I have the FR10, it’s been excellent. It also makes you less weird if you need to play a show where you need an (something that looks like an) amp. I chose the 10 as it has a little less bottom end. I’ve often thought of buying a second for an indulgent stereo rig.
Hey John. I was just watching a Ben Eunson video and commented that a duet between you two would be epic as your styles seem so compatible. Amazingly Ben said he would love that, so I am just letting you know🎸🤘🏻
He's not kidding on the input gain though, on the quad cortex I have to crank the knob all the way up or the speaker responds less like I'd expected, and the volume is way too low for stage. You could get away with 7, but 10 is what I recommend. It's a wonder that the QC doesn't have some sort of output standard (like 4db, -10db, etc.)
Open back cabs are nice if you're playing by yourself or in a small jam situation, because they spread the sound better. Closed back cabs almost always sound better and project better, but are more directional and don't spread the sound out so much on a stage, so although they may restrict your movements while trying to monitor what you're doing, they're also more controllable for the FOH mixer. Also it depends what you use first as you start to learn amp playing. If you come from a Fender combo background, you'll always gravitate toward open back speaker sound, and build your additional effects/sound components from that starting point, whereas if you begin your amp life with mire a Marshall perspective, you'll naturally base your incremental sound choices after what you're used to hearing... a drier more directional and thicker, punchier more middle- based tone. We train our ears from adding certain guitars to certain amps to certain speakers to certain effects.... always basing each new part of the equation on your satisfaction with the sound before... so it often comes fown to the chance of whatever you started to learn with.
I use the FR-10 with my FM-9 on several gigs per week and am quite satisfied. I tried the Headrush (both the 8" and the 12") and a QSC 12" PA speaker, and really prefer the FR-10. Very simple to use, has guitar amp-like controls, small and light, and not very expensive. The FR sounds much better than any of the others I've tried.
Totally agree about the FR10, for all the same reasons - I sold both Powercab 112+, as I immediately preferred the look, the size, the feel, the weight and the sound of the FR10. The only thing I would prefer is if it had one more input (it is, after all, basically a PA speaker)
I have a headrush 8 and think it's cool for lower volume, but at gig/drummer level it just has a strange sound that I couldn't get on with. This is everything from irs, eq cuts as cab etc. really considering just going in on two fr10 to be done with it
I've got the FR-10 and love it. I hadn't been able to rehearse for a while and wanted to use a new guitar and the fact that I didn't have to go through my presets and adjust them for the new guitar and could instead just tweak the eq on the FR-10 is so great. Also, a plus of using the FR-10 over a Tube amp is that it is much easier to control volume.
I had trouble getting the sounds of my Helix at home to translate to a PA system at the venue. This meant having to adjust presets at the gig. I started using the Friedman 10 inch FRFR to set presets at home and now everything sounds great through the PA without adjustments. We have a silent stage so no amps on stage, just IEM. This system works for me. Thanks for all your videos!
Just got mine fixed by Fender under warranty. No more hiss. Fender officially recognised the defect in question on several products within a precise serial number range. If you do a google search you should find the details. This is the message I relied upon: “We are aware of the concerns some consumers have shared about the volume of output “hiss” which is audible from FR Powered Speakers in an idle state when powered on. Because we wish for all FR owners to have full satisfaction in owning the product, a manufacturing change has been enacted to address this minor concern. For any cabinet within the applicable Serial Number range of CHNA23XXXXXX through CHNI23XXXXXX, with “X” equaling any single-digit number, we will be replacing the FR’s pre-amplifier PCB with a newly revised version, at no charge to the consumer. Please reach out to one of our Electronics Service Centers to have your cabinet upgraded. You can find the nearest one using the link below: www.fender.com/en-US/service-centers Beneath the phone number, you can check the Service Center's designation. Please contact service centers with the "services electronics" designation to have your cabinet upgraded. Feel free to get in touch with us if you are having issues locating an Electronics Service Center near you. We will be happy to assist.” I contacted the shop I bought my FR-12 in the UK and they fixed it under warranty 👍 Good luck
Definitely *not* the case for Fender Europe - i know, because i ended up fixing a couple amps for acquaintances after Fender refused to service their units.
I have a custom-built closed back 8 Ohm cab loaded with a Celestion FRLR Triple Cone F12M-150 1 x 12 speaker, with an Orange Pedal Baby 100 Watt power amp. It does a brilliant job with my Line 6 HX Stomp and UAFX Amp in a box pedals.
I just finished dialing in an unusual pairing with the FM3/FM9. A Lonestar model with a PRS JA-15 hollow body into a pair of FR-12’s and 10’s. It was well worth the time invested. Made much use of 2 expression pedals but today I consolidated using the per-preset override foot switching. I did this just in case a control pedal breaks. Discovered even more with this configuration. The goal was to maximize the tonal possibilities using a hollowbody. I am ecstatic with the results! Had lots of fun with the parametric EQ mostly on the clean amp settings. I exhausted the foot switching capability on the FM9 and somehow still managed to spare a tuner button! Lols This is the most exciting time for guitar technology! And I’m absolutely thrilled to hear the results! Thanks for sharing all of your wonderful insights John!
I have an FR12 with a Tonex One. It's amazing. I also have a Marshall Valvestate VS102R and an Artist 20w valve amp, and I don't turn them on anymore. (My FR12 is about 6 months old, and has NO hiss at all.)
I’ve had mine for about a year as well, and I really like it. I have been toying with the idea of getting a Laney LFR212, but I may just get another one of these. It’s been really great, but sometimes I just want more… 😎
Thank you for your great content Jonathan! As a HX Stomp user I ended up using a Line6 100 Watt Catalyst as a FRFR that is about a third of the price when bought used here in Germany. In direct comparison - which I did with one of the earlier "hiss" iterations of the FR-12 - the Catalyst surprisingly enough was on par with it volume wise when plugged in the back to omit the built in preamp. The DI Out works perfectly with line level being independent from the amps master volume and even provides a ground switch that solved noise issues when playing with single coils. You lose the convenience of the quick access EQ that the FR-12 has but hopefully I am getting to know my HX Stomp good enough so that I can adjust the EQ on the modeler. Maybe you can find the time to compare the Catalyst and the FR-12. I would love to hear your opinion on the two Amps when used in FRFR mode.
In order for it to actually have a flat response, the closed back is required. Think of all the studio monitors and line arrays you’ve ever seen. Always closed boxes.
I’ve had one for about 5 months and for a bedroom/hobbyist player matching this with a quad cortex has been everything I could have asked for. Just throw on a light room reverb and I can’t complain in the slightest
I think you're the first person I've seen talk about using it as a bedroom amp. How does it sound at really low (midnight noodling) volume? I've thought about getting one for just that purpose, but I didn't want to spend the money until I could find some info.
@@jimmyparris9892 I'm not a "gigging" musician...I'm using the FR12 in a bedroom setting with volume a bit under 3. If it's early in the morning or late at night, just dialing back my guitar keeps things quiet enough, but still pleasing. For many years, I had a silverface Deluxe Reverb and this transports me back. I mostly use a Boss IR2 in front of it. But my Tonex favorites (DR handwired and various from the Dumble package) are also a treat.
@@writewheel Nice. Thank you for your response. I may look into the FR10. I have a Helix floor and want to get the Deluxe reverb sound at a low but satisfying volume. My single studio monitor is ok but it's missing something.
@@jimmyparris9892 Definitely check the FR10 out, but I did do an A/B with the 12 and 10 in a store and the 12 gives me that "speaker" thing whereas the 10 seemed a little more "hifi" and less like the combo sound that I was craving. Mid and treble are at noon but I did roll off the bass a bit. A friend came by and I set him up with some of the Dumbles in the Tonex...it nailed the bassman sound for him...again at bedroom volume.
I fastened two Headrush FRFR-8s (old version) side by side by strapping the handles together with a couple of stainless steel hose clamps. It turns it into an ultra portable stereo rig that you can tote around with one hand. It sounds great and has plenty of bass and power for playing on stage or in rehearsals for the bands I play with. I bought the speakers used for a total of $340. My Fender FR-12 sounds good but really no better once the EQ is set in the Headrushes. Been using this setup since 2019 with zero problems. It doesn't look like a classic tube amp, unfortunately, so there's that...
I had to watch this again to see you kick it over. So funny. 😆I had a Line 6 amp that was so light it just bounced around. We all want light amps nowadays but when they are this light it creates other problems.
I concur the tone TMP and FRFR has been the best kit I’ve bought in years , I’d even go as far as to say I now prefer it to my tube amp and pedals that sit next to it !!
I’ve been using the fr-10 since October 2023, and it is awesome. I had the ev monitor, the fryette lxii into 2 Mesa thiele cabs loaded with celestion g12x200 speaker (actually sounded REALLY good), then I got the fr-10 and it was perfect. I purchased it expecting to return it but damn. I a/b’d the fryette rig and the fr-10 several times at practice and twice at gigs and the band and I both preferred the fr-10 (I enjoy the bands opinion because they aren’t listening with their wallet). I’ve dragged my “real” amps out a couple of times for shits and giggles and loved it but missed the ease and flexibility of my fractal FM9 and didn’t feel that my tone was any better with the “real” Amps. So, basically, if you want the amp in the room feel this is your ticket to happiness.
I've got the Stereo G66 Red Sound speakers, a HK Linear 5 monitor, and the Laney 2x12 FRFR. After two years, Laney has become my at home reference and go to speaker. I transitioned to in-ears live, so the HK has become redundant. The Laney is fantastic but heavy
The cut is a great idea. That might be the first FRFR I’ve seen with a tweeter balance control. My choice is a Vox 50 Go set to “Line”. Plenty of kick. Don’t let the 50w fool you. It’s at least as loud as my Headrush 108 “2000 watt” FRFR and it has a basic 3 band eq.
I have the Friedman ASC - 12 I use with my Helix LT. It has a darker sound but that’s what I like - a warmer tone. It’s more expensive than others so def do your homework in what works for you.
One thing I've really wondered about, and maybe this is something you'd be able to test out in the future, is how the FR12 would compare to the Boss Katana Artist combo. The Gen 3 Artist is the same exact price where I live and you could basically choose whether your prefer to just use the Boss amp and effect sounds or plug your modeler into the "power amp in" port and disable the IR. Even if you liked going modeler into it, you'd still have all of the Boss sounds as a built-in backup if your modeler goes down.
I used my Helix thru it. Had to copy the patches and disable the power amps in the H. The old amp+cab combo patches were a pain. Lots of tweaking. In the end the 8 patches I set up in the artist, sounded better than the anything I set up in the H thru the Artist.
I've been running my Stomp XL through the loop return of an old & cheap Fender Mustang modeling combo (2×12'', 150 digital watts). It sounds good, but the "amp" is quite bulky, so I am considering switching to the FR-12.
I'll save you the effort - don't even waste time trying the Katana as a 'FR cab', there is no comparison between that and something like the FR10 or 12/Line 6 Powercabs etc. I've tried the Katana Power Amp In on the 50/50ex/100w Mk 2 Kats and the Gen 3 100w, both with stock speaker and the Boss Waza speaker, and I'd go as far as to say they sounds awful, with every modeller I've tried. Maybe my thought process was the same as yours, that I could have best of both worlds, and keep the Katana as a combo but also be able to plug my Quad Cortex in when I wanted to. In my experience, and IMHO the suggestion that a guitar combo with a guitar speaker in it, and a power-amp input, makes a good platform for a modeller is basically marketing hype...
Great review. So, my question is which one is best for my situation: the FR 12 or FR 10? I play in a 20 piece community R&B band that has many horn players. Sometimes I am mic'd in a small room venue and other times we play in pubs with no mics or FOH connection. The modeler I currently use is a Boss IR-2. (Thanks for pointing out that the output of the modeler needs to be max to drive these FRFR type cabinets).
Check out the Alto Busker. You can XLR out to your Fender and fine tune the EQ range. Like you can just send the bass tones to the larger 12 and the highs and mids the Alto will handle. It has four channels with independant EQ's FX and other features. So you have instrument, vocals, USB / Aux and then bluetooth. The Alto Busker is a good foundation to start with, as it will serve as a practice power amp, but you can expand it to a much bigger system with that extra bit of control to better dial in your tone.
I've had the FR10 and 12 and they were the best sounding FR's I've ever used. My only gripe is they were not as loud as other FR and I had trouble hearing them on the backline over our very aggressive drummer.
@@willbradley7342 If you don't need enormous amounts of stage volume the 10 should be fine. I noticed no distinguishable tone difference between the 10 and 12. They can both be boomy or fizzy if your modeler is not eq'd right but once they are dialed in they sound really good. Nothing is going to sound exactly like an amp in the room but these came as close to an amp as any FRFR I've tried.
I have the FR12 and really like it, using my HELIX thru it mostly. I have been using an Alto TS312 and I was pretty happy with it. When I used it with my FM3 I thought it was a little brighter and had to turn it up for more volume which is probably a programming adjustment I need to make in the FM3. Overall I like it, it’s light ( sound guy grabbed it to help me load in thinking it was a DeVille & almost fell over because he wasn’t expecting it to be so light lol), sounds great and is at the right price. You can’t go wrong getting one if you got a modeler IMO.
From other head to heads it sounds like the tone out of the FR-10 is better than the 12. Curious if you could do a head to head and or if you've tried the 10.
Lately I’ve been sending a line out to FOH from my Helix and using my FR12 for monitoring on stage and it’s been working well. I hate trying to get the sound guy’s attention to ask for more of my guitar in my monitor so I just bring my own now
The FR 12 is the best Frfr speaker I have played through. It's lightweight, the tone is easily adjustable, and it looks and sounds like a conventional speaker cabinet.
I've had mine for some time (post-hiss fix, and it's DEAD quiet). I love it so much. If I had to add one thing to it though, it would be stereo input. I tend to used it with a quad cortex a lot (when my AxeFX 3 rig is too much to drag around) and that modeler just assumes stereo out, and fixing it is a pain. I might one day look into some kind of "summing adapter" for XLR outs or something, but running it mono has been OK so long as I plan for it. I guess I could buy another one, but stereo on stage has always been asking for weird issues (like phase problems, etc.).
Oh, quick tip, the floor pads they use for drums, or a nice rubbery bottomed large mouse pad will keep the speaker from crawling on those slick stages.
Hi @inactiveNode what do you mean the modeler assumes stereo out? Isn't the solution just to change the output to a mono out, whether it's one of the XLR outs or line outs?
I have a pair of Princeton Reverbs amps. I also have a Powercab 112+. I may try the Princetons on stage and split the signal after the “pedals” in the Helix. I think that’s what you were describing?
The FRFR sounded good in the video. "Bumping the output of the Modeler as high as possible" will probably help the FRFR Speaker more like a real Amp. 😉
Great video. I have got one fr12. Sound great, but it's impossible to practice with a band. Second guitar (50 W tube amp and 212 cab) is killing me. I ma to loud or I am drovning among other instruments...
I used a QSC 12.2 and a 10.2 (definitely prefer the 10) but I like the FR12 more. It sounds more like an amp to me. The QSC is always trying to muddy the low end a bit in a lot of rooms (YRMV). The FR12's simple EQ is so quick to "tune the room" that it's silly how hard the QSC is in comparison (the EQs are limiting on those, and take effort to tweak for me). I can just walk over to the amp and make a quick tweak if things aren't sounding right to me. I love that.
I have the FR-10 and agree it's the most satisfying FRFR solution I've tried. I use it with an FM9 or HX Stomp. Something worth mentioning is that I have a Boss SY200 in the loops of the modellers and occasionally use a piezo equipped guitar so an FRFR solution means I can hear the full frequency range which is something I can't do with my more old-school amp/ cab set up. @johnnathancordy I agree that sending the Fender a decent +4dB signal is key for delivering a decent stage volume
I've been curious about how well these work for amplified acoustic guitar. You mention "a piezo equipped guitar"-is that an acoustic guitar, so you're saying the FR-10 works well with an acoustic?
@@TLMuse I have a Music Man Supersport which has a piezo pickup so you can do "pseudo" acoustic tones. An FRFR speaker like the FR-10 is key, as a regular electric guitar amp/ cab rolls off too much of the high end sparkle. I'd say it makes a viable alternative to an acoustic guitar amp.
@@ianlea9905 Thanks for the info. And thanks for the heads-up re: the Axis Super Sport guitar. I hadn't heard of it; looks like a cool idea, and I'll have to look into it further.
If you're searching for the open back frfr which works very similar to guitar cab, than you might wanna give a try to Harley Benton G112A-FR. It is 50% cheaper than Tone master and the over all results from it are absolutely amazing, considering the price!
I have an FR12 for a few months, and owned it at the same time as a PC112+. At first, I thought the FR12 was superior to the FR12 but after further testing I think they are about equal in sound (at least in my bedroom, at those volumes). I sold the PC112+ and I just liked the FR12 better and liked having the ability to tone shape on the top though admittedly the PC112+ has more capabilities.
I’m hoping to get one of these but I wanted to ask a few things. Is this speaker good for metal music and can you put a bass through it without any issues? I’m using a line 6 helix
I’m looking to try a Tonex One. Wondering whether I could get away going straight to mixer/PA with that, or whether Tonemaster FRFR or equivalent would also be required (I do have the Headrush 12”). The only downside would be time-based effects. Apparently IK are adding delay and modulation in a firmware update. We’ll see how that pans out.
I’ve been wondering what the new Nu-x Mighty 60 MKii is like. Apparently the effects and preamp sections can be switched off, so it can be used a a frfr with a modeller. Its price will be a lot lower, but perhaps the quality as well.
Hey John, I’ve heard you mention using the Henriksen Bud at gigs on other videos. I’ve got one as well and was curious how you integrate that with your modelers. Love your channel, cheers!
So a Boss Katana Artist gen 3 is like £40 more than this, which would you buy? For me my Axe Fx III and Tonex one pedal go into the Katana and improve some of the models and presets in the Artist. Therefore I see this as a more flexible and better solution. Just as it is over the Laney FRFR cab. Would it be possible you compare the artist with models given how close they are price wise 😅😅
Great info John...always wonder what you used live. I know you primarly use the HX stomp but to the other modellers you own pair well with this FRFR without too much fuss?
Which type of cable is best as the input? It sounds like most people use XLR, but I've always heard XLR will color your sound a tiny bit where a high quality 1/4" cable will not. I want the purest sound coming from my axefx3 as I've already spent hundreds of hours dialing in my presets with studio monitors.
Can you tell me what pickups are in your tele? I noticed the neck pickup has the exposed pole pieces, I know TV Jones and Ron Ellis both make a neck pickup that look like that but you’re getting a beautiful sound on that tele. And even though that opening was done on the neck pickup, I’m curious what pickup you have in the bridge as well and what model tele that is. Thanks
you must let me know how to acquire all this gear! Bro, A Guitar, Decent cable, Low watt tube amp. use the volume knob. A Princeton. Hell, a Vibro Champ
Would you say that it would be possible to use this as a replacement of studio monitors within the workflow of a DAW with plugins(such as neural dsp or guitar rig)? I have studio monitors and i normally track guitar through them, but the way i have those placed is not the best place to sit and play guitar, when i track guitar i would like to be in another part of the room, so i’m thinking to get a frfr cab and place it alongside the studio monitors in the opposite side of the room, so i can create a sort of guitar couch setting where i can track guitar (by bringing a display and mouse and keyboard from the main desk with the daw) the problem is that i would have to also push the master audio trough this frfr cabinet, with drums piano bass etc etc whatever audio is already in the mix… would this be a viable solution that actually would then translate back to the studio monitors?
I found the Line 6 Powercab to be not quite loud enough for some of the heavier/louder songs I've had to play. How does the Fender compare to the Powercab in that regard?
eh...I've recently moved on from a HX Stomp XL into a line 6 Catalyst - to a HX Stomp XL, 4-cabled into a 60W Rivera Era Fender Concert amp (all tube, with its own effect loop in back). Makes the Catalyst (which I'd used like an FR) sound like a toy
I would like to use my 15 watt valve amp, but can’t seem to find the ideal settings. Any ideas? Should the master be all the way up? Where do you think the output should be on the modeler( valeton gp-200). Sounds pretty good through the headrush.
I am just here to show my support for one of the UK`s best players
I have the FR10, it’s been excellent. It also makes you less weird if you need to play a show where you need an (something that looks like an) amp. I chose the 10 as it has a little less bottom end. I’ve often thought of buying a second for an indulgent stereo rig.
I did that. Two FR10s. Very self-indulgent. But I can also leave one at the rehearsal space and one at home.
@@jeffsurtees847 You don't have issues being loud enough playing with a drummer?
@@MichielN26 No. It’s never been an issue.
Hey John. I was just watching a Ben Eunson video and commented that a duet between you two would be epic as your styles seem so compatible. Amazingly Ben said he would love that, so I am just letting you know🎸🤘🏻
For anyone reading comments, this is THE speaker for modelers. It feels like amp in room!
He's not kidding on the input gain though, on the quad cortex I have to crank the knob all the way up or the speaker responds less like I'd expected, and the volume is way too low for stage. You could get away with 7, but 10 is what I recommend. It's a wonder that the QC doesn't have some sort of output standard (like 4db, -10db, etc.)
@@InactiveNode imo that's not a shortcoming of the speaker. One quick fix is to use a clean boost but QC should fix this
It is an amp; it’s in the room 😊
@@benkeenseems so obvious?!?!?!
Agreed,. The Tone Master can bend over and take it from Helix in comparison but those speakers are great.
Open back cabs are nice if you're playing by yourself or in a small jam situation, because they spread the sound better. Closed back cabs almost always sound better and project better, but are more directional and don't spread the sound out so much on a stage, so although they may restrict your movements while trying to monitor what you're doing, they're also more controllable for the FOH mixer. Also it depends what you use first as you start to learn amp playing. If you come from a Fender combo background, you'll always gravitate toward open back speaker sound, and build your additional effects/sound components from that starting point, whereas if you begin your amp life with mire a Marshall perspective, you'll naturally base your incremental sound choices after what you're used to hearing... a drier more directional and thicker, punchier more middle- based tone. We train our ears from adding certain guitars to certain amps to certain speakers to certain effects.... always basing each new part of the equation on your satisfaction with the sound before... so it often comes fown to the chance of whatever you started to learn with.
I use the FR-10 with my FM-9 on several gigs per week and am quite satisfied. I tried the Headrush (both the 8" and the 12") and a QSC 12" PA speaker, and really prefer the FR-10. Very simple to use, has guitar amp-like controls, small and light, and not very expensive. The FR sounds much better than any of the others I've tried.
Totally agree about the FR10, for all the same reasons - I sold both Powercab 112+, as I immediately preferred the look, the size, the feel, the weight and the sound of the FR10. The only thing I would prefer is if it had one more input (it is, after all, basically a PA speaker)
I have a headrush 8 and think it's cool for lower volume, but at gig/drummer level it just has a strange sound that I couldn't get on with. This is everything from irs, eq cuts as cab etc. really considering just going in on two fr10 to be done with it
Yes to the additional input, maybe an aux in. It would be nice to be able to run your acoustic or keyboard through this to consolidate your rig.
I’ve tried these out and really like them. My favourite FRFR.
I've got the FR-10 and love it. I hadn't been able to rehearse for a while and wanted to use a new guitar and the fact that I didn't have to go through my presets and adjust them for the new guitar and could instead just tweak the eq on the FR-10 is so great. Also, a plus of using the FR-10 over a Tube amp is that it is much easier to control volume.
I had trouble getting the sounds of my Helix at home to translate to a PA system at the venue. This meant having to adjust presets at the gig. I started using the Friedman 10 inch FRFR to set presets at home and now everything sounds great through the PA without adjustments. We have a silent stage so no amps on stage, just IEM. This system works for me. Thanks for all your videos!
What were you noticing with the PA that didn't sound right?
Fr 10 or this?
The high-speed timelapse of the FR12 moving was fantastic, JNC. ;-) As was your solo playing at the gig. Beautiful!
It’s good to know that this has the John Cordy seal of approval, as I have 2 arriving to the ship tomorrow.
Arriving to the ship?
Dude.. ur putting these on a boat?
Really appreciate the shoutout on the hiss fix! Wish Fender would acknowledge the issue instead of silently rolling out my mod on new FR-10/12s...
Just got mine fixed by Fender under warranty. No more hiss. Fender officially recognised the defect in question on several products within a precise serial number range. If you do a google search you should find the details. This is the message I relied upon:
“We are aware of the concerns some consumers have shared about the volume of output “hiss” which is audible from FR Powered Speakers in an idle state when powered on. Because we wish for all FR owners to have full satisfaction in owning the product, a manufacturing change has been enacted to address this minor concern.
For any cabinet within the applicable Serial Number range of CHNA23XXXXXX through CHNI23XXXXXX, with “X” equaling any single-digit number, we will be replacing the FR’s pre-amplifier PCB with a newly revised version, at no charge to the consumer. Please reach out to one of our Electronics Service Centers to have your cabinet upgraded. You can find the nearest one using the link below:
www.fender.com/en-US/service-centers
Beneath the phone number, you can check the Service Center's designation. Please contact service centers with the "services electronics" designation to have your cabinet upgraded.
Feel free to get in touch with us if you are having issues locating an Electronics Service Center near you. We will be happy to assist.”
I contacted the shop I bought my FR-12 in the UK and they fixed it under warranty 👍
Good luck
Definitely *not* the case for Fender Europe - i know, because i ended up fixing a couple amps for acquaintances after Fender refused to service their units.
Good to know 👍
@@plisandrowait fender fixed the issue using something you did?
@@JosePineda-jn8jk Yeah, they basically took a mod i came out with to reduce hiss on the FR-10/12 preamps and (sneakily) put it in production.
I have a custom-built closed back 8 Ohm cab loaded with a Celestion FRLR Triple Cone F12M-150 1 x 12 speaker, with an Orange Pedal Baby 100 Watt power amp. It does a brilliant job with my Line 6 HX Stomp and UAFX Amp in a box pedals.
You mounted the Pedal Baby in the speaker cab? That's brilliant. Brilliant!
i use with my kemper toaster and its amazing!
I just finished dialing in an unusual pairing with the FM3/FM9. A Lonestar model with a PRS JA-15 hollow body into a pair of FR-12’s and 10’s. It was well worth the time invested. Made much use of 2 expression pedals but today I consolidated using the per-preset override foot switching. I did this just in case a control pedal breaks. Discovered even more with this configuration. The goal was to maximize the tonal possibilities using a hollowbody. I am ecstatic with the results! Had lots of fun with the parametric EQ mostly on the clean amp settings. I exhausted the foot switching capability on the FM9 and somehow still managed to spare a tuner button! Lols
This is the most exciting time for guitar technology! And I’m absolutely thrilled to hear the results! Thanks for sharing all of your wonderful insights John!
I have an FR12 with a Tonex One. It's amazing. I also have a Marshall Valvestate VS102R and an Artist 20w valve amp, and I don't turn them on anymore. (My FR12 is about 6 months old, and has NO hiss at all.)
I’ve had mine for about a year as well, and I really like it. I have been toying with the idea of getting a Laney LFR212, but I may just get another one of these. It’s been really great, but sometimes I just want more… 😎
Thank you for your great content Jonathan! As a HX Stomp user I ended up using a Line6 100 Watt Catalyst as a FRFR that is about a third of the price when bought used here in Germany. In direct comparison - which I did with one of the earlier "hiss" iterations of the FR-12 - the Catalyst surprisingly enough was on par with it volume wise when plugged in the back to omit the built in preamp. The DI Out works perfectly with line level being independent from the amps master volume and even provides a ground switch that solved noise issues when playing with single coils. You lose the convenience of the quick access EQ that the FR-12 has but hopefully I am getting to know my HX Stomp good enough so that I can adjust the EQ on the modeler. Maybe you can find the time to compare the Catalyst and the FR-12. I would love to hear your opinion on the two Amps when used in FRFR mode.
Similarly, I have been using a Catalyst 200 2x12 as a stage amp with my Helix for 18months + now. Good times.
It’s actually unreal how good this is. Got rid of the powercab immediately. Not even close.
In order for it to actually have a flat response, the closed back is required. Think of all the studio monitors and line arrays you’ve ever seen. Always closed boxes.
I’ve had one for about 5 months and for a bedroom/hobbyist player matching this with a quad cortex has been everything I could have asked for. Just throw on a light room reverb and I can’t complain in the slightest
I think you're the first person I've seen talk about using it as a bedroom amp. How does it sound at really low (midnight noodling) volume? I've thought about getting one for just that purpose, but I didn't want to spend the money until I could find some info.
@@jimmyparris9892I would also like to know
@@jimmyparris9892 I'm not a "gigging" musician...I'm using the FR12 in a bedroom setting with volume a bit under 3. If it's early in the morning or late at night, just dialing back my guitar keeps things quiet enough, but still pleasing. For many years, I had a silverface Deluxe Reverb and this transports me back. I mostly use a Boss IR2 in front of it. But my Tonex favorites (DR handwired and various from the Dumble package) are also a treat.
@@writewheel Nice. Thank you for your response. I may look into the FR10. I have a Helix floor and want to get the Deluxe reverb sound at a low but satisfying volume. My single studio monitor is ok but it's missing something.
@@jimmyparris9892 Definitely check the FR10 out, but I did do an A/B with the 12 and 10 in a store and the 12 gives me that "speaker" thing whereas the 10 seemed a little more "hifi" and less like the combo sound that I was craving. Mid and treble are at noon but I did roll off the bass a bit. A friend came by and I set him up with some of the Dumbles in the Tonex...it nailed the bassman sound for him...again at bedroom volume.
Fender has always, even on its cheapest amps, provided great value in making cabinets. If I ever need a frfr cab this is definitely the one I'd get
I fastened two Headrush FRFR-8s (old version) side by side by strapping the handles together with a couple of stainless steel hose clamps. It turns it into an ultra portable stereo rig that you can tote around with one hand. It sounds great and has plenty of bass and power for playing on stage or in rehearsals for the bands I play with. I bought the speakers used for a total of $340. My Fender FR-12 sounds good but really no better once the EQ is set in the Headrushes. Been using this setup since 2019 with zero problems. It doesn't look like a classic tube amp, unfortunately, so there's that...
Hmm how heavy is that though?
I had to watch this again to see you kick it over. So funny. 😆I had a Line 6 amp that was so light it just bounced around. We all want light amps nowadays but when they are this light it creates other problems.
Fender FR FR with Helix is my favorite combination! Def worth the money to me.
I concur the tone TMP and FRFR has been the best kit I’ve bought in years , I’d even go as far as to say I now prefer it to my tube amp and pedals that sit next to it !!
Wow! It sounds beautiful! You're a great guitarist as well :)
I’ve been using the fr-10 since October 2023, and it is awesome. I had the ev monitor, the fryette lxii into 2 Mesa thiele cabs loaded with celestion g12x200 speaker (actually sounded REALLY good), then I got the fr-10 and it was perfect. I purchased it expecting to return it but damn. I a/b’d the fryette rig and the fr-10 several times at practice and twice at gigs and the band and I both preferred the fr-10 (I enjoy the bands opinion because they aren’t listening with their wallet). I’ve dragged my “real” amps out a couple of times for shits and giggles and loved it but missed the ease and flexibility of my fractal FM9 and didn’t feel that my tone was any better with the “real” Amps. So, basically, if you want the amp in the room feel this is your ticket to happiness.
It sure is a nice esthetic that it looks like a regular amp on stage and not like a PA speaker.
I've got the Stereo G66 Red Sound speakers, a HK Linear 5 monitor, and the Laney 2x12 FRFR. After two years, Laney has become my at home reference and go to speaker. I transitioned to in-ears live, so the HK has become redundant. The Laney is fantastic but heavy
The cut is a great idea. That might be the first FRFR I’ve seen with a tweeter balance control. My choice is a Vox 50 Go set to “Line”. Plenty of kick. Don’t let the 50w fool you. It’s at least as loud as my Headrush 108 “2000 watt” FRFR and it has a basic 3 band eq.
I have the Friedman ASC - 12 I use with my Helix LT. It has a darker sound but that’s what I like - a warmer tone. It’s more expensive than others so def do your homework in what works for you.
Dude, I loved your playing already, but the fact that you have a Batman omnibus there, that seals the deal.
One thing I've really wondered about, and maybe this is something you'd be able to test out in the future, is how the FR12 would compare to the Boss Katana Artist combo. The Gen 3 Artist is the same exact price where I live and you could basically choose whether your prefer to just use the Boss amp and effect sounds or plug your modeler into the "power amp in" port and disable the IR. Even if you liked going modeler into it, you'd still have all of the Boss sounds as a built-in backup if your modeler goes down.
I've a katana artist mk2 and I am wondering the same thing.
The Katana is not a grest FRFR
I used my Helix thru it. Had to copy the patches and disable the power amps in the H. The old amp+cab combo patches were a pain. Lots of tweaking. In the end the 8 patches I set up in the artist, sounded better than the anything I set up in the H thru the Artist.
I've been running my Stomp XL through the loop return of an old & cheap Fender Mustang modeling combo (2×12'', 150 digital watts). It sounds good, but the "amp" is quite bulky, so I am considering switching to the FR-12.
I'll save you the effort - don't even waste time trying the Katana as a 'FR cab', there is no comparison between that and something like the FR10 or 12/Line 6 Powercabs etc. I've tried the Katana Power Amp In on the 50/50ex/100w Mk 2 Kats and the Gen 3 100w, both with stock speaker and the Boss Waza speaker, and I'd go as far as to say they sounds awful, with every modeller I've tried.
Maybe my thought process was the same as yours, that I could have best of both worlds, and keep the Katana as a combo but also be able to plug my Quad Cortex in when I wanted to. In my experience, and IMHO the suggestion that a guitar combo with a guitar speaker in it, and a power-amp input, makes a good platform for a modeller is basically marketing hype...
YES!!!! Love the FR12 and it fools everyone because it looks like a Fender Deluxe.
Gig with it, with a Kemper player. Sounds/works great. No complaints.
Great review. So, my question is which one is best for my situation: the FR 12 or FR 10? I play in a 20 piece community R&B band that has many horn players. Sometimes I am mic'd in a small room venue and other times we play in pubs with no mics or FOH connection. The modeler I currently use is a Boss IR-2. (Thanks for pointing out that the output of the modeler needs to be max to drive these FRFR type cabinets).
That intro was freaking insane
Check out the Alto Busker. You can XLR out to your Fender and fine tune the EQ range. Like you can just send the bass tones to the larger 12 and the highs and mids the Alto will handle. It has four channels with independant EQ's FX and other features. So you have instrument, vocals, USB / Aux and then bluetooth. The Alto Busker is a good foundation to start with, as it will serve as a practice power amp, but you can expand it to a much bigger system with that extra bit of control to better dial in your tone.
I’ve got two FR12s for stereo, sounds glorious. Although there are times when when the bass is too dominant, just need to cut out additional low end
Can you try comparing it to Headrush's & Laney's FRFRs please?
Yeah, that’d be great. I like my Laney LFR-112, and would love a shootout.
I've had the FR10 and 12 and they were the best sounding FR's I've ever used. My only gripe is they were not as loud as other FR and I had trouble hearing them on the backline over our very aggressive drummer.
I’m thinking about getting the 10. Any reason the 12 is better or necessary to have?
@@willbradley7342 If you don't need enormous amounts of stage volume the 10 should be fine. I noticed no distinguishable tone difference between the 10 and 12. They can both be boomy or fizzy if your modeler is not eq'd right but once they are dialed in they sound really good. Nothing is going to sound exactly like an amp in the room but these came as close to an amp as any FRFR I've tried.
@@allanb1402 thank you 👍
Love the thicc Batman graphic novel hanging out there in the back. You read Absolute Batman yet? It’s pretty great
It’s on my radar for my QC.
John, there are so many good plug in’s out there…have you ever tried using it with your DAW ?
Use it with my brandnew nanocortex. It´s absolutely perfect, in my living room as well as on stage.
@MrTupeloFlash just get one. I have one and I've never been more in love!!!
I have the FR12 and really like it, using my HELIX thru it mostly. I have been using an Alto TS312 and I was pretty happy with it. When I used it with my FM3 I thought it was a little brighter and had to turn it up for more volume which is probably a programming adjustment I need to make in the FM3. Overall I like it, it’s light ( sound guy grabbed it to help me load in thinking it was a DeVille & almost fell over because he wasn’t expecting it to be so light lol), sounds great and is at the right price. You can’t go wrong getting one if you got a modeler IMO.
I have an FR10 and it sounds great. Using an XLR cable as opposed to a 1/4” immediately eliminated any hum too 😎
I have wanted to try the Laney 2x12 FRFR, BlueAmps and raezers-edge FRFR amps... might want to talk to them.
From other head to heads it sounds like the tone out of the FR-10 is better than the 12. Curious if you could do a head to head and or if you've tried the 10.
Lately I’ve been sending a line out to FOH from my Helix and using my FR12 for monitoring on stage and it’s been working well. I hate trying to get the sound guy’s attention to ask for more of my guitar in my monitor so I just bring my own now
The FR 12 is the best Frfr speaker I have played through. It's lightweight, the tone is easily adjustable, and it looks and sounds like a conventional speaker cabinet.
Is that the encyclopedia about Batman in the back?
Like it!
..Have you tried a Fryette Power Station (line input trs) as a power amp for your modelers (w/cab sim off)?
Let’s say, into your Mesa Cab…
I've had mine for some time (post-hiss fix, and it's DEAD quiet). I love it so much. If I had to add one thing to it though, it would be stereo input. I tend to used it with a quad cortex a lot (when my AxeFX 3 rig is too much to drag around) and that modeler just assumes stereo out, and fixing it is a pain. I might one day look into some kind of "summing adapter" for XLR outs or something, but running it mono has been OK so long as I plan for it. I guess I could buy another one, but stereo on stage has always been asking for weird issues (like phase problems, etc.).
Oh, quick tip, the floor pads they use for drums, or a nice rubbery bottomed large mouse pad will keep the speaker from crawling on those slick stages.
Hi @inactiveNode what do you mean the modeler assumes stereo out? Isn't the solution just to change the output to a mono out, whether it's one of the XLR outs or line outs?
I have a pair of Princeton Reverbs amps. I also have a Powercab 112+. I may try the Princetons on stage and split the signal after the “pedals” in the Helix. I think that’s what you were describing?
I have a question, can you explain a little bit about why its important to turn the modelers outputs up high?
How does it compare to. Kemper Powered Kab?
That amp walking across the stage was too funny.
The FRFR sounded good in the video. "Bumping the output of the Modeler as high as possible" will probably help the FRFR Speaker more like a real Amp. 😉
Looks like an excellent piece of gear. Thanks.
Great video.
I have got one fr12. Sound great, but it's impossible to practice with a band. Second guitar (50 W tube amp and 212 cab) is killing me. I ma to loud or I am drovning among other instruments...
that fender logo did everything
I'm going back to my pedalboard and Tonemaster twin!
QSC 10 2 is so good. Had used headrush, which I thought was ok, but the QSC just blows it away many fold
I used a QSC 12.2 and a 10.2 (definitely prefer the 10) but I like the FR12 more. It sounds more like an amp to me. The QSC is always trying to muddy the low end a bit in a lot of rooms (YRMV). The FR12's simple EQ is so quick to "tune the room" that it's silly how hard the QSC is in comparison (the EQs are limiting on those, and take effort to tweak for me). I can just walk over to the amp and make a quick tweak if things aren't sounding right to me. I love that.
I have the FR-10 and agree it's the most satisfying FRFR solution I've tried. I use it with an FM9 or HX Stomp.
Something worth mentioning is that I have a Boss SY200 in the loops of the modellers and occasionally use a piezo equipped guitar so an FRFR solution means I can hear the full frequency range which is something I can't do with my more old-school amp/ cab set up.
@johnnathancordy I agree that sending the Fender a decent +4dB signal is key for delivering a decent stage volume
I've been curious about how well these work for amplified acoustic guitar. You mention "a piezo equipped guitar"-is that an acoustic guitar, so you're saying the FR-10 works well with an acoustic?
@@TLMuse I have a Music Man Supersport which has a piezo pickup so you can do "pseudo" acoustic tones. An FRFR speaker like the FR-10 is key, as a regular electric guitar amp/ cab rolls off too much of the high end sparkle.
I'd say it makes a viable alternative to an acoustic guitar amp.
@@ianlea9905 Thanks for the info. And thanks for the heads-up re: the Axis Super Sport guitar. I hadn't heard of it; looks like a cool idea, and I'll have to look into it further.
What were you thinking leaving the audio on for the sped up video?
If you're searching for the open back frfr which works very similar to guitar cab, than you might wanna give a try to Harley Benton G112A-FR. It is 50% cheaper than Tone master and the over all results from it are absolutely amazing, considering the price!
My friend uses one with hx stomp on bass and it’s amazing
I use two Boss S1 Pro for a stereo rig with Helix Native, or with an Hx Stomp Xl if it’s a small gig
I have an FR12 for a few months, and owned it at the same time as a PC112+. At first, I thought the FR12 was superior to the FR12 but after further testing I think they are about equal in sound (at least in my bedroom, at those volumes). I sold the PC112+ and I just liked the FR12 better and liked having the ability to tone shape on the top though admittedly the PC112+ has more capabilities.
Its the best frfr on the market
I like my FR12 a lot...but will switch it out for a Quilter Tone Block 202 + BlockDock 12 speaker.
Yep....love mine...it sounds like an amp and has no hiss issue's
I’m hoping to get one of these but I wanted to ask a few things.
Is this speaker good for metal music and can you put a bass through it without any issues?
I’m using a line 6 helix
tengo la misma duda
I’m looking to try a Tonex One. Wondering whether I could get away going straight to mixer/PA with that, or whether Tonemaster FRFR or equivalent would also be required (I do have the Headrush 12”). The only downside would be time-based effects. Apparently IK are adding delay and modulation in a firmware update. We’ll see how that pans out.
How do you know if the input signal from the modeller is too high, (like the LED on the Power Cab or the Headrush that turns red when it's too high).
Please try NUX pa50, it's also a frfr speaker
Try making a new back panel to mimic a open back
I’ve been wondering what the new Nu-x Mighty 60 MKii is like. Apparently the effects and preamp sections can be switched off, so it can be used a a frfr with a modeller. Its price will be a lot lower, but perhaps the quality as well.
Hey John, I’ve heard you mention using the Henriksen Bud at gigs on other videos. I’ve got one as well and was curious how you integrate that with your modelers. Love your channel, cheers!
The best FRFR is out there somewhere and I'm using it for my modeler. Hint: it has a class AB amplifier, not class D.
I think the Atomic FRFR is the best
John, have you ever considered doing a course for TrueFire?
I'd definitely get that course.
So a Boss Katana Artist gen 3 is like £40 more than this, which would you buy? For me my Axe Fx III and Tonex one pedal go into the Katana and improve some of the models and presets in the Artist. Therefore I see this as a more flexible and better solution. Just as it is over the Laney FRFR cab. Would it be possible you compare the artist with models given how close they are price wise 😅😅
How does it sound with metal? With low tuned instruments, 7 and 8 stringers with longer scale?
Great info John...always wonder what you used live. I know you primarly use the HX stomp but to the other modellers you own pair well with this FRFR without too much fuss?
Which type of cable is best as the input? It sounds like most people use XLR, but I've always heard XLR will color your sound a tiny bit where a high quality 1/4" cable will not. I want the purest sound coming from my axefx3 as I've already spent hundreds of hours dialing in my presets with studio monitors.
Can you tell me what pickups are in your tele? I noticed the neck pickup has the exposed pole pieces, I know TV Jones and Ron Ellis both make a neck pickup that look like that but you’re getting a beautiful sound on that tele. And even though that opening was done on the neck pickup, I’m curious what pickup you have in the bridge as well and what model tele that is. Thanks
What about something like the BOSS katana?
It has return input and FRFR speaker.
Thanks for the insight!
These are GREAT.
you must let me know how to acquire all this gear! Bro, A Guitar, Decent cable, Low watt tube amp. use the volume knob. A Princeton. Hell, a Vibro Champ
Anyone tried the Laney Lfr 112/212? Just wondered how it would compare to the Fr12.
Would you say that it would be possible to use this as a replacement of studio monitors within the workflow of a DAW with plugins(such as neural dsp or guitar rig)?
I have studio monitors and i normally track guitar through them, but the way i have those placed is not the best place to sit and play guitar, when i track guitar i would like to be in another part of the room, so i’m thinking to get a frfr cab and place it alongside the studio monitors in the opposite side of the room, so i can create a sort of guitar couch setting where i can track guitar (by bringing a display and mouse and keyboard from the main desk with the daw) the problem is that i would have to also push the master audio trough this frfr cabinet, with drums piano bass etc etc whatever audio is already in the mix… would this be a viable solution that actually would then translate back to the studio monitors?
How does it perform vs, for example, katana used as a powered speaker?
So can I use that speaker with tonex pedal??
I have the set for 2 months now, the first piece off crap i ever had! Will you buy it?
Great vid!
I found the Line 6 Powercab to be not quite loud enough for some of the heavier/louder songs I've had to play. How does the Fender compare to the Powercab in that regard?
He made it sound like this doesn’t get very loud in comparison, but id have to watch again…
eh...I've recently moved on from a HX Stomp XL into a line 6 Catalyst - to a HX Stomp XL, 4-cabled into a 60W Rivera Era Fender Concert amp (all tube, with its own effect loop in back).
Makes the Catalyst (which I'd used like an FR) sound like a toy
I would like to use my 15 watt valve amp, but can’t seem to find the ideal settings. Any ideas? Should the master be all the way up? Where do you think the output should be on the modeler( valeton gp-200). Sounds pretty good through the headrush.