Fryette Pittbull Ultralead II

[SgtThump]

I was looking at the trademark office on an unrelated topic and stumbled across the following. VHT took a $150K loan from axl, used the name as collateral, and never repaid. AXL filed lawsuit, I'm too lazy to go find out if it ever went to court. I guess we can put all the guessing about what really happened to rest.

https://tsdr.uspto.gov/documentview...NOS20080903124400&linkId=10#docIndex=9&page=1

Also, it appears that the VHT trademark hasn't been renewed since 2022. Other amp companies appear to have let their trademarks die, too (Splawn, KSR).

That's exactly what I remember. We're told that we don't know the other side of the story (fryette side), but in the end who ended up with the VHT name?

The only reason I care about this is that for 20 years, Stevie and others have been saying he sold the name. I get trying to put a twist on it, but it doesnt' seem to be true. According to real court documents, he couldn't repay the loan and lost the VHT name. If he just came out and said that years ago when it happened, nobody would care.

I dunno. I sure loved the VHT amps I owned and don't really wish any "ill will", but I just don't like him for some reason. I can't explain why. lol

 

[S̷͖͑m̵͎͂á̵̺s̸͚̈́h̴̬̑]

That's exactly what I remember. We're told that we don't know the other side of the story (fryette side), but in the end who ended up with the VHT name?

The only reason I care about this is that for 20 years, Stevie and others have been saying he sold the name. I get trying to put a twist on it, but it doesnt' seem to be true. According to real court documents, he couldn't repay the loan and lost the VHT name. If he just came out and said that years ago when it happened, nobody would care.

I dunno. I sure loved the VHT amps I owned and don't really wish any "ill will", but I just don't like him for some reason. I can't explain why. lol

I like him a lot. I like his amps a lot. I would even ignore this offering as him thinking out of the box (still would have zero interest)-if he used a different name

 

[Eazy-ESP]

I was looking at the trademark office on an unrelated topic and stumbled across the following. VHT took a $150K loan from axl, used the name as collateral, and never repaid. AXL filed lawsuit, I'm too lazy to go find out if it ever went to court. I guess we can put all the guessing about what really happened to rest.

https://tsdr.uspto.gov/documentview...NOS20080903124400&linkId=10#docIndex=9&page=1

Also, it appears that the VHT trademark hasn't been renewed since 2022. Other amp companies appear to have let their trademarks die, too (Splawn, KSR).

Let me know when Marshall forget to renew.

 

[311boogieman]

Holy crap this thread is exhausting can someone give me the cliff notes version

 

[Kelly]

Holy crap this thread is exhausting can someone give me the cliff notes version

The new UL:
only 25 pounds, but rack mount (no headshell or included rack case)
can run 6550 and EL34
built-in ir loader
built-in 1 watt amp
EQ is digital (converts signal to digital)

From the videos the digital stuff looks clunky, and we're not sure if the digital part goes down if the amp will still work. Steve said in one of the videos the standby switch is digital. For me, the weight is a winner but the digital implementation and look are not for me. Fryette amps are usually pretty, this one kinda ugly.

 

[311boogieman]

The new UL:
only 25 pounds, but rack mount (no headshell or included rack case)
can run 6550 and EL34
built-in ir loader
built-in 1 watt amp
EQ is digital (converts signal to digital)

From the videos the digital stuff looks clunky, and we're not sure if the digital part goes down if the amp will still work. Steve said in one of the videos the standby switch is digital. For me, the weight is a winner but the digital implementation and look are not for me. Fryette amps are usually pretty, this one kinda ugly.

Thanks man

I get the IR loader and light weight but I don't understand how it runs power tubes. Where? And what does '1 watt amp' mean? I thought I read you had to connect this to a power amp. If you don't want to explain that's OK, I will take the time at some point at watch the NAM/Ola videos etc.

 

[S̷͖͑m̵͎͂á̵̺s̸͚̈́h̴̬̑]

Holy crap this thread is exhausting can someone give me the cliff notes version

He also took a non working version to his booth in namm and talked about how it would work IF it did work.

 

[S̷͖͑m̵͎͂á̵̺s̸͚̈́h̴̬̑]

I would be willing to bet that if he gave this a different name, this thread would be two pages long. They say bad publicity is good publicity.

I guess we will see

 

[7704A]

we're not sure if the digital part goes down if the amp will still work

He said in a video, I think either the Premier Guitar or BluGuitar one, that you can bypass the digital section in the event that it goes POOF!. Or less climatically, *fzzt*.

I get the IR loader and light weight but I don't understand how it runs power tubes. Where? And what does '1 watt amp' mean? I thought I read you had to connect this to a power amp. If you don't want to explain that's OK, I will take the time at some point at watch the NAM/Ola videos etc.

This is my understanding so far:

Power tubes: Are horizontally mounted, you can see them from the back pictures. It will be able to run all 6550's, KT88's, or two EL34's and two of the others.

1 watt amp: In addition to the 100W power amp, it has a 1W power amp driving a 1W reactive load, like the GPDI/IR desktop amp. The IR loader can either take the signal from the 1 watt amp being driven into the reactive load, or it can tap off the signal from the 100W power amp being driven into an external cab.

Have to connect to power amp?: No, it has one. Two actually, as mentioned above.

 

[godgrinder]

The features probably made sense to Steve considering how many units of Power Station and GPDI he've sold. However buying $899 gadgets and $4000 heads are two entirely different commitments.

 

[vultures]

Yeah the number of online complaints about their customer service seems unusually high but not sure if it's a phase they have now come out of.

I e-mailed them a few years back about an intricate repair I needed on a Pitbull. Tried calling. Crickets. Tried pulling some contacts. Nothing. I had a couple other buddies reach out for servicing on a Pitbull and Deliverance. Also nothing. Maybe I'm bitter, but I won't buy any new Fryette or even used VHT stuff.

 

[Wizard of Ozz]

The new UL:
only 25 pounds, but rack mount (no headshell or included rack case)
can run 6550 and EL34
built-in ir loader
built-in 1 watt amp
EQ is digital (converts signal to digital)

From the videos the digital stuff looks clunky, and we're not sure if the digital part goes down if the amp will still work. Steve said in one of the videos the standby switch is digital. For me, the weight is a winner but the digital implementation and look are not for me. Fryette amps are usually pretty, this one kinda ugly.

Thanks.

From this and the posts I read... It seems Stevie wanted to go after the Snax-Fx market... but not loose all his tube customers.

Looks to be more versatile... but not as versatile as a Axe-Fx... and due to the digital/analog converters... it won't sound as good/natural as a tube amp.

Conclusion: If I wanted a Axe-Fx I'd buy one. And he should've picked a new name. Ultralead 2? C'mon man!