Fractal Talk

[la szum]

~~~The Orv shall illumine his own path forward~~~

 

[BenIfin]

The FM9 with a Fender FR-12 or 10 with the Archangel preamp is a hell of a rig. Compact. Relatively light. Few cables needed. Best amp in the room tone of any ""FRFR"" option according to many and it looks like a traditional amp.

In my experience the reliability of the Fractal gear is exemplary. Time will tell about the modified FR cabs but so far so good.

I've found that rig works for me in the places where I play, I think for those who would consider a combo amp with a pedalboard the FM9-FR12/10 is a reasonable option.

Im a bit confused. You bought an FR12 [or FR10] and replaced the built-in Fender pre-amp - with this Archangel Unit at a cost of US $500 or more (?)

Am I right (?)

 

[djd100]

VP4 if you wanna use it with an amp; FM3 if you wanna use it as an all-in-one device (which could include pedals in front of it, but wouldn’t bother with its loop).

The FM3's FX loop works fine for both line level or guitar level FX IME, totally usable assuming one manages levels etc, plus it includes it's own noise gate.

 

[Boudoir Guitar]

The FM3's FX loop works fine for both line level or guitar level FX IME, totally usable assuming one manages levels etc, plus it includes its own noise gate.

It’s fine.

 

[paisleywookiee]

Im a bit confused. You bought an FR12 [or FR10] and replaced the built-in Fender pre-amp - with this Archangel Unit at a cost of US $500 or more (?)

Am I right (?)

The Archangel isn’t $500. Like half that, IIRC

 

[Rock Chalk]

The Archangel is $129……

 

[JiveTurkey]

The Archangel is $129……

Well worth it.

 

[Boudoir Guitar]

The Archangel is $129……

...explains why he couldn't figure out why dude would spend $500 on one...

 

[norminal]

The Archangel is $129……

For some reason I thought it was more than that. That's a bargain for what you're getting.

 

[Rock Chalk]

That's a bargain for what you're getting.

The word is they sound pretty damn good (better than stock).

 

[BenIfin]

OK. My bad. Must have google'ed the wrong thing.

So given the FR12 and FR10 are $599 and $499 respectively ... what does this $129 replacement pre-amp board give you that tweaking your Modeler controls and/or Global EQ cant do ?

My thought would be, sure, it'll sound "different" ..... but how is it "better" ?

I get that it gets rid of the hiss ......

Genuinely curious.

 

[Stratzrus]

OK. My bad. Must have google'ed the wrong thing.

So given the FR12 and FR10 are $599 and $499 respectively ... what does this $129 replacement pre-amp board give you that tweaking your Modeler controls and/or Global EQ cant do ?

My thought would be, sure, it'll sound "different" ..... but how is it "better" ?

I get that it gets rid of the hiss ......

Genuinely curious.

It completely eliminates the hiss. People have to check to see if it's actually on.

It adds over 10 dB of clean headroom.

The tone controls are more effective with more clarity.

The bottom end is tighter.

The out of phase input is corrected.

An input overload light is added.

The bottom line is that it sounds noticeably better across the board. Most who try it with the new preamp say that it's the best amplification of a modeler that they've heard. For $130 it's cheaper than most boutique pedals and it's an easy, solderless install.

It made a very good amplifier for my modelers into a great one giving them the best amp in the room tone I've heard so far from a "FRFR" solution.

 

[Aleksi]

VP4 if you wanna use it with an amp; FM3 if you wanna use it as an all-in-one device (which could include pedals in front of it, but wouldn’t bother with its loop).

Can you elaborate on what's wrong with the loop on the FM3? I've ran several pedals in the loop at both instrument and line levels, and haven't had any issues. Anything I should look out for?

 

[Boudoir Guitar]

Can you elaborate on what's wrong with the loop on the FM3? I've ran several pedals in the loop at both instrument and line levels, and haven't had any issues. Anything I should look out for?

I was replying to Orv, knowing how he uses stuff and in the context of going from a III down to the FM3. You use the loop and now you're down to only having one output and in the context of someone that would prooooobably be using it with real cabs while also sometimes wanting to still have a direct output when doing that -- FM3 is great, but it has its compromises that can make some of us that are a little less than perfectly mentally balanced go a little unhinged at times.

 

[Stone]

This was what i could find for the Premap $750 CDN

https://reverb.com/item/81183279-archangel-electronics-v2-2024-gold

Where does one find this @ the stated $129.00 ??

 

[norminal]

This was what i could find for the Premap $750 CDN

https://reverb.com/item/81183279-archangel-electronics-v2-2024-gold

Where does one find this @ the stated $129.00 ??

Fender FR-12 preamp mod : The Hissterectomy

Edit 1/17/ 2025 The V2 waitlist has been moved to the V3 (latest version) mailing list. Here is the sign up form to be added to the Archangel Mailing List. https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/tFkNddQ Here is the manual that is still being updated. It has all the details about the design...

forum.fractalaudio.com

 

[Stone]

Fender FR-12 preamp mod : The Hissterectomy

Edit 1/17/ 2025 The V2 waitlist has been moved to the V3 (latest version) mailing list. Here is the sign up form to be added to the Archangel Mailing List. https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/tFkNddQ Here is the manual that is still being updated. It has all the details about the design...

forum.fractalaudio.com

Ahh I see

 

[norminal]

Ahh I see

 

[2112]

Been hooked on the new Big Muff variants since they dropped - Triangle with the wicker switch on into a dirty amp is so girthy.

Super Fuzz is wild fun too.

 

[makeitstop]

Getting a kick out of the gymnastics on display over at TOP in the never-ending attempt to put Fractal units down. One 30 second clip calls bullshit far more effectively than writing paragraphs about what something can’t do.

TOP? Toss a newb a clue here, I wanna go point and laugh.