Fryette PS-2 Attenuator & Power amp... with a Marshall SV20

Petepassion

fretmeister said:

I'm thinking Fryette first as it can be instantly useable with my Helix, and then save up for a good head in due time.

Part of me thinks just get another 800, but I've never had a proper plexi and after watching some demos with a Variac and the PS-2 that has certainly got my mind working!

Plexi/superlead and a good attenuator is a wonderful combination, nothing like getting them output valves cooking.
   I’ve owned a few Marshall’s, 2203, 2204, a modded 1959HW, Vintage Modern, SV20H, 1974 100w Superlead, but the 2016 1959SLP was probably the best sounding Marshall I ever owned.
   The newer SV20H is great too, not quite as ‘big’ sounding as the 100w, but still awesome.

noisepolluter

fretmeister said:

What’s better, the Boss TAE or the Fryette?

And do either/both of them oblige you to use a cab with minimum 100w of power handling? My Zilla ported with H75 Creamback comes up 25w short. The H150 Redback seems to sound noticeably darker, and I don’t want the additional expense/bulk/sonic grunt of a 2x12 at home

fretmeister

noisepolluter said:

fretmeister said:

What’s better, the Boss TAE or the Fryette?

And do either/both of them oblige you to use a cab with minimum 100w of power handling? My Zilla ported with H75 Creamback comes up 25w short. The H150 Redback seems to sound noticeably darker, and I don’t want the additional expense/bulk/sonic grunt of a 2x12 at home

There's a load of YT vids of the PS2 using 1x12 cabs with a variety of cones - even just a single Creamback.

fretmeister

Does the Fryette have a cooling fan?

How noisy is it?

paulmapp8306

Moe_Zambeek said:

GG listed a load of Fryette stuff ‘ex-demo’ earlier this week but it seems to have all sold…wonder if there’s a new revision on the way?

nope.....  Theres a thread on the Axe-FX forum where someone was speculating the same - however Fryettes rep posted that the PS=2a isnt discontinued, nor is there a revision planned in the near future.    

Its more likely GG are no longer going to carry Fryette stuff.  Possibly doesnt sell fast enough for them.  

guitaraj

fretmeister said:

Does the Fryette have a cooling fan?

How noisy is it?

It does. I find it a little bit annoying initially when I’m not playing but don’t notice it when I’m playing at even heavily attenuated levels in the room. 

I think that the depth knob and bright switches etc are enormously useful

fretmeister

I'll have to find one and try it then.

I have a pathological hatred of fan noise in music gear. 

digitalkettle

guitaraj said:

fretmeister said:

Does the Fryette have a cooling fan?

How noisy is it?

It does. I find it a little bit annoying initially when I’m not playing but don’t notice it when I’m playing at even heavily attenuated levels in the room...

I think it blends into the general amp hum...although I tend not to use it at home.

If you're silent recording with it, you don't even need to power it up (so no fan).

guitaraj

digitalkettle said:

guitaraj said:

fretmeister said:

Does the Fryette have a cooling fan?

How noisy is it?

It does. I find it a little bit annoying initially when I’m not playing but don’t notice it when I’m playing at even heavily attenuated levels in the room...

I think it blends into the general amp hum...although I tend not to use it at home.

If you're silent recording with it, you don't even need to power it up (so no fan).

That’s very true. I have used it that way too and run it out into an Ox Stomp for the cab modelling, which I like very much

nick79

It’s pretty quiet, mines never bothered me. 

slawler

I’m debating selling my Ox Box and going Fryette Powerstation PS100 and Ox Stomp.

Many others done this and seen the advantage attenuation wise?

only downside is no headphone in but I suppose you could always use the headphone port on the audio interface.

fretmeister

Anyone know if the fan could be swapped for a Noctua or BeQuiet fan and get any noise even lower?

Nerine

Think this will be my next rig tbh. 

goldtop

fretmeister said:

Anyone know if the fan could be swapped for a Noctua or BeQuiet fan and get any noise even lower?

I'd imagine Fryette already specced a very low noise fan in the first place. No-one wants fans at home or in a studio. Live, no problem - it just disappears into the noise floor of beer glasses, chatter, etc.

FWIW, Roland used to skimp on the fans in the MV-8800 and it was a popular and worthwhile upgrade to replace them with Noctua.

Modulus_Amps

Just had a go on mine, there is fan noise, but it is very low and well below the acoustic sound of an electric guitar.

First thoughts is it works really very well, it very transparent even down to lower levels. The switches on the front are really helpful in tailoring the sound when you change volumes/cabs. 

There is a bypass switch on the front, you can switch between the amp full signal and the re-amped signal and there is very little difference in it.

I don't think anyone that gets one of these will be disappointed.

Nerine

The FX Loop on the PS2A - can you use a volume boost in it to effectively add another master volume to an otherwise cranked Plexi type amp? Like, it will get louder with a clean boost pedal in the Power Station’s effects loop? 

I know you can switch on the PS100, but that only has one speaker output and it’d be nice to have two.

digitalkettle

Nerine said:

The FX Loop on the PS2A - can you use a volume boost in it to effectively add another master volume to an otherwise cranked Plexi type amp? Like, it will get louder with a clean boost pedal in the Power Station’s effects loop? 

Yes…I’ve had good results with a Secret Preamp, EP Booster, Strymon Deco, etc.

Nerine

digitalkettle said:

Nerine said:

The FX Loop on the PS2A - can you use a volume boost in it to effectively add another master volume to an otherwise cranked Plexi type amp? Like, it will get louder with a clean boost pedal in the Power Station’s effects loop? 

Yes…I’ve had good results with a Secret Preamp, EP Booster, Strymon Deco, etc.

That’s what I wanted to hear. Thanks. That was the only question mark for me really. 

fretmeister

Nerine said:

digitalkettle said:

Nerine said:

The FX Loop on the PS2A - can you use a volume boost in it to effectively add another master volume to an otherwise cranked Plexi type amp? Like, it will get louder with a clean boost pedal in the Power Station’s effects loop? 

Yes…I’ve had good results with a Secret Preamp, EP Booster, Strymon Deco, etc.

That’s what I wanted to hear. Thanks. That was the only question mark for me really. 

There is a 2 channel version of the Fryette that you can footswitch the levels. It's not much more expensive - there are drive / boost pedals that cost more than the difference.

Nerine

fretmeister said:

Nerine said:

digitalkettle said:

Nerine said:

The FX Loop on the PS2A - can you use a volume boost in it to effectively add another master volume to an otherwise cranked Plexi type amp? Like, it will get louder with a clean boost pedal in the Power Station’s effects loop? 

Yes…I’ve had good results with a Secret Preamp, EP Booster, Strymon Deco, etc.

That’s what I wanted to hear. Thanks. That was the only question mark for me really. 

There is a 2 channel version of the Fryette that you can footswitch the levels. It's not much more expensive - there are drive / boost pedals that cost more than the difference.

Yeah, aware of that. Mentioned it in my post but it got chopped out of the quote. Issue with the 100 for me is that there is only one speaker output, and I’d quite like 2 as per the PS2A

Not only that, I’ve gotta plug delays and stuff in the loop anyhow, so may as well pop the boost pedal in there too and not add a separate channel footswitch to my board and stuff. 

The PS2A seems to be the best solution for my needs. Plus it’s cheaper too, which for me is fucking surprising. Hehe.