VHT/Fryette: Let's Chat

[maddnotez]

Not sure what you are asking.

These amps are amazing and can get extremely crushing. To me the CL sounds best with the Master volume maxed out and channel volume to taste. Out of the amps I have owned the 100CL would probably be the only amp I would re buy.

Cooll. ...I wasn't clear sorry... I'm asking a few things:

1) All around opinions on the Fryette amps and also how they compare to others amps you've played or owned, liked or disliked, etc.

2) What are the differences between the Pittbulls, Ultra Leads, CLs, etc. It looks like they are all Pittbulls, but they fall in two camps: UL and CL/CLX.

3) What are the differences between CL/CLX?

4) Coming from the Friedman, Splawn, Bogner camp, how would an EL34 Fryette compare--if you've owned or played them all to compare?

Hope that helps. Cheers, mang!

Ahh ok, Well it seems you got most of the info replied here already but I will post my thoughts.

1) Fryette are some of the absolute best amps ever made is my opinion. They are unique and the ones I have had were crushing (I play metal) throw a boost in front of a UL or CL100 and you have the most disgusting tone ever. The mid gain was OK but no plexi and the cleans were passable but no Fender. Hard to get all of that in one amp but the used market prices on VHT are hard to beat for what you get.

#2 and #3 were answered better than I can.

4) I just sold a Rev 2 that I had owned for a few years. While I did not have my current cab when I owned the VHT I have compared and done a side by side with the Rev 2 and a 100CL. They were both amazing and different enough to warrant both.

As I said before out of all the amps I have owned the 100CL would be the one I would rebuy and that is over the Rev 2. I will say the CL could not hold a candle so they say to the massive low end of the Uberschall. The low end is UNREAL on that amp and it is not even close. I would say the CL has a grittier distortion with about the same level of distortion (both needed a boost for my taste) and the VHT was tighter, more attack with the Bogner having that Signature sag that it is known for.

If you like brutal metal tones you will absolutely like a VHT. I have never tried the Deliverance unfortunately.

 

[dirtyfunkg]

I'm asking a few things:

1) All around opinions on the Fryette amps and also how they compare to others amps you've played or owned, liked or disliked, etc.

2) What are the differences between the Pittbulls, Ultra Leads, CLs, etc. It looks like they are all Pittbulls, but they fall in two camps: UL and CL/CLX.

3) What are the differences between CL/CLX?

4) Coming from the Friedman, Splawn, Bogner camp, how would an EL34 Fryette compare--if you've owned or played them all to compare?

Hope that helps. Cheers, mang!

My original response to this thread was from a phone and very quick. This has hopefully some more useful opinions. Everything is purely subjective, YMMV, etc.

Here's my VHT/Fryette amp history since I've been an adult (I'm 31 btw

Currently own:
2007 Pittbull CLX with EQ
Sig:X
2016 GP/DI, which I pair with a 2018 PS-2 Power Station
Fatbottom 4x12 with P50E's (straight)
R112 cabinet with Fryette A70 speaker

Previously Owned:
2011 Pittbull Ultra Lead with EQ
VHT Deliverance Sixty
VHT Deliverance 120
1993 Pittbull Classic with EQ and Reverb (CLR 2x12 combo with Classic Lead 80's)

Main guitar is an Edwards LP Custom style with a JB in the bridge.

So, there's your context. Let's get into the Q and A.

1) All around opinions on the Fryette amps and also how they compare to others amps you've played or owned, liked or disliked, etc.

Overall:

For what I look for in an amp from a feel/response and tone standpoint, Fryette makes my favorite amps.

My personal style is very right hand dependent. I'm not a shreddy technical player, but dynamics are everything to me. That to me is the Fryette forte. Maybe that's what people mean by "dry." I palm mute and strum hard when I want chunk, but for cleans I naturally play more gently, and the Fryettes respond in a way that, to me, is a better channel for expression (no pun intended).

I've never played a Fryette that needed a boost to get to

From a mix standpoint, particularly playing in a two guitar band, the Fryettes seem to cut really well. I sold my Mesa Roadster because it seemed to get lost in the mix and reverted back to Fryette. I was able to get that Roadster to sound good in a trio--it filled the mix out really well, but otherwise no go. To this end, the Fryettes are similar to the Marshalls. They stay present in a mix.

I happen to love Fryette's cleans. As mentioned by others, Fryette cleans are not from the Fender, Marshall, or Vox camp. Fryette owes more to the Dave Reeves designs than the F/M/V lineage, which makes sense given he is running the Sound City reboot. So when you think Fryette cleans, think Pete Townshend and David Gilmour as the starting points.

This goes against the grain with almost everyone else on this board, but my least favorite amp by them was that Ultra Lead. I think the issue there was that my cabs at the time were really not suited for the UL. I would love to try it again with the FB412 or even a K100 cab to see how it goes.

Single channel amps:
For single channel amps, I've owned various Marshalls, and a Peavey VTM-60 in addition to the D60/D120 and GP/DI. As others have mentioned, no amp I've played has ever come close to the Deliverance amps for volume knob and touch sensitivity. You can go from crush to blush with a combo of volume knob and picking hand technique, and by the way, that blush clean doesn't sound or feel like a compromised tone. I really miss the Deliverance amps, and I really loved both of them.

The GP/DI was supposed to be based on the Deliverance amps, but it's honestly my least favorite between the Deliverance and the VTM. I keep it around because it's convenient at home, and it still certainly sounds good. I have yet to put the GP/DI and Power Station through a 4x12 together. It might be the cab that I don't jive with (the R112). The GP/DI does not seem as touch sensitive as the other Fryettes.

Multi-channel amps

The only amp I own right now that isn't VHT/Fryette is that Diezel D-Moll. The Diezel is less dynamically sensitive than the Fryettes but the cleans are more present and quite beautiful. They have more presence and sustain than the Fryette cleans... maybe more Fendery? D-Moll cleans are phenomenal. Channels 2 and 3 seem to just have too much gain too early, and with the lesser touch sensitivity on that amp, I find it's just not as responsive. It's a great complement to the Fryette though, and it records really easily. The distortion sounds also fill a void that Fryette can't fill for more thickness. It needs a boost to really tighten it though.

The only multi-channel amp I really miss is that Trem-O-Verb. That amp with EL34's in it was special.

2) What are the differences between the Pittbulls, Ultra Leads, CLs, etc. It looks like they are all Pittbulls, but they fall in two camps: UL and CL/CLX.

The Classic and the CLX are effectively the same amp. The Classic was rebranded as CLX due to a trademark lawsuit filed by Peavey against VHT. Stephen Sawall has given a lot of detail already here otherwise.

Analogy for me with the CLX vs UL is very similar to the analogy between the D60 and D120. The CLX is more pissed off, the UL is the bulldozer on your street.

3) What are the differences between CL/CLX?

No comment. Never played a CL.

4) Coming from the Friedman, Splawn, Bogner camp, how would an EL34 Fryette compare--if you've owned or played them all to compare?

I've never played a Friedman or Splawn, but I've played Bogner Ecstasy 101B.

My personal opinion: try a 101B then try a Sig:X. To me, these two amps are different sides of the same coin. I was very, very close to buying a 101B then happened to try a Sig:X while I was mulling the decision over. I walked out of the shop with the Sig:X. To me, the Sig:X can do just about everything the 101B can do and then some. The Sig:X clean is like a perfected NVM amp to me, and the gainy sounds thump and sing. My first impression of the Sig:X that put a smile on my face was the red channel. Set up right, I had perfect "Hate to Feel" Dirt sounds coming out of it, and it was super present with incredible sustain.

It honestly felt like the Sig:X had the sound I was looking for out of the Bogner. That's not to say the Bogner was bad at all. It was just a little squishier and compressed, and would have needed a boost to get where I would have wanted to go. The Sig:X didn't need that, and has the added benefit of being really close to the Deliverance with picking hand dynamics. In a sense, the Sig:X is like the perfect marriage of the 101B and the CLX for me.

The CLX has a more immediate response than the 101B and its EQ curve is different.

If you haven't already, consider a Trem-O-Verb with EL34's. For a sonic example of this amp, listen to Superunknown. You can always boost it to get into any level of metal you need. The Trem-O-Verb with EL34's reminded me a lot of a Bogner also.

The only amps I gas for right now are the Trem-O-Verb and maybe a D120.

 

[skullfxr]

I love my tremoverb with E34L's. Absolutely kills. It is a totally different amp with those than 6L6's. I really REALLY need to drag my sig:x out.

@dirtyfunk do you feel the need to have a deliverance and a sig:x? Or would that be excessively redundant?

 

[dirtyfunkg]

I love my tremoverb with E34L's. Absolutely kills. It is a totally different amp with those than 6L6's. I really REALLY need to drag my sig:x out.

@dirtyfunk do you feel the need to have a deliverance and a sig:x? Or would that be excessively redundant?

Yeah, Trem-O-Verbs and EL34 style tubes are a match made in heaven.

Need is a function of budget. I haven't been eating lots of beans and cauliflowers, so I'm not extremely gassy.

That said, the D120 is special and I miss it, and some day I hope to have one again. I just can't justify it right now. It records really well, and I don't have an amp right now that can crush the way that amp did.

My wife is watching me type this message and is very curious at all of it.

I should probably stop now.

 

[mnemonic]

*snip*

That’s all really great info, thanks for posting that.

Apart from the lower touch sensitivity of the GP/DI, do you think it compares at all tonally to the Deliverance or Pittbulls? I have a GP/DI I run into a Fryette 2/50/2, and I’ve always been curious how that actually compares to a Fryette head, but I’ve never been able to compare.

 

[stephen sawall]

I love my tremoverb with E34L's. Absolutely kills. It is a totally different amp with those than 6L6's. I really REALLY need to drag my sig:x out.

@dirtyfunk do you feel the need to have a deliverance and a sig:x? Or would that be excessively redundant?

There is some overlap but they are different amps. The preamp of the Deliverance is similar to the Rhythm channel of the Sig X. It's the poweramp that is really different.
The Sig X can get more saturated. The Deliverance has this incredible punch.
I have absolutely zero intention of selling either amp.

I like the Pittbull amps....but much prefer the Sig X and Deliverance. Sound and feel. Just subjective taste. You can find plenty of people that like different models.

 

[skullfxr]

What do you like better the D60 or the D120? Besides the power section is the preamp different?

I have a feeling that I want a 120.lol. Just curious.
.

 

[stephen sawall]

I prefer the Deliverance 120.

The preamp is the same.

"Difference between the D60 and D120 is the driver stage. The 120 has a 2-tube driver/PI stage similar to the UL. The 60 has the single stage like the CLX. Preamp voicing is the same, but because of the difference in output and driver stage, the 60 sounds more pissed off compared to the 120 which sounds more like a bulldozer coming down your street."

- support

 

[skullfxr]

Damn they have gone up in price a lot since I remember.

I will go for a 5153 first.

 

[Racerxrated]

What do you like better the D60 or the D120? Besides the power section is the preamp different?

I have a feeling that I want a 120.lol. Just curious.
.

The D60 is similar to a modded Marshall tone, while the 120 is more modern. The 60 can get close to the 120 by cranking up the depth/lows but the 120 doesn't get that close to the 60, even by dialing back the lows. I had them both at the same time. I also found the 60 can get very close to the way I ran my boosted SLO..very similar.
As previously mentioned, just by turning back your guitar volume you can get a nice clean..no need for 2 channels on the Deliverance. Neither amp took my boost pedas very well though...I felt that a boost 'narrowed' the tone too much and took away from the stock tone.
I can't think of another amp for 800 bucks that sounds even close to the tone of the Deliverance...easily the best tone for the buck amp out there.

 

[dirtyfunkg]

Prices on the D amps have gone up though... or I just got really great deals when I bought in.

In 2013 I got a used D60 on Craigslist for $600. In 2013, I got a FB412 + D120 (with a loop installed by Victoria) for $1000 total. Ended up trading the D120 + $300 to Guitar Center for the Sig:X.

 

[jc986]

Interesting you didn’t like boosts with your Deliverance. My D120 loves any boost I’ve thrown at it so far. I bought mine for $1000 and feel like that was a bargain for the quality of tone. It’s in another league compared to the EVH as far as tone and build quality. I prefer the Peavey 6505 and 6505+ to the EVH stuff also.

 

[MetalHeadMike]

The D60 I had loved an OD out front, but I can see where someone that isn't after that narrowed focused tone might not like these amps boosted. For the faster/heavier stuff, that amp needed a slight boost IMO.

 

[stratjacket]

Quick question on tubes for them.
I just picked up a used Sig X that came with KT66’s. I played it and it sounded fine, but I downloaded the manual to learn what all the switches do and noticed it says use KT88’s only. So I’ve been scared to play it since.

Anyone used KT66’s in a Sig X?
I sent a note to Fryette today as well, but it’s the weekend, hopefully hear something next week.

 

[stephen sawall]

The Sig X only uses KT88 or 6550. It is not designed to use any other tubes. KT90 and KT100 can work....but these are tubes you rarely see.

 

[stephen sawall]

I've gotten great results with boost, overdrive, distortion and fuzz with the Sig X and Deliverance.

 

[dirtyfunkg]

*snip*

That’s all really great info, thanks for posting that.

Apart from the lower touch sensitivity of the GP/DI, do you think it compares at all tonally to the Deliverance or Pittbulls? I have a GP/DI I run into a Fryette 2/50/2, and I’ve always been curious how that actually compares to a Fryette head, but I’ve never been able to compare.

Does it compare? Yes, in that it's clearly from the same lineage and has a similar sonic signature. In certain ways it's maybe even more versatile. Today I had a jam session and had the GP/DI + Power Station going into the R112 for one guitarist who couldn't bring his own amp. He was playing a Rickenbacker 360/12. The rig sounded extremely Beatles-esque Vox-y. I don't think I could have gotten that sound out of my other Fryettes.

After we finished, I got curious and messed with the rig... moved the power amp volume on the PS-2 up to 2:00, put the GP/DI on Deliverance mode, "More" gain and tweaked the settings a bit to get a pretty awesome hard rock tone. I wasn't going for a metal crushing tone, but got myself a great hard rock tone that would have tightened up with a boost. The low end was a little loose but that may have also been the open backed cab it was going through.

Tomorrow I'm going to be working from home and my kid won't be here during the day, so I'll try and find a moment to crank the rig with my LP to see how tight and heavy I can get it.

 

[Steinmetzify]

*snip*

That’s all really great info, thanks for posting that.

Apart from the lower touch sensitivity of the GP/DI, do you think it compares at all tonally to the Deliverance or Pittbulls? I have a GP/DI I run into a Fryette 2/50/2, and I’ve always been curious how that actually compares to a Fryette head, but I’ve never been able to compare.

Does it compare? Yes, in that it's clearly from the same lineage and has a similar sonic signature. In certain ways it's maybe even more versatile. Today I had a jam session and had the GP/DI + Power Station going into the R112 for one guitarist who couldn't bring his own amp. He was playing a Rickenbacker 360/12. The rig sounded extremely Beatles-esque Vox-y. I don't think I could have gotten that sound out of my other Fryettes.

After we finished, I got curious and messed with the rig... moved the power amp volume on the PS-2 up to 2:00, put the GP/DI on Deliverance mode, "More" gain and tweaked the settings a bit to get a pretty awesome hard rock tone. I wasn't going for a metal crushing tone, but got myself a great hard rock tone that would have tightened up with a boost. The low end was a little loose but that may have also been the open backed cab it was going through.

Tomorrow I'm going to be working from home and my kid won't be here during the day, so I'll try and find a moment to crank the rig with my LP to see how tight and heavy I can get it.

Picked one up again a couple weeks ago after moving my Kemper. Gotten some gnarly metal tones out of it for recording. Sounds great on its own for doom/sludge, especially in Deliverance mode but if I boost it it’ll get as tight as anything I’ve played. Dig it.

 

[mnemonic]

Cool, thanks for the info dirtyfunkg. I’m super impressed by the lower gain and rock tones out of the GPDI, but I feel it needs a boost of some kind for metal. It takes boosts great though.