playing with the fryette and a mark5twenty five for about 1.5 years now and i think its cant get any better. silent recording is really a blessing for those who need it.
Great video. Absolutely indispensable piece of gear for me. I have the PS-100 and use it with all manner of tube amps both alone and as a part of Wet Dry and Wet Dry Wet rigs. I've used many attenuators across the past couple of decades, and the Fryettes are the most transparent sounding by far. The fact that they "re-amp" and can boost or cut the volume is a game changer as well, in certain applications.
I think lot of the whole "no amps were in the top 20 amps sold on reverb" thing is more that amps in particular isn't something you buy used online unless its really reputable dealer.
@AmericanNationalist852 yes but it's also not the first place I'm going to look for a "new" item either. I would almost certainly order from sweet water before reverb for a new amp. And I'm buying a used amp in person even if it involves driving quite a distance. And I'm probably not alone in that feeling.
Master Volume is not just a volume control, like the volume on a TVs or monitors. It affects the whole sound adding body, compression and even distortion. Stuff like this Powerstation are very useful for MV amps as well. Great playing!
The PS revived my love of tube amps. Since I’ve had the PS, I play a JCM 800 (100 watt ) / Vox ac30 HW / Fender Twin all in my bedroom & all dialled to sound incredible at low volumes..The effects loop is super handy!!…Highly recommend
Shout out to Revv! I've had their Dynamis D40 with matching 2x12 cab for about a year now. With two channels, two master volumes, a Two-notes Torpedo-embedded reactive load built in, and their DynIRs with XLR out, you don't even need a cabinet. It is even MIDI controlable. And no, I get nothing from them. I pay them money! Just a happy customer.
I have used this as my power amp. Run iridium into line out and then power station into cab. Had to sell the amp head and this combo has worked as a decent alternative
Good topic!! HX Stomp, cab sim off, into Fryette Power Station (line in).. Fryette PS is connected to your favorite cab. Voilà!! (Line out is connected to an IR loader input for cab sim, for recording or f.o.h.) 😉
John said something in passing that is very much a real thing: not having a reliable tech in your area. I ended up working on my own amp after months of trying to find somebody who could or would do what I needed... That is definitely a real thing and I am in a place where there should be techs
The Power Station is a real Swiss army knife. Attenuation, ability to add FX loop , line out for your DAW, allows you to run amp,sim pedals into your speaker cabs, and allows for amp/ speaker impedance mis match. One of the best things I ever bought.
I have the Fryette Power Station and I believe it's the perfect tool for someone who wants to use an old marshall in live settings. Mostly because of the ability to play at any sound level but secondly, it gives you an FX-loop, which you don't mention in the video. It's a bit overkill for someone to only use at home or in a studio but for live use it's the best out there right now.
I have a Fender Super Sonic 22 and the Fryette PS-2. In the house, without the PS-2 I can only have my amp vol on 2 at most unless I have the guitar turned down. But with the PS-2 it doesn't matter what level I turn up the amp. I can hear the TV over my guitar if I wanted to and my pets aren't running for the hills. The PS-2 can also be a power amp for a modeler into a speaker cab. You can also put a very low powered amp into it an output 50W into a different speaker cab if you want. Oh, and it has an effects loop that can be used when your amp doesn't have effects loops. Pretty cool piece of gear.
@@sqlb3rn I assume that you tried the 4 cable method with your amp. Usually, it's the FX Loop output that is set to "Line" instead of "Instrument". This can cause a serious gain drop on your amp.
@@ZaneQuebec yes 4cm with a Peavey Invective 120... that wasn't it. I read the entire manual, updated firmware, and was all over google, youtube, reddit, line6 forums, facebook, and chatgpt over 4 days trying to figure out what the problem was. I really wanted it to work, because it was exactly what I needed in form factor and function, but the Stomp fx loop destroyed my amp's tone, almost like it was out of phase or something. But everything was mono L, TS cables, Serial with 100% mix. No matter what I tried, and how much I researched, nothing worked. People just say the same thing you did... check signal level, check routing. Maybe my unit was just defective, I was never able to figure it out.
@@sqlb3rn After reading the Peavey documentation, i found that the effects loops are set at a fix -10db so, in 4cm, your Stomp should be set like this : FX Send : Instrument FX Return : Line Output : Line There is also the "Master Boost" on the back of the amps that boosts the amp FX Loops. You could also try to set it to ZERO. From what you wrote before, i can assume that you already tried this but just in case you did not, give it a shot...
This was part of my tone journey. If you want to reach the next level, go for a Barefaced Reality 112FR. I run these in stereo with a QC and it's unbelievably good.
I live in an apartment. An attenuation solution (and a decibel meter) is absolutely required in my situation. I love using my modelers, but they are no substitute (yet) for a tube amp. Spent the last eight months running through the gamut of attenuation and silent recording solutions (not the same thing). What I learned: 1. The Fryette Power Station is the best overall solution out there for attenuation. Colors the true tone of the amp the least (as in almost no coloration at all). It can also boost the signal of quieter, low wattage amps to make them sound much louder. Silent recording is a bit more involved and you'll need to employ IRs in the DAW side. Plays well with Helix Native. 2. A UA Ox pedal also works *really* well with the Fryette (guitar-->Fryette -->Fryette line out--> UA Ox pedal --> audio interface) . This combo gives you the advantages of the UA Ox Box's silent recording strengths (cab IRs, mic, and studio effects, controllable from your phone) with the attenuation features of the Fryette. 3. The UA Ox Box and the Two Note Torpedo Captor X are the best and easiest solutions for silent recording. With built in IRs and effects, you can record straight from the device without any manipulation in the DAW. The Ox Box has fewer mic and cab options than the Captor X, but the cabs and mic available are amazing, truly studio quality. UA Ox Box also has impedence selection, where the Captor X you buy must match the impedence of your speaker. Captor X allows you to upload your own IRs. But the attenuation functionality for both is basic, done in a step down approach pegged at specific levels of attenuation vs a being able to use dial to get the exact amount of attenuation you want. 4. Also bought and tried the Weber Mass attenuator and Suhr reactive load silent recording solution. Both were good, but less flexible than the Fryette, UA Ox Box, or Two Notes Captor X. 5. I've also several tube amps with either built-in attenuation (Tone King Gremlin) or have silent amp feature where you can plug the amp directly into your audio interface without having to also be plugged into a speaker (Revv D20, Revv D25, Friedman Runt). All Revv amps have the Two Notes software built in, and it works exactly the same as Captor X. The D-series Revv amps are excellent pedal platforms, perhaps their best use since I find their pure amp tones a bit milquetoast and uninspiring. For convenience, I still love using my amp modelers (Tone Master Pro is my #1). But for recording or for the pure enjoyment of their tones, my tube amps can't be beat. The Fryette Power Station is a god send.
My approach is just to go with the lower-wattage stuff, which will like "show their character" quicker because of the lesser power or headroom. - I love that there are a bunch of 20W tube-amps now, not necessarily the "lunchbox" ones, which tend to be like 10-15, which is fine, but I heard they're not all that great at times, but I don't know, it's probably fine. - I got myself a 20W power-amp, then sending some nice tube pre-amps into it, so that way it's more modular, to have more mix and match options, rather than having this one large bulky amp-head or whatever. - Sure, lower wattage might not have that "big open" sound or whatever, but that doesn't mean it sounds bad or it's useless, it actually still sounds great and powerful, besides they also sound good at lower volumes. And not like whisper-volumes, still, but almost nothing sounds good at very low volumes. You still need to give speakers a good push, which probably make up more than half of the sound anyway. People tend to forget that the interaction with the speaker is a huge part of it all, not just trying to form frequencies at the amplifier or even before it. The same is true for hi-fi stuff as well, the speakers are what render the sounds and ultimately what you hear. You need the right interaction with them. This is also why a lot of that "direct" stuff doesn't get the sound or feel right, cause the speaker-interaction (with the cabinet, microphone, room, etc.) is missing, even if they try to emulate it. - So pushing the amplifier and then holding it down with an attenuator is not the entire answer or solution to it. You might get "more out of it" in terms of its character, and sure, if you're looking for stronger break-up in that circuitry you might have to do it that way, but to then drizzle it out of a speaker removes the interaction with the speaker and thus part of the sound. - That's just how I see it. - And yea, you can increase the attack on the speakers more if you use fewer, for one thing, or lower wattage and perhaps more sensitive ones, if not smaller ones, but of course that will also dictate the sound-character. - There are so many variables. Cabinets are another thing, size, open and closed, density (not to get into the toanwud thing, but physics are a thing).
I'm a long time user of the Fryette Powerstation, just the same v1 shown in the video. It's a life saver, probably the best investment in gear I've ever made. It has reconnected me with my valuable tube amps that, IMO, are totally different animals from all the emulators and profilers out there (that I happen to use when needed, though). It's important to know that the Fryette PS is not only an attenuator, but a a reactive load paired with a hi-fi class tube power amp. It works differently from other attenuators, there's no direct connection between the built in load that fully absorb the Amp power, and the speaker (if any) connected to it. This latter is powered by the proprietary *tube* power amp, and not by the "soaked" amp's one. When using the PS in a standard amp + cab rig, that prevents from some tone artifacts that may occur with other attenuators, caused by the interaction between two loads (the resistive load and the speaker itself). That often leads to a radical transfiguration of the original amp tone! This is key and sets the PS apart from all the others! When used just to squeeze a tube amp juice, and send a line out signal to an IR loader (= no speaker involved), it works the same as other attenuators. Both application (w cab or w IRs) are extremely useful at home, as well as at gigs (=no more soundguys yelling at you because of your stage volume!). Just my two cents...
I love my Power station (Ive had teh original - then some years later went back to the 2a). 1. I use it with my Axe-FX to power a traditional 2x12 cab at any volume.. FAR better for practicing and on stage monitoring than FRFR IMO. 2. As an attenuator with my Two Rock. 3. It adds an FX loop for any amp that doesnt have one....(mine does currently but I had one that didnt and the PS was a god send then). Ive had loads of attenuators over the years - but the OPS is just right with very little if any tonal difference - but also feel difference as its a valve re-amper so you get the same reactance with your speaker as you would directly from the amp.
I am a true believer in the Fryette Power Station, I can turn up the controls and quieten down my Marshall SV20H, or just the reverse I can take a D. Kowalski Dark Gene 1/2 watt tube amp which is quiet , and crank up the volume with the Fryette. The Fryette is a very useful and handy piece of gear.
I know nothing else but tube amps and at 75 years old playing at home is the only option left for me. For many years I struggled with achieving acceptable tones at reasonable volumes and then I bought a Tone King Imperial Mark11 with built in Ironman attenuator. Problem solved.
Suhr Reactive Load is a silent recorder’s dream! Lets the amp be the amp and great for live as well whether you want stage volume or not. Fryette is great for amps w/o a decent master volume and I found it redundant for those that do(Friedman, Fryette, Zwreck, Suhr, etc.) The attenuation/re-amp feature of the powerstation is amazing if you need power amp distortion as well from your amp. My personal experiences, cheers!
My Revv D25 is AWESOME love how it plays and love having the options it offers. Only thing I wish is I could play with both the speaker emulation and the actual speaker at once.
👍…Can you please show us how you set up the power station cables? I believe you are plugging the power station between the amp output and speaker input 8 ohms on the Deluxe. Btw really Great tone. I have both a power station II and a Butler Tube Driver and a vintage Vibrolux so I’ll try it out. Thank you!
John, could you do a lesson on how to fix the "lazy first finger" in legato? I find my ascending legato is always limited because my first finger is slow to getting to the next string. Thanks John!
I'm using a torpedo captor (not X version) along with the mesa amp head switcher. Anything that takes the amps to silent is a must have imo unless you're using them how they were originally intended(?) to use live to amplify your sound. Even then nowadays you might still need an attenuator.
Done a bit of experimenting with this and I reckon that going into the power stage of a BluGuitar Amp-1 gives you a very similar power amp response (at a fraction of the weight and size) .. combine this with a load .. I do love the Power Stage though ..
In saying this, I did slightly miss the point of the video .. which is more about a) creating a master volume for a non-master volume amp and/or b) creating an FX loop for an amp that doesn't have one .. Options for a power amp have got pretty good but a decent attenuator is still difficult .. and as far as I can tell (and I've only had a few goes at this) it's quite amp-dependent which one is best .. I must admit I was really looking at what would give me a good power section for an Origin FX, an HX Stomp or ToneX .. As a result, I do quite fancy trying the ToneX FRFR ..
I'll give you 2 amp you should try. Tone King Imperial v2 (I was blown away by this amp. I found it incredibly inspiring, so many amazing tones. The only thing I'd add to it would be an fx loop). 2nd amp would be a Marshall JVM 205c (50watt combo) or the head version. The JVM is an incredibly versatile amp.
I tried an epiphone at Gibson Garage London using a Mesa Cab clone into a mesa cali tweed. Probably the best sound I’ve ever had as I don’t own any valve amps. Other than volume my major issue is space. I have a deluxe Tonemaster which I like but it’s pretty big and I don’t have room for anything more if it wanted say a Marshall or Vox tone.
Definitely attenuators are pivotal to playing tube amps! Depending upon the unit, they do alter tone, but if used properly it’s minimal, or unrecognizable in context of the mix. I use a THD Hotplate I bought many years ago; does the trick. A lot of people misunderstand master volume amps, however. Master volumes aren’t attenuators, they overdrive the preamp tubes. Can produce a very buzzy sound. The glory of a tube amp is getting the power tubes cooking along with preamp tubes, transformer, speaker (hence my preference for non master volume amps). This can only be achieved at lower volumes with an attenuator of some sort, isolation chamber, etc. Also, for recording check out the Palmer speaker simulator / load box units.
I can't hear any difference with youtube compression. I could probably tell in the room, but I don't think it matters anyways. The power station rules and is a must have piece of gear if you like amps.
Attenuator tech is definitely where it's at. But there's another level--speakers that allow adjustments to the magnet. Example = FluxTone's VMT solution.
Hey John, nice video. Can you check out some pre-amp pedals (tube/non-tube) and the UA amp in a box style pedala through the line in and see how you like that. I'm trying to figure out if the PS2 can cover the power amp roles as well as the attenuator role effectively. Cheers
I had been playing on an FM9 for a couple years and missed having a tube amp. So I went and bought a JEL50, 4x12, and PS100 and it's magical. Don't get me wrong, the FM9 is amazing, but I just cant get that kerrrrangg out of it like a tube amp.
Almost all guitar tube amps in the 12W or greater range are class AB amps meaning they need an output tube bias calibration check whenever the output tubes get changed at minimum so that distortion especially at a low amp volumes is minimized -- hence why true class A amps like tweed & blackface Fender Champs are regarded by some for clean low volume practicing & playing even studio recording. But sure if one is practicing & playing with distortion all the time or the amp (e.g., unmodified Fender Princeton Reverbs) doesn't have an adjustable bias then this sort of consideration might not be very valuable nevermind for those whose ideal clean sound is say a low volume guitar thru a fuzzface.
Would be great to hear you check out the just-announced Celestion Peacemaker speaker in your favourite 1x12s - make the speaker quieter rather than the amp…. Promising or not??
I am using the Power Station since it came out, by now I have 4 of them. Yes, they are not cheap, but not that much more expensive than e.g. Suhr or Mesa attenuators which all sound terrible in comparison, and cheaper than the OX or Boss TAE, which sound far worse (as attenuators, recording might be a different topic). I use them as attenuators, for speaker impedance matching, and also as a tube power amp with preamps like the Effectrode Blackbird (and I am convinced that this combination is the best Twin/D-Style 'amp' you can find under 3-4k. If even Pete Thorn calls this the best attenuator on the market (and he IS Suhr marketing)... then there are no questions left. The PS is transparent for most of the power amps range, at very high output settings a little coloration from the PS's own tubes can come in, but that is maybe at around 95% of the power rating. While the 50W model is plenty for home and studio, for loud stages better pay the little extra for the 100W version. (Just for info since I have seen a lot of wrong videos on the net... the 50 and 100W ratings are the PS's power amp OUTPUT - both models can handle up to 200W input. You do not necessarily need the 100W model, just because your amp has more than 50W.)
What was the reverb list? In their news section, there are posts for "2024's best-selling pedals" (not amps), "2024's best-selling electronic gear" (not amps), "2024's best-selling recording gear" (not amps), and the guitars (not amps). Is there a list of top 20 amps (no pedals)?
Can you use this to power a cabinet and then use the heads inside a UAFX pedal? Or your HX stop heads with no cabs? That would be a cool video if you have extra cabs laying around I know you can do that with this company maybe not this device exactly
Do you mean suing it to run UAFX pedals etc into a cab? Yes, you can. There is a line in or you can use the return of the FX loop. Just disable the speaker simulation on your modeller
My problem with tube amps is how inconsistent they are live, some rooms they sound amazing and a modeller can't touch them. The next it's thin and i'm frantically trying to re tweak everything to get a tone. I've used Kemper now for the past few years and it sounds exactly the same at every show (unless ofcourse the PA sucks) that's still gonna be a problem for your band with a tube amp rig though.
I'm always confused about claims like the one at 06:58 that running amps slightly hotter than bedroom volume means they'll need to be serviced more often. I drive my amps hard and almost never have anything go wrong with them, even with regular use in a studio setting. Throwing them in a tour van night after night maybe, but I don't think most players really need to be too concerned.
When I owned a Tone King Imperial with built in attenuator...and compared it to the PowerStation....the Freyette was significantly better imo. Fwiw, I still sold all of my tube amps and bought an FM9. ;). No regrets. The extra cost of the Freyette, space and complexity of the rig was not worth the 5% diff I heard versus a good modeler. YMMV. I don't live in a house with a basement where I can play at 90+dB to actually enjoy a tube amp. If that changes, I'll grab a Suhr Bella. :)
The problem is if you've laid out a thousand or 2,000 or 3,000 for a tube amp, and now you have to lay out another $900 for the V2 version of this gear, it's out of range for a hobbyist and probably even out of range for a working musician that isn't doing really well.
Don't hear a difference. I've been looking at the PS for a long time, but still haven't accepted the price (in Europe) yet. Seems silly to run two tube amps just to be silent in your bedroom. Another option could be, like you mentioned, stuff like the upcoming small Synergy amp, where you can turn off the power amp; that has some sort of emulation like those Friedman tube pre-amp pedals have. Since I already have the big Synergy head, it would be just a matter of choice depending on how you get to the gig and how loud you get to be. The Power Station is a good solution, but modeller plus PS is not exactly more portable than a small or even medium-sized tube amp.
I would expect that tube amps will slowly disappear in the next years. The digital amps have reached a quality that just makes them unnecessary. If you want the "amp in a room sound", you can use a good FRFR cabinet ...
I’m guessing that a $1k+ device that is needed to make a $1k - $2k+ amp isn’t going to save the amp industry. If someone wants to save the tube amp industry they’re going to need to figure out how to 1) source cheaper materials, and/or 2) source cheaper labor costs. They’re also going to have to figure out how to streamline the production process. Basically, it’s the cost that is killing tube amps. People may be willing to deal with the weight for the special amp experience, but most people cant afford the cost and also (to keep things relevant to this video), they don’t have a space where they can crank the volume of an amp without a master volume. So future tube amps need to either come with a master volume, or a built-in attenuator (which I understand are not the same things). Thoughts?
Save the amp industry? Just because the top amps are not tube amps does not mean the "amp industry" is having problems. The number of people starting to play guitar may be expanding at a large enough rate that the tube amp numbers being bought may still well be increasing even if they are 50th. Top sold amps doesn't really tell the tale..... numbers can lie, The number of tube amps sold 3 years ago as compared to last year would be a better gauge. Getting tube amp on the edge sound at any volume is a whole different thing. It is really hard to tell the difference in tone between louder and quieter. In general, louder sounds better, all else being equal. That's just human perception. Your test sounded similar at both levels though..... as much as can be heard through laptop speakers :P In the end it comes down to what makes the player happy. Any decent studio can deal with loud or quiet amps, so live and at home is where to use this device in which case, once you get used to it's sound and level, that will be the right sound. Really, getting the same sound is not the object, getting a pleasing sound is.
I have a hard time believing that attenuators will save the amp industry. There's something ridiculous about driving an amp at very high volume only to have it attenuated with cab+mic emulation. You are better off with a modeller. On the other hand, amps are still the best when you actually want/need to play loud.
There are no problems with the tube amps, why this title ? Just buy the amp that suits your studio and venues. For home i have a 5 watt and a 12 watt tube amp and i can play them without any problem. The tube amps industry doesn't need to be saved, it's doing very well.
Because they cost a thousand dollars or more? Someone who doesn’t need an attenuator isn’t going to want to pay $3000 for a $2000 amp that has one built in.
Maybe I was too quick to judge, but I tried it for a bit and felt like it was a bit off…… tell you what; I will dig my attenuator out of the closet and give it another shot and I will let you know how it goes.
Your tube amps are worthless, especially your Engl Savage 120s. You should list them on reverb for dirt cheap so you can get lucky and unload the worthless ancient technologies.
If you use tube amps in general you need a tech. Operating them in their designed window I wouldn’t think should hurt it any more than playing it quietly. It’s on either way. But tube amps require some maintenance intermittently and if you don’t know what you’re doing then everyone needs a tech. I’m not sure an attenuator is something that is a new “savior” of the amp industry. There have been good attenuators out there for years and years even freyette has a version of the power station for decades
Frankly I don't see the point of having a real amp with attenuator since the difference now with modelers is the air moving that is missing , I think that now a days the modelers sound identical to their real counterpart.
My Revv D25 is AWESOME love how it plays and love having the options it offers. Only thing I wish is I could play with both the speaker emulation and the actual speaker at once.
playing with the fryette and a mark5twenty five for about 1.5 years now and i think its cant get any better. silent recording is really a blessing for those who need it.
Explain the silent recording part?
My 50 year old Marshall with Boss TAE is a beast. Using 4 cable method for fancy modern reverbs. My little Marshall now goes up to 50!
Great video. Absolutely indispensable piece of gear for me. I have the PS-100 and use it with all manner of tube amps both alone and as a part of Wet Dry and Wet Dry Wet rigs. I've used many attenuators across the past couple of decades, and the Fryettes are the most transparent sounding by far. The fact that they "re-amp" and can boost or cut the volume is a game changer as well, in certain applications.
I think lot of the whole "no amps were in the top 20 amps sold on reverb" thing is more that amps in particular isn't something you buy used online unless its really reputable dealer.
Reverb isn't all "used" listings
Good point
I also think it's partially because the number of different model amplifiers dwarfs the number of different modelers.
@AmericanNationalist852 yes but it's also not the first place I'm going to look for a "new" item either. I would almost certainly order from sweet water before reverb for a new amp. And I'm buying a used amp in person even if it involves driving quite a distance. And I'm probably not alone in that feeling.
Last new amp I was looking at on reverb had $200+ shipping. I don't look for new amps on Reverb anymore.
Master Volume is not just a volume control, like the volume on a TVs or monitors. It affects the whole sound adding body, compression and even distortion. Stuff like this Powerstation are very useful for MV amps as well. Great playing!
The PS revived my love of tube amps. Since I’ve had the PS, I play a JCM 800 (100 watt ) / Vox ac30 HW / Fender Twin all in my bedroom & all dialled to sound incredible at low volumes..The effects loop is super handy!!…Highly recommend
Added a PS-100 and a ZMACS amp switcher this year. Blessed to call it the greatest rig I’ve ever played.
Shout out to Revv! I've had their Dynamis D40 with matching 2x12 cab for about a year now. With two channels, two master volumes, a Two-notes Torpedo-embedded reactive load built in, and their DynIRs with XLR out, you don't even need a cabinet. It is even MIDI controlable. And no, I get nothing from them. I pay them money! Just a happy customer.
I have used this as my power amp. Run iridium into line out and then power station into cab. Had to sell the amp head and this combo has worked as a decent alternative
Good topic!! HX Stomp, cab sim off, into Fryette Power Station (line in).. Fryette PS is connected to your favorite cab. Voilà!! (Line out is connected to an IR loader input for cab sim, for recording or f.o.h.) 😉
John said something in passing that is very much a real thing: not having a reliable tech in your area. I ended up working on my own amp after months of trying to find somebody who could or would do what I needed... That is definitely a real thing and I am in a place where there should be techs
The Power Station is a real Swiss army knife.
Attenuation, ability to add FX loop , line out for your DAW, allows you to run amp,sim pedals into your speaker cabs, and allows for amp/ speaker impedance mis match.
One of the best things I ever bought.
I have the Fryette Power Station and I believe it's the perfect tool for someone who wants to use an old marshall in live settings. Mostly because of the ability to play at any sound level but secondly, it gives you an FX-loop, which you don't mention in the video. It's a bit overkill for someone to only use at home or in a studio but for live use it's the best out there right now.
I have a Fender Super Sonic 22 and the Fryette PS-2. In the house, without the PS-2 I can only have my amp vol on 2 at most unless I have the guitar turned down. But with the PS-2 it doesn't matter what level I turn up the amp. I can hear the TV over my guitar if I wanted to and my pets aren't running for the hills. The PS-2 can also be a power amp for a modeler into a speaker cab. You can also put a very low powered amp into it an output 50W into a different speaker cab if you want. Oh, and it has an effects loop that can be used when your amp doesn't have effects loops. Pretty cool piece of gear.
Try this : HX Stomp (no cab sim) -> Fryette Line In -> Speaker out -> Your favorite cab.
I just bought an HX Stomp and had to return it after 4 days of troubleshooting why the FX loop drastically changes the tone of my amp head.
@@sqlb3rn I assume that you tried the 4 cable method with your amp. Usually, it's the FX Loop output that is set to "Line" instead of "Instrument". This can cause a serious gain drop on your amp.
@@ZaneQuebec yes 4cm with a Peavey Invective 120... that wasn't it. I read the entire manual, updated firmware, and was all over google, youtube, reddit, line6 forums, facebook, and chatgpt over 4 days trying to figure out what the problem was. I really wanted it to work, because it was exactly what I needed in form factor and function, but the Stomp fx loop destroyed my amp's tone, almost like it was out of phase or something. But everything was mono L, TS cables, Serial with 100% mix. No matter what I tried, and how much I researched, nothing worked. People just say the same thing you did... check signal level, check routing. Maybe my unit was just defective, I was never able to figure it out.
@@sqlb3rn I have to say that I have the same feeling with my Stomp XL
@@sqlb3rn After reading the Peavey documentation, i found that the effects loops are set at a fix -10db so, in 4cm, your Stomp should be set like this :
FX Send : Instrument
FX Return : Line
Output : Line
There is also the "Master Boost" on the back of the amps that boosts the amp FX Loops. You could also try to set it to ZERO.
From what you wrote before, i can assume that you already tried this but just in case you did not, give it a shot...
I use a fryette ps100 with my hiwatts. Best money spent on tone ever
This was part of my tone journey. If you want to reach the next level, go for a Barefaced Reality 112FR. I run these in stereo with a QC and it's unbelievably good.
I live in an apartment. An attenuation solution (and a decibel meter) is absolutely required in my situation. I love using my modelers, but they are no substitute (yet) for a tube amp. Spent the last eight months running through the gamut of attenuation and silent recording solutions (not the same thing). What I learned:
1. The Fryette Power Station is the best overall solution out there for attenuation. Colors the true tone of the amp the least (as in almost no coloration at all). It can also boost the signal of quieter, low wattage amps to make them sound much louder. Silent recording is a bit more involved and you'll need to employ IRs in the DAW side. Plays well with Helix Native.
2. A UA Ox pedal also works *really* well with the Fryette (guitar-->Fryette -->Fryette line out--> UA Ox pedal --> audio interface) . This combo gives you the advantages of the UA Ox Box's silent recording strengths (cab IRs, mic, and studio effects, controllable from your phone) with the attenuation features of the Fryette.
3. The UA Ox Box and the Two Note Torpedo Captor X are the best and easiest solutions for silent recording. With built in IRs and effects, you can record straight from the device without any manipulation in the DAW. The Ox Box has fewer mic and cab options than the Captor X, but the cabs and mic available are amazing, truly studio quality. UA Ox Box also has impedence selection, where the Captor X you buy must match the impedence of your speaker. Captor X allows you to upload your own IRs. But the attenuation functionality for both is basic, done in a step down approach pegged at specific levels of attenuation vs a being able to use dial to get the exact amount of attenuation you want.
4. Also bought and tried the Weber Mass attenuator and Suhr reactive load silent recording solution. Both were good, but less flexible than the Fryette, UA Ox Box, or Two Notes Captor X.
5. I've also several tube amps with either built-in attenuation (Tone King Gremlin) or have silent amp feature where you can plug the amp directly into your audio interface without having to also be plugged into a speaker (Revv D20, Revv D25, Friedman Runt). All Revv amps have the Two Notes software built in, and it works exactly the same as Captor X. The D-series Revv amps are excellent pedal platforms, perhaps their best use since I find their pure amp tones a bit milquetoast and uninspiring.
For convenience, I still love using my amp modelers (Tone Master Pro is my #1). But for recording or for the pure enjoyment of their tones, my tube amps can't be beat. The Fryette Power Station is a god send.
My approach is just to go with the lower-wattage stuff, which will like "show their character" quicker because of the lesser power or headroom. - I love that there are a bunch of 20W tube-amps now, not necessarily the "lunchbox" ones, which tend to be like 10-15, which is fine, but I heard they're not all that great at times, but I don't know, it's probably fine. - I got myself a 20W power-amp, then sending some nice tube pre-amps into it, so that way it's more modular, to have more mix and match options, rather than having this one large bulky amp-head or whatever. - Sure, lower wattage might not have that "big open" sound or whatever, but that doesn't mean it sounds bad or it's useless, it actually still sounds great and powerful, besides they also sound good at lower volumes. And not like whisper-volumes, still, but almost nothing sounds good at very low volumes. You still need to give speakers a good push, which probably make up more than half of the sound anyway.
People tend to forget that the interaction with the speaker is a huge part of it all, not just trying to form frequencies at the amplifier or even before it. The same is true for hi-fi stuff as well, the speakers are what render the sounds and ultimately what you hear. You need the right interaction with them. This is also why a lot of that "direct" stuff doesn't get the sound or feel right, cause the speaker-interaction (with the cabinet, microphone, room, etc.) is missing, even if they try to emulate it. - So pushing the amplifier and then holding it down with an attenuator is not the entire answer or solution to it. You might get "more out of it" in terms of its character, and sure, if you're looking for stronger break-up in that circuitry you might have to do it that way, but to then drizzle it out of a speaker removes the interaction with the speaker and thus part of the sound. - That's just how I see it. - And yea, you can increase the attack on the speakers more if you use fewer, for one thing, or lower wattage and perhaps more sensitive ones, if not smaller ones, but of course that will also dictate the sound-character. - There are so many variables. Cabinets are another thing, size, open and closed, density (not to get into the toanwud thing, but physics are a thing).
I'm a long time user of the Fryette Powerstation, just the same v1 shown in the video. It's a life saver, probably the best investment in gear I've ever made. It has reconnected me with my valuable tube amps that, IMO, are totally different animals from all the emulators and profilers out there (that I happen to use when needed, though). It's important to know that the Fryette PS is not only an attenuator, but a a reactive load paired with a hi-fi class tube power amp. It works differently from other attenuators, there's no direct connection between the built in load that fully absorb the Amp power, and the speaker (if any) connected to it. This latter is powered by the proprietary *tube* power amp, and not by the "soaked" amp's one. When using the PS in a standard amp + cab rig, that prevents from some tone artifacts that may occur with other attenuators, caused by the interaction between two loads (the resistive load and the speaker itself). That often leads to a radical transfiguration of the original amp tone! This is key and sets the PS apart from all the others! When used just to squeeze a tube amp juice, and send a line out signal to an IR loader (= no speaker involved), it works the same as other attenuators. Both application (w cab or w IRs) are extremely useful at home, as well as at gigs (=no more soundguys yelling at you because of your stage volume!). Just my two cents...
I love my Power station (Ive had teh original - then some years later went back to the 2a). 1. I use it with my Axe-FX to power a traditional 2x12 cab at any volume.. FAR better for practicing and on stage monitoring than FRFR IMO. 2. As an attenuator with my Two Rock. 3. It adds an FX loop for any amp that doesnt have one....(mine does currently but I had one that didnt and the PS was a god send then). Ive had loads of attenuators over the years - but the OPS is just right with very little if any tonal difference - but also feel difference as its a valve re-amper so you get the same reactance with your speaker as you would directly from the amp.
Getting a PS-2A for my ‘68 Bandmaster. It also adds a post amp effects loop which otherwise is unavailable in most tube amps.
I am a true believer in the Fryette Power Station, I can turn up the controls and quieten down my Marshall SV20H, or just the reverse I can take a D. Kowalski Dark Gene 1/2 watt tube amp which is quiet , and crank up the volume with the Fryette. The Fryette is a very useful and handy piece of gear.
I know nothing else but tube amps and at 75 years old playing at home is the only option left for me. For many years I struggled with achieving acceptable tones at reasonable volumes and then I bought a Tone King Imperial Mark11 with built in Ironman attenuator. Problem solved.
Suhr Reactive Load is a silent recorder’s dream! Lets the amp be the amp and great for live as well whether you want stage volume or not. Fryette is great for amps w/o a decent master volume and I found it redundant for those that do(Friedman, Fryette, Zwreck, Suhr, etc.) The attenuation/re-amp feature of the powerstation is amazing if you need power amp distortion as well from your amp. My personal experiences, cheers!
Tube amps awesome, sometimes using Boss Katana Mk2 but currently using a retubed Mesa
Express 525 - sensational bit of kit
My Revv D25 is AWESOME love how it plays and love having the options it offers. Only thing I wish is I could play with both the speaker emulation and the actual speaker at once.
👍…Can you please show us how you set up the power station cables? I believe you are plugging the power station between the amp output and speaker input 8 ohms on the Deluxe. Btw really Great tone. I have both a power station II and a Butler Tube Driver and a vintage Vibrolux so I’ll try it out. Thank you!
John, could you do a lesson on how to fix the "lazy first finger" in legato? I find my ascending legato is always limited because my first finger is slow to getting to the next string. Thanks John!
Bought an Ox box lately and it’s enabled me to dust off my vintage amps. Just wish I’d done it sooner. ! Not touched the kemper since.
I'm using a torpedo captor (not X version) along with the mesa amp head switcher. Anything that takes the amps to silent is a must have imo unless you're using them how they were originally intended(?) to use live to amplify your sound. Even then nowadays you might still need an attenuator.
Done a bit of experimenting with this and I reckon that going into the power stage of a BluGuitar Amp-1 gives you a very similar power amp response (at a fraction of the weight and size) .. combine this with a load ..
I do love the Power Stage though ..
In saying this, I did slightly miss the point of the video .. which is more about a) creating a master volume for a non-master volume amp and/or b) creating an FX loop for an amp that doesn't have one ..
Options for a power amp have got pretty good but a decent attenuator is still difficult .. and as far as I can tell (and I've only had a few goes at this) it's quite amp-dependent which one is best ..
I must admit I was really looking at what would give me a good power section for an Origin FX, an HX Stomp or ToneX .. As a result, I do quite fancy trying the ToneX FRFR ..
Yes, I've been using the FPS for quite a while. It is phenom... it's just heavy.
I use a Revv g50 with the two notes for silent recording! I love it. Definitely try out a Revv. I’ve been interested in the D40 as well
I'll give you 2 amp you should try. Tone King Imperial v2 (I was blown away by this amp. I found it incredibly inspiring, so many amazing tones. The only thing I'd add to it would be an fx loop). 2nd amp would be a Marshall JVM 205c (50watt combo) or the head version. The JVM is an incredibly versatile amp.
John , have you used an Ox box or other attenuators and if so how do you compare them ? I’d love to hear
I miss your Electra Dyne in the background, it was particularly cool
I tried an epiphone at Gibson Garage London using a Mesa Cab clone into a mesa cali tweed. Probably the best sound I’ve ever had as I don’t own any valve amps.
Other than volume my major issue is space. I have a deluxe Tonemaster which I like but it’s pretty big and I don’t have room for anything more if it wanted say a Marshall or Vox tone.
Definitely attenuators are pivotal to playing tube amps! Depending upon the unit, they do alter tone, but if used properly it’s minimal, or unrecognizable in context of the mix. I use a THD Hotplate I bought many years ago; does the trick.
A lot of people misunderstand master volume amps, however. Master volumes aren’t attenuators, they overdrive the preamp tubes. Can produce a very buzzy sound. The glory of a tube amp is getting the power tubes cooking along with preamp tubes, transformer, speaker (hence my preference for non master volume amps). This can only be achieved at lower volumes with an attenuator of some sort, isolation chamber, etc. Also, for recording check out the Palmer speaker simulator / load box units.
I cannot recall you having a Roland Jazz Chorus to review (as old as it is).
John, you should try an Engl iroball se. it has built in effects,IRs,and power soak. And Steve Morse has his own sig model.
I can't hear any difference with youtube compression. I could probably tell in the room, but I don't think it matters anyways. The power station rules and is a must have piece of gear if you like amps.
Attenuator tech is definitely where it's at. But there's another level--speakers that allow adjustments to the magnet. Example = FluxTone's VMT solution.
Hey John, big fan of the channel. I use a Tornado Captor for my amp at home. What would be the benefits of upgrading to a Power Station?
Boss Tube Amp Expander good one as well
Amp I’d love to see you review - ‘65 Princeton Reverb Reissue.
What about the new Boss Wazacraft Core attenuator thingy?
Hey John, nice video. Can you check out some pre-amp pedals (tube/non-tube) and the UA amp in a box style pedala through the line in and see how you like that. I'm trying to figure out if the PS2 can cover the power amp roles as well as the attenuator role effectively. Cheers
I had been playing on an FM9 for a couple years and missed having a tube amp. So I went and bought a JEL50, 4x12, and PS100 and it's magical. Don't get me wrong, the FM9 is amazing, but I just cant get that kerrrrangg out of it like a tube amp.
Almost all guitar tube amps in the 12W or greater range are class AB amps meaning they need an output tube bias calibration check whenever the output tubes get changed at minimum so that distortion especially at a low amp volumes is minimized -- hence why true class A amps like tweed & blackface Fender Champs are regarded by some for clean low volume practicing & playing even studio recording.
But sure if one is practicing & playing with distortion all the time or the amp (e.g., unmodified Fender Princeton Reverbs) doesn't have an adjustable bias then this sort of consideration might not be very valuable nevermind for those whose ideal clean sound is say a low volume guitar thru a fuzzface.
You should take it apart and tell us how much it should cost
Would be great to hear you check out the just-announced Celestion Peacemaker speaker in your favourite 1x12s - make the speaker quieter rather than the amp…. Promising or not??
Jeff Beck Artifacts Auction at Christies is on live now, getting into the weeds
Loved Jeff. My favourite player. Genius.
I am using the Power Station since it came out, by now I have 4 of them. Yes, they are not cheap, but not that much more expensive than e.g. Suhr or Mesa attenuators which all sound terrible in comparison, and cheaper than the OX or Boss TAE, which sound far worse (as attenuators, recording might be a different topic). I use them as attenuators, for speaker impedance matching, and also as a tube power amp with preamps like the Effectrode Blackbird (and I am convinced that this combination is the best Twin/D-Style 'amp' you can find under 3-4k. If even Pete Thorn calls this the best attenuator on the market (and he IS Suhr marketing)... then there are no questions left. The PS is transparent for most of the power amps range, at very high output settings a little coloration from the PS's own tubes can come in, but that is maybe at around 95% of the power rating. While the 50W model is plenty for home and studio, for loud stages better pay the little extra for the 100W version. (Just for info since I have seen a lot of wrong videos on the net... the 50 and 100W ratings are the PS's power amp OUTPUT - both models can handle up to 200W input. You do not necessarily need the 100W model, just because your amp has more than 50W.)
What was the reverb list? In their news section, there are posts for "2024's best-selling pedals" (not amps), "2024's best-selling electronic gear" (not amps), "2024's best-selling recording gear" (not amps), and the guitars (not amps). Is there a list of top 20 amps (no pedals)?
Can you use this to power a cabinet and then use the heads inside a UAFX pedal? Or your HX stop heads with no cabs?
That would be a cool video if you have extra cabs laying around I know you can do that with this company maybe not this device exactly
Do you mean suing it to run UAFX pedals etc into a cab?
Yes, you can. There is a line in or you can use the return of the FX loop.
Just disable the speaker simulation on your modeller
@duncancartledge1667 but this can power a cab that's meant to be paired with a tube head? Not a frfr
@dash4786 Yes, the Power Station can power up to 2 cabs , 4,8 or 16 ohms.
You should ask Boss to send you the new Waza Tube Amp Expander Core to check out. Be interesting to see/hear your thoughts on it. Cheers!
I am Watching ! Cheers John .
My problem with tube amps is how inconsistent they are live, some rooms they sound amazing and a modeller can't touch them. The next it's thin and i'm frantically trying to re tweak everything to get a tone. I've used Kemper now for the past few years and it sounds exactly the same at every show (unless ofcourse the PA sucks) that's still gonna be a problem for your band with a tube amp rig though.
I'm always confused about claims like the one at 06:58 that running amps slightly hotter than bedroom volume means they'll need to be serviced more often. I drive my amps hard and almost never have anything go wrong with them, even with regular use in a studio setting. Throwing them in a tour van night after night maybe, but I don't think most players really need to be too concerned.
It’s the increased tube wear.
have you seen the engl steve morse amp? i think you would like that.
When I owned a Tone King Imperial with built in attenuator...and compared it to the PowerStation....the Freyette was significantly better imo. Fwiw, I still sold all of my tube amps and bought an FM9. ;). No regrets. The extra cost of the Freyette, space and complexity of the rig was not worth the 5% diff I heard versus a good modeler. YMMV. I don't live in a house with a basement where I can play at 90+dB to actually enjoy a tube amp. If that changes, I'll grab a Suhr Bella. :)
The problem is if you've laid out a thousand or 2,000 or 3,000 for a tube amp, and now you have to lay out another $900 for the V2 version of this gear, it's out of range for a hobbyist and probably even out of range for a working musician that isn't doing really well.
Anyone else with a PS100/PS50a, does yours have a Low hum? The hum on mine is quite but really irritates me!
Would be interesting to compare this to the new Boss Tube Amp Expander Core, its a few hundred cheaper than this and has some effects built in.
I tried a used TAE and did not like it, it sounded a little digital. Squashed and unnatural. Have not tried FPS yet but will.
Don't hear a difference. I've been looking at the PS for a long time, but still haven't accepted the price (in Europe) yet. Seems silly to run two tube amps just to be silent in your bedroom. Another option could be, like you mentioned, stuff like the upcoming small Synergy amp, where you can turn off the power amp; that has some sort of emulation like those Friedman tube pre-amp pedals have. Since I already have the big Synergy head, it would be just a matter of choice depending on how you get to the gig and how loud you get to be. The Power Station is a good solution, but modeller plus PS is not exactly more portable than a small or even medium-sized tube amp.
I would expect that tube amps will slowly disappear in the next years. The digital amps have reached a quality that just makes them unnecessary. If you want the "amp in a room sound", you can use a good FRFR cabinet ...
Tube amps are like llamas with 1 lump..
A different perspective
😂 Best comment ever. 👏
The price is a major factor from my view.
I’m guessing that a $1k+ device that is needed to make a $1k - $2k+ amp isn’t going to save the amp industry. If someone wants to save the tube amp industry they’re going to need to figure out how to 1) source cheaper materials, and/or 2) source cheaper labor costs. They’re also going to have to figure out how to streamline the production process. Basically, it’s the cost that is killing tube amps. People may be willing to deal with the weight for the special amp experience, but most people cant afford the cost and also (to keep things relevant to this video), they don’t have a space where they can crank the volume of an amp without a master volume. So future tube amps need to either come with a master volume, or a built-in attenuator (which I understand are not the same things). Thoughts?
Tubes are obsolete.
@@vorpalbladesSo are guitar strings
Save the amp industry? Just because the top amps are not tube amps does not mean the "amp industry" is having problems. The number of people starting to play guitar may be expanding at a large enough rate that the tube amp numbers being bought may still well be increasing even if they are 50th. Top sold amps doesn't really tell the tale..... numbers can lie, The number of tube amps sold 3 years ago as compared to last year would be a better gauge. Getting tube amp on the edge sound at any volume is a whole different thing. It is really hard to tell the difference in tone between louder and quieter. In general, louder sounds better, all else being equal. That's just human perception. Your test sounded similar at both levels though..... as much as can be heard through laptop speakers :P In the end it comes down to what makes the player happy. Any decent studio can deal with loud or quiet amps, so live and at home is where to use this device in which case, once you get used to it's sound and level, that will be the right sound. Really, getting the same sound is not the object, getting a pleasing sound is.
I have a hard time believing that attenuators will save the amp industry. There's something ridiculous about driving an amp at very high volume only to have it attenuated with cab+mic emulation. You are better off with a modeller.
On the other hand, amps are still the best when you actually want/need to play loud.
Power station has been around for a while now, if it were going to save anything it would have done it by now.
Edge of breakup..with the wife....lol
There are no problems with the tube amps, why this title ? Just buy the amp that suits your studio and venues. For home i have a 5 watt and a 12 watt tube amp and i can play them without any problem. The tube amps industry doesn't need to be saved, it's doing very well.
WhThe doesn’t anyone just integrate these as one last gain stage?!
Because they cost a thousand dollars or more? Someone who doesn’t need an attenuator isn’t going to want to pay $3000 for a $2000 amp that has one built in.
@ I want an amp that has one, I would pay what I have to.
My experience with amp attenuators…. Didn’t like it…. Too dark and muddy; rather use a pedal
Dark and muddy ? I respectively disagree.
Maybe I was too quick to judge, but I tried it for a bit and felt like it was a bit off…… tell you what; I will dig my attenuator out of the closet and give it another shot and I will let you know how it goes.
Yah nei.
Short answer - no…
Your tube amps are worthless, especially your Engl Savage 120s. You should list them on reverb for dirt cheap so you can get lucky and unload the worthless ancient technologies.
If you use tube amps in general you need a tech. Operating them in their designed window I wouldn’t think should hurt it any more than playing it quietly. It’s on either way. But tube amps require some maintenance intermittently and if you don’t know what you’re doing then everyone needs a tech. I’m not sure an attenuator is something that is a new “savior” of the amp industry. There have been good attenuators out there for years and years even freyette has a version of the power station for decades
Frankly I don't see the point of having a real amp with attenuator since the difference now with modelers is the air moving that is missing , I think that now a days the modelers sound identical to their real counterpart.
My Revv D25 is AWESOME love how it plays and love having the options it offers. Only thing I wish is I could play with both the speaker emulation and the actual speaker at once.