Framus Cobra Opinions?

[Brandon Breeze]

I have a serious case of G.A.S. Right now, so Im buying all kinds of stuff. Most recently I've come across a Framus Cobra for sale. I've never seen/heard one in person. These, like many amps seem to be about a 50/50 split, love em or hate me type amp.

I've also been messing around with amp blending, so having many amps to mess with helps with that.

For the guys who have seen/played/owned a Framus Cobra what are your thoughts on them?

 

[Dimebag11]

With it's matching cab, properly biased w a nice set of tubes....it's the most massively awesome metal amp in history.

 

[Brandon Breeze]

With it's matching cab, properly biased w a nice set of tubes....it's the most massively awesome metal amp in history.

That's kind of what I was think in regards to its own cab. My Uberschall without its cab isn't nearly as awesome, same thing with my Krankenstein without its matching cab it sounds horrible even through vintage 30's, g12t-75's etc

 

[RJF]

As mentioned, you need the Cobra cab to get the Cobra sound. I will never sell my Cobra half stack, it is probably the most intense metal amp I've ever played through. There is something about it. They have their bad points too. They are generally a noisy amp, lots of hiss. They don't consist of much either, when you pull the chassis it's easy to be surprised by the lack of "stuff" inside of it, also partly why it's not a very heavy amp.

I would buy one for metal in a heartbeat, get a set of KT77's, and it's GTG.

 

[richardt4520]

Like everyone's saying, wicked brutal through the Cobra cab and a big plus for how light those cabs are. I wasn't a fan of the lead channel even though a lot of guys love it and the clean was just ok, IMO. But the crunch channel was just the most killer metal sound I've ever had. The crunch channel not only sounded amazing, it just had a great feel as well.

 

[Brandon Breeze]

As mentioned, you need the Cobra cab to get the Cobra sound. I will never sell my Cobra half stack, it is probably the most intense metal amp I've ever played through. There is something about it. They have their bad points too. They are generally a noisy amp, lots of hiss. They don't consist of much either, when you pull the chassis it's easy to be surprised by the lack of "stuff" inside of it, also partly why it's not a very heavy amp.

I would buy one for metal in a heartbeat, get a set of KT77's, and it's GTG.

I run kt77's in my Carvin v3, and what a difference!

I'm somewhat hesitant to pick up just a head and then have to search for a cabinet just to hear the sound of the real cobra.

 

[Brandon Breeze]

Like everyone's saying, wicked brutal through the Cobra cab and a big plus for how light those cabs are. I wasn't a fan of the lead channel even though a lot of guys love it and the clean was just ok, IMO. But the crunch channel was just the most killer metal sound I've ever had. The crunch channel not only sounded amazing, it just had a great feel as well.

All of this stuff is really hard to hear just with the YouTube videos etc, like my Uberschall, I had no clue how huge it would sound until I heard it in person.

 

[RJF]

As mentioned, you need the Cobra cab to get the Cobra sound. I will never sell my Cobra half stack, it is probably the most intense metal amp I've ever played through. There is something about it. They have their bad points too. They are generally a noisy amp, lots of hiss. They don't consist of much either, when you pull the chassis it's easy to be surprised by the lack of "stuff" inside of it, also partly why it's not a very heavy amp.

I would buy one for metal in a heartbeat, get a set of KT77's, and it's GTG.

I run kt77's in my Carvin v3, and what a difference!

I'm somewhat hesitant to pick up just a head and then have to search for a cabinet just to hear the sound of the real cobra.

The trick with a Cobra is the crunch channel, gain maxed and channel volume maxed. Then, a tubescreamer clean boost type pedal.

 

[Brandon Breeze]

I still haven't tried any boost/od pedals in front of any of my amps. Most likely because they all have high output pickups, so I rarely run the gain or guitar volume anywhere close to max

 

[RJF]

I still haven't tried any boost/od pedals in front of any of my amps. Most likely because they all have high output pickups, so I rarely run the gain or guitar volume anywhere close to max

From the sound of those clips you put up, you could really benefit from one. Turn the gain way down on those amps, turn on the tubescreamer, set the knobs with level maxed and gain on 0. Should also help control some of that bass.

 

[Brandon Breeze]

I still haven't tried any boost/od pedals in front of any of my amps. Most likely because they all have high output pickups, so I rarely run the gain or guitar volume anywhere close to max

From the sound of those clips you put up, you could really benefit from one. Turn the gain way down on those amps, turn on the tubescreamer, set the knobs with level maxed and gain on 0. Should also help control some of that bass.

I probably need to get some good monitors. I hear playback only on my ipad, phone, or surround sound at home. I can easily dial the bass back on the amp head. Keep in mind Ive never recorded like this before so its all new to me. Even how close the speaker cabinet to the wall will change the bass characteristics I'm finding out. Lots to learn and try for sure. I've always been under the impression that you should not need a pedal if an amp is worth a crap. As it turns out a lot of people run pedals in front of pretty much any and all amps, so I need to give it a shot for sure.

 

[Beyond Black]

As mentioned, you need the Cobra cab to get the Cobra sound. I will never sell my Cobra half stack, it is probably the most intense metal amp I've ever played through. There is something about it. They have their bad points too. They are generally a noisy amp, lots of hiss. They don't consist of much either, when you pull the chassis it's easy to be surprised by the lack of "stuff" inside of it, also partly why it's not a very heavy amp.

I would buy one for metal in a heartbeat, get a set of KT77's, and it's GTG.

I run kt77's in my Carvin v3, and what a difference!

I'm somewhat hesitant to pick up just a head and then have to search for a cabinet just to hear the sound of the real cobra.

The trick with a Cobra is the crunch channel, gain maxed and channel volume maxed. Then, a tubescreamer clean boost type pedal.

This exactly. ^^^ Especially the channel volume. My buddy has a Cobra half stack that he said he couldn't get a good tone out of. He said it was really fizzy sounding. He had the channel volume set at noon. I dimed the channel volume and he about shit himself. Killer amp with it's matching cabinet.

 

[crankyrayhanky]

I've always been under the impression that you should not need a pedal if an amp is worth a crap.

I think this is faulty. You should be able to get great tones without anything, but there's no shame in using a clean OD boost to sculpt different tones. I prefer a clean OD boost for the edge and liveliness it delivers, then click it off for a more chill tone.
That being said, the louder I play, the less I need it. Whatever works.

 

[Beyond Black]

I've always been under the impression that you should not need a pedal if an amp is worth a crap.

I think this is faulty. You should be able to get great tones without anything, but there's no shame in using a clean OD boost to sculpt different tones. I prefer a clean OD boost for the edge and liveliness it delivers, then click it off for a more chill tone.
That being said, the louder I play, the less I need it. Whatever works.

Exactly. The only thing that matters is the end result coming out of the speakers.

 

[Brandon Breeze]

True, I used to have a TS-5, sold it because on its own it was not very good, never thought of putting it in front of a distorted channel

 

[rusty1070]

Killer sounding amp. Absolutely try before you buy. If it isn't tight, it's not right. Try a different Cobra. Channel volumes should be near max as others have stated.

 

[Mailman1971]

Had a Cobra a few years back. Wow...it was a game changer for sure!
I still kick myself for trading it off.
Metal bliss.

 

[Brandon Breeze]

One of the guys on here offered to sell me one that was modded to take kt88's what is the opinion on that mod?

 

[Brandon Breeze]

I just spoke to the local guy selling the Framus Cobra head. As it turns out he does have the Framus cab, but doesn't want to sell it. I think that solidifies the fact that the Framus cab is awesome, & needs to go with the head.

I had the same problem when buying my Uberschall, the previous owner refused to sell the Uberkab for a couple weeks. He finally decided to let it go when he found another amp he wanted.

 

[7 Stringer]

Had one a while back, used it with multiple cabs and they all sounded good. Like already mentioned, channel vol. maxed and gain dimed and its metal madness. One of the best metal tones ever. Oh, this was the crunch channel of course. Lead was not as good, more recto-ish. But,IMO, the clean was quite awesome. Very chimey and crystal clear. Loved it.

One thing I found lacking was volume. Not a super loud amp. Also the loop is shit, well at least I could not get a good signal to noise ratio, at all. And to get the best sound, the mix knob has to be set at noon, thus complicatign things with the loop.

Here it is, setup with MIDI (A plus might I add) with the G major.



I would buy another one if the opportunity came along, miss that amp. But with the band I needs to be miked to get heard.