Fryette Sig:X = One of the best amps ever built. IMHO

[richedie]

I recently borrowed a friend's Fryette Sig:X and was completely blown away. So smooth, so refined, so responsive, amazing at bedroom volume (whisper), amazing at rehearsal, so responsive, so versatile, can be beautiful sounding for jazz or brutal for angry metal and everything in between. I was close to buying a Splawn next but this Fryette may just be my next amp, and may put an end to a lot of GAS. Playing through this amp for the first time was a big "wow" moment where my jaw hit the floor. It can be chewy or stiff, smooth or hairy, what an amazing amp. Steve Fryette has outdone himself.

This is ONLY my opinion, I don't want to start an argument. We ALL like different things.

 

[thiswaythatway]

 

[sjk]

I just had a used one show up today. Won't have a chance to play it till later in the day but am super excited. My Ultra Lead is my favorite of all the amps I've owned with my mark III right behind it. Steve is a Master

 

[colimofsmoke]

I recently borrowed a friend's Fryette Sig:X and was completely blown away. So smooth, so refined, so responsive, amazing at bedroom volume (whisper), amazing at rehearsal, so responsive, so versatile, can be beautiful sounding for jazz or brutal for angry metal and everything in between. I was close to buying a Splawn next but this Fryette may just be my next amp, and may put an end to a lot of GAS. Playing through this amp for the first time was a big "wow" moment where my jaw hit the floor. It can be chewy or stiff, smooth or hairy, what an amazing amp. Steve Fryette has outdone himself.

I feel very much the same way about my deliverance 60. Would really like to check out a sig:x

 

[richedie]

I had a VHT UL but didn't really like it and it was terribly thin at low volumes and some of the clubs we played I was asked to run it at a whisper and my tone was embarrasing. Too loud and stiff so I sold. Deliverance is killer but I prefer extra channels, better low volume tones. All my amps MUST perform at every volume, my 20th Shiva, Event Horizon, BFG Dual Rectifier and hopefully soon, Sig:X.

 

[sjk]

I had a VHT UL but didn't really like it and it was terribly thin at low volumes and some of the clubs we played I was asked to run it at a whisper and my tone was embarrasing. Too loud and stiff so I sold. Deliverance is killer but I prefer extra channels, better low volume tones. All my amps MUST perform at every volume, my 20th Shiva, Event Horizon, BFG Dual Rectifier and hopefully soon, Sig:X.

Gonna have to dissagree with you on this one, your post are interesting and I like reading them BUT as much as you go back and forth, changing your mind, opinions, and gear choices I'm not gonna take much stock in this opinion (I change my tastes and go back and forth also but don't always air it in public as you do ) Ultra Lead does sound good turned up as most tube amps do but mine sounds anything but thin at low volumes although I've heard this before. Killer, killer amp and I'm not even a metal Dude! Also my first Ultra Lead sounded like shit and boomy as hell until I retubed it and set the bias correct. Fryette amps are very sensitive to Power tubes as well as preamp tubes imo.

 

[NinjaRaf]

Sig:x is a great amp.

 

[stephen sawall]

The Sig X is the amp I use the most the last few years .... incredibly versatile.

All three channels sound great & can do clean on up. CLEAN channel can get one of my favorite vintage English crunch sounds. I tend to use the RHYTHM channel the most. Both the LEAD & RHYTHM channels can do clean & get in the "metal" range & everything between. The knobs & switches really allow you to shape the sound & feel. Takes pedals great & the loop works with everything I have tried.

I can get in the ball park of Fender blackface or tweed, Marshall classic and mod, Dumble, Mesa Marks, Vox and several more ..... but it reminds me of Hiwatt the most. It never really sounds like these amps .... but does get in the range and some get very close.

 

[richedie]

I had a VHT UL but didn't really like it and it was terribly thin at low volumes and some of the clubs we played I was asked to run it at a whisper and my tone was embarrasing. Too loud and stiff so I sold. Deliverance is killer but I prefer extra channels, better low volume tones. All my amps MUST perform at every volume, my 20th Shiva, Event Horizon, BFG Dual Rectifier and hopefully soon, Sig:X.

Gonna have to dissagree with you on this one, your post are interesting and I like reading them BUT as much as you go back and forth, changing your mind, opinions, and gear choices I'm not gonna take much stock in this opinion (I change my tastes and go back and forth also but don't always air it in public as you do ) Ultra Lead does sound good turned up as most tube amps do but mine sounds anything but thin at low volumes although I've heard this before. Killer, killer amp and I'm not even a metal Dude! Also my first Ultra Lead sounded like shit and boomy as hell until I retubed it and set the bias correct. Fryette amps are very sensitive to Power tubes as well as preamp tubes imo.

This is ONLY my opinion, I don't want to start an argument. We ALL like different things.
Like I said did not like the UL, love the SigX, so there!
Number one reason I sold the UL was due to poor performance at gigs where I had to play with master below 9 O'Clock. Done, Period, end of story. My amp tech tried as well. No go.

 

[richedie]

I agree stephen sawall - what an amp. I want one so bad. I hope it is the last amp I buy, four amps should be enough for anyone, tired of buying gear.

 

[Heritage Softail]

Man the Sig X sucks donkey balls..

My Bugera totally crushes it...


Someone always comes in a thread and bashes. I never do, so decided to give it a shot. Not as exciting as anticipated.

Really, the VHT line is not carried in the music stores I go to in ATL. I have heard so much good about them, I definitely will take a ride on a Sig X if one shows up used. Sounds like a nice blend of channel voicings.

 

[daveg62]

Great sounding amp, no doubt but I don't know about best amp ever built. Mine suffered from the dreaded "pop" when switching channels. Ended up selling it and keeping my Mark III. Like you said, we all like different things.

 

[firegate]

I recently replaced my Mark III with a SigX and I'm loving it so far, but I do wish it didn't rely on cranking the Master so much. You can crank both gain dials all the way up at lower volumes, but it starts to sound fizzy at that point - you need to get the master up to 10:00/11:00 or so to start getting some decent gain out of the amp, which depending on the cab can be very loud.

That aside, absolutely love the amp. Nails a whole range of tones and, despite being covered in knobs and switches, is a breeze do dial in. Not a bedroom amp IMO though.

 

[mentoneman]

the year steve intoduced this amp at NAMM i felt it was the best amp of the show
and the deliverance 60 is a killer as well for my taste

 

[Kapo_Polenton]

How about pointing out the obvious that playing a new amp is like banging a new chick? IF the amp is a good amp just like the girl is pretty hot, fresh meat is going to impress you more a lot of the time. I bet if you had that amp and you played what you have now for the first time you'd probably say that your amp must be one of the best amps ever built because it appealed to your ear. Your ear is tuned for a certain sound and response and hence it makes that amp one of the best ever built. Personally though, I think you'd need to spend a few months with it before you came to that conclusion.

 

[thiswaythatway]

Man the Sig X sucks donkey balls..

My Bugera totally crushes it...


Someone always comes in a thread and bashes. I never do, so decided to give it a shot. Not as exciting as anticipated.

Really, the VHT line is not carried in the music stores I go to in ATL. I have heard so much good about them, I definitely will take a ride on a Sig X if one shows up used. Sounds like a nice blend of channel voicings.

VHT amps =

 

[yngzaklynch]

a palm tree? lol

 

[Mailman1971]

Never heard the SIG X...
but during an amp fest a few years back...we had a Ultra lead and a Rivera KR7....
doing some head cutting.......and they sounded identical.
Really powerful. Like a sledgehammer to the chest. But yeah....little raspy and dry to me.
So out the door they went.

 

[7 Stringer]

I had a VHT UL but didn't really like it and it was terribly thin at low volumes and some of the clubs we played I was asked to run it at a whisper and my tone was embarrasing. Too loud and stiff so I sold. Deliverance is killer but I prefer extra channels, better low volume tones. All my amps MUST perform at every volume, my 20th Shiva, Event Horizon, BFG Dual Rectifier and hopefully soon, Sig:X.

Gonna have to dissagree with you on this one, your post are interesting and I like reading them BUT as much as you go back and forth, changing your mind, opinions, and gear choices I'm not gonna take much stock in this opinion (I change my tastes and go back and forth also but don't always air it in public as you do ) Ultra Lead does sound good turned up as most tube amps do but mine sounds anything but thin at low volumes although I've heard this before. Killer, killer amp and I'm not even a metal Dude! Also my first Ultra Lead sounded like shit and boomy as hell until I retubed it and set the bias correct. Fryette amps are very sensitive to Power tubes as well as preamp tubes imo.

This is ONLY my opinion, I don't want to start an argument. We ALL like different things.
Like I said did not like the UL, love the SigX, so there!
Number one reason I sold the UL was due to poor performance at gigs where I had to play with master below 9 O'Clock. Done, Period, end of story. My amp tech tried as well. No go.

Hmm, i own a UL and it is far from sounding thin at low volumes. But you state "Master below 9 O`Clock", this has to be at minimum 1 O`Clock, then adjust the channels masters.

I think this might be the reason you had thin and embarrassing tone. I run my master at 2 O`Clock and it is damn brutal and in your face.

Just saying.

Chris

 

[sjk]

I had a VHT UL but didn't really like it and it was terribly thin at low volumes and some of the clubs we played I was asked to run it at a whisper and my tone was embarrasing. Too loud and stiff so I sold. Deliverance is killer but I prefer extra channels, better low volume tones. All my amps MUST perform at every volume, my 20th Shiva, Event Horizon, BFG Dual Rectifier and hopefully soon, Sig:X.

Gonna have to dissagree with you on this one, your post are interesting and I like reading them BUT as much as you go back and forth, changing your mind, opinions, and gear choices I'm not gonna take much stock in this opinion (I change my tastes and go back and forth also but don't always air it in public as you do ) Ultra Lead does sound good turned up as most tube amps do but mine sounds anything but thin at low volumes although I've heard this before. Killer, killer amp and I'm not even a metal Dude! Also my first Ultra Lead sounded like shit and boomy as hell until I retubed it and set the bias correct. Fryette amps are very sensitive to Power tubes as well as preamp tubes imo.

This is ONLY my opinion, I don't want to start an argument. We ALL like different things.
Like I said did not like the UL, love the SigX, so there!
Number one reason I sold the UL was due to poor performance at gigs where I had to play with master below 9 O'Clock. Done, Period, end of story. My amp tech tried as well. No go.

Come to think of it when I play the UL it's in my basement where I can get away with quite alot of volume and if you are talking mousefart bedroom levels I guess yeah it don't sound that great...there are definitely better mousefart volume high gainers I've been told my interpretation of low volume in my basement is actually quite loud upstairs...multiple times.

Got a chance to lay into the new to me Sig X and it's a good amp for sure. Too early to know for sure but so far still like the Ultra Lead better, although similiar.