NAD: VHT Fryette Sig:x SigX User Chime In

[NT02]

Found a VHT Sig:X at a local GC, today.
Checked it out in the loud room.
Used it through several cabs.
Brought it home.

I've been wanting to play one of these since they came out.
It's awesome.
I'm not going to gush too much over it just yet. The last time I did over a new amp, the EVH 5153, I sent it back shortly after. I didn't get on with where the mids where set on that amp. The SigX, well, put the mids where you want them. Either way, it sounds more natural to me than the EVH did.

But...a quick first impression after playing with it through my 2x12 w/ V30s, using a Les Paul:

Three great channels. The clean channel is every bit as good, and more versatile, than the Bogner Shiva clean. I'm really surprised by this. Blows the EVH away.

The rhythm channel freaking rocks. Anything from clean, to jazz, blues, classic rock, 80s rock, hard rock, metal...Awesome. I can find something similar to the Shiva dirt in there, plus a bunch of other sounds. I think anyone adept at playing EVH (not me!) could pull it off. I compared this channel to the AFD Marshall through the same Marshall TV 4x12. I was surprised by how close I could dial in the VHT to sound like the AFD. It's got some Marshall mojo in there.

The lead channel is like a modern version of the rhythm channel. They can be set up to sound very close to the same, or drastically different.

Honestly, this amp has three very great sounding channels. It is almost like having 3 separate amps. Great sound, great clarity, great dynamics.

I still have a lot of learning to do. Haven't checked out the effects loop, yet, but realize that it could be used as a volume control from just adjusting the level knob. It will take some time to really get what the switches do. I mean, I can hear the difference, but the eq is quite interactive, and the amp really responds to guitar volume changes, so I'm thinking different voicing switches might contain some surprises. At the very least, if I find my self getting bored playing the same amp, there seems to be a few different ones in here.

Sig:X users, please chime in with fav settings, how you use your amp and for what kind of music. What cabs, speakers, etc. Also, I remember seeing that there are updates for this amp. What are they, and are they worth it?

Thanks!!!

[mwalluk]

First off, Congrats and welcome to the fam.

I don't own a Sig-X, but that's the next amp I want. I currently own a Deliverance Sixty. You will either love Fryette or hate it, seeing how you're first impressions so far are good, it should be a def keeper.

Oddly enough, Fryettte's tone is versatile enough to reach/border on just about any genre. The Sig-x has uber amounts of tone sculpting goodness.

[NT02]

First off, Congrats and welcome to the fam.

I don't own a Sig-X, but that's the next amp I want. I currently own a Deliverance Sixty. You will either love Fryette or hate it, seeing how you're first impressions so far are good, it should be a def keeper.

Oddly enough, Fryettte's tone is versatile enough to reach/border on just about any genre. The Sig-x has uber amounts of tone sculpting goodness.

Thanks! Yep, after reading the manual and spending quite a bit of time with it, it is blowing my mind. Each channel can be used for soooo much. And the dynamics, geez...

I recorded the following clip to show how dynamic the lead channel can be. Setup with quite a bit of gain, not using gain ii. Low master volume. Les Paul Seth Lover bridge pup. I touch the guitar volume only to make it very saturated and heavy. The rest is varied pick attack.

http://soundcloud.com/bmandrell/sigx...s/s-nD7BM#play


All 3 channels are that dynamic, and can be set up many different ways.
I am lucky to have found this amp!!!

[mwalluk]

Do you like it more than the SHIVA? I was either thinking about getting a SIg-x or the Shiva for my next amp down the line.

[NT02]

Do you like it more than the SHIVA? I was either thinking about getting a SIg-x or the Shiva for my next amp down the line.

Funny you should ask. For a short answer...I would choose the Sig:X over the Shiva if it were my only amp. It comes close to doing what the Shiva does, and then much more.

For a long answer...Here's a write-up i did earlier on another forum:


"SigX vs the Shiva
I just compared the SigX to the Shiva using a LP and G&L Legacy.

The clean channels are close.
Shiva sounds full and sustainy. Notes ring out for a long time and shimmer. SigX can be dialed close, but seems overall sweeter.
Takes a lot of volume to make the Shiva breakup, and when it does, it's ok. Not the most musical, IMO. Once the Sig breaks over, it's cool. Lot's of dynamics there. Blues and rock tones are in the Sig clean channel.
The one tone the Shiva does is great. The SigX nearly matches it, then does a lot more.

I compared the Shiva dirt channel with and without boost to the Sig rhythm channel with and without boost.
Shiva has a growl in the low end, and a looseness about it that really sounds great when cranked. Clicking the boost gives more gain, you set the volume where you want. It gets even growlier. Sounds yummy.
The Sig is tighter, more articulate and punchy. Adding the boost, you dictate the gain, and I could match the saturation level of the Shiva. I think the EL34s are kicking in on the Shiva, adding a little round creaminess growl. I prefer the pick response of the SigX to the Shiva. This is one place were the Shiva gets on my nerves. It's too soft or slow on the pick attack for me.
-The Shiva can do tasty classic to hard rock tones. The SigX can be made to have the same eq and gets close to the Shiva, but ultimately has a different feel/vibe. They both sound great. The Sig is much more versatile. You can adjust the feel and overall tonal response. A quick flick of some switches, a turn of the knob, it's another sound.

Both are sweet, special sounding amps. What the Shiva does, it does great. While it doesn't duplicate the Shiva, the SigX covers the same sonic territory in a different way, but can then do a whoooole lot more.

I've gone through several amps looking for something that has faster, more articulate pick attack than the Shiva on the drive channel, with the ability to produce modern heavy as well as vintage tones. But I wanted something that had the same vibe as the Shiva, the sweet breakup that is different than other amps. I say this amp fits that description pretty well, with a few bonuses in the way of versatility."

[misterwhizzy]

The Sig:X is the best amp I've ever played. I'd try to make it sound more awesome, but I'd fail. It is, without a doubt, the best amp I've ever played. I liked it a lot better than the CL 100 next to it.

[NT02]

The Sig:X is the best amp I've ever played. I'd try to make it sound more awesome, but I'd fail. It is, without a doubt, the best amp I've ever played. I liked it a lot better than the CL 100 next to it.

Do you own it?


I ask, because, if you only got to try it out, you've probably not even discovered all it can do.
I became more familiar with the Sig after reading the manual. It can probably produce any sound a person hears in their head if they know how to adjust it. It will certainly come close.

[misterwhizzy]

Do you own it?


I ask, because, if you only got to try it out, you've probably not even discovered all it can do.
I became more familiar with the Sig after reading the manual. It can probably produce any sound a person hears in their head if they know how to adjust it. It will certainly come close.

No, I don't own it. I don't have any use for an amp that big and powerful, but when I sat down with it, I found very quickly that it is pretty easy to dial in. You're right about how different it is than a Mesa.

Seriously, though, I'm glad you enjoy it. I really can't say enough good things about the whole amp lineup he's produced.

[NT02]

No, I don't own it. I don't have any use for an amp that big and powerful, but when I sat down with it, I found very quickly that it is pretty easy to dial in. You're right about how different it is than a Mesa.

Seriously, though, I'm glad you enjoy it. I really can't say enough good things about the whole amp lineup he's produced.

Thanks, it's great!

I play mostly at home. Don't need something that big n powerful, either. But I like big tubes. Don't get on with the lower watt amps that much.
The tones this thing gets at lower volumes are great. Adding more volume produces different great tones.
This is the only Fryette creation I've played for more than a minute. The only other being a D60.
I really like how the channels remember if the effects loop and boost is on or off when changing to another channel and back. It's a groovy amp and I dig it.

[speed2dirt]

Another notable difference is the simplicity of the Shiva. You can find great tone quickly with only 8 knobs. The Sig X sounds good, but the picture is freaking intimidating with all those little switches. It's like flying an airplane.

[NT02]

Another notable difference is the simplicity of the Shiva. You can find great tone quickly with only 8 knobs. The Sig X sounds good, but the picture is freaking intimidating with all those little switches. It's like flying an airplane.

I agree, the Shiva is pretty straight forward. The clean channel is set and forget. It takes a little while to figure out where the eq and gain sounds optimal on the Shiva, but once there, it's a done deal.

Lots of options on the Sig.
But it's very intuitive, and difficult to find a bad sound.
Very much unlike a Mesa Mark series, where you spend so much time tweaking to find a good sound.
The Sig:X switches and knobs are mostly subtle, but effective, allowing a person to change the overall feel and tonal response, without getting into nasty territory.
I spent some time with the amp after reading the manual and feel confident that in a matter of a minute or so I can find whatever tone I'm looking for. At the very least ballpark. Very user-friendly.

[mwalluk]

Thanks man for the right up.

Really do appreciate it.

I think you just helped encouraged gas upon me.

[NT02]

Oh no! The gas is upon you.
I've had gas for this amp since it came out.
It's a much better match for me than the evh I returned.
The used prices that these sigs go for are ridiculous.

[Johtosotku]

Thanks for the reviews. I've been looking at one for a long time. I haven't played one myself but there is a one with a good price in a nearby store. I'm afraid to go play it as I can't afford it right now.

One thing I wonder is how there's relatively few clips of the amp around and not so many of them sound that good to me. I couldn't get the Soundcloud link to work.

[mwalluk]

Thanks for the reviews. I've been looking at one for a long time. I haven't played one myself but there is a one with a good price in a nearby store. I'm afraid to go play it as I can't afford it right now.

One thing I wonder is how there's relatively few clips of the amp around and not so many of them sound that good to me. I couldn't get the Soundcloud link to work.

Unfortunately, you just gotta play em. I never played a VHT Deliverance Sixty b4 I bought mine. You Tube videos did it no justice. I heard one clip what was decent, but all the others were terrible.

[mwalluk]

One thing I wonder is how there's relatively few clips of the amp around and not so many of them sound that good to me. I couldn't get the Soundcloud link to work.

check out the one from guitar world, also search for vht and fryette

[NT02]

Thanks for the reviews. I've been looking at one for a long time. I haven't played one myself but there is a one with a good price in a nearby store. I'm afraid to go play it as I can't afford it right now.

One thing I wonder is how there's relatively few clips of the amp around and not so many of them sound that good to me. I couldn't get the Soundcloud link to work.

You must go check it out. Who knows? Might not be your thing, might be the end of the amp search forever.

It seems that Soundcloud has been down since shortly after I posted that. Maybe I crashed em! Wait, I just checked em and they're back up. Lemme see if I can fix the link... It seems to be working now?

[Johtosotku]

The soundcloud worked now. It sounded good, though I'd naturally have to play it to see how it suited my playing.

I just can't go play it. If it sounds as good as I expect it to, I'll get horrible gas and have to feel bad for a long time for not having it. I can't afford another amp for at least almost a year. I'm also very very satisfied with my Univalve and I don't really need another amp right now. A high power amp would be necessary in the long run, not now.

[NT02]

The soundcloud worked now. It sounded good, though I'd naturally have to play it to see how it suited my playing.

I just can't go play it. If it sounds as good as I expect it to, I'll get horrible gas and have to feel bad for a long time for not having it. I can't afford another amp for at least almost a year. I'm also very very satisfied with my Univalve and I don't really need another amp right now. A high power amp would be necessary in the long run, not now.

How often do these amps pop up in Finland stores?

[Johtosotku]

How often do these amps pop up in Finland stores?

We have a good distributor for the Fryette stuff, have had one for a long time.

There's usually some in the country but they don't seem to be moving much.