Greazygeo
Well-known member
I was hoping for lighter myself. The one thing I hate about my Wizard is how heavy it is.
This new one looks awesome to me.
This new one looks awesome to me.
Greazygeo
Well-known member
“I suspect it ends up as a niche product, mainly because most people buying boutique amps want a real tube head, not something that feels like rack gear.”
This is what I was commenting on. I’m sure Steve considered his market for this. Plenty of Fractal, Two notes etc rack type gear people are using. For me in my studio, this will be excellent. Not what I was expecting, not that I was really expecting anything.
There were things about my old UL I didn’t like, but overall it was a great amp for me for a long time. Hopefully, what I didn’t like has been taken care of with this one.
DanTravis62
Moderator
i mean, if it sounds great it sounds great
But the aesthetics are definitely kind of cringe
I also don't get why you would do it like this, with all the bits and bobbles and extraneous recording bullshit.... but with small iron and a price tag of 4k, lol
Who is this for? If you were going to go the rackmount route, without doing a full size head, then give everyone the classic pittbull ultralead lead and rhythm channels with a GEQ in a single space rack for 1500$ or something, maybe cut into the crab/myasnikov market and split the difference
I'm just confused about who this is for and who's gonna buy it, but it's certainly possible I could be proven wrong and it's going to be a huge hit or something
I'm positively predisposed to fryette's stuff, and have had good experiences with the deliverance, power stations, etc i've played and owned..... i'm just wildly confused like the nick young meme about this release
But the aesthetics are definitely kind of cringe
I also don't get why you would do it like this, with all the bits and bobbles and extraneous recording bullshit.... but with small iron and a price tag of 4k, lol
Who is this for? If you were going to go the rackmount route, without doing a full size head, then give everyone the classic pittbull ultralead lead and rhythm channels with a GEQ in a single space rack for 1500$ or something, maybe cut into the crab/myasnikov market and split the difference
I'm just confused about who this is for and who's gonna buy it, but it's certainly possible I could be proven wrong and it's going to be a huge hit or something
I'm positively predisposed to fryette's stuff, and have had good experiences with the deliverance, power stations, etc i've played and owned..... i'm just wildly confused like the nick young meme about this release
stephen sawall
SEMI ERECT MEMBER
Curious if the GEQ is digital or analog with digital control ?
I do like the ides that all the switches and GEQ is digitally controlled. Everything set up with presets.
Reminds me of a deluxe version of the GPDI-IR.
I do like the ides that all the switches and GEQ is digitally controlled. Everything set up with presets.
Reminds me of a deluxe version of the GPDI-IR.
hellzington
Well-known member
Ah, got it. Thanks for clarifying and I didn't mean to be snippy.
I completely agree with you on the studio and touring use case. That is likely where this product makes the most sense, especially for players who already live in rack-based workflows with Fractal, Two Notes, or similar setups. In those environments, consistency, recall, and integration matter more than form factor. A VHX is a great fit if you're playing the same set every night and want instant recall in a tube amp format.
Where I still have some hesitation is with the broader hobbyist market, which is where most sales are at. Bedroom players and weekend warriors tend to gravitate toward simplicity, smaller footprints, and fewer moving parts, especially digital. That said, the industry is clearly shifting toward digital, fully mic’d stages, and silent rigs, so the addressable market may be growing faster than it appears.
For context, I own an Axe-FX III Mk II Turbo and absolutely love it. If I’m being honest, I probably play it more than my tube amps. I have also bought several tube amps specifically because of how good they sounded in the Axe-FX models. That is where my internal debate comes in. If I already have a Deliverance model, extensive EQ, and near-limitless tone shaping, could I achieve a very similar result by running the Axe-FX into a power amp? And if so, is this a four-thousand-dollar problem worth solving?
I am not saying the product does not make sense. I am just saying it occupies a very specific lane, and it will be interesting to see how many players decide that this hybrid approach is the right tradeoff for them.
griff10672
Well-known member
going to be hell on your local Tech if you have a problem ..... what if the digital interface section of the amp has issues ... who you going to call then ?
you'll have to ship it right back to Fryette ... you won't have a choice ...
I think it's cool .... but like anything else ... there's definitely some cons to consider
you'll have to ship it right back to Fryette ... you won't have a choice ...
I think it's cool .... but like anything else ... there's definitely some cons to consider
DanTravis62
Moderator
definitely a consideration.
I was just wondering, if he was dead set on making a smaller rack unit, why not just keep it analog and simple and make it smaller/less pricey?
I dunno, i'm sure it probably sounds great it just seems kind of a hammer in search of a nail to me
espquade
Well-known member
Wizard at the very least maybe heavy , but those side cutout carry handles is a brilliant idea for heavier amps. Wish more amp makers would do something like it.
hellzington
Well-known member
This was a common concern with the VHX and I think it is a very fair point. Hybrid tube and digital designs introduce a lot of additional complexity once you start layering in GUIs, buttons, selectors, and software. What happens if a knob fails, the interface glitches, or the software becomes unstable? Who actually services these units long term?
Those questions matter, and they are a big reason why the reception to hybrid amps has historically been pretty frosty. Most players are hesitant to buy a tube amp that also contains a computer because it effectively doubles the number of things that can fail. Repairs tend to take longer, cost more, and often require specialized support. It also makes the amp "disposable tech" as new technology in the future will almost certainly render this obsolete in the not-too-distant future. By comparison, analog tube designs will work forever (so long as tubes are available).
By comparison, the AxeFX is designed with disposable tech in mind: if something goes wrong with an Axe-FX, you can move your presets to a new unit and be back up and running quickly. That safety net does not always exist with hybrid amps. It certainly was not the case with the Diezel, and I am not sure whether Fryette has fully solved for that either.
griff10672
Well-known member
I honestly didn't spend much time on the features of it .... I saw the digtal interface and right away said " not for me "
they're trying to produce something cutting edge in the digital world combined with old school amplifier topology I guess ... I actual can really respect that ... especially if moving forward there's no major issues with it ...
I would like to look inside to see what's actually digital about it ..... or maybe I should just take the time to see what it actually does in a manual ...
if it's basically a UL and a Power Station combined I guess the price is justified ( everything new is friggin expensive )
and like what was mentioned ..... the Music world as far as playing live has changed drastically ..... and I could see this as still having your UL tone with all the abilities of a modern modelling unit .
K
Kagami
Active member
At least with this form factor it'll be a lot cheaper than shipping a traditional full size head, it could be worse lol.
I don't really use my synergy stuff because the form factor is annoying with my tube heads so I don't think this is for me, I'll stick with my older UL I guess.
griff10672
Well-known member
ahhh that's a really good point .... I was just thinking too ... I wish all amps came like that .... it would be a lot easier for a crap ton of reasons ..
most heads take up way to much room for what's actually inside .... JCM800's come to mind right away .... I've built a full size one and a couple of small box styles ... the small box ones are like half the size of the regular ones .... so you end up with a huge wooden box just to fit the aesthetic of a cab ..
makes me wonder if racks are really making a comeback ..... stuff like this makes it plausible IMO
stephen sawall
SEMI ERECT MEMBER
I would be surprised if the digital part of this amp is very complex. Nothing Fryette has done digital is complex. I'm guessing basic MIDI interface for switching. Digital GEQ and presets.
ChurchHill
Well-known member
I think I'll withhold judgement until I hear it. I absolutely love the OG UL, have since I first heard one and even more so after I got one. So many great tones.
What I don't like is the inclusion of digital stuff. But I get it, and considering Fryette's record with the Power Station, this is probably pretty good. I felt the same way about the Soldano X88-IR and I've heard great things about that. I was somewhat less impressed with the VHX, but mostly because I already have effects and a VH4. Soldano and Fryette's approach, by including IR capability, makes more sense to me, but I do understand the appeal of the VHX for some players.
I think I'd rather have seen an updated head or a rack preamp (only) that could be matched to a reissued (or updated) 2150.
And yes, I'm firmly in the rack camp, always have been, always will be.
What I don't like is the inclusion of digital stuff. But I get it, and considering Fryette's record with the Power Station, this is probably pretty good. I felt the same way about the Soldano X88-IR and I've heard great things about that. I was somewhat less impressed with the VHX, but mostly because I already have effects and a VH4. Soldano and Fryette's approach, by including IR capability, makes more sense to me, but I do understand the appeal of the VHX for some players.
I think I'd rather have seen an updated head or a rack preamp (only) that could be matched to a reissued (or updated) 2150.
And yes, I'm firmly in the rack camp, always have been, always will be.
Mike Oxhuge
Well-known member
For that price in rack mount Id definitely get a Soldano X88IR and power amp. Obviously different tones but I will be interested to learn more about it. Fryette repair services are good and relatively fast if concerned about issues.
Eazy-ESP
Well-known member
I’m sick of IRs in everything.
griff10672
Well-known member
it's a big selling point these days .... I appreciate the digital aspects that have hit gear ... I love my digitally controlled BBD Delays ...
but yeah ....... IR's in everything ... interface is key these days .... and a huge selling point
Eazy-ESP
Well-known member
I actually use and like irs too. Just want them seperate. Especially with something like that Soldano pre-amp. I wouldn’t want to run IRs until after a power section anyway. I truly wonder how much of it is actual market request and how much is manufacturers listening to the vocal minority.
Smash
Hack
I feel like for a lot of us, we are going to see a lot of stuff made that just passes us by. I think it is smart to put all this IR/digital stuff in the amps for the new generations.
However to me, it reminds me of the older generation and their obssession with midi.
For me, I have always been obsessed with tone; not features. Whenever I see an IR in the amp, multiple channels, crazy circuits, I think about how much shit there is to break. Whereas with a simple single channel, you have the high gain tone you want, and a fairly bulletproof circuit.
Kind of like old motorcycles. They had analog gauges and carburators and no computers. When something breaks, you replace it or fix it. I am not a fan of all the digital junk that is being put in everything.
However to me, it reminds me of the older generation and their obssession with midi.
For me, I have always been obsessed with tone; not features. Whenever I see an IR in the amp, multiple channels, crazy circuits, I think about how much shit there is to break. Whereas with a simple single channel, you have the high gain tone you want, and a fairly bulletproof circuit.
Kind of like old motorcycles. They had analog gauges and carburators and no computers. When something breaks, you replace it or fix it. I am not a fan of all the digital junk that is being put in everything.
SgtThump
Real OG
Have they really gotten better? They used to be pretty well known for not answering emails or returning calls. That has always turned me off.
