The Sig X is my favorite channel switcher by any maker. Fryette spent 10 year designing this amp. This is longer than most builders spend on a project as most of you know. I kind of see it as a hybrid between the Deliverance and Pittbull amps. If you look at the different models you well see what I mean.
I was told the power section is much more like the Deliverance as well as some of the features. The 3way voicing switches on each channel reflects the different era's of the Pittbull as the sound has evolved over the last 20 years. They are always updating all there amps all the time as near as I can tell.
The power section of the Sig X is running a bit more on the edge than most power-amps .... this is why it has more of that smaller poweramp feel and why the clean channel is more like a non-master amp than a clean channel. The clean channel very much reminds me of vintage Hiwatt amps. I use my volume a lot on my guitar and the boost function on the clean channel to get different sounds and do not really need more headroom myself. If you really want more head room from the power section I would recommend checking out Tung Sol KT120. They are voiced to be big and clean.
When we did a amp fest a few years ago here this was the most popular channel on the amp once I showed people it does a lot more than clean. Many thought it was the best sound in the room.
If you look at the list price of the amps ... the going used prices make a lot more sense. When I asked Fryette about the price difference I was told ...
The power amp is different .... It is a hybrid of the Deliverance amps power section and Two/Ninety/Two Stereo Power Amplifier. One half the 2/90/2 power amp of course. As well there is no graphic EQ. They also have learned stuff over the years that make it cheaper for them produce. All this effects the list price.
I asked support (Dave) the same question about how and where the Sig X is made ..... he told me all Fryette amps are made and assembled in the USA completely at the Fryette shop. The parts that it is made from are made all over the world ..... just like every other amp made by anyone today. He sent me a bunch of photos of the whole process.
Digital Jams I believe you are right about how they are built. The UL and CLX Pittbull's if I understand are what is called a "master build" This means only one person does the entire build. As you can imagine this would cost more and would be time consuming in several ways.
The new Memphis 30 preamp section I was told is almost identical to the clean and rhythm channels of the Sig X.
Here is my review of the Sig X from the Amplifier Reviews section .... not many amps fit in a mix as well as the Fryette stuff.
viewtopic.php?f=49&t=67154
All the amps that Fryette builds are killer .... it is just a matter of taste and what features you want. ..... and yes they are all different.
