TEST: Fryette Power Station

There have never been very many, but in recent years there are fewer and fewer. We are talking about the tinkerers and screwdrivers who helped the all-tube scene with great knowledge of the matter, an open ear for the musicians and a now huge wealth of experience to a once huge popularity. Steven Fryette, who started as a former employee of Valley Art Guitars and designed the first three-channel all-tube amp under the VHT brand 33 years ago, undoubtedly belongs to this species. Countless collaborations with the first guard of the 80s electric guitarists (including Eddy Van Halen, Steve Lukather, Larry Carlton and many others) later, Fryette changed the company name in 2009 to Fryette Amplfication and since then builds primarily tube products of the highest class. One of his latest outputs is the Fryette Power Station, a product that is second to none.

What is the Fryette Power Station?

The signs are pointing to change. At a time when many guitarists are already satisfied with the inferior squawking of a VST plugin within their DAW in terms of guitar sound, the sound aesthetic of a high-quality tube product appears at first glance as an overpriced, heavy and unnecessary toy of old men who dream of the glory of long-gone heroes and hang after their musical youth. On the other hand, those who have kept their ear for the ultimate sound, which is always superior to a Kemper even in a 1:1 comparison, will sooner or later not be able to avoid using a high-quality all-tube amplifier. Those who now still indulge in the classic tone of a Plexi, a Sound City, an AC30 or a Hiwatt will know the problem, or their FOH will point it out to them within seconds.

"You're too loud!". "It has to be, or the amp won't sound!". If I had received even one euro for each of these or slightly modified conversations between various colleagues, my wallet would have been overflowing, especially at a young age. At the risk of boring experienced readers a bit, but the development in the matter of sound culture makes an analysis of the "all-tube sound culture", broken down to the most necessary, once again briefly necessary. Why do so many musicians babble on about the holy grail of guitar / bass tone always in the realm of all-tube amps and what's all this crap about Plexi etc.? Short version:

All-tube amps are predominantly analog sound generators, which are so non-linear in sound generation that it hurts. They have lots of wearing parts, are large and due to their components heavy and expensive, so at first glance they seem like a collection of NoGos. But all legendary all-tube amps have a so-called sweet spot in their range, especially in the crunch sound, where all the legendary features like dynamics, interaction with the guitar, overtone response and compression work together and where the tube power amp has the decisive sonic part. And here comes the main problem, almost every all-tube classic is way too loud within its sweet spot for rehearsal room or club use. On a very large open air stage this may still be possible, but since only a per mille area of all musicians will ever enter these stages, the great classics are more and more frequently eking out a monument status in countless rehearsal rooms with no prospect of reanimation.

To cope with this problem, many manufacturers have tried in the past to convert parts of the power of an all-tube amp into heat, so that the amp could be driven in its sweet spot even at much lower volumes. But the results were, with very few exceptions, very sobering. The passive design of these attenuators / load resistors robbed the amps mostly of any dynamics and let everything that sounded big and powerful in the original, sound thin and powerless. And HERE we finally come to our test unit, the Fryette Power Station, which takes a completely different approach to saving the sound of the amp down to room volume.

What can the Fryette Power Station do? Well, it has three primary uses:

1) It allows you to drive any kind of all-tube amp (up to 200 watts output, don't use an Ampeg SVT!) into its sweet spot and then smoothly turn it down to room volume if needed. The Fryette Power Station is positioned between amp and cabinet.

2) It functions as a normal power amplifier and can amplify a preamp, an effect pedal or a small amplifier up to 100 watts.

3.) It works as a serial FX loop, which is not placed behind the preamp as usual, but behind the power amp and thus allows a much higher dynamic in the sound.

The special feature of the Fryette Power Station is the use of an independent tube output stage, which has 2 pieces of 6550 tubes. In order to implement point 1.), the signal is first reduced to a minimum level, and then again continuously increased via the internal tube power amplifier. You have the possibility to adjust the sound of your amplifier via two mini switches in the voicing and 2 controls in the treble and bass range. Via two sliders on the back all common impedance combinations between amp and speaker are offered.

So where can you use the Fryette Power Station for everything?

Well, let's start with the most obvious application, the live show. If you're tired of the FOH's sometimes justified, annoying announcements, you can now bring any clunker amp to the show and turn it down to an appropriate level. The next area of application is in an un- or only rudimentarily damped home studio, where you have to be considerate of neighbors or roommates. The most luxurious approach, of course, is to convert your Plexi to a bedroom amp and jam at full sound in room volume.

On the other hand, if you've always wanted to take your 1, 5 or 10 watt amp to a bigger stage because you love the sound so much, but it would have to be driven completely over the limit because of the room, here's the possibility to transfer the junior sound to an open air stage. And last but not least, all-tube amps that have to get by without an FX loop and would still like to have a room effect such as delay or reverb in their repertoire, now have the luxury of being able to tap the signal behind (!) their power amp and thus lead the ultimate sound into their pedal.

Oh yes, the Fryette Power Station is available in 2 versions, the PS-2A version (1 channel) and the 100 version, where you can choose between 2 volume and Presence / Depth settings using an external footswitch. This means in live operation that you can briefly raise the volume for a solo part and not have to rely on the FOH.

It all sounds very promising, but what is the final sound like?

The Fryette Power Station in practice

At just under 7 kg, the Fryette Power Station is still quite light compared to other all-tube power amps, but that doesn't hide the fact that you'll have to really lug it around when transporting it. As expected, the product gets very warm due to both the attenuator operation and the internal power amp, so it should not be installed in any rack. As expected, Steven Fryette has thought along and not only placed the 4 rubber feet to fit even on the comparatively shallow cabinet of a classic Marshall, but also used extra tall versions that place the Power Station above the carrying handle.

So then, Vintage Amp on, Sweet Spot in, and then steplessly down. The sound result is breathtaking! I have never heard such an Attenuator in my life and I truly had many in test or in use. There is virtually NO sonic difference from the loud original. Even the dynamics of the personal playing is also taken over and perfectly reproduced. Now, if you look in the crumbs, with a lot of attention you might notice the lack of the "cardboard tremor" of a small speaker driven to the limit, but under regular conditions the Fryette Power Station offers a sound that no other product in this product class offers. What Steven Fryette has designed and built here is a feat of craftsmanship that is second to none. Unique, one of a kind, outstanding!

Conclusion  

With the Fryette Power Station, Steven Fryette has outdone himself in every respect. The active, adjustable power attenuator in combination with an internally installed tube power amplifier forms a sonic league of its own, where the competition is not even relegated to the seats, but completely out of the stadium.

No other load resistor turns out to be so flexible in combination with an identical sound even at minimal volumes. In fact, this is one of the best products I have come across in recent years. Simply great!

A must have for any all-tube amp user, definitely check it out!


Additional Informations:

- Fryette Amps is a California-based company that produces some of the finest guitar amplifiers and speaker cabinets in the world. Founded in 1989 by legendary amp designer Steven Fryette, the company has gained a reputation for producing high-quality, hand-built amplifiers that are sought after by musicians around the globe.

Fryette Amps has a range of products to suit different needs and styles, from the signature line of Pittbull amplifiers to the more affordable Power Station and Valvulator GP/DI. The company's amplifiers are known for their stunning tone and versatility, and are used by a wide range of guitarists, from metalheads to blues players.

One of the company's most famous amplifiers is the Pittbull series, which includes the Ultra-Lead, Ultra-Verb, and Classic models. These amps are renowned for their high-gain distortion, and have been used by some of the biggest names in heavy metal, such as Dimebag Darrell, Kerry King, and Zakk Wylde. The Pittbull Ultra-Lead is particularly popular among metal guitarists, as it has a unique, aggressive tone that can cut through even the densest mix.

Another popular product from Fryette Amps is the Power Station, which is a power attenuator and re-amplifier that allows guitarists to achieve high-quality tone at lower volumes. This is particularly useful for musicians who want to achieve that coveted "cranked amp" sound without waking up the neighbors. The Power Station is also a popular tool for recording, as it allows guitarists to capture the true sound of their amplifier without having to play at loud volumes.

The Valvulator GP/DI is another innovative product from Fryette Amps, which combines a tube preamp, DI box, and guitar amplifier into one compact unit. This versatile device is perfect for guitarists who need a reliable, all-in-one solution for recording and live performances.

Fryette Amps is known for its commitment to quality, and all of its products are hand-built in the USA using only the finest components. The company also offers a range of customization options, allowing guitarists to create a truly unique amplifier that suits their individual needs and playing style.
In addition to its range of amplifiers and speaker cabinets, Fryette Amps also produces a line of guitar pedals, including the Boostassio, Fatbottom, and Memorex pedals. These pedals are designed to work seamlessly with Fryette amplifiers, and are known for their transparent, high-quality sound.

Overall, Fryette Amps is a company that is committed to producing high-quality, hand-built amplifiers that are designed to last a lifetime. Its products are used by some of the biggest names in music, and have gained a reputation for their stunning tone and versatility. Whether you're a heavy metal guitarist or a blues player, Fryette Amps has something to offer, and is well worth checking out if you're in the market for a new amplifier or speaker cabinet.

- VHT Amps is a renowned guitar amplifier manufacturer based in California, USA. The company has been in business for over 30 years and has gained a reputation for producing high-quality, hand-built amplifiers that are sought after by musicians all around the world.

VHT Amps was founded in 1989 by Steven Fryette, who also founded Fryette Amps (formerly known as VHT Amplification). While VHT Amps and Fryette Amps are now separate companies, they both share a commitment to producing high-quality amplifiers that deliver stunning tone and versatility.

One of VHT Amps' most famous amplifier lines is the Pittbull series, which includes the Ultra-Lead, Ultra-Verb, and Classic models. These amps are renowned for their high-gain distortion and are used by some of the biggest names in heavy metal, such as Dimebag Darrell, Kerry King, and Zakk Wylde.

Another popular line from VHT Amps is the Special series, which includes the Special 6, Special 6 Ultra, and Special 12/20 models. These amps are known for their simplicity and versatility, and are popular among both novice and experienced guitarists. The Special 6, for example, is a low-wattage tube amplifier that offers a range of classic rock and blues tones.

In addition to its range of amplifiers, VHT Amps also produces a range of speaker cabinets, including the Fatbottom and Deliverance models. These cabinets are designed to complement VHT Amps' amplifiers and deliver a rich, full-bodied sound.

VHT Amps' commitment to quality is evident in all of its products, which are hand-built in the USA using only the finest components. The company also offers a range of customization options, allowing guitarists to create a truly unique amplifier that suits their individual needs and playing style.

VHT Amps has also expanded into the pedal market, with a range of pedals that includes the V-Drive overdrive, the Melo-Verb reverb, and the D-50 distortion. These pedals are designed to work seamlessly with VHT Amps' amplifiers and deliver the same high-quality sound that the company is known for.

Overall, VHT Amps is a company that is committed to producing high-quality, hand-built amplifiers and speaker cabinets that deliver stunning tone and versatility. Whether you're a heavy metal guitarist or a blues player, VHT Amps has something to offer, and is well worth checking out if you're in the market for a new amplifier or speaker cabinet.