Fender FR-10/FR-12 noise reduction mod

[Lysander]

Someone said it would never happen.

Huh? You kept asking about Fender launching a MKII anytime soon, and it's clear that was not going to happen months after the FR line launched

 

[lolainnb]

Huh? You kept asking about Fender launching a MKII anytime soon, and it's clear that was not going to happen months after the FR line launched

It all worked out beautifully

 

[jellodog]

I just received an FR-10 from Thomann, delivered to the UK.

I had hoped that it being June 2024 and Thomann having high stock turnover that I would have the revision board from Fender but nope. If anything, the noise floor and hiss sounds slightly higher than I recall from the FR-12 I had in Canada.

Other than that, it sounds great and still way more amp-like than studio monitors.

 

[Cactusprick]

Got FR-10 after checking at the store and brought home. It is dead quiet. To my surprise, i vastly preferred Helix amps over FM3 on FR-10. They sound warmer and more analog. Fractal sounds too sterile and sharp for some reason. Gotta try more tomorrow but first impression is really great. Very happy with the cab, it really has a real amp vibe while carrying over digital representation. Best "FRFR" speaker I have had ever for an electric guitar.

 

[synthpenguin]

Since the range of serial numbers eligible for PCB replacement is "CHNA23XXXXXX to CHNI23XXXXXX"... is the idea that any FR-10 or FR-12 with a higher serial number will have the revised board, or is there another way to easily tell at a store without turning it on?

Though if it's the former, does anyone know how their serial numbers are formatted? Since someone on the last page reported one with a low CHNA24XXXXXX number having loud idle hiss still, I'm guessing that the 23 / 24 refers to the year of production, which would mean that some with the 24 number there might still have the old board (despite being outside of the range eligible for free PCB replacement).

 

[Krabby5]

Since the range of serial numbers eligible for PCB replacement is "CHNA23XXXXXX to CHNI23XXXXXX"... is the idea that any FR-10 or FR-12 with a higher serial number will have the revised board, or is there another way to easily tell at a store without turning it on?

Though if it's the former, does anyone know how their serial numbers are formatted? Since someone on the last page reported one with a low CHNA24XXXXXX number having loud idle hiss still, I'm guessing that the 23 / 24 refers to the year of production, which would mean that some with the 24 number there might still have the old board (despite being outside of the range eligible for free PCB replacement).

Funny my FR-10 i just got is CHNG23 and is dead quiet. No way mine has new PCB

 

[Cactusprick]

Mine's CHNE23 - don't think it would have a new PCB.

having it for two months. yes I think I see what people mean it can be hissy - but you would have to be in a super quiet environment.

Doesn't worry me at all and the hiss is drastically dampened with the cut knob. This is a static ssssssssss that is far different from a cycle hum.

 

[Piing]

I've finally received my FR-12. And it is noiseless!!

Maybe the reason why the availability on Asia has been delayed so much was because they did not want to deal with returns from noisy units. It was worth the wait!

This beast rocks! I'm impressed with its clarity. All good things I've heard about it are true.

 

[Stratzrus]

 

[paisleywookiee]

I wonder how many people get this, 40 years on and a USA cereal ad.

 

[Stratzrus]

I wonder how many people get this, 40 years on and a USA cereal ad.

Apparently at least a few. ; )

 

[likitlikeyoulikeit]

I wonder how many people get this, 40 years on and a USA cereal ad.

I know a guy who got harassed everyday at school for 12 years because of this commercial, ironically He hated Life Cereal ....still does.

 

[Lysander]

Just got a shoutout from the man Mr. Cordy himself Thanks!

 

[LustigePerson]

Thank you for this great thread. I'm amazed how you all went into this.
I just registered here, because I need you help.

I just received an FR10 from Thomann with the "Factory Mod", serial "CHNI24XXX".
But I am a bit confused, as some people here say, it's "dead quiet". For me this means inaudible, but my FR10 clearly has an audible noise floor, that I hear from 3-4 meter away in a quiet room. It is, however, around the same noise floor as my Headrush FR108, so I thought it's fine, but still I wonder what others mean by "dead quiet". Sure, we guitarists played large stack for many years and most if us might have hearing issues, but still

For example my active Yamah HS5 studio monitors are REALLY not audible. The headrush and the fender annoy me in a quiet room when not playing.

So TL;DR: How much noise floor is ok with the Fender FRs? Any input would be appreciated.

 

[Jarick]

You may have an older unit that hasn't been fixed. It seems like the FR10's are still shipping some of the older units?

My FR12 I think was a little louder than my Yamaha HS8 but not much. I think if you had a fixed one you wouldn't really notice it. Yamaha studio monitors are nice and quiet.

I tried a pair of cheap Adam monitors and the hiss was so bad I returned them. 2-3 times louder than Yamahas. Same with JBL monitors.

I also tried a Roland JC-22 solid state amp and that also had a hiss that was so bad I could hear it halfway across the room. I exchanged it for the Fender FR-12 which is quiet until you put your head next to it.

 

[Lysander]

But I am a bit confused, as some people here say, it's "dead quiet". For me this means inaudible, but my FR10 clearly has an audible noise floor, that I hear from 3-4 meter away in a quiet room.

Sounds like you got a noisy version My FR-12's also had a noise floor which was clearly audible in a quiet room, but i couldn't tell the amp was on without looking post mod.

 

[LustigePerson]

Sounds like you got a noisy version

Although the serial number is outside the communicated range AND the factory mid is there? I opened the amp and checked the PCB. So this would mean that other components besides the changed ones are problematic or that the used 1664s are not okay.
Is this possible? Or am I just super sensitive as I can hear the amo without something plugged in? If I put the cut at noon the noise is MUCH quieter, though.

 

[Lysander]

I opened the amp and checked the PCB.

Oh, that's definitely one of the "factory modded" versions, which should be way quieter than the first iteration

The fact that the high cut at noon tames the hiss makes me wonder if the way Fender is doing these things doesn't work as well as the mod i proposed. Or, maybe it's a defective unit.

 

[Baba]

tinnitus = no noise

 

[JiveTurkey]

tinnitus = no noise

I don't have hiss. I have ringing