Sig X / Fryette

Messages
7,957
I had sent in my Sig X to Fryette to get the latest official updates ….. it also got fresh power tubes (Sovtek KT88) , bias and V1 (Tung Sol) was replaced and the face plate was replaced with the Fryette logo. I got it back a few weeks ago. There was sound changes …. all for the better if you ask me.

How much is from the updates and how much from the new tubes ….. who knows ?

It seems the 3 way voice switches are more distinct sounding. It also seems the tone controls have a better range. I have run it thru a lot of sound shapes and gain ranges and so far I like everything. All three channels well do clean and crunch. The rhythm and lead channels well go into high gain.

I did notice the harmonics changed and it is warmer now. Still has the great dynamics and I think the feel is better.

Funk / country / rock / etc. sounds amazing with this amp.

This amp is kind of the best of both worlds. The options and control of a channel switcher .... yet the way it response to my guitar volume control, harmonics and the dynamics of a single channel amp. The bass still seems very focused. The balance of frequencies is working as I tune it in. I wish all amps had this kind of definition.

The amp responds very well to the guitar volume and different pickup selections. You can always tell what guitar is plugged in. It does not hide the sound of the guitar …. it enhances it.

All the switches are very useful to control the sound. You can really control the sound and feel. You can check out the manual and controls on the Fryette web site. Once you learn how the controls work and interact you well understand what useful tools these are.

The cleans seem bigger and more full. It has some of the best clean sounds of any amp. Strumming and appegioes all there.

The clean channel turned up to overdrive and everything else was more than I wanted. There are some great crunch sounds in the clean channel. The fullness and sounds of the amp was just great. I felt in complete control of the sound. I use the clean channel more like a non master volume amp most of the time. Using the guitar volume and pickup selector to get a wide range of tones.


The vintage less gain English style crunch sounds from the rhythm channel are just amazing as are the modern heavy sounds from this channel and everything between.

The lead channel also does a lot of voices well. I have never felt like I need a pedal with this channel. It well do a wide variety of lead sounds. This channel can also get some very thick rhythm sounds.

I did a side by side with a several other modern amps in a wide range of tones and gain ranges. All the amps have their own taste .... and liked it better than any of them for the big modern sounds and everything else as far as that goes. It has way better dynamics and better tone control than any of these amps for my taste.

The way I could control the thickness of the bottom and blend in the the midrange was very impressive. Heading into heavy sounds on a lot of amps they do not cut well in the upper midrange and have poor dynamics. Dynamics are key in my playing. Between the heavy sounds on the rhythm and lead channels I found some of the best sounds I have found from any amp for these sounds for my taste. The tone, definition, articulation, control, dynamics and feel are all there.

Every channel has so much usable range. This amp does it all .... clean / edge of break up / crunch / heavy / leads / vintage and modern flavors.

Well blending preamp and power amp distortion the control of the sound was the best I have seen.

I do not know if this amp would work for everyone as well as it does for me? But this works for me.
 

Reynman

Member
Messages
247
Big fan of Fryette's work myself...Have a Pittbull 45 Combo that I have used now for 7 years. I replaced the Phase Inverter (from 12ax7 to 12at7) for more clean headroom.

This amp is sooo flexible! Exactly what you mention. On the Clean Channel, I can get Fendery Tones with the Bright Switch engaged, but usually go for the Voxish sound with the switch out. On the Drive Channel, you can go in a Marshall direction, or press in the Edge and Shift buttons, and push the gain up, and move into Mesa territory.

I traditonally run it Voxy/Marshally...but I get into different moods at different times. Fryettes work will allow you to cover all of that!

Would love to try a Memphis! Looks like a great amp...the man makes incredible amps!
 

ukslinger

Member
Messages
1,403
Cool. I agree the vintage/less is really nice. I struggled with that channel for a bit but I was going for a pretty specific tone. For anyone that thinks this is a humbucker high gain amp I think it sounds better with teles and strats for a lot of tones.

So as far as the updates go, I guess mine would be current but I'm not sure. It has the Fryette nameplate. I'm going to do some preamp tube swapping soon. I'll report back. Mainly looking to get a little something different out of the second channel's highs and mids.
 
Messages
7,957
Cool. I agree the vintage/less is really nice. I struggled with that channel for a bit but I was going for a pretty specific tone. For anyone that thinks this is a humbucker high gain amp I think it sounds better with teles and strats for a lot of tones.

So as far as the updates go, I guess mine would be current but I'm not sure. It has the Fryette nameplate. I'm going to do some preamp tube swapping soon. I'll report back. Mainly looking to get a little something different out of the second channel's highs and mids.

I feel the Sig X with all the gain and voicing options does equally well with Stat / Tele / Les Paul / SG / 335 / PRS / Super Stats / etc / high and low output ~ single coils and humbucker pickups.
Like I said above it enhances the sound of what ever guitar is put into it. A lot of amps do not react as well to a wide range of guitars and pickups.

As with all amps changing V1 well have a big impact on tone / voice and gain range. I use a Tung Sol in V1 because I like the upper mids from this tube with the Sig X.

I try a few tubes in V1 in all my amps to fine tune the voice for me.

As most know even tubes from the same maker and run well have variations of tonal balance and gain.

I am interested in what you find.
 

suhrbrutal

Senior Member
Messages
575
I have the Pitbull Ultra Lead, and really preferred it over the Sig X I borrowed for several weeks. Not bad, but just did not have the clarity or gain structure of the Ultra Lead.
 
Messages
7,957
I spent a lot of time with a UL, CLX, Deliverance 120, 60 and Sig X in the same room with my favorite guitar over several days. I like all of them. They all have their own flavors and features. But for my taste I liked the Sig X best. I would not mind having one of each.
 

ukslinger

Member
Messages
1,403
Briefly tried an LPS in V1, tungsol in V2 and JJ in V3. Didn't like it and put the tungsol back in V1 and the LPS in V2. Sounded kinda dull. Left the JJ in V3 which controls the tone controls for channels 2 and 3. I think I like it better than stock but I haven't had a lot of time. I've also got a EH in the other shielded spot for the cleans. Didn't change much but not enough time playing to really tell.

I'm thinking between all my amps I may have enough to try all tungsols or all JJ's. I'm thinking JJ's might be the best all around for me. The TS's to my ears have always been high-pitched and presencey. I think the amp has some of that going on anyway so my goal is to sweeten up the upper mids and treble, mainly in channel two. But I'm thinking the TS may need to stay in V1.

Or it may be all in my head and I just need to leave it alone and play, ha ha.
 
Messages
7,957
I have not tried any tubes other than in V1 myself. I think I remember someone saying a EH in V1 well make it sound more like a UL ?
 

stratzrus

Philadelphia Jazz, Funk, and R&B
Gold Supporting Member
Messages
24,030
Any one else using a Sig X or any Fryette gear around here ?
The Sig:X is now my number one amp. I haven't swapped out any tubes but have tried it with several speakers.

For gigging I've been using a VHT Fat Bottom 2x12 and it's a good match for the amp. Clean highs, tight bottom and cuts through the mix very well. I can be heard distinctly even in dense passages without having to crank the volume in smaller venues.

I've also been using it with two 4x12s, one with Celestion Sidewinders and the other with a pair of EV SRO/12Ls and a pair of V30s.

Overall I like the SRO 4x12 best. There is more definition in the high end than the other cabs but it is in no way hard, harsh or brittle. Bottom end can be extended a little further as well but it still stays tight.

So far it's been a great gigging amp, good for band practice and personal practice as well. It's even passable at 3:00 a.m. volumes.

The Clean channel and the Rhythm channel are my favorites and have enabled me to leave all dirt pedals at home. No pedal I have (Zendrive, Eternity, Keeley TS9, Mesa V Twin, Mesa Bottle Rocket, Demonizer, Womanizer, Keeley MT-2) sounds better than this amp on the Rhythm or Lead channels.
 

Phillip_H

Silver Supporting Member
Messages
3,542
How much did you pay for the updates? I have a VHT model, and it is probably the older version.

I'm currently running my Sig through an Avatar vintage 2x12 closed back with an Emi Wizard/Governor combo. It sounds pretty great through this cab, but I really want to pick up a Fryette (probably in the next couple of weeks).

I'm leaning towards the Deliverance cab, but I go back and forth with the Fatbottom. I'm playing a lot of classic alt rock (kind of a weird term, but whatever) like STP, Soundgarden, Foo Fighters, Weezer, etc. Basically, I want tighter bass than the Avatar can give me, but I'm not playing extreme metal or anything. Thoughts?
 

Deathmonkey

Member
Messages
2,429
IIRC, the "updates" are simply a resistor or two, applicable to those amps with a serial number under 150. I don't think it's a change to the circuit, merely upping the values on a few parts to ensure flawless reliability.

I gig a pair of SIG Xs (not at the same time), and all my personal recorded tones with TSID are a D120. And I use an UL upstairs for personal practice :D All I use effects-wise is a Carbon Copy delay in teh loop, and it sounds great. I get compliments at every show, and even at practice.

My only reservation is the footswitches, which I wish had a detachable cord.
 

Kelly

Member
Messages
4,009
Any one else using a Sig X or any Fryette gear around here ?
Yup.
rigpics015.jpg
 

frank marino

Member
Messages
43
50 cl here, will never sell it! I have been rockin this amp for 8 years and it has never sneezed once!!! What a military piece of gear.
 

Phil M

Shapeshifting Member
Silver Supporting Member
Messages
11,974
I finally have my dream amp, a VHT Ultralead EQ. I owned an EL34 50ST and (briefly) a Sig:X as well.
 
Messages
7,957
How much did you pay for the updates? I have a VHT model, and it is probably the older version.

I'm currently running my Sig through an Avatar vintage 2x12 closed back with an Emi Wizard/Governor combo. It sounds pretty great through this cab, but I really want to pick up a Fryette (probably in the next couple of weeks).

I'm leaning towards the Deliverance cab, but I go back and forth with the Fatbottom. I'm playing a lot of classic alt rock (kind of a weird term, but whatever) like STP, Soundgarden, Foo Fighters, Weezer, etc. Basically, I want tighter bass than the Avatar can give me, but I'm not playing extreme metal or anything. Thoughts?

I did not pay for the updates. I did pay for the name plate, tubes and shipping. Mine was the 14th one made.
 
Messages
7,957
The Sig:X is now my number one amp. I haven't swapped out any tubes but have tried it with several speakers.

For gigging I've been using a VHT Fat Bottom 2x12 and it's a good match for the amp. Clean highs, tight bottom and cuts through the mix very well. I can be heard distinctly even in dense passages without having to crank the volume in smaller venues.

I've also been using it with two 4x12s, one with Celestion Sidewinders and the other with a pair of EV SRO/12Ls and a pair of V30s.

Overall I like the SRO 4x12 best. There is more definition in the high end than the other cabs but it is in no way hard, harsh or brittle. Bottom end can be extended a little further as well but it still stays tight.

So far it's been a great gigging amp, good for band practice and personal practice as well. It's even passable at 3:00 a.m. volumes.

The Clean channel and the Rhythm channel are my favorites and have enabled me to leave all dirt pedals at home. No pedal I have (Zendrive, Eternity, Keeley TS9, Mesa V Twin, Mesa Bottle Rocket, Demonizer, Womanizer, Keeley MT-2) sounds better than this amp on the Rhythm or Lead channels.

Do you use your Axe Fx with your Sig X ? How do the preamps on the Axe Fx sound in the Sig X poweramp ?
 
Messages
7,957
IIRC, the "updates" are simply a resistor or two, applicable to those amps with a serial number under 150. I don't think it's a change to the circuit, merely upping the values on a few parts to ensure flawless reliability.

I gig a pair of SIG Xs (not at the same time), and all my personal recorded tones with TSID are a D120. And I use an UL upstairs for personal practice :D All I use effects-wise is a Carbon Copy delay in teh loop, and it sounds great. I get compliments at every show, and even at practice.

My only reservation is the footswitches, which I wish had a detachable cord.

There are more updates done to my amp than the reliability updates. There are also voicing changes done.
 






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