VHT/Fryette SigX

[jabps]

Steve not too long ago mentioned a reissue of the Sig X on Malcontents. He feels there is nothing more he can do with it. It is complete as is. He spent ten years developing the Sig X before it was released. I hear it as part Hiwatt, Marshall, Mesa Mark series and Deliverance. It gets more saturated and more forgiving feel than any of the Fryette amps. The feel of the lead channel is more like a Mark series than a Pittbull. The lead and rhythm channel preamp is based off the channels on the Pittbull amps. The three way voicing switches are basically the different eras of the Pittbull input filtering. The clean channel can do the vintage Hiwatt thing. But saturates and overdrives much sooner. The power amp is based off the 2/90/2. The poweramp of the UL is based off the 2150.

Currently I am using mine with a VFE Standout, DOD Carcosa and Fortin Zuul+ in front. Ibanez PTEQ in the loop. It is a extremely versatile rig.

Good description. I've owned two, my first was in a shootout with a JVM years and years ago to be my main amp. I ended up going with the JVM but always had a soft spot for the Sig. I've owned the Ultra Lead as well and I preferred the Sig. Fryette amps are dry, just they way they are but the Sig was the most forgiving of the bunch. I bought another a few years ago to see if I had remembered it correctly, I did but again I had moved on. Further my chops aren't what they where and none of the Fryette line is particularly forgiving amps albeit the Sig being the most. Better have your shit in order when you play these guys.

If I ever went the Fryette route again it would be the Deliverance, at the time of their release I really loved them but the no effects loop was a non starter. By the time they started offering the loop mod I had moved onto other things. As Stephen said, the Sig is really a variant on all the VHT amps whereas the Deliverance was a step in another direction.

As with most any amp, player is either going dig it or not.

 

[stephen sawall]

Good description. I've owned two, my first was in a shootout with a JVM years and years ago to be my main amp. I ended up going with the JVM but always had a soft spot for the Sig. I've owned the Ultra Lead as well and I preferred the Sig. Fryette amps are dry, just they way they are but the Sig was the most forgiving of the bunch. I bought another a few years ago to see if I had remembered it correctly, I did but again I had moved on. Further my chops aren't what they where and none of the Fryette line is particularly forgiving amps albeit the Sig being the most. Better have your shit in order when you play these guys.

If I ever went the Fryette route again it would be the Deliverance, at the time of their release I really loved them but the no effects loop was a non starter. By the time they started offering the loop mod I had moved onto other things. As Stephen said, the Sig is really a variant on all the VHT amps whereas the Deliverance was a step in another direction.

As with most any amp, player is either going dig it or not.

The Deliverance is based on the same channel as the rhythm channel of the Sig X.

I can get closer to a Fender with clean channel. But would need the amp in front of me. I am in Orlando. My Sig X is in Seattle. I remember the 100 watt and scooped switches are part of it.

I prefer the Sig X over the UL also. More versatile and a better feel for me. I do like theJVM.

 

[jabps]

The Deliverance is based on the same channel as the rhythm channel of the Sig X.

I can get closer to a Fender with clean channel. But would need the amp in front of me. I am in Orlando. My Sig X is in Seattle. I remember the 100 watt and scooped switches are part of it.

I prefer the Sig X over the UL also. More versatile and a better feel for me. I do like theJVM.

Yep neck and neck between the Sig and the JVM and at that time my chops were the best they'd ever been, I could plug into almost anything and not struggle. Ultimately the Marshall just fit better for the project and I've never left the JVM since.

Still think the Sig is a fantastic amp. Not alot of amps can deliver huge Hiwatt type cleans like Fryette.

 

[DISTORT6]

The Deliverance is based on the same channel as the rhythm channel of the Sig X.

When I first got my Sig:X, naturally the first thing I did was dial in a rhythm tone.
I didn't even try the lead channel for weeks. When I did, back to the rhythm channel.
It just works for the way I play.

 

[stephen sawall]

When I first got my Sig:X, naturally the first thing I did was dial in a rhythm tone.
I didn't even try the lead channel for weeks. When I did, back to the rhythm channel.
It just works for the way I play.

I use the rhythm channel most of the time. More than the lead and clean channel combined.

 

[ZEN Amps]

Thread revival - one has come up for sale in my part of the world.

Don't need one, not sure if even want one - worth trying for a Fryette fence-sitter? I admit it's only because there's been a lot of talk lately about this brand.

Tried a Deliverance and an Ultra Lead before - and a Pittbull 45 (I think).

 

[ChurchHill]

I'd be tempted. I haven't played a SigX but have heard they are rather different from other Fryette's. Disclaimer, I really like my UL. I've got an ST45, too, that has served me well. Heard the SigX is closer to the Deliverance, but I don't really know. Doesn't help much.

 

[Kelly]

Thread revival - one has come up for sale in my part of the world.

Don't need one, not sure if even want one - worth trying for a Fryette fence-sitter? I admit it's only because there's been a lot of talk lately about this brand.

Tried a Deliverance and an Ultra Lead before - and a Pittbull 45 (I think).

If you liked the Deliverance you will like the Sig X. All of the higher gain Fryettes are in the same ballpark. If you have one that seems off, try rolling preamp tubes.

 

[Greazygeo]

Thread revival - one has come up for sale in my part of the world.

Don't need one, not sure if even want one - worth trying for a Fryette fence-sitter? I admit it's only because there's been a lot of talk lately about this brand.

Tried a Deliverance and an Ultra Lead before - and a Pittbull 45 (I think).

Very different from UL, some sounds are similar to the Deliverence. Clean channel is great as clean or crunch. Cool amp.

 

[stephen sawall]

Fryette is putting out a rack head and talking about building a combo. Still making the Deliverance. He might not make a lot more heads.

 

[Eazy-ESP]

Thread revival - one has come up for sale in my part of the world.

Don't need one, not sure if even want one - worth trying for a Fryette fence-sitter? I admit it's only because there's been a lot of talk lately about this brand.

Tried a Deliverance and an Ultra Lead before - and a Pittbull 45 (I think).

Saw that one. High price. They were going for $1700 second hand down here a few years back. But I guess everything is crazy now.

 

[nightlight]

I've own two Sig:Xs. They're very nice amps, I'd hesitate to say Swiss army knife, but they sure can nail a lot of tones. With footswitchable boost, you can pretty much live on the rhythm channel, the clean channel is one of the best I've ever heard, and the lead channel works well for... lead playing, though if you went to go totally aggressive, you can do that too.

One of the coolest features is to be able to set each channel independently to 100w/40w, and the independent masters on each channel allow you to balance everything out. The three modes per channel are also a cool feature, wish it was able to switch between them, but like Mesa Marks, once you've flipped the toggle to a certain setting, there's no way to change without flicking the toggle on the amp.

A couple of videos I did of this amp, first is just some lead wankery, the second is some riffs by Pantera, LoG and some stuff I've written.