overall, this is a fantastic amp, especially for what you can buy them for on the used market.
The features I like the most are the great tone shaping options on each channel. It is possible to get six different types of sounds/tones if you set your three channels to where you want and then hit them with the footswitchable boost for a different sound and feel.

Another great feature is the footswitchable effects loop. I use it for a solo boost, set the level higher than your amps volume and kick it in when you need a volume boost for solos – works great!

The only drawback for me is not being able to get the ultra heavy sound from it but all the other features and flexibility make up for it.

This amp is a well built tone generator that can give you many tones. I have had many amps and for cover band gigging this would be one of my top choices – especially for the used market price they go for.

all-tube amp 100w, see features on the net!
no effect but it does not lack (for me anyway).
3 channels: clean, rhythm, lead, one for clean, one for crunch (but I use for big greasy saturated the Gojira), and a surgical channel whose accuracy is foolproof!

UTILIZATION

Each channel has its own EQ: treble middle bass (nothing special)
Easily get a good sound with this amp, and we realize that tampering with the settings you can have a good sound and that we can not do without those moments when one hour is going to make his adjustment to THE finally get her, in fact, it seems that this amp has the ability to do better every time!
A small point in more depth the knob that adjusts the intensity of palm-muting, this croumphh croumphh that will rock your whole body;, and then it's still well thought out!

SOUNDS

I play everything and also amp so everything is fine (of Clapton Gojira, not even changing the channel with the small switch more / less).
The sound is not fat and drooling a mesa in the U.S. but rather a mixture of German and American, hyper accurate but at the same time with a character, a sound of its own but we looks like!
I use a Les Paul with Burstbuckers 2 and 3 and the bridge pickup combined with the rhythm channel, foot, a big full but not too low and bouncing .. I also play with a ltd mh-1000 EMG81 or adjustments more delicate por arrive to get a sound not too impersonal ...

OVERALL OPINION

I month, and I had time to test a lot of possibilities, including many hairy music and ca sends the block, attention, I hope that there is no crack in your walls, otherwise the house may collapse ...
This is the first time I had an amp that this specific and personal sound, unlike engl will be limited to sanitize its sound, the VHT will build character, while not falling into the U.S. slobbery distortion. .
This head can play everything from blues, rockabilly, rock n roll, metal ...
His weak point, clear sound that is very nice but very cold and crystalline.