NAD: VHT Fryette Sig:x SigX User Chime In

[NT02]

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.

Ah, well, you're luckier than I am, then. I've only seen two in person.

[Red_Label]

Wow... that's definitely an early Sig:X. The knobs are quite different! I've got a very early Ultra Lead (with forest green Tolex), but it's got chicken heads on it.

At any rate, CONGRATS! Love the Freyette stuff. Got a buddy who just can't believe that I love the Ultra Lead as much as I do. He's got an XTC, Uberschall, and Elmwood. He's the one who hooked me up with the Ultra Lead (belonged to a friend of his), but just never thought much of it. I've had the guy's Uberschall (Twin Jet) and Elmwood (M60) at my house for long periods and honestly, I prefer the Ultra Lead to them for overall versatility. I think the UL is even more versatile than my XTC (Classic). It's just a great sounding, awesome amp and it does make me curious about the Sig:X. I actually dig all of those knobs and switches. I really did dig the simplicity of the Shiva I had, but I moreso dig the versatility of Freyette's amps....

[NT02]

Wow... that's definitely an early Sig:X. The knobs are quite different! I've got a very early Ultra Lead (with forest green Tolex), but it's got chicken heads on it.

At any rate, CONGRATS! Love the Freyette stuff. Got a buddy who just can't believe that I love the Ultra Lead as much as I do. He's got an XTC, Uberschall, and Elmwood. He's the one who hooked me up with the Ultra Lead (belonged to a friend of his), but just never thought much of it. I've had the guy's Uberschall (Twin Jet) and Elmwood (M60) at my house for long periods and honestly, I prefer the Ultra Lead to them for overall versatility. I think the UL is even more versatile than my XTC (Classic). It's just a great sounding, awesome amp and it does make me curious about the Sig:X. I actually dig all of those knobs and switches. I really did dig the simplicity of the Shiva I had, but I moreso dig the versatility of Freyette's amps....

Thanks! It's from November of 08, and has most of the updates that are performed to the older amps. I have no issues with it's performance or sound, so I'm keeping it the way it is.

I'm also very curious about the Ultra Leads, now. I hear that they are tighter than the Siggy. I like a fast attack. I find that it makes it easy to pick faster, and I come up with different riffs that way.
It's good to know that your Fryette hangs with those other amps! I would love to try an Elmwood. I've tried out the XTC before, don't know which model, and it had some nice tones. But also some bad ones. I find the Siggy to be more intuitive, easy to set up.
The Shiva is a lovely amp. I really do love the one I have.
But, I'm putting it up for sale, so that I can afford to keep the Sig.

[Red_Label]

Thanks! It's from November of 08, and has most of the updates that are performed to the older amps. I have no issues with it's performance or sound, so I'm keeping it the way it is.

I'm also very curious about the Ultra Leads, now. I hear that they are tighter than the Siggy. I like a fast attack. I find that it makes it easy to pick faster, and I come up with different riffs that way.
It's good to know that your Fryette hangs with those other amps! I would love to try an Elmwood. I've tried out the XTC before, don't know which model, and it had some nice tones. But also some bad ones. I find the Siggy to be more intuitive, easy to set up.
The Shiva is a lovely amp. I really do love the one I have.
But, I'm putting it up for sale, so that I can afford to keep the Sig.

The XTC is a finnicky beast that can take a while to setup for your tastes. I went from my set-it-and-forget-it EL34 Shiva to the XTC Classic and it took me several weeks to get it set the way I wanted it. But make no mistake, out of all the great amps I've played and owned... if I could only own one amp, the XTC would be the one. It's like my Shiva, plus a higher gain channel and more tone-sculpting options.

As to the Ultra Lead, it's right up there I gotta say. The XTC (being a Bogner) has a more distinctive, organic tone than the VHT. But the VHT is tight and versatile as they come. I truly love them both and though the Ultra Lead is my "backup amp", I have chosen to gig it as primary on several occasions because there's NOTHING lacking in it.

I have heard from guys who've owned both the Sig:X and the Ultra Lead and were faced with the choice of only keeping one, that it did seem in all cases they chose to keep the Ultra Lead. But that still hasn't swayed me from being curious about the Sig:X. Honestly, it's a cool looking beast and I happen to really LOVE the "cockpit look" of the thing...

[mwalluk]

Thanks! It's from November of 08, and has most of the updates that are performed to the older amps. I have no issues with it's performance or sound, so I'm keeping it the way it is.

I'm also very curious about the Ultra Leads, now. I hear that they are tighter than the Siggy. I like a fast attack. I find that it makes it easy to pick faster, and I come up with different riffs that way.
It's good to know that your Fryette hangs with those other amps! I would love to try an Elmwood. I've tried out the XTC before, don't know which model, and it had some nice tones. But also some bad ones. I find the Siggy to be more intuitive, easy to set up.
The Shiva is a lovely amp. I really do love the one I have.
But, I'm putting it up for sale, so that I can afford to keep the Sig.

Wow the Sig-X must really rock, selling the SHiva in favor of it?


Also, check out the deliverance series too. Sick one channel amp.

[mwalluk]

The XTC is a finnicky beast that can take a while to setup for your tastes. I went from my set-it-and-forget-it EL34 Shiva to the XTC Classic and it took me several weeks to get it set the way I wanted it. But make no mistake, out of all the great amps I've played and owned... if I could only own one amp, the XTC would be the one. It's like my Shiva, plus a higher gain channel and more tone-sculpting options.

As to the Ultra Lead, it's right up there I gotta say. The XTC (being a Bogner) has a more distinctive, organic tone than the VHT. But the VHT is tight and versatile as they come. I truly love them both and though the Ultra Lead is my "backup amp", I have chosen to gig it as primary on several occasions because there's NOTHING lacking in it.

I have heard from guys who've owned both the Sig:X and the Ultra Lead and were faced with the choice of only keeping one, that it did seem in all cases they chose to keep the Ultra Lead. But that still hasn't swayed me from being curious about the Sig:X. Honestly, it's a cool looking beast and I happen to really LOVE the "cockpit look" of the thing...

How are the UL cleans....

[Red_Label]

How are the UL cleans....

They are "fine". "Good". Etc. I wouldn't call them "great", though others have seemed to gush about them. I don't hear them being that good.

The XTC (and Shiva, and Triamp) has much fuller, spankier, etc cleans. And headroom-wise, the Bogner just KILLS the VHT. Which is wacky, cause the VHT is a KT88-loaded 120 watt beast. The cleans in the UL and the Elmwood M60 were VERY similar to my ears. Nice, but not "3-D", full, and spankey like the Bogner's cleans are.

BUT... I do have to admit here... I haven't replaced any of the tubes since I bought the Ultra Lead last spring and who knows how long the tubes in there have been there. I need to buck-up and replace the tubes asap. In fact, I may just order some today and get it done. Cause as great as I think the UL sounds... who knows how great it might sound with sparkling new tubes in there? Plus, who knows how much headroom I may be missing by having old tubes in there? Because it's unreal how much more clean headroom and overall volume the Bogner seems to have over the UL (and other amps) -- at least with the volumes below 1:00 (never had the Bogner louder than that). And this is all with the XTC in HALF POWER mode!!!

[NT02]

... if I could only own one amp, the XTC would be the one. It's like my Shiva, plus a higher gain channel and more tone-sculpting options.

This is how I would simply describe the Sig:X

And as far as cleans. I love the Shiva clean tone. Beautiful sound.
The Sig:X can sound as full, or be made to sound like an open back combo on the verge of breakup, or can be set for full out overdrive.
But, strictly speaking of it's clean tones. They are every bit as good as the Shiva's, IMO. Full and shimmery. Nice bloom.
That is saying a lot, because I was considering just keeping the Shiva and using pedals to get different types of distoriton sounds, before find the Sig.

[NT02]

Bumping it up. Any Sig:X users?

[papersoul]

This is a great amp, amazing tones at bedroom volume or gig volumes. Only thing that turned me off is it is very tight, almost stiff. I play a lot of Classic rock and 90s hard rock and grunge and my 20th Anniversary Bogner. PWE and Mesa Rectoverb seem to handle those better. I find Fryette's best for tight metal and rock. By the way, my 20th Anniversary Bogner kills my older Shiva. I had the SigX for a while and preferred the new Shiva and my PWE. In the end I could not get used to the stiffness.

The Sig is tighter, more articulate and punchy. I prefer the creaminess I get with my 20th Bogner, PWE and Rectoverb. It is way more my thing. Especially since I don't play metal any longer I am staying away from the ultra tight and articulate amps these days. The Rectoverb is very responsive and not as forgiving as my 20th Shiva or PWE, but I like having variety. The VHT just has me feeling too naked like any little mistake I made at a gig would be heard loud and clear, LOL! I find it more comfortable and less stressful playing my other amps. I like a soft feel under my fingers. I have had some peripheral nerve issues and the more forgiving amps help me.

[papersoul]

I have used this amp for a while but I have backed away from complex gear, going the simpler route.
I like less knobs and switches. I also found it not fat and chewy enough for me. I ended up with a Mesa Electradyne, Bogner 20th Shiva and PWE EH.

[TwilightOdyssey]

That is awesome, congrats!

That is a sick stack o amps you have!

[Musza]

Hi,

I've recorded a demo of the SigX using my favourite Seymour Duncac Sh-5 in the bridge. It's an awesome amp, congrats dude!

Here is the clips:


Cheers,
Tomasz