Fender Tone Master FR-10 and FR-12 "FRFR" cabs
- Thread starter Lysander
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Baba
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Is that TWO different wireless units, one for the guitar, and one going to the Fender?
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Yep. The guitar wireless is some Amazon cheapie (Getaria GWS-8), but it sounds fine. The wireless I've repurposed for audio to the FR-10 is a BOSS WL-20. That one's been a big PITA in about half of my guitars, making intermittent noise every 10 seconds. (Something to do with the TRS connectors, I guess?) I was thinking of chucking it, or selling it for a dollar, when it occurred to me I can use it like this. Working great so far! :)
EOengineer
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I’m intrigued by this thing.
I’ve been running an increasingly elaborate dual path thing to allow me to play through my tube head on stage with FX while sending a full FX & amp DI to FOH.
Being able to consolidate those patches down to a single path and NOT having to stomach playing through a plastic floor wedge would bring some value right now.
I’m mostly worried about crunch and high gain tones sounding weird at volume. I’ve never played through an IR in a live scenario where it was inspiring at all.
I will keep an eye out for holiday sales, I could be tempted to chase the 12.
I’ve been running an increasingly elaborate dual path thing to allow me to play through my tube head on stage with FX while sending a full FX & amp DI to FOH.
Being able to consolidate those patches down to a single path and NOT having to stomach playing through a plastic floor wedge would bring some value right now.
I’m mostly worried about crunch and high gain tones sounding weird at volume. I’ve never played through an IR in a live scenario where it was inspiring at all.
I will keep an eye out for holiday sales, I could be tempted to chase the 12.
Stratzrus
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The fact that it's gotten so many positive responses is noteworthy but as they say, the proof of the pudding is in the eating.
Given the price, if purchased from a vendor with a liberal return policy I think it's well worth checking out. The Archangel V2 Gold preamp replacement fixes any concerns one it likely to have and still keeps the total price below $700 (search "Fender FR-12 preamp mod").
The traditional combo tone, light weight, and conventional appearance make it a very attractive option.
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IMO what's really cool about them, apart from their being much louder than you'd expect for their size, is the Cut knob. There's been some talk here about whether they're "flat" or not, and what "sounding good" even means when an FR isn't actually an FR. What's cool is that the Cut knob gives you a way to dial somewhere on a spectrum between an FR feel and a conventional guitar cab feel. Yeah, it's just an LPF, but it's tuned just right (or maybe it has something to do with where it's implemented, so close to the power amp and speaker?)
Not getting enough sizzle for your chimey tones, or your backing tracks, or whatever? Dial the Cut back. Not getting enough heft for your faux 4x12 hi gain tones? Bring the Cut up a bit. Magic sauce.
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Baba
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As much as I hate to be "that guy", is there any noticable latency, playing like that?
Baba
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The FR-12 might either be the solution, or vastly bridge that gap between Plastic TurdTM, and conventional amp/cab, for you.
The biggest difference to me is, while all of the Plastic TurdsTM have low end, (some have overly hyped low end), they don't resonate like a conventional guitar cab does, and the Fender does that. I was the same as you, "there's still an IR with a close mic in the mix, so, how can that sound like an amp that's next to me?" Somehow, it just does.
I use a Friedman IR-X-based rig, FWIW.
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No, it's a perfectly reasonable question. (Even my wife asked about the "delay" - she doesn't know the Leo Gibson-approved terminology LOL. Though I think she was assuming Bluetooth when she did.) Anyway, I was fully prepared to test it on a lark and then pull it and run a cable when it inevitably sucked. Except it didn't suck at all. Go figure.
yeky83
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Filter don’t care where it’s placed within a LTI system, filter filters.
And if you think just a LPF does the job well, man have I got a thing for you…
FFIRs baby!
Stratzrus
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As a Fractal user what's cool about them for me are all the knobs.
Many have complained about having to menu dive to make adjustments on Fractal gear and how inconvenient that is during a live performance. Performance mode addressed that concern very well but being able to lean over an amp and adjust basic tone controls as well as "Cut" is better still.
Now I can make quick on the spot tone adjustments live on stage if necessary without having to scroll or bend way over to adjust tone on my floor mounted FM9. Trust me, nobody wants to see my over 70 years old back and knees trying to bend all the way over and turn knobs on something on the floor during a set, middle of the tune or not.
Performance mode is a very welcome addition but it's still not as convenient as being able to make a quick turn of a knob on the amp.
No amplification solution for modelers is perfect but the FR 10 &12 have a lot going for them. I'm very happy with my FR-12 and am likely to pick up a 10 as well.
Update: I picked up a FR-10 and had my second V2 Gold installed. Couldn't be happier with the results.
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EOengineer
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Ok you picked up on exactly what I was putting down and I suspect many others here have expressed as well. The fact that it can respond “kinda” like a guitar cab while being fed impulse responses makes it hard to not at least explore.
deadpool_25
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This.
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FR10 continues to impress. I had a couple of friends by this weekend, drummer and bassist. I started the day optimistically, running both vocals and guitar (QC) through a pair of HS8s. No matter how loud I got, the guitar would just vanish under the rhythm section. Finally plugged in the FR10 - a little nervous that it was going to be too small - and it completely filled the room with the volume knob at about 9 o'clock. Very clear, and surprisingly punchy for a 10" cabinet. I wasn't even tempted to "upgrade" to 4x12 and power amp. The FR10 is so easy!
paisleywookiee
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Stratzrus
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Me too.
Since I got my FR-10 back with the V2 Gold preamp installed I haven't even plugged in my FR-12. If there is a significant difference between the two it isn't painfully apparent at practice volumes.
I haven't been particularly impressed with Fenders amp offerings in recent years but the FR amps have proven to be a solid option for amplifying modelers.
