Fryette Fat Bottom vs. Friedman or others.

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GuitarManTim

New member
I'm trying to decide on a new 4x12 and I'm torn between the Fryette or the Friedman. I'm leaning more towards the Fryette, but I'm concerned that because it's front-loaded instead of rear-loaded, it'll be too one directional compared to a rear-loaded. I play mostly prog and thrash metal, also hard rock and some ambient cleans. Thank you.
 
If I were you, I will go with Fryette FB. Coz I prefer FL to RL. I had Friedman cab v30 bottom/GB top cab for a while. It was nice cab. But, prefered Marshall 1960BX. Why don't you get used 1960BX or 1960BV cab if you play lots of ground.
 
GuitarManTim said:
I'm trying to decide on a new 4x12 and I'm torn between the Fryette or the Friedman. I'm leaning more towards the Fryette, but I'm concerned that because it's front-loaded instead of rear-loaded, it'll be too one directional compared to a rear-loaded. I play mostly prog and thrash metal, also hard rock and some ambient cleans. Thank you.
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Fryette FB is one of the best cabs you can buy. My buddy Chris @midgod07 is selling one of my old cabs (I had 3 at one point)…he’s in Birmingham

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For Sale Thread 'Fryette Fatbottom Front-loaded 412 w/ Fane 70s'

Squeaky clean. Known pedigree. Lived in home studio. 280 watt stereo cab. Front-loaded w/ Fane 70s. $1200. Located in Birmingham, Alabama.
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Yeah the new Fanes absolutely curbstomp the P50E in every way possible

Idk what Fryette was smoking when he greenlit the P50E as the supposed perfectly designed speaker for his cabs


And I'm not even an Eminence hater - the P50E is just the worst Emi I've ever owned by a long shot
 
I've had both and I prefer the Friedman. The Fryette was definitely cool and a very focused sound. It seemed to work best with the P50Es, but didn't like other speakers. When I had it, Fanes weren't available (or I didn't know about them), so I have no idea what it would sound like with them.

My Friedman is a great base 4X12. It can do anything you want depending on the speakers and handles all types of speakers well. It is tight, but not as focused as a front loaded cabinet and maybe just has more of that classic or standard sound I'm used too. The Fryette is great, but definitely unique.
 
I bought a FB straight 4x12 after playing one that a guitarist from my band's sister band let me borrow for a bit. That thing was so articulate, warm, punchy and vibey.

P50E's are great once broken in, but that break in takes a very long time, like 100-300 hours, and I sold my brand new FB because of that.

I also built a 16 ohm FL 4x12 with 90's "UK" V30's and T-1221 modern Chinese Greenbacks ala Friedman Top/Bottom style with Aiken wiring (V30's series bottom/GB series top parallel at the jack) and loved that cab. Ultimately, I can hear non-Mesa spec V30s and reject it the same as Steve Fryette did which inspired him to create the P50E. There was something non-musical in the Greenies too. Ah, the cursed sensitivity! Ugh!

My advice: Get a well used and broken in FB cab, and if you don't like it, build your own cab with used, well broken in speakers and do a series of experiments until you find exactly what suits your taste.

That said, to date, nothing beats my '03 OS Mesa 4x12 modded to single jack S/P wired Aiken style with Marshall Sound Runner 10 ga. and a 4" thick slab of acoustic foam on the back panel. If you're a 16 ohm guy, just replace the speakers with T-4416's. There's just something holy about those cabs. If you play standard tuning, traditional size will suit, if you play lower, OS gives the "displacement" for the lows to be muscular and open.
 
RedB4Black said:
Fryette FB is one of the best cabs you can buy. My buddy Chris @midgod07 is selling one of my old cabs (I had 3 at one point)…he’s in Birmingham

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For Sale Thread 'Fryette Fatbottom Front-loaded 412 w/ Fane 70s'

Squeaky clean. Known pedigree. Lived in home studio. 280 watt stereo cab. Front-loaded w/ Fane 70s. $1200. Located in Birmingham, Alabama.
  • Like
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Im definitely interested since I live in alabama I could pick it up, but unfortunately im not able to direct message or reply to sales on here because I haven't posted enough.
 
I had a VHT fatbottom 2x12. Love the design and portability of it. The P50 speakers not too much. It was tight. Paired with my Carvin Legacy head was cool. Tightened up that amp. If ya are leaning towards a front loaded cab, maybe check a Deizel FL cab. They either have V30s or K100 speakers usually. What head are ya gonna be running through it?
 
RedB4Black said:
@midgod07 message him!
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I would but unfortunately I haven't made enough posts to direct message anyone but I think he can still message me if you give my username. Thanks again for showing me that. Also the whole projection and directional thing do you think the fat bottom is as "3d" for lack of a better word as other good rear loaded cabs?
 
I bought a FB and sold the P50e’s immediately. Replaced them with GWS versions of t75’s and V30’s. One of my favorite cabs ever.
 
The FB has such little resonance, I would want more bloom for the genres OP listed. It’s also directional AF, fyi.
 
The p50e's are very distinct. I think they pair well with the FB but you should try it before buying cause you might hate it.
 
FB cab is good, I wasn't blown away with it next to my EVH to keep it. Sold it after a year or so. Friedman cab will have a more vintage vibe. DIdn't like that cab and sold it quick, again next to the EVH and an Uberkab.

I also have a D412 with those P50es. Honestly haven't played that cab more than a handful of times in the 3 years I've had it. I don't think its horrible with the P50es but mine was played and gigged for many years so maybe there's something to the break-in period or maybe I'm just not as hate on them as others. They aren't my favorite by any stretch, but not absolutely horrible...definitely a hollowish midrange, weird and hard to describe. Keep wanting to try different speakers in the D412 but too lazy.
 
boltzthrower said:
The FB has such little resonance, I would want more bloom for the genres OP listed. It’s also directional AF, fyi.
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That's sort of what im concerned about. I know one of the members here is selling a wizard 412 ksr built loaded with redbacks, would that be more my style? Also im not sure if there's any difference between the KSR built wizard cabs and BAD built cabs.
 
RedB4Black said:
Newer Fryette cabs come with Fane F70g speakers. The Eminence p50e speakers are ass. Would not recommend those.
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I had one VHT cab long ago....for about 2 days until I returned it to GC. Worst POS cab I've ever heard in my life. Had all these high expectations since I had both a D60 and a D120 in the room.
No punch, no nothing. It had those P50s. It sounded so bad I didn't even bother to try different speakers in it.
Ugh.
 
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