Getting rid of the Fender FR-12

[romanianreaper]

Great piece of gear, light, and sounds great...with a caveat. In my humble opinion, I think FRFR cabs do wonderful with tones, right up until you get to the hard rock stuff. To my ears, then there is this "underwater" or distant tone.

The amp really is cool and the cut knob is amazing. Even with metal, I got great tones with this thing but never sounded better than my IR-X plugged into the return of my Orange Super Crush 100.

I think I like modelling but not the full on FRFR unless going into a P.A. or recording interface for hard rock stuff. I like using a power amp and cab. I've had a Xitone, Friedman ASM and now the Fender FR-12. I don't think the FR cab route is for me. I hope others have better luck with it. For clean and blues and even some rock, wouldn't hesitate to recommend.

 

[PBGas]

It is true that it isn't for everyone. There are many that like a power amp and cab.
Playing live a lot for many years, I'm used to hearing my tone through monitors, hence why I have no issue using FRFR, especially with the high gain stuff. Being older now, I just don't want to carry around more than I need to.

Last summer, I had a run of a bunch of gigs with a KSR PA-50 into a couple of cabs with a modeller in front. I mean, it sounded great and the KSR stuff is outstanding but in the end, I was just carrying more stuff that I really didn't need to carry.

I ended up setting on a couple of EV PXM12s late last year and they have been with me since for all gigs and rehearsals. I usually use only one of them for live and rehearsals. Stereo is so nice at home though!

In any case, for me, I want to hear what FOH is hearing so I go with that. I always am in the thought of if I need to run a power amp and cab, then I might as well just use a full tube amp.

You have to use what works for you and sounds right to your ears and you have realized that.

 

[romanianreaper]

It is true that it isn't for everyone. There are many that like a power amp and cab.
Playing live a lot for many years, I'm used to hearing my tone through monitors, hence why I have no issue using FRFR, especially with the high gain stuff. Being older now, I just don't want to carry around more than I need to.

Last summer, I had a run of a bunch of gigs with a KSR PA-50 into a couple of cabs with a modeller in front. I mean, it sounded great and the KSR stuff is outstanding but in the end, I was just carrying more stuff that I really didn't need to carry.

I ended up setting on a couple of EV PXM12s late last year and they have been with me since for all gigs and rehearsals. I usually use only one of them for live and rehearsals. Stereo is so nice at home though!

In any case, for me, I want to hear what FOH is hearing so I go with that. I always am in the thought of if I need to run a power amp and cab, then I might as well just use a full tube amp.

You have to use what works for you and sounds right to your ears and you have realized that.

Oh yeah man, good points all around! I think in a certain setup, particular scenario, it works and can sound awesome. I was finding myself spending more and talking about two cabs, modeller, etc, etc and was getting away from having a nice core tone for gigs.

I have a Quilter 202 coming and going to see how I like that with pedals, the IR-X, etc. My Orange Super Crush 100 head and combo both sound great but like you, I like the idea of smaller and less to carry without sacrificing good tones.

I like so many things, tubes, transistors and modellers. With gigging, my mind thinks differently than a home setup. I would love to have an FM3 at some point though.

 

[Shask]

Great piece of gear, light, and sounds great...with a caveat. In my humble opinion, I think FRFR cabs do wonderful with tones, right up until you get to the hard rock stuff. To my ears, then there is this "underwater" or distant tone.

The amp really is cool and the cut knob is amazing. Even with metal, I got great tones with this thing but never sounded better than my IR-X plugged into the return of my Orange Super Crush 100.

I think I like modelling but not the full on FRFR unless going into a P.A. or recording interface for hard rock stuff. I like using a power amp and cab. I've had a Xitone, Friedman ASM and now the Fender FR-12. I don't think the FR cab route is for me. I hope others have better luck with it. For clean and blues and even some rock, wouldn't hesitate to recommend.

I have been curious about the FR-12, and if it sounded and felt more "amp in the room", but it sounds like the same ole thing.

I was actually thinking this same thing yesterday. I was playing my FM3 at super low volume through my computer setup / studio monitors. I think it sounds amazing.... except for the high gain chunk chunk tones. There is always something about that situation where a big poweramp and speaker cab just sounds and feels better. I am not saying that is bad, I am just saying I think the in room experience is better for that situation.... which is mostly what I play.

 

[romanianreaper]

I have been curious about the FR-12, and if it sounded and felt more "amp in the room", but it sounds like the same ole thing.

I was actually thinking this same thing yesterday. I was playing my FM3 at super low volume through my computer setup / studio monitors. I think it sounds amazing.... except for the high gain chunk chunk tones. There is always something about that situation where a big poweramp and speaker cab just sounds and feels better. I am not saying that is bad, I am just saying I think the in room experience is better for that situation.... which is mostly what I play.

Yep, qnd I don't think it can even be explained. Something happens with the speaker I think.

I was watching a Scorpions interview today and they were saying how they hate modelling because you need that speaker push.

I think modelling is amazing but I'd have to be plugged into a nice P.A. I think. I heard Brit Floyd with Fractal stuff and was amazing, some of the best tone I've ever heard at a show.

Yeah the Fender was cool, especially being able to adjust EQ and dial out harshness, but just wasn't enough to make me switch over.

 

[bubbastain]

I'd be interested in checking one out in the future. I think it would be cool with my Mooer Prime S1.

 

[Shask]

Yep, qnd I don't think it can even be explained. Something happens with the speaker I think.

I was watching a Scorpions interview today and they were saying how they hate modelling because you need that speaker push.

I think modelling is amazing but I'd have to be plugged into a nice P.A. I think. I heard Brit Floyd with Fractal stuff and was amazing, some of the best tone I've ever heard at a show.

Yeah the Fender was cool, especially being able to adjust EQ and dial out harshness, but just wasn't enough to make me switch over.

See, I think Pink Floyd type stuff would sound amazing direct. You get the clean sounds, stereo effects, and smooth singing leads. That is basically all the stuff that sounds really good direct. It is when you get into the chunka chunka stuff of hard rock and metal when the difference really comes out, I think. I think the difference of sounding and feeling like an amp, vs sounding like a recording of an amp really stands out in those situations.

I think the modeling into a big poweramp and cabs sounds really good also, but you are not really looking at less gear in that situation.

 

[BeZo]

Rock and metal are supposed to be loud. That's the main disconnect. It seems weird to get the tones normally attained at ear splitting volumes without ear splitting volumes. You want the thump of the bass response for chunky stuff that monitors don't deliver. That's why I still use real amps for amplification.

FWIW though, through the PA, it's legit to go digital. You just need to deal with a void in the backline and monitor situation.

...and hope the crowd doesn't notice a void in the backline and stage volume situation.

 

[romanianreaper]

Rock and metal are supposed to be loud. That's the main disconnect. It seems weird to get the tones normally attained at ear splitting volumes without ear splitting volumes. You want the thump of the bass response for chunky stuff that monitors don't deliver. That's why I still use real amps for amplification.

FWIW though, through the PA, it's legit to go digital. You just need to deal with a void in the backline and monitor situation.

...and hope the crowd doesn't notice a void in the backline and stage volume situation.

Exactly! If I knew we would always play at a place with a killer P.A. and soundman, I'd probably be cool with just going into the P.A. with some type of modeller. I need to hear myself and have that sound at my back I guess.

I had a 13 year gap in gigging so I'm used to the old school setup.

 

[BeZo]

Exactly! If I knew we would always play at a place with a killer P.A. and soundman, I'd probably be cool with just going into the P.A. with some type of modeller. I need to hear myself and have that sound at my back I guess.

I had a 13 year gap in gigging so I'm used to the old school setup.

Even when I did IEMs and the digital in my last band, we still ran cabs. Small gigs need the stage volume, and I needed to feel the bass on stage. I hear it better with IEMs, but will never part with an 8x10 on stage for bass.

 

[jski59]

Even when I did IEMs and the digital in my last band, we still ran cabs. Small gigs need the stage volume, and I needed to feel the bass on stage. I hear it better with IEMs, but will never part with an 8x10 on stage for bass.

That’s what we do, modelers direct to pa and iems plus cabs for some stage volume.

Having cabs really fills out the sound and brings back the sustain/feedback. And iems are so nice once you adjust to them.

 

[romanianreaper]

I got the Quilter 202 and got to jam for a few minutes before heading to a concert. I think it is going to fit the bill! Put my Keeley El Rey Dorado thru it with boost and sounded killer. Need more time but hoping it is a great snag.